I own the same hats in straw. You really get what you pay for. I will never bother to buy the 6X straw again. The 10 X quality is so much better. Living in Tucson Arizona nobody follows the Easter to Labor Day rules. If the weather is warm outside I wear a straw hat. If the weather is cooler than 68° I’m probably wearing a felt hat. I own a natural non-vented open road in 10 X.
I’m also a Tucson Open Road wearer. Brim is snug enough for gardening. Big enough to cover my ears and squelch the squint. Perfect subdued western spirit pruned for continental sportswear.
They are both good looking hats, but I agree, the 10X is the better buy for not that much more money. And thanks for the history lesson. I was vaguely familiar with the straw hat riots, but I appreciate the refresher course.
I wear my Resistol straw cattleman crown from Easter to October. Looks like a Texas Ranger hat like Jeff Bridges in Hell or High Water. But come fall I wear John Wayne’s Stetson Peace Maker (thanks to you) and I love it!!!😊
I bought the 10X in chocolate this past summer. I bought it for no other reason than the ventilation. I paid around $110 delivered. It has held up very well so far. Comfortable on the sweltering Kansas summer days. Thanks for the information about this hat as well as the cool history lesson! Finally SUBSCRIBED.
Thanks for all the hat history. Very interesting. I recently gave my son a 40 year old Stetson 4x felt hat. I wonder if a hat of that era would be more like a 6 or 10X hat of today.
Very informative video. I’m looking for something to wear while hiking that isn’t one of those ugly floppy nylon hats, glad I saw your video before purchasing one of these.
Just recently found your channel, and i enjoy it very much. I recieved my Stetson 10x Open Road straw vented hat today. I ordered a 71/4 wich the salesperson on the phone suggested, I normally wear a 71/8. This is my first Stetson hat other than my Stetson cowboy hat which I perchased at a local saddlery, which I use for cowboy action. Once I was over the initial beauty of my new Open Road 10x hat I could have not been more disappointed. Fist when I put the hat on it fell over my ears, I fixed that issue with hat sizers. When i was checking out the hat in the mirror the crown looked all cockeyed. Upon further examintion I realized the vented band that goes around the hat was a inch higher on one side than the other. Needless to say the hat is going back. Totally unexceptable for a $185.00 hat. I also have a grey milan Stratoliner coming, I hope I have better results with it in 71/8. look forward to your future videos.
The straw Open Roads are made in Mexico, not in Garland, Texas like Stetson's felt hats, and I have read and seen photos of occasional quality control issues on various Facebook pages and subreddits. You would think that Stetson would catch the ones with flaws before distribution, but apparently the inspectors are not quite as stringent as necessary. None of my many Stetson straw hats have had issues - except for one that was crushed during shipping - so fingers are crossed that yours pass muster in the future. Many thanks for watching!
More videos please. These are great and I love the history you offer with each item. At the Oklahoma City Cowboy and Western Heritage museum has a whole hat display!
I just purchased the Open Road 6x felt and have the 6x straw. Incredible story about the straw riots! Unreal to think people were beaten and killed over their hat choice. Bizarre!
Better yet, take us on a close up tour of the items in the man cave cabinet displays. I see an Alamo diorama? Fire engine? Tall guy statue? DC comic characters. Plus a really cool amount of little solider figures. Would love to hear more about them and why you selected them. Thanks!
I've thought about such a tour but wasn't sure if folks would be that interested. I may get a wild hair and film it one day. Thanks for the suggestion.
I have just purchase day first stetson open road stray vented hat. as a new Zealander with an American fiancé its such a honour town such a piece of American history and culture. It awaits me at her house in Florida where I'll land in two weeks to take a cruise with her then whisk her back to NZ stetson on my head ! love the channel.just subscribed and playing catchup
Be careful, Bubba, Stetson Open Roads are like a drug...once you get hooked, you'll want all of them. Thank you for watching from New Zealand. Safe travels, and God bless.
@@historynerdsmancave7567 oh I can understand that . I’m already looking at felt version for winter here haha . Keep up the great work . Your a fountain of knowledge and history ,
Thanks for the great history on the straw hats. It was thoroughly enjoyable. The open road is a nice hat, but I think in a straw hat I prefer something larger. Well done!
