6 Akubras, 3 Borsalinos, or one Custom!?

[daizawaguy]

I was interested in the thread posted on the various shades of grey that the Akubra comes in. It`s an interesting psychology that once you get the bug, you don`t stop at one shade of what is avaliable, you go for the full range avaliable. Now I`m not pointing any fingers (I`m to blame myself) but the reality is...what gives you more pleasure at the end of the journey...6 like hats, or a very very nice one (let`s say a custom)!?

Interested to know peoples thoughts on this...!!

 

[FurFeltFedora]

Well having the standard Fed IVs in all shades and moving that way for the Campdraft, I'd have to say I'd prefer more of the same than just one expensive one. But that goes back to my original philosophy that no matter how nice or how deserving of the cost, I won't buy a hat that runs me more than $150. It's not that I'm cheap, it's that just I've already sat on one hat my accident and had at least 3 get blown off my head. I don't want to see my $650 AB rolling down the road and I don't want to be afraid to wear a hat either. So I'd go with many similar ones. Besides, it's cool to say you have them all

 

[daizawaguy]

Understood! As I say, I`m `guilty` here myself...just interested in how people feel. Wear them in health

 

[gtdean48]

I got the 6 Akubras then went for the 1 Custom, which I'd choose over 3 Borsalinos any day. I actually got 2 Customs, 1 from Art & 1 from Major Mike. I'm not sure I could land a vintage Borsalino that I'd want for what a custom would cost me.
Just starting out, I'd definately go 6 good Akubras over 3 Borsos or 1 Custom.
I do like the idea of different colors & some style variances, tho 3 of those Akubras would be Campdrafts in different colors.

 

[Spats McGee]

I think part of the answer depends on where you are in The Great Hat Journey. For someone starting out, I think a few basic staple hats (to go with a variety of outfits and weather conditions) is a good way to go. Once that's pinned down, I'd probably go with a custom. A new Borsalino is going to run $200+, and I don't even want to think about what a nice vintage Borsalino in my size would run . . . Not that I wouldn't like a Borsalino, by any means. I'm sure I'd enjoy it tremendously. I think I'd enjoy a new custom even more, though.

 

[memphislawyer]

I think part of the answer depends on where you are in The Great Hat Journey. For someone starting out, I think a few basic staple hats (to go with a variety of outfits and weather conditions) is a good way to go. Once that's pinned down, I'd probably go with a custom. A new Borsalino is going to run $200+, and I don't even want to think about what a nice vintage Borsalino in my size would run . . . Not that I wouldn't like a Borsalino, by any means. I'm sure I'd enjoy it tremendously. I think I'd enjoy a new custom even more, though.

That's sort what I am thinking. I am a newbie, and have one Panama Bob panama hat, and then a new Stetson Saxon. My Akubra Stylemaster should be here later this week, maybe in a week. After that, I may play around on here or ebay looking for a cheaper, vintage hat, but once I decide what I like, Ill probably go for a custom job. I mean, if a new Borsalino runs $200 plus and an Art Job is around $300, why not go custom? I guess a lot will depend on how satisfying it is to wear a hat, and if it is as much fun as I am having now, Id go up in price for that 'special' hat.

 

[Chuck Bobuck]

I was interested in the thread posted on the various shades of grey that the Akubra comes in. It`s an interesting psychology that once you get the bug, you don`t stop at one shade of what is avaliable, you go for the full range avaliable. Now I`m not pointing any fingers (I`m to blame myself) but the reality is...what gives you more pleasure at the end of the journey...6 like hats, or a very very nice one (let`s say a custom)!?

Interested to know peoples thoughts on this...!!

Since I provided the grey photos, I'll try to explain my reasoning. One of my first purchases was the moonstone Squatter from OFAS. It was so close in color to my grey trenchcoat, I thought I'd prefer a darker grey to avoid that uniform look. I really liked the open road hat, so I went with a Glen Grey CD when it came out. Great hat, but also wanted dark grey in a wide ribbon, so I bought the carbon Fed IV. It's not a big as the CD and it's a little more formal so it pairs well with my grey coat and a black raincoat. I also have two brown Akubra's, a taupe CD and a brown Fed. A couple of other non Akubras too. A grey Dobbs is one.

I have plenty of black, grey, blue, brown, and khaki in my wardrobe. The Akubras were a bargain and I feel like I have my basic hats in the colors and profiles I need/want. It is a little about having a bug and buying what you feel comfortable spending over time to cover the bases. IMO.

