Akubra Cattleman

[MattJH]

I've been wanting a wide-brimmed, leather sweatband hat for the summer for yardwork, outdoor labor, etc. I was originally going to use my Akubra Traveller for this, but after reading another person's post on here about sweating into fabric sweatbands and staining the fur felt, I decided to go with a leather sweatband. I saw an Akubra Cattleman in my size on eBay, so I won it for a price I was extremely pleased with considering the size of the hat and the fact that it's brand new. I'm excited to receive it.

Does anybody have any photographs of themselves wearing one? What are everyone's general opinions on this hat for the function that I've described - i.e. outdoor, sweaty, dirty work?

Thanks!

 

[Doctor Strange]

I recently had an offline conversation with Havana about the Cattleman in hot/humid conditions - he has been very happy with his (he has several) and he was very enthusiastic. Hopefully, he will contribute to this thread.

I am planning on getting a Cattleman in the off-white/light-gray Sand color sometime soon explicitly for summer hiking use. (Since warm weather still shows no sign of coming to the NY area soon, I haven't exactly felt the need to rush!) I just recently got an Akubra Stockman for winter hiking use: it's pretty similar to the Cattleman, but is smaller-brimmed, doesn't have the ventilation holes, and is instead fully lined.

I am IN LOVE with this hat. Unlike my Federation, which STILL feels too damn big after four years of regular wear, this one conformed perfectly to my head after only three high-sweat wearings. Like all Akubras, it's beautifully made, stylish, and nearly indestructible - a real bargain even with US/Australia exchange rates getting worse every day. (Sorry, no pictures on hand yet!)

Anyway, I think the Stockman is a great hat for cooler conditions, and I suspect that I will ultimately feel the same way about the Cattleman for major sun and heat/humidity... Yes, I've now become addicted to Akubra's country hats too!

 

[Havana]

Let me throw in my 2 cents about the Cattleman. The Cattleman is probably my favorite overall hat. It's definitely my choice for a rough use hat. I have one in fawn, which is a medium brown with a slight reddish tint. I have one in sand which is probably the best looking of all. That's a hard color to describe. It's like an extremely light beige with a hint of gray. My third Cattleman is a color called bran which I believe is only available from hatsdirect.com. I was disappointed in this color because it's really very close to fawn but without the red tint. I like these hats because of the light weight and durability. I like the 3.25" brim. I have one that I wear as is for maximum sun or rain protection and on the other two, I curl the brim slightly. The sand color actually shows sweat stains the least but dirt the most. The fawn color, in my experience, shows sweat more and dirt the least. My sweat has actually discolored the hat over the years. We're talking about 7 years and LOTS of sweat. I've worn it in on many trips to Africa as well as all the time here in SC. I do not baby these hats. They go out in all weather and get tossed around and dropped all the time. The one I've had the longest has actually be submerged twice and come out fine after careful drying. I have experienced no shrinkage or excessive tapering on crown with these. For the money, they simply can't be beat as an all around rough use hat.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I just wanted to mention that I'm wearing the Akubra Stockman in my new avatar picture. (For some reason, I don't have an Edit button on the post above to change my comment there that I have no picture yet!)

And before somebody asks, yes that's a *black* A-2 jacket I'm wearing. A FlightSuits/Gibson & Barnes "Civil" model in black goatskin that I've had for several years. It's a beaut, apart from the *horrible* "textured" synthetic knits that pilled and totally fuzzed out (but won't tear - they're very tough) from day one, and the uncomfortable (compared to cotton) dacron lining.

 

[MattJH]

I've been wanting a wide-brimmed, leather sweatband hat for the summer for yardwork, outdoor labor, etc. I was originally going to use my Akubra Traveller for this, but after reading another person's post on here about sweating into fabric sweatbands and staining the fur felt, I decided to go with a leather sweatband. I saw an Akubra Cattleman in my size on eBay, so I won it for a price I was extremely pleased with considering the size of the hat and the fact that it's brand new. I'm excited to receive it.