Thank you again for the informative content. I had no idea about National Straw and National Felt Hat Days, but I will certainly remember it in the future, and I will pass it on to my students.
Glad you're passing on the history. There's lots of interesting information about National Felt Hat Day and the Felt Hat Riot of 1922 if you look for it online.
Excellent video, thanks. Because these are paper hats, does that mean they are ‘lacking’ in any way compared to real straw hats? Why isn’t there an open road made from actual straw (aside from the hemp)? Would they simply be much more expensive or is there another reason?
They are good, high quality hats, and unless someone like me tells you that "shantung straw" means paper straw, you really can't tell much difference between these and real straw. I do think these are a bit more durable than real straw. I made a video on my channel about the Stetson Adventurer, which is an actual straw hat, and it discusses the difference between that one and the 10X Stetson Open Road in this video.
I'm obviously partial to Stetsons, as you can tell from my channel, and they make several nice Panama straw hats, including some with Toquilla straw, so you should check those out. I'd also look at the Stetsons made out of hemp - the Open Road and the Stratoliner. Though I don't own one, I've heard several good things about them.
I have an old silver belly felt open road that was passed on to me that belonged to my great grandfather. It has 10 x's in it in a line (xxxxxxxxxx)and an old tag I gather was from the union that was making them prior to 1983. I can't seam to find anything on the 10 X's in this style hat only the straw hats in 10 x. An information on that. I honestly don't ware it cause it's in almost perfect condition and hate to mess it up, but I'll find an occasion one day to pull it out. Thanks.
Send an email to Stetson and ask if they can provide you any information. I emailed Lucchese about a pair of 20 year old boots that I bought, and they provided me lots of information about them, including the original retail price.
Whats yourr thoughts on the pure open rd vs the 6x open rd? It needs to be nice when I go out, but I will work in it too.. thoughts on stiffness, quality difference for almost $200 price difference?
If you're going to work in it, I'd stick with the 6X rather than a 100% beaver fur hat that costs almost $500. I own both the 6X and the Royal Deluxe Open Road felt hats and am very pleased with both, so I don't see the need for me to purchase the Pure version. One of my first videos was a review of the Royal Deluxe Open Road and the history of the hat, and you can find it here: th-cam.com/video/PU3Wrxf1FS4/w-d-xo.html
@historynerdsmancave7567 ive seen it, you do great vids. Thx for the input.. I have a 2x bailey I have worn off and on since '92. I really think the 6x will do it, but Im 53 now and an really thinking about a great hat. Kinda like jumpin my dirty ass up onto the leather seats of a king ranch f150 I didnt really need... lol
I have to say I like your show! I liked this episode a lot. It was full of great history. Myself, I have a Panama hat, and I'm looking to add more quality hats to start a collection. When I was in college I wrote a brief economic break down of the Panama Hat trade. I'm wondering if more guys will start wearing straw hats in the warmer months due to climate change? Best Regards
Thanks for the kind words. It was 75 degrees where I live today, so I wore a Stetson Rancher straw hat to work. The predicted high on Friday is 50, which means I’ll be back in fur felt. At least I’m getting to use all of the hats in my collection thanks to the temperature swings…
@@historynerdsmancave7567 I'm up north and the recent temps are low 30's-mid 40s. I'll be wearing my wool beanies for a bit longer. Keep up the great content!
There are still people around who think it's their business if someone is wearing a hat, let alone the style or material. I've worn Western hats all my life and everywhere I've lived (grew up in Georgia and served in the Navy for 23 years), yet only when I settled in Colorado did anyone think it was strange or any of their damned business. For my nicer hats, I have two customs made by Colorado Mountain Hat Co. in Fairplay, Colorado - one in Silver Mist (in my photo) and another in black. I also have two Resistol Quarter Horse hats, one straw, and one fur felt in Silver Belly. I plan to shift to Open Roads in early 2025 when I move into emeritus/elder statesman status.
