Akubra Campdraft

[KY Crusader]

Alright, here is my first attempt to bash a hat.
New camp draft in bluegrass green.

Before and after bashing.



Did not use steam, just creased it to get an idea!

Before
View attachment 44458

After View attachment 44459

Next, will try steam and get a better shape.

That really does look good. And I love the BG Green!

 

[KY Crusader]

I've always felt that if someone wants a symmetrical crease why not just go buy a block creased hat ... never been a fan of those myself ... at all

that is the entire charm of an open crown hat in my opinion ... the nonchalance if you wish

looks great on you

wear it out in the rain a couple times ... it will soften right up

these hats get better with age

Moon, I hear what you're saying. Rustic is cool sometimes.

 

[moontheloon]

Moon, I hear what you're saying. Rustic is cool sometimes.

does this guy look concerned with symmetry ?

this is how you wear a hat if you ask me ... which no one does ... so ...

 

[belfastboy]

Yes, I am trying to get over my need for symmetry and order, so far unsuccessfully, but not yet ready to give up.

 

[Bob Roberts]

does this guy look concerned with symmetry ?

this is how you wear a hat if you ask me ... which no one does ... so ...

Look at that grin. Hes more concerned with the broads symmetry.

 

[Zombie_61]

does this guy look concerned with symmetry ?

This. I do try to get the initial crease on my hats to be reasonably symmetrical, but after that I let nature take it's course and allow them to develop their own character. Besides, examine a few hats in movies from the 30s and 40s and you realize pretty quickly that "sloppy" creases were quite common.

 

[moontheloon]

This. I do try to get the initial crease on my hats to be reasonably symmetrical, but after that I let nature take it's course and allow them to develop their own character. Besides, examine a few hats in movies from the 30s and 40s and you realize pretty quickly that "sloppy" creases were quite common.

I notice that on my hats from that era ... with the felt being much softer it will change when bumped or held a certain way ...
I usually crease it up ... eyeball it to get it semi even ... then just let it live with all the lumps and bumps and pinches from grabbing it that develop naturally.
they end up looking great to my eyes.
I'm pretty sure that is what we are seeing in those movies as well

 

[Duper]

I like something individual or organic and that would be the basis of my buying open crown hats but I still like symmetry. Also I agree with moontheloon that the softer felt of the era allowed this more casual look to happen. I have a Akubra Fedora (Sydney) that I crease initially when I put it on and then what ever happens, happens. I don't think I would mold a new stiff Campdraft into something permanently bent sideways. And I definitely would not go all Pharrell Williams on any of my hats.

,,,Mike in Canada

 

[Gabe Long]

After months of waiting, SBCD has arrived. This thing is stiff, but he took this dry bash from an amateur with no problems.

We all know pictures are terrible for color accuracy on these. It's closest to the noggin pic.

Brims up, ya'll.

 

[rclark]

After months of waiting, SBCD has arrived. This thing is stiff, but he took this dry bash from an amateur with no problems.

We all know pictures are terrible for color accuracy on these. It's closest to the noggin pic.

Brims up, ya'll.

Looks great, Gabe! Hard to beat a Campdraft!

 

[hatophile]

Great job on the crease Gabe.

 

[Gabe Long]

I'm still fiddling with the crease (aren't we all, always), but I'm surprised how easily it shaped after reading through this thread. It's very stiff but will keep its shape.

 

[rclark]

I'm still fiddling with the crease (aren't we all, always), but I'm surprised how easily it shaped after reading through this thread. It's very stiff but will keep its shape.

Is it Imperial grade or Heritage grade felt? I found that the Imperial grade is quite a bit easier to dry crease. The Heritage is very nice too but really needs steam to crease it.

 

[Gabe Long]

Is it Imperial grade or Heritage grade felt? I found that the Imperial grade is quite a bit easier to dry crease. The Heritage is very nice too but really needs steam to crease it.

Imperial quality from Sam at EA.

 

[moontheloon]

Great bash.... And it will soften up
Wear it in the rain a couple times .... After rain is a great time to tighten up the crease as well

 

[Fed in a Fedora]

I can only vouch from my experience, but my mid-brown RM lid has zero green cast to it.

The hat arrived and I see no green in it. A deep brown with edge tones of a gray hint in certain lights. This is exaggerated in the photos. Very nice color. Sadly, the hat is not size 58. I can put my whole double extra large hand between my head and the sweatband with the hat at eyebrow level. It rests over my ears and does not touch my head at the sweatband when set on my head. I would guess that this is at least a size 60 - likely larger.

The hat comes with the rear turned down and the flange is less than Campdrafts. I prefer it this way as it looks good and protects the back of my neck. It is a bit of work to train a Campdraft to do this.

Not thrilled at eating the return shipping and repeating the long wait for a replacement. Akubra has some quality control issues which need addressing ASAP.

I took one photo in open sun and another in filtered sun to allow any green to show through. They are both much lighter than the hat actually looks in person.

 

[tropicalbob]

Is it Imperial grade or Heritage grade felt? I found that the Imperial grade is quite a bit easier to dry crease. The Heritage is very nice too but really needs steam to crease it.

Same here.

 

[Bob Roberts]

View attachment 45241 View attachment 45242

The hat arrived and I see no green in it. A deep brown with edge tones of a gray hint in certain lights. This is exaggerated in the photos. Very nice color. Sadly, the hat is not size 58. I can put my whole double extra large hand between my head and the sweatband with the hat at eyebrow level. It rests over my ears and does not touch my head at the sweatband when set on my head. I would guess that this is at least a size 60 - likely larger.

The hat comes with the rear turned down and the flange is less than Campdrafts. I prefer it this way as it looks good and protects the back of my neck. It is a bit of work to train a Campdraft to do this.

Not thrilled at eating the return shipping and repeating the long wait for a replacement. Akubra has some quality control issues which need addressing ASAP.

I took one photo in open sun and another in filtered sun to allow any green to show through. They are both much lighter than the hat actually looks in person.

Shouldn't the seller pay for return shipping if the hat size is mislabeled?

 

[Gabe Long]

Here's a quick liner shot. My last akubra sported a salmon liner. This one is a rusty orange. Both are lovely.

 

[Zombie_61]

Here's a quick liner shot. My last akubra sported a salmon liner. This one is a rusty orange...

All of my Akubras have white liners except for my Bluegrass Green Campdraft, which has an orange liner like yours. It makes me wonder if they make a conscious decision to use a particular color for a particular hat, if it's completely random and they just use the next one on the stack, use whatever they have in stock regardless of color, or...?