From Straw to Felt: The Cowboy’s September Switch

September doesn’t announce itself with fireworks. It creeps in quiet. The cicadas hum a little lower at dusk, the wind carries the smell of cut hay instead of dust, and the first cool mornings make the steam rise off your coffee cup a little longer. Out here, that’s the sign: summer’s on the run, and it’s time for a change.

And just like the season, a cowboy knows when to trade the light rustle of straw for the weight and warmth of felt.

The Feel of the Switch

You can feel the difference the moment your hand settles on the crown. Straw is light, almost hollow. It whispers in your hands, flexible, the kind of hat that lets the breeze slip through on a sweltering day. Felt is different. It’s solid, steady, with just enough give to mold to your shape. When you set it down over your brow, you feel anchored, ready for fall, ready for the work ahead.

The Sound of the Arena

At a September rodeo, you can hear the change. The slap of straw brims against jeans gives way to the heavier thud of felt brushing shoulders as cowboys nod to the gate. The announcer’s voice echoes under the arena lights, a little sharper in the crisp night air. And when the crowd roars, you see those felt brims tip down in respect to the ride.

The Taste of Tradition

There’s an unspoken flavor to the season. Smoky brisket carried from the concession stand, the bite of whiskey after a long day, and the earthy tang of leather reins in your hands. Felt belongs here. It tastes of campfires, of rain clouds rolling across a wide-open pasture, of nights that start with music and end with dust on your boots.

The Sight of Style

Every cowboy wears his hat a little different, but come fall, felt sharpens the look. It’s more than warmth, it’s a statement. At the county fair dance, felt brims sweep across the floor under the glow of string lights. At the ranch, the sight of a sweat-stained felt says work got done that day. Some cowboys wear them year-round, some switch with the weather, and some follow the event. But every felt tells a story the way straw never quite can.

Your Next Chapter

The season has changed, and so should your hat. Whether you’re dusting off the felt you’ve had for years or looking to add a fresh one to the rack, now’s the time. At TCR Ranch Wear, we’ve got the kind of felts that carry the smell of rain, the look of heritage, and the feel of cowboy tradition stitched into every brim.

Tip your straw one last time. Pull down your felt.

Stay Punchy and shop your next felt with TCR Ranch Wear.