Akubra felt

[fmw]

Below is a closeup image of the felt on my vintage Akubra fedora and a shot of the entire hat is below that. My question is about the felt. It looks feels far coarser than the felts on my Stetsons or any of the other vintage hats I've had. In fact, it feels like wool felt but looks better than wool felt. So I'm wondering about it. Not highly pounced? Cheaper hat body than average? Wool felt? Thanks for any education on the matter.

 

[theinterchange]

It just appears to not have as fine a pounce job to me. I actually think it suits this hat quite well. Any more photos of the hat you can share?

Randy

 

[fmw]

Sure. Here are interior shots. The model name is Titan.

It seems like a high quality hat just with coarse felt.

 

[Neophyte]

Welcome back, Randy!

As for the fedora, I think it's just the pouncing. I've never heard of wool hats out of Akubra.

 

[theinterchange]

Sure. Here are interior shots. The model name is Titan.

It seems like a high quality hat just with coarse felt.

Looks like the interior of modern Akubras. Yes, some of their hats can be a little coarse, I've owned a few myself.

Welcome back, Randy!

As for the fedora, I think it's just the pouncing. I've never heard of wool hats out of Akubra.

Thanks, Alexander! I'm glad to be back, just had to take a little breather.

Randy

 

[warbird]

The Akubra hats are made from a wild hare in Australia. Actually they are considered pests there. A Brit brought them to Australia many years ago to have something to hunt. They bred, like well... rabbits. Then they got out of control. My experience with the many Akubras I have had is that they, from the beginning, are coarser than some of the other manufacturers with raised rabbits from Europe.

However, after rain and weather the Akubras will become buttery smooth and have a wonderful hand to them. I also think that their hare is tougher and will survive harsher conditions and still come out rosy. That is my opinion.

My Federation now has about 4 million miles of travel on it. It is been from the jungle, Serengeti and plains of Africa to the mountains of Alaska to the tundra of the Arctic Circle with me. It has been in monsoons, blizzards and dust storms. It has been drenched through, covered with dirt and mud and at least once was dropped in a frigid lake. It has flown off my head on more than a few occasions. Other than some wear on one edge and a stained ribbon, the hat looks little the worse for wear. An Akubra is like a baseball glove or nice leather jacket, it takes some time to break in, but once broken in it becomes like an old friend.

If you want an Akubra that is more finely pounced , get a Heritage quality hat. All hats, whether beaver or rabbit, look like that hat above in the beginning. On some styles they intentionally leave it coarser as some like that. Not all Akubras are that coarse, but many manufacturers have a model like that one, even in beaver. But, as a whole, Akubras are coarser in the beginning than some other makes. I consider for the most part most Akubra models to be work hats. If I am dressing in my finest I grab the Whippet or similar. When I am needing cover on my head and may be in the elements I grab my Akubra.

 

[fmw]

Thanks, guys. Incidentally, Neo, I ordered a hat from Mike Moore.

 

[Neophyte]

Thanks, guys. Incidentally, Neo, I ordered a hat from Mike Moore.

Awesome! Fedora or Western?

 

[Jauntyone]

The ribbon makes me think this was intended as a sportier or more casual hat, so the felt was probably left a bit rougher intentionally.
I wish I had one of those!

 

[fmw]

Awesome! Fedora or Western?

Western. That is his specialty, after all. I asked him to make me a version of the Stetson Sturgis in gray. The Sturgis is something like a modestly (3") brimmed Australian outback style hat with some western curl to the brim. It has a C crown crease with front pinches. I simply love the Sturgis but want a higher quality version of it. He said he could make it so I ordered it.

 

[fmw]

The ribbon makes me think this was intended as a sportier or more casual hat, so the felt was probably left a bit rougher intentionally.
I wish I had one of those!

I'll take that as a compliment.
Thank you. I'm going to send it for a new liner and hat band next week. I mostly wanted to be sure it was worth the investment. Apparently it is.

 

[fmw]

I have another shaggy hat - even shaggier but the hairs are more consistent and better combed. Rather than coarse, I would call it long hair. It is also a casual hat but looks pretty elegant with the black color and the center dent crease. It is made by Dobbs.

 

[Neophyte]

Congrats on the Sturgis-clone, can't wait to see it!

As for the Akubra, do you have a model name?

 

[fmw]

Yes, the fedora is an Akubra Titan - or so it says on the sweatband.

 

[Gromulus]

Not saying that this hat falls into this category, but watch out for "fake" Akubras out of China. They have even copied the Akubra liner design. I have seen some of these pop-up on eBay as of late.

BTW, I have two Banjo Paterson Heritage felt hats among by growing Akubra collection. While the felt qualty is somewhat nicer than the Imperial, it's a matter of opinion if it is worth the extra $.

 

[fmw]

I really doubt this is a Chinese knock off. It looks like it's about 20 years old, even if it isn't. It even has yellow storage stains on the liner.

I will say, however, that the overall quality is inferior to the Dobbs hat I have pictured above. I realize the Akubras have a special place in the hearts of the Fedora Lounge members but I don't see anything that would make me choose this particular one over a Dobbs or a Stetson. I have another Akubra arriving on Tuesday. Perhaps I'll feel different. The Titan is a nice hat overall. I paid very little for it and I think a restoration will make it into a super lid. I'm not complaining or worried about it. My concerns about the coarse felt have been allayed.

 

[Blackthorn]

I Akubras in several models, the key ones for this discussion being the Sydney, the Stylemaster and the Squatter. Although all 3 say "Imperial" in the liner, there is a big difference in the felts. The Squatter is very stout, while the Sydney crumples when I pick it up, and the Stylemaster is just about half way in between. Imperial felt in Akubras means different things from style to style, evidently.

 

[danofarlington]

Who owns both the Akubra Bogart and Stylemaster? If someone does, what is the essential difference in dimensions and look? All I can tell is that they are creased differently, and may appear in separate colors.

 

[James71]

I've got a bogart in black and a stylemaster in moonstone. You have pretty much hit the nail on the head. They are practically identical in dimension, only bashed differently.

I love them both and they get plenty of wear.

 

[monbla256]

I Akubras in several models, the key ones for this discussion being the Sydney, the Stylemaster and the Squatter. Although all 3 say "Imperial" in the liner, there is a big difference in the felts. The Squatter is very stout, while the Sydney crumples when I pick it up, and the Stylemaster is just about half way in between. Imperial felt in Akubras means different things from style to style, evidently.

I would have to concur with you on that. My Squatter was FIRMER in overall feel as opposed to my Stylemaster which had a "soft" hand to it right out of thebox. Now that both have gone thru some good rain drenchings, the Squatter is smoothing out and getting "softer" and the Stylemaster seems to be the same as I originally got it. My 30+yo Bushmaster is REALLY soft though it will still retain it's crease and my 3 1/2 yo Bushman is doing the same thing. The Bushman's felt was a lot firmer and "thick" feeling than the other two hats ( BTW, my Cattleman so far is EXACTLY the SAME as my Bushman in ALL aspects) and somewhat "fuzzier" but has since smoothed out nicely. ALL of these hats are Akubra's IMPERIAL grade of felt so go figure

Onward thru the Fog