Akubra CEO

[The Outlaw Kyle]

I’m looking for some insights into the Akubra CEO. I’ve done some searching around, and have seen the few posts that there are on it. There may have been more discussion, but I think “CEO” being only three letters the search doesn’t find it. I’d really like to see pictures of your personal CEO and specs if you have the time (crown height, brim, etc). I’ve heard great stuff about this brand of hats, and I think CEO might be the one for me. This would be my first Fur Felt hat. I have a Dirty Billy’s “Chrushable Planter” that I used for Cowboy Action Shooting, but I’m look for something I can wear at times other then CAS. Your advice and info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MattJH]

I like it and I've considered it. The only thing that has stopped me is the bound brim because it makes it very dressy. I have an Akubra Federation in Carbon Grey, an Akubra Traveller in Regency Fawn, and an Akubra Casual in Carbon Grey. I'm now in the market for another brown-flavored Akubra, and I'm leaning back and forth between the Federation, Sydney Fedora, CEO, and Bogart models. I'm not sure which yet.

Either way, as many have stated before, you really can't go wrong with Akubra. You can go wrong as far as dimensions proportionate to your face, but as far as quality, it's virtually unanimous that they're the best bang for your buck these days. Good luck!

 

[The Outlaw Kyle]

I have considered the Federation in grey as well. How hard was it to bash? I do like the idea of doing it my self, but I'm a little intimitated. It seems like a really "big" hat. Is that the case? Aside from that, I like the staight high crown. I'd be wareing it mostly with casual clothes and my black suit. Any thoughts on the grey's with that?

 

[Doctor Strange]

I don't have the CEO, but I think my Federation is a beauty, and I have total faith in Akubra's build quality. (E.g., One of their country hats is in the mail to me right now!)

The specs I've seen on it put the brim at 2-3/4 inches and the crown at a pretty high 5-1/2 inches. It's a sweet-looking hat - elegant yet rakish - though I'd probably want to wear it with the back turned up, which for some reason they never show in Akubra's pictures. (Somebody here once posted a shot of themselves wearing it with the back up and it looked *great*.) Yeah, I think I may be getting one of these sometime...

Oh, and to answer your other question, bashing the Federation was *trivial*. I had never done it before, and I did it cold (without water or steam) in about five minutes, and have only tweaked it slightly since. But the Fed *is* a large hat, and can seem overwhelming on some people...

 

[MattJH]

I have considered the Federation in grey as well. How hard was it to bash? I do like the idea of doing it my self, but I'm a little intimitated. It seems like a really "big" hat. Is that the case? Aside from that, I like the staight high crown. I'd be wareing it mostly with casual clothes and my black suit. Any thoughts on the grey's with that?

You can read the thread I posted after receiving the Federation in the mail along with my comments and some photographs of my bash here. It was extremely easy. Exceptionally so. I did an intentionally-sloppy diamond bash because I wanted it to look as far from a factory bash as possible while still looking good. I didn't use any water or steam and I still haven't. I can rebash it at anytime. I was only intimidated until I tried it, and then I realized (after screwing up a few times) that it's effortless to put it back to open crown and try again.

It's a big hat, yes, but properly big, if you know what I mean. It's kind of like a grandfather clock. I can pull it off without a problem. I don't know that I could pull it off with casual clothes, but I pull it off all the time with my work clothes (slacks, shirt, tie).

When I dress casually, I wear my Akubra Casual or Akubra Traveller.

 

[The Outlaw Kyle]

I do I have 7 5/8 noggin, so a big hat might be fine. I'll measure in cm prior to any akubra order ofcourse. Thanks so much for the reponses thus far. Any pictures of the CEO, Federation or Stylemaster are helpful.

 

[The Outlaw Kyle]

I'm thinking I might start with something that is for use with suits, and then transition to a brown hat for "other" occasions. Anyone here: Does the black of a hat ever come close to the black of a suit? Is it better to just go with a grey? Do the Akubra CEO's have a grey or black ribbon?

 

[Stoney]

Wearing a brown one with a black suit is OK as well. I find brown more versitle than black so if you're going to have only one fur hat to start with... Brown

 

[johnnycanuck]

My sister has a CEO and it is one sharp looking hat.

