Just like an old pair of jeans you can wear on your head, this hat is soft but not suitable to be worn as pants. But please, that is not why these hats are distressed (which is very different than if they were stressed). These hats come broken in, soft, and with a couple subtle deburred edges. I like to think this is the kind of hat a movie producer wears on set...maybe a favorite of someone like Steven Spielberg. Come to think of it; we'll send him some even though he doesn't shave. It's that kind of hat. I know, more confused than ever.