In the middle of a demolition project in my yard on Saturday, involving stump removal and the sledgehammering/removal of bricks, concrete, and rubble, the USPS delivered a box on my porch. Good timing! Take note that in the eBay auction, it states that the hat is new, never worn, and that there are no returns accepted. Here is a copy of the email I sent the seller:

"I have questions about this hat. Because you don't accept returns, I'll be issuing a complaint through eBay against your account if my questions aren't answered satisfactorily. You state that the hat is new, never worn. Why is the sweatband warped? Why were there foam buffers on the sides under the sweatband for somebody whose head was too small for this hat? Why are there scuff marks all along the top of the crown causing damage to the fur felt? Why is the brim upturned on the back if, as new, these hats have the brim downturned at the front and back? Why are the sides of the brim asymmetrically bent? This hat is NOT new. I'd like to know why you misled me and trapped me with your no return clause. Thank you."

The seller responded with:

"the hat is new if you dont like then return it i have other people that are still e mailing me for it i am not not to screw anyone or trap anyone!!!"

Since the seller retracted their no return clause for me, I don't think I'm going to pursue this further. After all, I did get it for under $50 shipped and it is going to be used for all of the yardwork I do, so it wouldn't have remained looking new for long even if it were. The hat served me very well over the weekend, although I do have a slight bit of sunburn on the back of my neck since the brim had been upturned in the back. I can fix that, though, and I did restore the shape of the brim by hand so that it looks nice.

It just gets my goat is all; the principle of it all. If you're going to list it as new, never worn, why ship it with extremely obvious indications that it has been worn and used?

eBay is so goofy.

The good news is that the hat is in Acorn Fawn, which I like a lot.

 

[Rooster]

If you're going to complain like that I feel you're obligated to return it at this point. If you had no intentions to return it don't complain in the first plac. I could plainly see this hat had some wear on it from the ebay pics.

 

[MattJH]

I don't feel that I'm obligated to do anything.

I don't believe that I was "complaining." I was stating facts.

I couldn't tell that there was any damage in the images.

I don't understand your stance after my description of the issues with the hat.

 

[Joel Tunnah]

Here is a copy of the email I sent the seller:

"...Because you don't accept returns, I'll be issuing a complaint through eBay against your account if my questions aren't answered satisfactorily."

This is a horrible way to start an email, if you're trying to resolve an issue with someone!

 

[MattJH]

I suppose I see it differently -- starting an auction with false facts is a horrible way to begin a transaction.

I'm also cranky because summer is about to hit and I really, really, really can't stand the heat.

 

[Giant.leap]

I suppose I see it differently -- starting an auction with false facts is a horrible way to begin a transaction.

I'm also cranky because summer is about to hit and I really, really, really can't stand the heat.

complain [kəmˈpleɪn]
vb (intr)
1. to express resentment, displeasure, etc., esp habitually; grumble
2. (foll by of) to state the presence of pain, illness, etc., esp in the hope of sympathy she complained of a headache
[from Old French complaindre, from Vulgar Latin complangere (unattested), from Latin com- (intensive) + plangere to bewail]
complainer n
complainingly adv

1. To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.
2. To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge.

 

[ptjoe]

Let me throw in my 2 cents about the Cattleman. The Cattleman is probably my favorite overall hat. It's definitely my choice for a rough use hat. I have one in fawn, which is a medium brown with a slight reddish tint. I have one in sand which is probably the best looking of all. That's a hard color to describe. It's like an extremely light beige with a hint of gray. My third Cattleman is a color called bran which I believe is only available from hatsdirect.com. I was disappointed in this color because it's really very close to fawn but without the red tint. I like these hats because of the light weight and durability. I like the 3.25" brim. I have one that I wear as is for maximum sun or rain protection and on the other two, I curl the brim slightly. The sand color actually shows sweat stains the least but dirt the most. The fawn color, in my experience, shows sweat more and dirt the least. My sweat has actually discolored the hat over the years. We're talking about 7 years and LOTS of sweat. I've worn it in on many trips to Africa as well as all the time here in SC. I do not baby these hats. They go out in all weather and get tossed around and dropped all the time. The one I've had the longest has actually be submerged twice and come out fine after careful drying. I have experienced no shrinkage or excessive tapering on crown with these. For the money, they simply can't be beat as an all around rough use hat.

Maybe you can help: I'm interested in the Akubra Cattleman hat and would like to purchase one.
I've noticed U.S. retailers sell the Akubra Cattleman with a lining, Is it the same hat or is the lining for the U.S. market?Because, the Australian sights all say it comes unlined.
I also noticed on some of the cattleman hats another small hole just above the hatband under the other 3 venting holes? Just curious.Thanks.

