6 Akubras, 3 Borsalinos, or one Custom!?

[jwalls]

Some of the vintage hat that I have purchased have come with a 'Chicago wind string'. These things are great for those folks who need to keep thier hat on in bad weather.

 

[bolthead]

I like the variety (Vintage), but I don't own a custom yet....other than the one I made for myself.

 

[Lefty]

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

You need those two Es for "awesome".

 

[CRH]

...
c. crotchetiness - why won't those whippersnappers and their akubras just keep it down?

Hey, Mr. Smart Mouth, front and center and keep your hands up!

Actually I understand where you're coming from, Lefty.

The thing is I need to be fed now and Akubras are there for the pick'n at an affordable price point and have proven to be durable, stylish, and available in a cornucopia of colors. I'm basically one of the beginners that Deputy Swoopy was referring too earlier. Once I get my fill and become bored then I can concentrate on 'real hats.'

You can put your hands down now, Sir....lol

 

[elvisroe]

one hat to rule them all!!!

Obviously we'd all love to get around in individually styled custom jobs. I'd also love to drink nothing but 30 year old single malt scotch and vintage grange. For practical reasons we compromise.

For me, I'm still looking for the one hat to rule them all - and perhaps that will prove to be an expensive custom job but I'm with FFF in that until I win the jackpot I don't want to be afraid to wear my hats!

Buying vintage is also tough when you've got a big head - I like to think it's a sign of a larger more highly evolved brain There is certainly a larger market in the US but for us Down-Under the postage on ebay buys is a killer. A $35USD hat + $45 postage gets it up around the $100AUD mark so it's comparable to buying a new Akubra that I can try on first at my local hatters.

As for our convict roots...if you guys hadn't hated paying taxes so much and fought a civil war to avoid them then the King wouldn't have been forced to find a new dumping ground for England's unwanted and our little colony wouldn't have happened.

So no war of Independence no Akubras!

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Obviously we'd all love to get around in individually styled custom jobs

Not really, in my case. While I appreciate the skills of custom hatters today, I just don't get a charge out of modern hats. I consider them to be reproductions of the real things from the '30s and '40s. If I were a millionaire, I'd go about obtaining my old fedoras just the same way I have.

Buying vintage is also tough when you've got a big head

This is the crux of the biscuit. Akubras and customs are great solutions to those with size 7-1/2 and up who seek a classic looking fedora. Also for those who like brand new, clean, previously unworn items.

 

[rlk]

I'm mostly in agreement with Gene on this. There's something special about a hat with a history even if(and perhaps because) it remains unknown. The variety and quality is hard to match for the(any) price--For those individuals with vintage size(munchkin or pin) heads the price incentive must be near irresistable. The experience of the hat and researching it can enhance its enjoyment and its hard for a new item to generate the same level of interest and excitement. I like the tremendous potential range of styles through history and international and regional tastes and don't see finding "the hat" as an option for me. For those who cannot achieve a decent fit or the desired variety the story is certainly different...

 

[HungaryTom]

7 5/8

This is the crux of the biscuit. Akubras and customs are great solutions to those with size 7-1/2 and up who seek a classic looking fedora. Also for those who like brand new, clean, previously unworn items.

Gene summarized my motivations-for which I had to pay the custom fee and the customs.[huh] But then I got two Akubra - which are really GREAT.

Tom

 

[daizawaguy]

But then I got two Akubra - which are really GREAT.

Tom

Which models did you go for?

 

[The Lark]

I bought one $130 AUD Akubra Fedora about 6 months ago and made sure it was carbon grey to go with my dark winter outfits. Couldn't be happier.

In summer I'm going to buy one Panama hat and a cream suit jacket to go with my light and breezy summer outfits (basically I want to emulate this guy).

Of course, I'm only young and still earning bugger all cash to really start investing in hats so I have to make sure I buy something versatile, which I have done.

 

[HungaryTom]

Which models did you go for?

Daizawaguy,

I got two Akubra squatters from Cookie - they were vintage deadstock felts, a few years old and never worn. Cookie told that they are Imperial grade - whatever that means with Akubra - I can only say that their felt is really excellent - dense and thick.
After the wild rabbits population collapsed, Akubra also sources from domestic rabbits which are of a different quality. Like my tan Tonak hat done in Budapest- the felt body is limp and thin. Totally different from the Akubras - as if it was not the same species. One is dark moss the other is bluegrass green. I think they are really nice and well done for a factory hat.

Regards:

Tom

P.S.: Thanks for the nice panama photos from Japan!!!