Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Waterproofing Cowboy Hat

Ok, so I usually wear a felt hat. I hate taking it off when I hunt in rainy weather. And I just can't stand the vinyl covers for them. I've tried the oil skin Aussie style. While I actually like the look, they come in size "ranges" and I've yet to find one that fits my head correctly. I'm right on the edge. Large is too small, and Xlarge is too big. So I started searching for a waterproof felt hat. Which leads to my two questions.

1. Does anyone actually make a waterproof felt hat? I looked and could not locate one. My search fu may be weak, but I went through several pages of google.

2. Is there a spray on product that actually works to waterproof my hat? I don't buy expensive felts. $40 or $50 tops. If it lasted a couple seasons, I'd be happy. I just don't want it to become a soggy mess after one good rain. Where I hunt, it could be 70 one day, cold and rainy the next, then snow, then right back to 70.

I know I can't expect miracles, just figured if there were such a thing, this crowd would know about it. Thanks.

i cant even remember what i sprayed mine with, some spray-on silicone stuff, worked fairly well,

I have always used one of those stretch to fit plastic covers.

Stetson 3X Rawhide Water Resistant Crushable Buffalo Felt Western Cowboy Hat
http://www.brassbitdiscountwesternwear.com/site/1561552/product/0383

http://www.filson.com/products/tin-...t=mens/hats-gloves&fmetaProduct=1011

http://www.filson.com/products/tin-...t=mens/hats-gloves&fmetaProduct=1011

http://www.filson.com/products/shel...t=mens/hats-gloves&fmetaProduct=1011

http://www.filson.com/products/cove...t=mens/hats-gloves&fmetaProduct=1011
This one is especially nice in winter.

There are other variations. All Filson cloth hats are tough, but you will NOT wear out a Tin Cloth hat.

Steelhead, if you can remember the name of that stuff, I'd sure appreciate it. I'd like to try a spray.

Dvdegeorge, Thanks, that's almost exactly what I was looking for. Just not sure about the crushable part.

Natman, I'm sure those are great hats, but not my stlye. Thanks anyway.


I'm still open to other suggestions if anyone has any. Thanks for all the replies so far. I knew this place would be able to help.

I just can't stand those things. I know they're probably the easiest/cheapest solution, but I just don't like them. I shouldn't be that into looks (especially the way I look) but I hate 'em. Plus you can hear the rain on them more. Probably only for the guy wearing it, but it drives me nuts.

check at wmt for the spray on waterproof stuff for tents/canvas. comes in a spry can about the size of bug spray. find it in the camping section. it has little odor, and repels water exceptionally well.

campdry might work, or buy a better cowboy hat

my last one was a 40 or 50X stetson, rain or shine it was the best, if they get really wet just be careful you don't bend them or crease them til they dry out, its best to wear em dry so they shape a little better to your head (only a problem when new) I used to have a saddle for a workbench, and back then thats what I did

Never worried about getting a hat wet, I have had better luck with Resistol holding up to weather over Stetson YMMV.

Thanks fellas. So one last question. Anyone who has ever used a water repellant spray, have you had any issues with the spray discolering your hat? I prefer a darker brown color hat and worried a little that the spray may cause staining.

Sweat don't stain 'em?...... anal-ities.....

A guide I knew in Colorado sprayed his hat with some kind of furniture spray. It was stiff as a spinster's spine and no telling how many times he'd sprayed it. He was a cheap jerk so I wouldn't put a lot of faith in anything he did. That ain't a lot of help, is it? Sorry.

"...... anal-ities....."

That right there is FUNNY !

GTC

Scotch-Gard might be your best bet for waterproofing. Also if your hat is a little on the large side, just put a filler like thin leather under the sweat band.

Buyin' a better quality hat is your solution .The one I hunt in is a Resistol Black Gold that I bought about 25 years ago.The first few times it got really wet , the black dye bled out of it onto my shirt but now when it gets wet it doesn't bleed .

I have other hats for wearing everyday , but I wear this one hunting .My local hat cleaner put grommets in it for a stampede string , so I can wear it out in my boat as well .

In my experience, a $50 hat is made of wool. When the kids were growing rapidly they got wool cowboy hats, as they would grow out of them within a year anyway. Wool hats do not survive inclement weather well.

Step up a few grades and a few XXXX's, and get one primarily constructed of beaver felt. Your investment will be greater in proportion to the life expectancy of the hat.

All my hats are 5x or 10X and get years of use out of them and don't ever worry about them getting wet or dirty.

+1.

Or use a product called CampDri or something similar. It's a silicone spray, IIRC.

You could wear a watch had under the cowboy hat. It would also help to keep your head warm.