Akubra Overload

[deadlyhandsome]

I do like Akubra; they make good serviceable hats that take hard use well. That said, if I was your size I’d get three incredible vintage hats for the cost of the Akubra and never look back. The vintage hat world has soooo much to offer you at your size. Just my two cents.

Otherwise, EA is a great place to get Akubra hats and they’ll take good care of you.


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[Zombie_61]

Hi guys,
I will soon order my Stylemaster size 55 at EA in the colour acorn fawn or loden. I cannot make a good dicision. Let me tell you what kind of person I am.
Slightly brown coloured with grey hair and having facial (grey) hair trimmed to 3mm. I am slim fitted (clothing is M/50 and 1.78 cm tall. Living is The Netherlands should not be a problem when you think about hat shrinking: here its not very hot and the raining days are few. Besides that, I can switch between a number of hats! So I think size 55 will do. I have tried a cooper pedy in size 56, but this one landed on my ears instead beiing just above it!.
So, go for a 55 and give the order to EA?

The thing about Akubras, the standard/Imperial Grade in particular, is that you have to sweat in them in order to get the best fit. The moisture and salt in your perspiration slightly dehydrates the leather they use for their sweatbands, which causes them to shrink and conform to your head (assuming you've ordered the right size, that is). Here's an example:

Yes, it's the same hat. As you can see, when I received it I could pull it down so far that my head filled the crown. But after creasing the crown and wearing it (and specifically sweating in it) for three to five days, it conformed to my head and resulted in a near perfect fit.

Before you order that Stylemaster, I'd suggest you measure your head using a Tailor's tape to determine your exact measurement. Once you have that measurement contact Everything Australian, provide that measurement, and ask their recommendation for which size you should order.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Here's an example...

I think I like the "before" look better

 

[Firedanser]

View attachment 150595 View attachment 150596
My new Campdraft Deluxe. I really am enjoying this hat. It has quickly become a favorite of mine.

I love that color! What is it?

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[DaveProc]

Campdraft on this brisk New England winters day.

 

[Zombie_61]

I think I like the "before" look better

I can't disagree.

 

[tropicalbob]

Hi guys,
I will soon order my Stylemaster size 55 at EA in the colour acorn fawn or loden. I cannot make a good dicision. Let me tell you what kind of person I am.
Slightly brown coloured with grey hair and having facial (grey) hair trimmed to 3mm. I am slim fitted (clothing is M/50 and 1.78 cm tall. Living is The Netherlands should not be a problem when you think about hat shrinking: here its not very hot and the raining days are few. Besides that, I can switch between a number of hats! So I think size 55 will do. I have tried a cooper pedy in size 56, but this one landed on my ears instead beiing just above it!.
So, go for a 55 and give the order to EA?

I'd strongly advise you to follow Zombie's advice, as given above. Also, have you considered the Campdraft or the Fed IV? I'm only asking because I've noticed over the years that people new to Akubras almost always want to order the Stylemaster first but very soon go on to one of the others, which is what also happened to me. I remember thinking that the Stylemaster wasn't as extreme-looking as the others, but when I received it found the brim too small for my liking and the taper of the crown not at all suitable for my face. It's not a bad hat, but I've seen very few folks who've bought one and haven't moved on to one of the other styles.
Also, as Zombie suggested above, don't be afraid to call either EA or HatsDirect: the folks at both places couldn't be more helpful; in fact, the ladies at HatsDirect actually talked me out of buying a hat once because the largest size for that hat would have been slightly too small for me. Anyway, best of luck.

 

[Frunobulax]

I can't disagree.

Start a trend. Be a style icon.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[sila]

Thank you all for the advise, I am very glad with it. As for buying vintage hats, with all do respect, is not (yet) my goal. As for that, please forgive me being here at FL. But I do not have people around me that can give me advise like you guys.
As far as hat shrinking. Is it not that the weather is affecting the leather band more than sweat? I can imagine in the summer you will sweat more, but therefore I have my quenca and montecristi. I measured my head and it is between 55 and 56. I know that you always pick the larger size due to shrinking in the future. Suppose that I take the 56 and the weather here in Holland will have none affect. What can I do to fix the hat so that it fit me well? I do not know.
The Stylemaster is already precreased, so I do not have to any action. The reason I choose this model is because the brim and the hight is perfect for me: it is a fedora with style and a teardrop crown and a soft fur felt hat for a very good prize which I can afford. You can wear this hat both formal as informal. And also to consider: it has the quality of Akubra.
That is why it is very important for me the right size and colour. Speaking of that: I gave you my profile, so what colour should I pick then?

 

[Cornshucker77]

I love that color! What is it?

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Cedar Brown. It is a great color.

