The right hat for the environmental conditions may be a lifesaver. This American Hat Makers Montana Straw Cowboy Hat offers good looks and sun protection.
by Leon Pantenburg
Disclaimer: American Hat Makers supplied the product for this review. AHM is an affiliate of Survival Common Sense, and we may receive a small percentage when you buy a hat from this website. This review was my opinion, and nobody had any input into it. All we ever promise is a fair and unbiased testing and review.
Everyone needs sun, rain, and cold protection for their head, IMO, and a general, broad-brimmed hat is the best choice. When you think of a broad-brimmed hat, you might refer to it as a “cowboy hat”, but maybe you feel you would look like a dork. I don’t think so. An effective hat is the one you’ll actually wear and an ugly hat will get left behind. That’s why I recommend this American Hat Makers Straw Cowboy Hat.
It’s an attractive, quality straw hat that should be in your wardrobe. Your youngster probably needs one too.
The AHM Montana Straw Cowboy hat is a good choice for hot, sunny days this summer.
Kids love cowboy hats. My son Dan wore a cowboy hat for sun protection as soon as he could walk. He liked it – Dan was wearing a big guy hat, just like his Uncle Mike and dad. The cowboy sun hat kept him from getting sunburned or risking sunstroke.
For those reasons and more, I like this American Hat Makers Montana Straw Cowboy Hat. In the western and rodeo world vernacular, I’m one of those “All hat, no cattle” types. In other words, I like the rugged, self-reliant cowboy image, but in reality, I’m a city slicker dude with soft hands who works on a computer and frequently wears a tie. I may wear a cowboy hat while driving my Ford F-150 pickup, but I don’t rodeo or ride horses, and don’t want to. So, how can I justify this authentic headgear?
Think about it: Many people can’t dunk a basketball but wear basketball shoes; won’t climb Everest, but wear sturdy hiking boots, and don’t play baseball, but wear a baseball cap. So while I may look a little strange pushing a lawnmower wearing shorts, a cowboy hat and work boots, my wardrobe selection is perfect for that particular activity. When there is sun outside and I’m in it, this piece is on my head. This segues into a (probably unrelated) rant.
Leon complains: City folks who never worked livestock may have an idyllic perception of herding cattle, with the hat, the chaps and the stallion on TV. It’s not fair to other livestock producers – tending all livestock is a hard work and the gear gets well used. I was reared on an Iowa farm and we raised hogs. There is no romantic, nostalgic headgear associated with raising chickens, turkeys, alpacas, goats or pigs. Who would wear a “Poultryboy” or “Swineboy” hat? End of rant.
Circa 1992, Silver City, Idaho. My brother, Michael Pantenburg, my son Dan and me rocking our cowboy hats at an old corral.
Before you buy any piece of survival apparel, think about where you will be wearing it, the extreme conditions that might be encountered and what looks good. This is an individual choice – one size doesn’t fit all. In cowboy lore, it’s traditional to switch from a felt to a straw hat after Labor Day. That’s what I do, although I’m known to wear wool in all seasons and felt in the chilly mountain air.
But for hot weather, I like the Montana as a hot weather working hat. This American Hat Company Montana straw cowboy hat checks all the survival and efficiency boxes for me.
Here are the specs:
- Material: Midweight Firm Bangora Straw
- Shape: Cowboy
- Trim: Faux Leather Band with Silver Studs
- Brim Size: 4″
- Crown Height: 4 1/2″
- Sweatband: Elastic Sweatband
- Imported
Here is how the Montana straw worked out.
Material: Bangora and straw are materials used for making hats, but Bangora is a specific type of straw made from high-density paper strips, while straw refers to a broader category of natural plant fibers used. The Bangora straw in the Montana will last a long time if the hat is not regularly used for rain protection. Any straw hat will deteriorate over time if it is used as a rain hat.
Finish: The Bangora straw is coated with a finish that appears to be some sort of varnish. Other Bangora straws I own have held up well, as long as they don’t regularly get soaked in the rain.
Color: A white or cream-colored hat is much cooler than a dark hat. If you’re looking for a cold weather hat, get a dark felt.
Sweat band: The Montana interior sweat band is fabric and elastic. It is very comfortable, and soaks up a lot of perspiration.
Size: My hat size is XL, and the 7-5/8 inch, 61 CM Montana fit like it was designed for my square German head. AHM hats come with inserts that can be added behind the sweat band to custom fit the hat to an individual’s head. This is a huge deal for folks with hard-to-fit head sizes. For me, and most of my male relatives, that alone would be enough reason to buy an American Hat Makers hat.
Can you image John Wayne in a baseball or trucker cap? Me neither.
Shape: The shape is important – there needs to be adequate ventilation in the crown so the heat generated inside is dissipated. Also, the sun beating down on the hat will create more interior heat, so the hat needs to be effectively vented.
Brim: The most popular hat style in the United States is the baseball cap. I wear them too, but realize the limitations. They provide little to no sun protection. A three-to-four inch wide-brimmed hat brim shades your face, neck and ears. Constant sun on these areas can lead to severe sunburn and worst case, skin cancer. Stay in the (hat brim) shade when the sun is up!
Delivery: Quick and efficient. I got my Montana a day or so after ordering it. The hat was delivered to my door.
Sunstroke: Too much sun and heat can kill you. Any hat or head covering is better than nothing and I’ve been in 115 degrees. Get the hat that will offer you the most protection and that you feel comfortable wearing in public.
Check out this vintage video of Sons of the Pioneers in their signature cowboy hats.
^^^The Sons of the Pioneers wouldn’t be the same without their Cowboy Hats!
Then there’s this about American Hat Makers:
Imported straws? AHM straws are made in Mexico. Seems like there is an incongruity here and I asked. According to AHM, AHM’s forte is not straw hats, and they subcontracted manufacturing the straws to a company they trust.
Order an American Hat Makers Montana Mens Straw Cowboy Hat here.
REVIEW BELOW OF A DIFFERENT AMERICAN HAT COMPANY FLAT BRIMMED BONDI
Please click here to check out and subscribe to the SurvivalCommonSense.com YouTube channel – thanks!
Leave a Reply