Choosing a felt hat is not an easy task for folks with little or no hat experience.  My intention in this guide it to give some help on the matter.   First decide what you intend to use for.  Are you going to wear it to a single event like a prom or wedding.  Is fit and comfort an issue.  Do you want this hat to be able to stand up to cleaning and refurbishing down the road.  Do you want a hat that will last a life time or one that will last several generations or do you want one that will last till it sees the first rain ?

Budget is an important factor as well.  Are you in a position to afford a quality hat ?  You have to decide all these things. 

You need to consider head shape and size. YES shape is very important.  No two heads are the same.  Getting your head shape and then building a hat to fit your exact shape and size is imperative to a great fit and a proper hat and one that will not skew once on your head.

Sweat bands can be made of cloth, vinyl leather composites, pure leather, leather splits, skives or pure roans.  If you are seeking the ultimate in quality and comfort however you will have to go all the way up to veg tanned Kangaroo and be prepared to pay.

Like ever thing else much of your decision in the end will revolve around personal preference and budget and actually if you grow and evolve, you will take the regular road from wool felt and ebay vintage to commercial of all brands new and some day evolve up to a custom hat and finally you will then find Gladhatter and learn about the worlds only and finest ultra custom hand made pure sterling beaver hats that are hand made with out the need for electricity using traditional hat making skills and old timey ways with the best materials on the face of earth at any time from distant past to present.

Hope to see you on the SBS hat forum that sells no hats but does give an education about hats and answers all questions for free and without any obligations of any kind.

Charlie Swindall Master Hatter.