 

[tropicalbob]

Thank you all for the advise, I am very glad with it. As for buying vintage hats, with all do respect, is not (yet) my goal. As for that, please forgive me being here at FL. But I do not have people around me that can give me advise like you guys.
As far as hat shrinking. Is it not that the weather is affecting the leather band more than sweat? I can imagine in the summer you will sweat more, but therefore I have my quenca and montecristi. I measured my head and it is between 55 and 56. I know that you always pick the larger size due to shrinking in the future. Suppose that I take the 56 and the weather here in Holland will have none affect. What can I do to fix the hat so that it fit me well? I do not know.
The Stylemaster is already precreased, so I do not have to any action. The reason I choose this model is because the brim and the hight is perfect for me: it is a fedora with style and a teardrop crown and a soft fur felt hat for a very good prize which I can afford. You can wear this hat both formal as informal. And also to consider: it has the quality of Akubra.
That is why it is very important for me the right size and colour. Speaking of that: I gave you my profile, so what colour should I pick then?

Unlike the pure wool hats, fur-felt won't shrink much. Besides, I always keep in mind that one of the main purposes in wearing a hat is to protect you from the elements, and Akubras do a great job of that. The subject of shrinkage is one that's gone on here for years, and I'm of the party that believes it's the stitching in the sweatband that retracts as the salt in your sweat dries. Also, I've found when I've traveled that, even in cooler weather if I'm dressed warmly, I still find sweat on my hatband. I've also found that it's always a good idea to take the advice of the manufacturer,and, as mentioned above, the folks at HatsDirect couldn't be more helpful or nicer to deal with. And one final point: if the hat's a tiny bit big, it's no problem to simply put a cotton ball or a small, folded piece of paper towel down behind the band until the hat shrinks down to perfection: if it's already a bit tight when you get it and it shrinks the tiniest bit more, you'll stop wearing it.
Oh, and the Moonstone or the Carbon colors go with anything (the Carbon is very dark).

 

[sila]

Thanks again, friends! I shall take contact with them keep you all informed.

 

[Firedanser]

Okay loungers, I need your help! I bought this lovely pre-owned Traveller in a Regency Fawn on Ebay for $50. It's perfect condition, but the thing REEKS of mothballs! Any tips to remove the smell?

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[Bamaboots]

Okay loungers, I need your help! I bought this lovely pre-owned Traveller in a Regency Fawn on Ebay for $50. It's perfect condition, but the thing REEKS of mothballs! Any tips to remove the smell?

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Put it in a confined space with a bowl of vinegar.

 

[Firedanser]

Put it in a confined space with a bowl of vinegar.

Thanks! I read on another post on TFL that is best to store fur felt with mothballs? I don't think I can deal with that. We've never had a problem with moths in our home. Any other storage tips? I wear my hats and usually wall mount them.

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[Bamaboots]

Thanks! I read on another post on TFL that is best to store fur felt with mothballs? I don't think I can deal with that. We've never had a problem with moths in our home. Any other storage tips? I wear my hats and usually wall mount them.

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Fresh air (moving air) and light are the best preventative. Most of my felt hats are stored on a rack in a bedroom I took over for hat and boot storage. I keep a few in boxes and I've never had a problem.

 

[Frunobulax]

Okay loungers, I need your help! I bought this lovely pre-owned Traveller in a Regency Fawn on Ebay for $50. It's perfect condition, but the thing REEKS of mothballs! Any tips to remove the smell?

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In addition to Bama's suggestion, coffee, baking soda, and even old newspapers have been suggested as odor absorbents. Letting it sit out in the fresh air and sunshine doesn't hurt, either

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I'd strongly advise you to follow Zombie's advice, as given above. Also, have you considered the Campdraft or the Fed IV? I'm only asking because I've noticed over the years that people new to Akubras almost always want to order the Stylemaster first but very soon go on to one of the others, which is what also happened to me. I remember thinking that the Stylemaster wasn't as extreme-looking as the others, but when I received it found the brim too small for my liking and the taper of the crown not at all suitable for my face. It's not a bad hat, but I've seen very few folks who've bought one and haven't moved on to one of the other styles.
Also, as Zombie suggested above, don't be afraid to call either EA or HatsDirect: the folks at both places couldn't be more helpful; in fact, the ladies at HatsDirect actually talked me out of buying a hat once because the largest size for that hat would have been slightly too small for me. Anyway, best of luck.

I followed that arc myself. I’ve since sold off my Stylemasters. I’ve also continued on to where I’ve divested myself of most of my Federations and Campdrafts and focused on vintage and customs. I still like Akubra and won’t say anything bad about them, but for my tastes there are better options. I’ll also admit to liking the higher end modern Stetsons, but those are twice the price of an Akubra and they have their own failings.


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[Firedanser]

In addition to Bama's suggestion, coffee, baking soda, and even old newspapers have been suggested as odor absorbents. Letting it sit out in the fresh air and sunshine doesn't hurt, either

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Thanks! It's in my hall bathroom with the vent on and a bowl of vinegar and the door closed. It's raining and cold, so I can't put it out of the deck right now. Maybe tomorrow!

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[Frunobulax]

Thanks! It's in my hall bathroom with the vent on and a bowl of vinegar and the door closed. It's raining and cold, so I can't put it out of the deck right now. Maybe tomorrow!

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You might have better luck with an even more confined space, like a box or other container. Also, since the objective is to allow the vinegar to absorb the smell, air movement is likely working against your goal.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.