That's a fine looking hat, Commissioner. Like you, I have a buttload of hats - all of them are Stetsons in honor of my late father who was brand loyal - but on most days I default to one of my many Open Roads. Appreciate you sharing your insights and watching my channel.
"The myth (that most of the body's heat escapes through the head) is thought to have arisen through a flawed interpretation of a vaguely scientific experiment by the US military in the 1950s." Ian Sample, science correspondent for the Guardian, 17 Dec 2008.
Nice comparison. The 6X is hot garbage. Don’t waste your money, folks. I had one for a while and gave it away. Looks cheap. Feels cheap. Traps the heat, like the gentleman said. My vented felt Akubra Cattleman is cooler in the summer.
I own the same hats in straw. You really get what you pay for. I will never bother to buy the 6X straw again. The 10 X quality is so much better. Living in Tucson Arizona nobody follows the Easter to Labor Day rules. If the weather is warm outside I wear a straw hat. If the weather is cooler than 68° I’m probably wearing a felt hat. I own a natural non-vented open road in 10 X.
I’m also a Tucson Open Road wearer. Brim is snug enough for gardening. Big enough to cover my ears and squelch the squint. Perfect subdued western spirit pruned for continental sportswear.
They are both good looking hats, but I agree, the 10X is the better buy for not that much more money. And thanks for the history lesson. I was vaguely familiar with the straw hat riots, but I appreciate the refresher course.
My uncle just purchased 2 Open Road hats today-1 straw and 1 felt. Very nice hat!
I wear my straw when it's warm regardless of the season. It's 74° in Alabama on January 19th. Straw it is.
I wear my Resistol straw cattleman crown from Easter to October. Looks like a Texas Ranger hat like Jeff Bridges in Hell or High Water. But come fall I wear John Wayne’s Stetson Peace Maker (thanks to you) and I love it!!!😊
I bought the 10X in chocolate this past summer. I bought it for no other reason than the ventilation. I paid around $110 delivered. It has held up very well so far. Comfortable on the sweltering Kansas summer days. Thanks for the information about this hat as well as the cool history lesson! Finally SUBSCRIBED.
Hello! Where'd you find it at that price?
Thanks for all the hat history. Very interesting. I recently gave my son a 40 year old Stetson 4x felt hat. I wonder if a hat of that era would be more like a 6 or 10X hat of today.
I discussed that very topic in my last video on the John Wayne Peacemaker hat unboxing.
Very informative video. I’m looking for something to wear while hiking that isn’t one of those ugly floppy nylon hats, glad I saw your video before purchasing one of these.
Just recently found your channel, and i enjoy it very much. I recieved my Stetson 10x Open Road straw vented hat today. I ordered a 71/4 wich the salesperson on the phone suggested, I normally wear a 71/8. This is my first Stetson hat other than my Stetson cowboy hat which I perchased at a local saddlery, which I use for cowboy action. Once I was over the initial beauty of my new Open Road 10x hat I could have not been more disappointed. Fist when I put the hat on it fell over my ears, I fixed that issue with hat sizers. When i was checking out the hat in the mirror the crown looked all cockeyed. Upon further examintion I realized the vented band that goes around the hat was a inch higher on one side than the other. Needless to say the hat is going back. Totally unexceptable for a $185.00 hat. I also have a grey milan Stratoliner coming, I hope I have better results with it in 71/8. look forward to your future videos.
The straw Open Roads are made in Mexico, not in Garland, Texas like Stetson's felt hats, and I have read and seen photos of occasional quality control issues on various Facebook pages and subreddits. You would think that Stetson would catch the ones with flaws before distribution, but apparently the inspectors are not quite as stringent as necessary. None of my many Stetson straw hats have had issues - except for one that was crushed during shipping - so fingers are crossed that yours pass muster in the future. Many thanks for watching!
But it’s still over 100 degrees in September here in Arizona. I’m not wearing felt yet.
More videos please. These are great and I love the history you offer with each item. At the Oklahoma City Cowboy and Western Heritage museum has a whole hat display!
That museum sounds like my kind of place.
Love this channel.