As for colour its a matter of preference. As a guide, most of my clothing is the colour of mulch (one shade or another of brown, tan or green) so I get more mileage out of a brown/tan fedora. If you wear a lot of black and darker tones I think a blue or black fedora goes a bit better. Another way to look at it is get it to match the colour of the jacket you wear the most.

You can also look at the Akubra Federation Deluxe, brown with black band, the best of both worlds.

Johnny.

 

[jml90]

I don't have the CEO, but I think my Federation is a beauty, and I have total faith in Akubra's build quality. (E.g., One of their country hats is in the mail to me right now!)

The specs I've seen on it put the brim at 2-3/4 inches and the crown at a pretty high 5-1/2 inches. It's a sweet-looking hat - elegant yet rakish - though I'd probably want to wear it with the back turned up, which for some reason they never show in Akubra's pictures. (Somebody here once posted a shot of themselves wearing it with the back up and it looked *great*.) Yeah, I think I may be getting one of these sometime...

Oh, and to answer your other question, bashing the Federation was *trivial*. I had never done it before, and I did it cold (without water or steam) in about five minutes, and have only tweaked it slightly since. But the Fed *is* a large hat, and can seem overwhelming on some people...

Sharpetoy tells me you would need steam to wear it up in the back.

 

[MattJH]

If you're talking about the Federation, I required nothing to snap the back brim up other than a thumb and forefinger; no steam/water needed. I don't know if it counts, but mine is a standard Federation in Carbon Grey.

 

[johnnycanuck]

If I am not mistaken Sharptoy was referring to the CEO. Being my sister has one I can imagine it would take steam to snap that brim up. As the CEO comes with the brim turned down all the way round and pretty stiff. Hope that helps clarify.
Johnny

 

[The Outlaw Kyle]

My sister has a CEO and it is one sharp looking hat.

Okay, well, I'm not a girl. Funny story: My good friend Dave was looking to get a Glock pistol. He finally settled on the 26, which is the smallest one Glock imports into the us. He was a little concerned about the recoil from such a small gun (not that heavy). So I sent him some links from glocktalk.com where guys were talking about how thier girlfriends/wives loved the G26, and what a mild controlable gun it was. He writes me back "Great, now I have girls gun". Not my intention but...

So I was reading on that aussie site that sells akubras, and the "Fedora" make is an open crown also. I'm starting to lean that way. Man, this is tough. How the heck does one pick a hat from 2000 miles away. I mean, I feel fairly confident that the quality is there, and HD has a good rep. But I'm not going to know for sure till that sucka is on my head.

Dumbjaw, I agree that the back looks better up on these hats. Whatever I get, that's most likely what I'll do with the brim. Much more jaunty.

 

[johnnycanuck]

First of all I should say the CEO is not a girls hat by any stretch of the imagination. Its just my sister has one (probably doesn't help the argument).
Second, you have chosen a great name brand, that is half the battle done. Now for colour and style you have to go out on that limb. Not what you wanted to hear, I know, but its the truth. My first hat was an Akubra federation in brown. Still have it, still wear it. But I thought it would be cool to have an Indiana Jones style of hat. So colour and style was a simple choice for me. The hat in my avatar is my regular federation. If I was to do it again I would have bought the Federation Deluxe first. I prefer the contrasting ribbon colour.... That's my story anyway. Oh and you can't go wrong with Hatsdirect. Good luck.
Johnny

 

[Not-Bogart13]

I'm thinking I might start with something that is for use with suits, and then transition to a brown hat for "other" occasions. Anyone here: Does the black of a hat ever come close to the black of a suit? Is it better to just go with a grey? Do the Akubra CEO's have a grey or black ribbon?

If it's between gray and black, go with black. Black goes with anything, though some will say it's too dressy. It's a matter of opinion, though. Don't worry about the black of the hat not matching the black suit. The texture is completely different anyway, so it won't matter. Brown will work with more things than gray, but it can't beat black except that brown looks casual more easily. As for what color looks nicest, I think Akubra's Carbon Gray is really sharp.

My advice; get one of each!
NB

 

[The Outlaw Kyle]

First of all I should say the CEO is not a girls hat by any stretch of the imagination.

I know, I'm just funning you. Great Avatar by the by.

My advice; get one of each!

All in good time. Every journey starts with one step.

I'm enjoying this thread. Thanks for all the advice thus far.