Akubra Campdraft or Miller DOuglas ?

[kaiser]

Hi everyone,

It was suggested in my other thread regarding a re-creasing of a current Stetson Open Road that I consider an Akubra Camp Draft. The Akubras are readily available so that is not a problem. In my search though I ran across the Miller Douglas which is also an Open Road style of Hat.

The question I have is, how does the Douglas compare to the Camp Draft ? Does anyone out there have the Douglas ? or both the Douglas and the Camp Draft ? Any comparisons or the quality of the Douglas compared to the Camp Draft ?

Thanks in advance for all of your help !

 

[gtdean48]

I posted a similar question back in December & didn't get any firsthand experience replies...
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=36360&highlight=miller+douglas

I think it is a good looking hat but could get almost 2 Campdrafts for that price.

 

[duggap]

Well the simple truth is tha Akruba makes the best factory produced hat on the market today. And their prices are very reasonable. They are know to be able to take a licking and keep on ticking.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Well the simple truth is tha Akruba makes the best factory produced hat on the market today. And their prices are very reasonable. They are know to be able to take a licking and keep on ticking.

:arated:

 

[Dewhurst]

Well the simple truth is tha Akruba makes the best factory produced hat on the market today.

How would one actually go about proving an assertion such as this?

 

[duggap]

Gosh, just read all the posts about Akruba hats here on the lounge. It seems most of the loungers own one or more of their hats. Use your search feature and look up some of the posts. Happy customers is about the best recommend you can get.

 

[John in Covina]

Akubra does make some swell hats and we have had a run of good exchange rates of the US $ to the Australian $ so ordering from Australia has an advantge. Plus the Campdraft is not carried in the US by any Akubra distributor.

As a value where the quality and the cost is considered, Akubra's are a good value. As mentioned above , the history of Fedora Loungers experience with the quality, construction, and long life of these hats has shown as very positive and enjoyable. There are very few times where you will see a complaint about the hat, maybe about the wait or the shipper but not about the hat.

I have 3 Akubra's now. From David Morgan a Squatter in Moonstone a Blue Green Grey color and an all out favorite to wear. (I wear it the most of any hat I own.) It's eithe 2-1/2 or 3-1/2 years old, needs a brushing and still breaking in a bit.

A Bushman bought at the same time as above from DM, this is my outdoors hat for summer sun and winter rains. Neat hat still very new.

A Campdraft from the Hattery in Australia. I got back at Xmas but just put a bash to it and started wearing it recently.

All 3 came with an open crown and I bashed them as I saw fit. I wear my other hats but in rotation the Akubra's get the most use over Dobbs Stetson Hueckle Borsalino and such. THey are in a way a worry free hat, not so expensive you'd cry at their destruction although more likely to be at the loss of an old friend really.

I can't say anything bad about the Miller, many people have bought some really nice hats from them and they are a fine supplier. I don't have experience with them but others relate a positive experience in the hat threads.

 

[CRH]

This is no contest...

Campdraft wins!

Here are some photos of a Campdraft next to a shrunken Miller Amherst, a Douglas with a leather band instead of a ribbon.

The Miller has Biltmore's Presidential finish with is nice and smooth, but turns out to be a little whimpy.

The Campdraft is rough and tough .

 

[FurFeltFedora]

Good grief CRH - that's some shrinkage worthy of George Costanza!!

 

[kaiser]

Well I have decided to go with the Akubra Campdraft from Hatsdirect. All of the good comments about the Akubra, along with the good price and value made me decide to go for it.

I will still be on the look out for a vintage Open Road, or Open Road clone, but I think that the Akubra will serve it's purpose as a Hat that I will wear on a rgular basis.

Again, thanks for all of your comments and advice that helped me to make my decision.

 

[gtdean48]

Well I have decided to go with the Akubra Campdraft from Hatsdirect. All of the good comments about the Akubra, along with the good price and value made me decide to go for it.

I will still be on the look out for a vintage Open Road, or Open Road clone, but I think that the Akubra will serve it's purpose as a Hat that I will wear on a rgular basis.

Again, thanks for all of your comments and advice that helped me to make my decision.

Good decision & good hunting for the OR/OR Clone. I just got a Resistol OR Clone out the Bay for $30. They are out there, just need a good cast & set the hook!

 

[Dewhurst]

Gosh, just read all the posts about Akruba hats here on the lounge.

Yeah, I was really concentrating on "the best" in the sentence.

I have owned one Akubra hat, the Sydney. But that hat would certainly not lead me to believe that they make "the best" factory hats.

Still, good hats all the same. (Although mine had a manufacturing defect that required it to be returned)

 

[CRH]

Good grief CRH - that's some shrinkage worthy of George Costanza!!

That Miller is the first felt that has ever shriveled up on me. I can't fix it.

It's surely in need of a professional reblock. I suspect I just need to contact Miller Hats.