Great video. Nice hats! Thanks
Wow! That’s a lot of information
Great content, I own a old Stetson cowboy felt from the 1970s and Stratoliner straw and Open Road felt,looking for a Open Road I. Hemp or the 10x
Very interesting and entertaining. Thank you for your great work with the videos.Kind Regards from Germany
I just purchased the Open Road 6x felt and have the 6x straw. Incredible story about the straw riots! Unreal to think people were beaten and killed over their hat choice. Bizarre!
Better yet, take us on a close up tour of the items in the man cave cabinet displays. I see an Alamo diorama? Fire engine? Tall guy statue? DC comic characters. Plus a really cool amount of little solider figures. Would love to hear more about them and why you selected them. Thanks!
I've thought about such a tour but wasn't sure if folks would be that interested. I may get a wild hair and film it one day. Thanks for the suggestion.
I was wondering which one to buy, and now I know. Thank you Sir!
Made my day with that comment, Bubba!
Nicely done Sir
I have just purchase day first stetson open road stray vented hat. as a new Zealander with an American fiancé its such a honour town such a piece of American history and culture. It awaits me at her house in Florida where I'll land in two weeks to take a cruise with her then whisk her back to NZ stetson on my head ! love the channel.just subscribed and playing catchup
Be careful, Bubba, Stetson Open Roads are like a drug...once you get hooked, you'll want all of them. Thank you for watching from New Zealand. Safe travels, and God bless.
@@historynerdsmancave7567 oh I can understand that . I’m already looking at felt version for winter here haha . Keep up the great work . Your a fountain of knowledge and history ,
This video just confirmed my decision! My 10X should be here any minute now!!!
David you are the original “Beard of Knowledge” long before that other guy stole your face.
Thanks for the great history on the straw hats. It was thoroughly enjoyable. The open road is a nice hat, but I think in a straw hat I prefer something larger. Well done!
There’s lots of interesting history out there if you just go look for it. It’s hard to believe NYC had a riot erupt over straw hats…but it did.
Thank you again for the informative content. I had no idea about National Straw and National Felt Hat Days, but I will certainly remember it in the future, and I will pass it on to my students.
Glad you're passing on the history. There's lots of interesting information about National Felt Hat Day and the Felt Hat Riot of 1922 if you look for it online.
I very much enjoy your history lessons. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for watching, Bubba.
Another wonderful hat story and informative review of straw hats. Always enjoy your videos and look forward to more down the road.
Many thanks for the kind words.
Thank you for another great video!
Excellent video, thanks. Because these are paper hats, does that mean they are ‘lacking’ in any way compared to real straw hats? Why isn’t there an open road made from actual straw (aside from the hemp)? Would they simply be much more expensive or is there another reason?
They are good, high quality hats, and unless someone like me tells you that "shantung straw" means paper straw, you really can't tell much difference between these and real straw. I do think these are a bit more durable than real straw. I made a video on my channel about the Stetson Adventurer, which is an actual straw hat, and it discusses the difference between that one and the 10X Stetson Open Road in this video.
@@historynerdsmancave7567 Thank you!
I sure wish this channel would get the hemp variant, I love mine and would love to get the comparison between all the different models :)
Good information, thanks for posting it>
Why no one has the Resistol Quarter Horse 60 ..unboxing and try on
Hello,I’m going on a cruise ship this summer,what type of hat can I wear if any?
I'm obviously partial to Stetsons, as you can tell from my channel, and they make several nice Panama straw hats, including some with Toquilla straw, so you should check those out. I'd also look at the Stetsons made out of hemp - the Open Road and the Stratoliner. Though I don't own one, I've heard several good things about them.
Thank you very much
Thanks, good info, maybe somtime you'll do one about rest of straws like BANGORA, TOYO , MILAN ;)
I have an old silver belly felt open road that was passed on to me that belonged to my great grandfather. It has 10 x's in it in a line (xxxxxxxxxx)and an old tag I gather was from the union that was making them prior to 1983. I can't seam to find anything on the 10 X's in this style hat only the straw hats in 10 x. An information on that. I honestly don't ware it cause it's in almost perfect condition and hate to mess it up, but I'll find an occasion one day to pull it out. Thanks.
