I'm curious about hat felt stiffness. I have three recent purchases. One was a new Stetson Open Road, then a "vintage" Borsalino Diamante and today I received my new Stetson Whippet. The felt on the Open Road is pretty stiff but the quality of the felt seems very good - as good as any of my older hats. The Borsalino has very soft felt - so soft the bash gets out of shape with the slightest touch. The Whippet is somewhere in between but closer to the Borsalino than the Open Road.
Is this due to different amounts of sizing added to the felt? Or is it caused by use and wear? Or is there some fundamental difference between the felts, all of which I assume are rabbit fur?
Is this due to different amounts of sizing added to the felt? Or is it caused by use and wear? Or is there some fundamental difference between the felts, all of which I assume are rabbit fur?