What is the average hat size for men?

The average men's hat size in the UK is 59 cm, typically a size Large. Measuring your head ensures the most accurate fit.

How do I measure my head for a hat?

Use a soft tape measure and measure around your head just above the ears and across the forehead. Keep the tape level and snug to determine your size in centimetres.

A flat cap is a rounded cap with a small stiff brim at the front, traditionally associated with British heritage style.

What is the difference between a fedora and a trilby?

A fedora typically has a wider brim and softer shape, while a trilby features a shorter brim and a taller crown, offering a sleeker silhouette.

Can a felt hat get wet?

Felt hats are naturally water-resistant but should not be exposed to heavy rain for extended periods. Allow them to dry naturally at room temperature.

Do you offer in-store collection?

Yes, orders can be collected from our London, Cambridge, or Oxford stores within 3-5 working days.

Three Fedora Materials and Construction Techniques for Country Pursuits and Travel Comfort

August 11, 2026

A hat that keeps you dry on a drizzly country walk may feel stifling under the midday sun, or come away flattened from a rucksack. Materials such as felt, wool, and straw, together with construction details like brim shape, crown height, and overall weight, determine warmth, water resistance, breathability, and how well the hat packs.

Expect clear comparisons of fabric and construction, practical guidance on brim shape and crown fit, and step-by-step advice for storing and weatherproofing your hat. From that foundation, you will be able to select the fedora best suited to rainy rambles, sunlit strolls, and longer journeys.

The image shows a man outdoors leaning on a wooden fence. He is wearing a green furfelt country hat with a dark leather band and a small copper stud, styled with an open C-crown and a down-turned brim. The man wears an olive-green jacket with a dark brown corduroy collar over a plaid shirt and a cream sweater underneath, paired with dark pants. The background depicts a blurred countryside setting with greenery under natural, soft lighting that suggests late afternoon.

1. Opt for felt, wool, or straw to balance warmth, water resistance, and breathability

Felt produces dense, matted fibres that shed water and retain warmth. Tightly compressed felt will bead moisture on the surface rather than soak through, so press a few drops onto the crown or brim to check performance. Wool options vary: boiled or woollen weaves trap air for insulation, while worsted weaves give a cleaner drape and greater breathability. A breathable, sweat-wicking lining, paired with a soft leather or cotton sweatband, helps manage moisture on long days outdoors. Straw spans tightly woven constructions, which provide surprising water resistance and structural hold, to looser, ventilated braids that maximise airflow in hot weather.

Construction determines both comfort and longevity. Check brim stiffness and crown reinforcement, and favour components that are sewn rather than glued, since sewn joins hold up better over time. Seek ventilated, breathable linings and a well-stitched sweatband that wick moisture away from the head. Inspect the stitching around the sweatband, and prefer a flexible brim or a hidden internal wire if you want to recover shape without stressing the hat. Tactile, breathable linings make multi-day wear more comfortable by dispersing perspiration and reducing odour build-up. Care routines should follow the hat’s material. Brush and air wool and felt after wear, and use steam sparingly to restore the hat’s line. Never soak straw; avoid crushing it, and handle woven fibres gently. When travelling, stuff the crown or place the hat in a protective compartment to preserve fibres and weaves, keeping the shape and finish intact.

A close-up photo of a man wearing a brown felt fedora hat and a dark brown coat. The man's face is partially visible from the nose down, with downward gaze, short beard, and a small earring in the left ear. The background is outdoors with blurred green foliage and soft sunlight creating dappled shadows on the man and hat.

2. Prioritise brim, crown, and weight for comfortable, packable travel

For travel, choose a medium, flexible brim: it gives useful sun and rain protection while taking up less bulk in luggage than a wide, rigid brim. Check flexibility by gently rolling the brim; a hat that resumes its shape will pack more neatly. Crown height also affects how a hat travels. Taller, fully blocked crowns hold their profile on the head but demand more space, while lower, crushable crowns compress flat and will usually recover with a short burst of steam or the warmth of your hands. When packing, place socks or a soft item inside the crown to preserve its profile, and position the hat rim-down on folded garments so pressure rests on fabric rather than the brim.

When selecting a travel hat, compare how materials respond to weight, resilience, and folding. Use a simple squeeze test: a felt or blended material that springs back after a gentle squeeze indicates better recovery. Traditional straw, by contrast, tends to crease and can fracture when folded, while leather and technical blends vary by construction. Fur-faced felts and wool felts generally offer warmth without excessive weight, and technical blends can add resilience where needed. Pay close attention to construction. Internal stiffeners, wired brims, liners, and heavy buckram add durable shape, but they also increase weight and resist compression. For hats you intend to roll or fold, favour minimal internal buckram and a soft sweatband to reduce the risk of permanent distortion. Pack with care: - Pad the crown with soft garments to support its shape. - Place the hat on top of folded clothes so the brim is cushioned, and avoid placing heavy items on top. - Do not compress the brim under luggage straps or dense objects. Once unpacked, reshape felts with a brief burst of warm steam or a damp cloth and gentle hands. Be realistic about materials: brittle straws and stiff, heavily buckramed constructions will not recover reliably after being crushed.

The image shows a middle-aged man with gray facial hair wearing a brown Harris Tweed British Field Jacket. He is also wearing a brown fedora hat with a dark band and brown pants. The jacket is buttoned up, and the man has his hands in the pockets of the jacket. The setting appears to be indoors, in a room with dim, warm lighting, and framed pictures or artwork mounted on dark blue walls. The camera angle is eye-level, capturing the man from about mid-thigh up, with a shallow depth of field focusing on him, while the background is softly blurred.

3. Fit, storage, and weatherproofing for country pursuits

Use a soft tape measure to take head circumference at the brow where the hat will sit. Allow about 8 to 12 millimetres for comfort, then test the size while wearing your typical country hairstyle and a thin liner or hat tape to fine-tune the fit. A fedora that lightly grips the sweatband will stay put during riding and blustery walks; one that is too loose will shift and chafe. Consider crown and brim proportions according to activity: a lower crown and narrower brim reduces wind catch and interference when shouldering a rifle or carrying tools, whereas a higher crown and wider brim improves ventilation and sun protection. Try different tilts and brim orientations while moving to confirm balance and sightlines.

Prefer breathable sweatbands, such as leather or cotton-lined options, and a moisture-wicking lining to reduce odour and slippage during long days. After heavy use, remove and air the sweatband, and consider replaceable pads so you can maintain fit without altering the hat's structure. Store hats on a hat form, a rolled towel, or in a breathable hatbox with acid-free tissue to support the crown and brim, and avoid hanging on pegs, which deform crowns over time. Reshape felt gently with steam and a soft brush, then allow the hat to dry on a form away from direct heat to preserve its shape. When weatherproofing, match the treatment to the construction: reproof felt and wool to bolster their natural water resistance, apply light water repellents to straw and open-weave materials, and always test any product on an inconspicuous area first. Brush off dried mud before treatment, and dry wet hats slowly on a form to prevent shrinkage or brim warping.

To choose appropriately, match material and construction to the conditions you expect. Felt and treated wool repel moisture and retain warmth, while straw and ventilated weaves maximise airflow and pack more compactly. Brim width, crown height, and internal stiffening determine sun and rain protection, packability, and whether a hat reliably springs back after being folded.

When choosing, packing and preserving a hat for rainy rambles, sunny strolls, or longer journeys, consider three headings: material and construction; brim, crown and weight; and fit, storage and weatherproofing. Pad the crown for travel to retain its shape, reproof felt and wool as their water resistance diminishes, and favour breathable sweatbands so a fedora remains comfortable, durable and ready to wear.

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