 

[tuco1963]

i have two cattleman one tawny fawn the other light sand you will love it

 

[johnnycanuck]

I have one from Australia. Yes the third thing is a chin strap hook that all American imported Akubras get thru David Morgan’s (official American distributor) Never heard of one with a liner. But older Snowy River models did come with a red liner so I guess it isn’t unheard of for other models to come lined. Outside of that the Cattleman is a great hat with fantastic sun protection.
Hope that helps
Johnny

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I bought my Cattleman used but in great condition. I’ve worn it once. It’s just shaped wrong for me. The crown is way too low and tapered and the hat just doesn’t work for me. Funny how we all see things differently.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Maybe you can help: I'm interested in the Akubra Cattleman hat and would like to purchase one.
I've noticed U.S. retailers sell the Akubra Cattleman with a lining, Is it the same hat or is the lining for the U.S. market?Because, the Australian sights all say it comes unlined.
I also noticed on some of the cattleman hats another small hole just above the hatband under the other 3 venting holes? Just curious.Thanks.

I understand the ones with lining are for the tourist and export market. The Cattleman has been one of their most popular hats for a while - when I was young the most popular, and the hat you used to see often in the bush was the Squatter. The more rural 'cowboy style' hat seemed more of a 1980's phenomenon when The Man from Snowy River movie had every second guy in town wearing the movie hat and a Drizabone riding coat.

 

[dkstott]

I know that the Cattleman hats in stock at Delmonico hatter's have linings. I can't recall if they had strap holes.

The cattleman was just too much of a hat on my head. I opted for the Banjo Patterson.

Dave

 

[Doctor Jones]

I work at Disneyland. I see people from all over the world, and often the people of Oz can be spotted wearing their Akubras.

So a few months ago I was chatting with an Aussie wearing one and I said "Akubra Cattleman" and he said "is it?" and he looked inside and it was, sure enough. In Fawn.

A while later three Aussies walked by all wearing Cattlemen in Fawn.

A while after that there was a group of around a dozen Aussies all wearing Cattlemen in Fawn, and I had to ask!

They explained that there were 800 people in their group ALL wearing Akubra Cattlemen in Fawn.

I then chatted with the woman who was in charge of ordering the hats.
Can you imagine working for Akubra and getting an order for 800 Fawn Cattlemen? And not from a shop, but a woman just wanting 800 matching Akubras!

 

[ptjoe]

Let me throw in my 2 cents about the Cattleman. The Cattleman is probably my favorite overall hat. It's definitely my choice for a rough use hat. I have one in fawn, which is a medium brown with a slight reddish tint. I have one in sand which is probably the best looking of all. That's a hard color to describe. It's like an extremely light beige with a hint of gray. My third Cattleman is a color called bran which I believe is only available from hatsdirect.com. I was disappointed in this color because it's really very close to fawn but without the red tint. I like these hats because of the light weight and durability. I like the 3.25" brim. I have one that I wear as is for maximum sun or rain protection and on the other two, I curl the brim slightly. The sand color actually shows sweat stains the least but dirt the most. The fawn color, in my experience, shows sweat more and dirt the least. My sweat has actually discolored the hat over the years. We're talking about 7 years and LOTS of sweat. I've worn it in on many trips to Africa as well as all the time here in SC. I do not baby these hats. They go out in all weather and get tossed around and dropped all the time. The one I've had the longest has actually be submerged twice and come out fine after careful drying. I have experienced no shrinkage or excessive tapering on crown with these. For the money, they simply can't be beat as an all around rough use hat.

Great thread. I want to buy an Akubra cattleman but right now shipping is tough from Australia.
However, I found a U.S. retailer that sells them, but they have a lining and a chin strap hole?
All the Australian sights I've seen say they are unlined and no chin strap hole.
Do you know, because I've not been able to get an answer, if the cattleman did come with a lining or are these hats with linings made strictly for the U.S. market or discontinued models?
Thanks.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Here's mine, no chinstrap holes, just the vent-holes. I bought it used on Ebay, which might be why it doesn't have those holes.

 

[Cowlax8]

I have a couple of questions:
1. How much heat difference does a lining make when it's hot outside? Is no liner significantly cooler? A liner "muggier"?
2. When looking at the larger brim hats (Territory/Riverina), is the brim so large that it gets in the way? Is it significantly more out of place in a casual setting? Thinking activities like errands in town, jumping in the car, playing golf or jumping from needing sun/rain protection to dinner.