Akubra Campdraft

[Bob Roberts]

Thanks Preacher. I did have it in a diamond shape. But it made it look like an Aussie hat to me rather than an old school fedora. That's what I'd more like it like. This being my first Open Crown I know it's not going to be perfect. It is for sure going to be my own expression! Haha.


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The 2nd take looks absolutely great. Keep in mind its not supposed to be perfect.

 

[Cap_7597]

The 2nd take looks absolutely great. Keep in mind its not supposed to be perfect.

Thanks Bob! I was going for not perfect. It went this way first try! I wet it down really good and it was like clay. I like the diamond much better!


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[Bob Roberts]

Thanks Bob! I was going for not perfect. It went this way first try! I wet it down really good and it was like clay. I like the diamond much better!


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Wlcm. So the 2nd try was perfectly not perfect.

 

[Cap_7597]

Wlcm. So the 2nd try was perfectly not perfect.

Haha. Yes


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[Preacher Man]

Wlcm. So the 2nd try was perfectly not perfect.

That's perfect!! Perfectly imperfect, that's the perfect crease! Good job!

 

[Rogera]

Remember, the felt on a brand-new Akubra will rarely respond to shaping the way the felt on vintage hats and/or customs like Moon's will, especially considering the amount of stiffener Akubra uses. I really like the diamond crease you've created, but for the hat to have that "lived in" look that Moon has so wonderfully achieved you'll probably have to live in it for a while.

As for the front crease, you might be right about the hat not liking it. Sometimes you have to "listen" to the hat to find out how it wants to be shaped. For the first two years I had my Tawny Fawn Campdraft I struggled with warming up to it. I wanted to like it as much as I liked my Silverbelly and Bluegrass Green Campdrafts, and re-shaped the crown a few times, but decided the color must be the reason I didn't like it. Then it hit me--it wasn't the crown or the color, it was the way I had shaped the brim. I like the front of the brim snapped way down on most of my hats, and they're fine with that, but it just didn't work for the Tawny Fawn. The hat wasn't happy with the way I'd shaped it, and I hadn't been listening. So I re-shaped the brim (and it was really a minor change), and the hat and I became inseparable. The hat was much happier, and so was I. It sounds strange, but wait until it happens to you.

That's pretty much the gospel on Akubra shaping.

 

[RJR]

That's pretty much the gospel on Akubra shaping.

Very true .

 

[Cap_7597]

Yeah Zombie, I've been fiddling with mine just about everyday.

It's amazing how much these conform to your head. I've been wearing mine for a couple of weeks and it fits perfectly. It's got a lot of rain the last week. Ha

I put on my Stetson OR (New Model) yesterday and it was like putting a box on my head.... Literally! I wore my CD today and it's like an old hat I've worn for years!!! Amazingly comfortable!!!

Going to email Sam tonight about a BGG!

Also thinking about the Heritage in SB from HatsDirect.
Does the sweat on the Heritage shrink up like the Imperial?


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[Cap_7597]

Oh, I meant to mention, just finished reading through this whole thread..... That was a mistake!!!!!

The CampDraft Acquisition Disorder has kicked in!!! (CDAD)

Then there is the Fed IV's.....


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[Zombie_61]

...Also thinking about the Heritage in SB from HatsDirect.
Does the sweat on the Heritage shrink up like the Imperial?

In my experience, no. But the Heritage Quality hats are also not as oversized as the Imperial Quality hats when they're new and unworn, so they don't need to shrink as much. Akubra seems to know just how much their sweatbands will shrink, and they take that into consideration when making their hats. That being said, I only have one Heritage Quality hat so my experience might differ from someone else's (which usually seems to be the case).

...Then there is the Fed IV's.....

I suggest starting with Tawny Fawn and/or Moonstone.

 

[Cap_7597]

In my experience, no. But the Heritage Quality hats are also not as oversized as the Imperial Quality hats when they're new and unworn, so they don't need to shrink as much. Akubra seems to know just how much their sweatbands will shrink, and they take that into consideration when making their hats. That being said, I only have one Heritage Quality hat so my experience might differ from someone else's (which usually seems to be the case).

I suggest starting with Tawny Fawn and/or Moonstone.

Thanks Zombie!!! I got the Blugrass ordered from Sam and the Moonstone Fed IV Deluxe from HD!!! Both in size 58.

That's what my Taupe Fawn CD is and its shrank up to fit perfectly!!!

My next will be the SB in either imperil or Deluxe. I'll see how I like the Fed first. Not sure when this purchase will take place though. I'll be in the dog house a while!!!! ..... I hope they don't show up on the same day!!! Hahahaha. That'll be bad... Hahah


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[Bob Roberts]

Thanks Zombie!!! I got the Blugrass ordered from Sam and the Moonstone Fed IV Deluxe from HD!!! Both in size 58.

That's what my Taupe Fawn CD is and its shrank up to fit perfectly!!!

