How to Store a Cowboy Hat
A good felt or straw hat can last decades, but only if it keeps its shape. Most damage happens while the hat isn't on your head: resting on its brim, baking in a truck, or getting crushed in a bag. Here's how to store yours the right way.
1. Never rest it on the brim
Set your hat upside down on its crown, or hang it from a hat rack by the crown. Laying a hat flat on its brim slowly flattens the curve you or your hatter shaped into it.
2. Keep it cool, dry and out of the sun
Heat and humidity loosen felt and the sweatband, and direct sunlight fades color and dries out straw. A closet shelf away from windows, heaters and car dashboards is far better than a hot truck cab.
3. Clean it before you put it away
Brush felt counter-clockwise with a soft hat brush to lift dust, and let a damp sweatband air-dry fully before storing. Putting a hat away dirty or damp invites stains and odor.
4. Don't stack anything on it
Even light weight pressed on a crown for weeks can dent the pinch or crease. Give each hat its own space on the shelf.
5. Use a hard case for long-term storage and travel
Soft hat boxes and cardboard keep dust off, but they crush under luggage and don't hold the hat still. A rigid case that supports the hat from inside protects both the crown and the brim.
Storing and traveling with the Mavericrest
We built the Mavericrest for exactly this problem. Its crush-proof hard shell takes the bumps of luggage and truck beds. Inside, an adjustable bracket holds your crown in place so the hat never rests on its brim. Lockable latches keep it closed. It fits crowns up to 5″ and brims up to 4.5″, and it's sized to fly as a carry-on at 18.5″ × 17.3″ × 9.5″.
Shop the Mavericrest — $89