| Material | Durability | Water Resistance | Shape Retention | Feel | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver | Dense, soft | $$$$ | Legacy-quality hats, hard wear, premium feel | |||
| Nutria | Smooth, pliable | $$$ | Everyday luxury, sustainable shoppers | |||
| Rabbit | Soft, lightweight | $$ | Casual use, soft feel, affordability | |||
| Blends | Sturdy, matte | $$-$$$ | Quality-conscious buyers on a budget | |||
| Wool | Balanced | $ | Style-first shoppers, light wear |
Which Material Fits Your Needs?
Every hat we make begins with a choice of material and that choice affects everything from how your hat feels in your hand to how it holds up over time.
Whether you're shopping for a lifelong heirloom or your first felt hat, this guide will help you understand the strengths of each material and how they compare on price, performance, and purpose.
Beaver Fur Felt
Considered the highest-quality material for felt hats. Beaver underfur has microscopic barbs that allow it to mat tightly, creating a dense, water-resistant, and long-lasting felt.
Nutria Fur Felt
Nutria is a semi-aquatic rodent with fur that felts similarly to beaver. It's slightly coarser but still offers good structure and resilience. Popular as a sustainable alternative to beaver.
Rabbit Fur Felt
A traditional hat material made from the underfur of rabbits.
Softer and more pliable than beaver or nutria, it felts well but with a looser structure.
Wool
Made from sheared sheep’s wool, this is the most affordable felt option.
Wool lacks the barbs found in animal fur, so the felt is softer and more porous.