Send an email to Stetson and ask if they can provide you any information. I emailed Lucchese about a pair of 20 year old boots that I bought, and they provided me lots of information about them, including the original retail price.
@@historynerdsmancave7567 I'll give that a try. Interesting history in the video. Thanks
Whats yourr thoughts on the pure open rd vs the 6x open rd? It needs to be nice when I go out, but I will work in it too.. thoughts on stiffness, quality difference for almost $200 price difference?
If you're going to work in it, I'd stick with the 6X rather than a 100% beaver fur hat that costs almost $500. I own both the 6X and the Royal Deluxe Open Road felt hats and am very pleased with both, so I don't see the need for me to purchase the Pure version. One of my first videos was a review of the Royal Deluxe Open Road and the history of the hat, and you can find it here: th-cam.com/video/PU3Wrxf1FS4/w-d-xo.html
@historynerdsmancave7567 ive seen it, you do great vids. Thx for the input.. I have a 2x bailey I have worn off and on since '92. I really think the 6x will do it, but Im 53 now and an really thinking about a great hat. Kinda like jumpin my dirty ass up onto the leather seats of a king ranch f150 I didnt really need... lol
Can the brim be turned down on the open road straw hat? Or does it only stay up?
It's not a snap brim. You can have it steamed to be flatter or down, but you can't snap it up and down.
Did the hat fit your regular size? I've read you should get a size larger for the straw.
They do fit just a bit more snugly than their felt counterparts, but since I wear a 7-3/4, it ain't possible for the ol' History Nerd to size up.
Awesome video love the hats
I have to say I like your show! I liked this episode a lot. It was full of great history. Myself, I have a Panama hat, and I'm looking to add more quality hats to start a collection. When I was in college I wrote a brief economic break down of the Panama Hat trade. I'm wondering if more guys will start wearing straw hats in the warmer months due to climate change? Best Regards
Thanks for the kind words. It was 75 degrees where I live today, so I wore a Stetson Rancher straw hat to work. The predicted high on Friday is 50, which means I’ll be back in fur felt. At least I’m getting to use all of the hats in my collection thanks to the temperature swings…
@@historynerdsmancave7567 I'm up north and the recent temps are low 30's-mid 40s. I'll be wearing my wool beanies for a bit longer. Keep up the great content!
“The giant 7 3/4 size” man that hurts. My fitted hat size is 7 5/8. Hat shopping is difficult for me
I bought a Stetson Milan Stratoliner hat but what is Milan Straw?
If you don’t mind me asking what is the location of the cavenders you took it to?
Birmingham, Alabama
You remind me a little of Clonel Sanders. 😉
10X now in cognac
There are still people around who think it's their business if someone is wearing a hat, let alone the style or material. I've worn Western hats all my life and everywhere I've lived (grew up in Georgia and served in the Navy for 23 years), yet only when I settled in Colorado did anyone think it was strange or any of their damned business. For my nicer hats, I have two customs made by Colorado Mountain Hat Co. in Fairplay, Colorado - one in Silver Mist (in my photo) and another in black. I also have two Resistol Quarter Horse hats, one straw, and one fur felt in Silver Belly. I plan to shift to Open Roads in early 2025 when I move into emeritus/elder statesman status.
That's a fine looking hat, Commissioner. Like you, I have a buttload of hats - all of them are Stetsons in honor of my late father who was brand loyal - but on most days I default to one of my many Open Roads. Appreciate you sharing your insights and watching my channel.
Tell us about Superman behind you and other DC Comic heroes
interesting
"The myth (that most of the body's heat escapes through the head) is thought to have arisen through a flawed interpretation of a vaguely scientific experiment by the US military in the 1950s." Ian Sample, science correspondent for the Guardian, 17 Dec 2008.
The hat industry must have been Hugh back in those days.
Nice comparison. The 6X is hot garbage. Don’t waste your money, folks. I had one for a while and gave it away. Looks cheap. Feels cheap. Traps the heat, like the gentleman said. My vented felt Akubra Cattleman is cooler in the summer.
Steamed the 🐈 out of your hat. 😂
After LBJ wore one of those....nope