 

[kaosharper1]

I like hats to have different bashes, so they have different looks.

But when it comes to custom vs. production for me its largely a matter of fit. I now have 3 VS customs not only because it's neat to have a hat designed in collaboration with a great hatter but because they're the only ones that fit me properly. I have a round oval head, and with many standard sizes I distort the brims. So even if I like the hat and its in my size, it may not look or feel right.

So since I have a non-standard head, I prefer the custom hats but I think I'd feel differently if I had a standard oval.

 

[Lefty]

the stages of hat buying as experienced by lefty

stage one
for the newly interested wearer: cheap (<$60), though believing it to be expensive vintage - in a style that didn't interest me in a few months. at this stage, i was buying several hats per month (all of which I would later sell).

stage two
a. variety in vintage- graduation to wider brims, higher, and untapered crowns. (these were better, but they've still all been sold.) here, i was buying one hat every two months or so.
b. the mistake - buying a new borsalino. (no one would ever buy this for what I paid, so I wear it in the rain).
c. lots of learning - spending a lot of time on the lounge reading old posts, buying books on hats.

stage three
big money - custom (felt and panama) and better-educated vintage buys. at this point, it was still a hat every two to three months.

stage four
a. relax - now I'm buying one hat every 4 or 5 months with nothing over $80.
b. history - I'm far more interested in the backgrounds of my hats
c. crotchetiness - why won't those whippersnappers and their akubras just keep it down?

 

[RobStC]

I agree that there does seem to be a progression that a lot of us go through when it comes to what hat we buy - from 'starter' hats to cover the bases in colour coordinating and getting a sense of what works, to mid-grade for the next step up in quality, and then onto something pretty good, whether custom or high class vintage.

For me, this has taken the form of starting with two Fed IV Deluxes (Heritage Fawn and Moonstone), then on to two Adams Executives (Light Brown and Buckskin) plus a Homburg, Bowler, Panama and Linen en route, and most recently (still in process!) purchasing a Mallory Eight Fifty from a Lounger.

The jump in level, in $ terms, was about 50 % from Feds to Adams, and then about 350% from Adams to Mallory. If I keep going at this progression, I'll be bankrupt long before I get anywhere near the next stage !

So maybe after we've been through this progression once, we settle back a bit and find a happy medium? That's what I and my bank manager are hoping for, at least. Time will tell.....

Rob St.C

 

[duggap]

Well if you are paying $650 for a custom hat then maybe you are looking in the wrong place. I have several from Art and all were $305. Since I have never had a Borsolina vintage I can't compare my Como to them, but I think the new Como is a very nice hat. I have changed the crease several times without steam and whichever way I put it it seems to stay. And it is very lightweight.

 

[Dewhurst]

what gives you more pleasure at the end of the journey...6 like hats, or a very very nice one (let`s say a custom)!?

Any well fitting, comfortable, and reliable hat.

 

[Chuck Bobuck]

stage four
a. relax - now I'm buying one hat every 4 or 5 months with nothing over $80.
b. history - I'm far more interested in the backgrounds of my hats
c. crotchetiness - why won't those whippersnappers and their akubras just keep it down?

It must be aggravating when the Akubra hooligans drag you at gun point into their AKUBRA threads. [huh]
Remember: stage four a., stage four a., stage four a., (repeat)

 

[Lefty]

Kids are wearing their pants low to immitate inmates.
Loungers are buying hats from a prison colony.

I think you're all on dope.
Now keep it down.

 

[tortswon]

I must be wrong ....

I find myself totally in agreement with Lefty on this one. Time for a stiff drink. Best, Sam

 

[gtdean48]

Kids are wearing their pants low to immitate inmates.
Loungers are buying hats from a prison colony.

I think you're all on dope.
Now keep it down.

Uh, Georgia was a penal colony initially too. So I'm just helping my brother convicts on the other side of the globe...

 

[tortswon]

Uh, Georgia was a penal colony initially too.

If that's the case, how did WE wind up with Michael Vick? Best, Samfftopic:

 

[gtdean48]

If that's the case, how did WE wind up with Michael Vick? Best, Samfftopic:

You're closer to Virginia than we are???? [huh]
Seriously, you need to take that up with Tony Dungy I hear....fftopic:

 

[Lefty]

Uh, Georgia was a penal colony initially too.

That's pretty close to what I call it.

 

[gtdean48]

That's pretty close to what I call it.

And Buck-eye has lots of the letters I'd use to discuss Ohio!