My next will be the SB in either imperil or Deluxe. I'll see how I like the Fed first. Not sure when this purchase will take place though. I'll be in the dog house a while!!!! ..... I hope they don't show up on the same day!!! Hahahaha. That'll be bad... Hahah


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2 great hats. Did the same. Got my Bluegrass Green from Everything Australian and my Moonstone Fed from Hats Direct. I think you'll love them.

 

[Cap_7597]

2 great hats. Did the same. Got my Bluegrass Green from Everything Australian and my Moonstone Fed from Hats Direct. I think you'll love them.

Yours and Harvey's Feds are what sold me on the Moonstone! It looks like that hat will go with my black suit or my jeans and a button. Heck, you could probably wear a t shirt and shorts. Such a versatile color.

I like the width on that ribbon too.
Thanks.


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[Bob Roberts]

Yours and Harvey's Feds are what sold me on the Moonstone! It looks like that hat will go with my black suit or my jeans and a button. Heck, you could probably wear a t shirt and shorts. Such a versatile color.

I like the width on that ribbon too.
Thanks.


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Hey, thank you Cap.

 

[Sonero]

Gentlemen,

I need some assistance please.

I just received my Silverbelly Campdraft from EverythingAustralian.com. Nice quality felt.

1. This is my first open crown purchase. I did a quick bash by hand. It seems like I need to bash the top rather deep for the look I want. So much so that the hat won't fit properly since the low bash sits directly on my head. Do you recommend that I add sizing tape into the hat band or better adjust to a higher bash ?

2. It seems like the front does not want to snap down into fedora mode. Do I force this or do I need to bring it to a professional to steam it down ? If I do bring it to a professional will I be able to wear it up like I have in the picture ? I would like to keep both options.

3. Would the brim on a Stetson Open Road Royal Deluxe be the same size ?

Thanks so much.

 

[Eliesti]

View attachment 55596 View attachment 55597 Gentlemen,

I need some assistance please.

I just received my Silverbelly Campdraft from EverythingAustralian.com. Nice quality felt.

1. This is my first open crown purchase. I did a quick bash by hand. It seems like I need to bash the top rather deep for the look I want. So much so that the hat won't fit properly since the low bash sits directly on my head. Do you recommend that I add sizing tape into the hat band or better adjust to a higher bash ?

2. It seems like the front does not want to snap down into fedora mode. Do I force this or do I need to bring it to a professional to steam it down ? If I do bring it to a professional will I be able to wear it up like I have in the picture ? I would like to keep both options.

3. Would the brim on a Stetson Open Road Royal Deluxe be the same size ?

Thanks so much.

1.). I'd need more info on the look you want. Looks pretty good for a quick bash though.

2.). Just flip it down. Even if it is stiff, you won't break the felt. Try holding the front of it with your right hand on the left side of the hat near your left temple and then slide your hand across the entire front of your hat's brim while tilting your wrist toward your face (to guide the brim downward while sliding you hand across).

I think it's almost the exact same size but off by a tiny margin. The Campdraft is basically Akubra's take on the Open Road (which they used to license from Stetson many years ago).


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[moontheloon]

View attachment 55596 View attachment 55597 Gentlemen,

I need some assistance please.

I just received my Silverbelly Campdraft from EverythingAustralian.com. Nice quality felt.

1. This is my first open crown purchase. I did a quick bash by hand. It seems like I need to bash the top rather deep for the look I want. So much so that the hat won't fit properly since the low bash sits directly on my head. Do you recommend that I add sizing tape into the hat band or better adjust to a higher bash ?

2. It seems like the front does not want to snap down into fedora mode. Do I force this or do I need to bring it to a professional to steam it down ? If I do bring it to a professional will I be able to wear it up like I have in the picture ? I would like to keep both options.

3. Would the brim on a Stetson Open Road Royal Deluxe be the same size ?

Thanks so much.

1) depends what crease you are going for ... if you want the crown low enough to where it touches your head I recommend a diamond or c crown so that you can push up the center of the crease and get it off your craney

2) sometimes Akubra are stubborn ... hit it with some steam ... I'll assume you don't have a steamer and tell you to light up the tea kettle ...

3) a CD is pretty much made to the specs of a vintage OR ... I believe Akubra was even licensed at one point to make Stetson ORs

 

[Sonero]

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Bob Roberts]

1) depends what crease you are going for ... if you want the crown low enough to where it touches your head I recommend a diamond or c crown so that you can push up the center of the crease and get it of your craney

2) sometimes Akubra are stubborn ... hit it with some steam ... I'll assume you don't have a steamer and tell you to light up the tea kettle ...

3) a CD is pretty much made to the specs of a vintage OR ... I believe Akubra was even licensed at one point to make Stetson ORs

They certainly were.

 

[Cap_7597]

I'm seeing that the Campdraft is tough, and glade!!
My son loves it!!!

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