Desert Breeze

The Desert Breeze earns its name in July. Bangora straw is woven light and open, and the wide vented pattern on the crown lets hot air escape instead of holding it against your head. You can stay in the saddle, the pen or the hay field without cooking under the brim.

The 4-inch brim shades your face and neck, and the 4 3/4-inch Marlboro crown keeps the classic western profile. A 2-ply band with a spur pin finishes it cleanly, and the moisture-wicking sweatband handles what a long day brings. It is unlined so air keeps moving, and it is made in the USA of globally sourced materials.

Highlights

• 100% Bangora straw that breathes in summer heat
• Wide vented crown pattern lets hot air escape
• 4-inch brim shades your face and neck
• Moisture-wicking sweatband for long days
• 2-ply band with spur pin for a clean western finish
• Unlined build keeps air moving

Why a straw hat is the right hat for a Florida summer

Straw is the traditional summer hat for a reason. It is light, it lets air through and it doesn't hold heat the way a heavier felt hat does. Here in the Panhandle the sun is hard from late spring through early fall, and a hat that breathes makes the difference between a good day and a hot one.

A vented crown is worth looking for in a straw hat. The open pattern moves warm air up and out, and a 4-inch brim keeps the sun off the neck and ears when you are working or riding. Unlined hats breathe better than lined ones, which makes them a sensible pick for warm weather.

It suits the rider at a summer show, the rancher working the hay field, and the family out for a day at the fair. It also makes a practical gift for someone who spends long days outdoors and wants a hat built for the heat.

At a glance

How to fit and care for it

Measure around your head above the ears with a flexible tape, at the widest part of the head, where a hat tends to sit best. Hat sizes step up by eighths, so a quick measurement saves a return. If you fall between two sizes, the larger one is usually more comfortable on a long day.

Wear the hat with the brim level, and shape it gently with your hands rather than bending the straw hard. Store it on the crown, not the brim, so the shape holds through the season.

Good to know

• Wear it with a starched shirt and jeans, whether you're in the stands or at the sale barn.
• Vented and unlined, so it's a warm-weather hat. It does its best work from spring shows through the last hot day of fall.
• Give the straw a dry brush after a dusty day, and keep it away from water and rain, which can soften and stain the weave.
• Keep it on a hat rack or a hook so it isn't crushed under other gear in the truck.
• Pair it with a leather belt and boots for the full western look, or a plain T-shirt for chores.

Straw season runs long here, so grab it before the summer show run starts.