Akubra Overload

[Rmccamey]

If it works, no reason to change!

 

[DRB]

View attachment 157133 View attachment 157134 Fed IV today, this one has a c-crown. If it's wrong that I have multiples of the same hat, same color, different bashes, I don't want to be right!

I like this very much on you. What do you call the color?

 

[Dennis Holt]

I may want to own a Bushman but want to see more examples of bashes and how it compares to other Akubra styles. I’ve had the cattleman and currently own a fed III and IV. Thanks.

 

[DaveProc]

Re-creased the Campdraft today, was not happy with the Cattleman's crease. Just wasn't my style. I think it came out pretty good.

 

[Streak]

Well after what seems to have been an eternity (order first placed with EA in December) I eventually have my first Akubra. This is the Tablelands in Brown Olive.
It's marginally big but The Hattery kindly included some foam which once inserted did the trick.
It suits me a whole lot better than the Territory which I tried on.
It took 7 days total elapsed time from their shop to my door in San Diego.

 

[Woodtroll]

Well after what seems to have been an eternity (order first placed with EA in December) I eventually have my first Akubra. This is the Tablelands in Brown Olive.
It's marginally big but The Hattery kindly included some foam which once inserted did the trick.
It suits me a whole lot better than the Territory which I tried on.
It took 7 days total elapsed time from their shop to my door in San Diego.

View attachment 158027 View attachment 158028

It looks to have been worth the wait - that's a nice hat that should give you great service!

 

[Streak]

Thanks I am really happy with it. I just took this photo indoors with natural light through the window. Amazing how the color changes. Doesn't look like the same hat.

 

[jweaks]

I could have sworn I had a spreadsheet of the size/shape specs for the common Akubra hats, but I can't find it. Most sites list the brim widths but not always the crown height. Long story short, I'm wondering which Akubras have a ~14cm crown, similar to the Camp Draft? Anybody know, or have a source for accurate specs? The main Akubra website is no help.

 

[Streak]

During my decision process I sent many emails to The Hattery they sent me the crown heights of every hat I was considering. Send them an email with your inquiry, I am sure they can help.

 

[Kane]

A new silverbellly Campdraft Deluxe. It needs to be be broken in and settle in and shrink down a bit. My first Akubra and I like it!

 

[tsores]

A new silverbellly Campdraft Deluxe. It needs to be be broken in and settle in and shrink down a bit. My first Akubra and I like it!

View attachment 159552

Would you tell us about the buying experience? How long did it take from order to delivery?

 

[Kane]

Would you tell us about the buying experience? How long did it take from order to delivery?

It was great. I bought the hat from hatdirect.com, a.k.a. The Hatttery, in Australia. Spoke with a very nice and helpful woman named Trudi. Shipping came out to about $25 U.S.D. I had the hat six days later, shipped from Australia to California.
The hat is very nice, I am very happy with it and would not hesitate to order another hat from The Hattery. The color Silverbelly can vary, but one thing to note is that in general Akubra’s Silverbelly color has more tan in it than Stetson’s Silverbelly.

 

[tsores]

How does a Campdraft work on a long oval head? Can it be reshaped? Does it hold the new LO shape? What happens to the brim? Can the brim be reshaped?

 

[jweaks]

How does a Campdraft work on a long oval head? Can it be reshaped? Does it hold the new LO shape? What happens to the brim? Can the brim be reshaped?

I'm a 60 LO and I've never had a problem with Akubra hats conforming to my head. My Campdraft is one of my favs. It was a regular 60 and it conformed to my shape in no time.

 

[Kane]

What do you guys do with the wind trolley? Does anyone actually use this? Since I’ve been wearing my Campdraft the trolley string has loosened up and the button has migrated toward the back of the hat. My Stetson Open Road, which I believe the Campdraft is a model of, does not have one. I guess Stetson removed them for cost or simplicity.

 

[Frunobulax]

What do you guys do with the wind trolley? Does anyone actually use this? Since I’ve been wearing my Campdraft the trolley string has loosened up and the button has migrated toward the back of the hat. My Stetson Open Road, which I believe the Campdraft is a model of, does not have one. I guess Stetson removed them for cost or simplicity.

If it's loose, just pull it tight. It's looped around the crown like a lasso. They can be used, but give it a little test tug first to make sure it's tightly affixed.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Xylophile]

How does a Campdraft work on a long oval head? Can it be reshaped? Does it hold the new LO shape? What happens to the brim? Can the brim be reshaped?

I had to steam mine into shape, by holding it in the top of a large pot of steam (1/2" of boiling water) and pulling from the inside of the sweat band, until I could feel it "give" and change shape (did the same for my Country Club poly-straw). For me the brim became distorted so I steamed and shaped that out, which took a little doing.

 

[Streak]

@Zombie_61 I See that you have commented previously about breaking your Akubras.
My Tablelands is a touch too big. I put the felt strips in on both side and sits snugly on my head now.
The problem is that the shape does not match the shape of my head with a little too much space on the sides. Only certain parts of the hat actually bear up against my forehead and sides. So, based on what you have previously posted, should I remove the strips, sweat a bit to allow the leather to shrink and then reassess if I need the strips? Will the process of the leather shrinking assist also in shaping the hat to my head or do I need to do a walk in the rain trick and then allow the hat to dry on my head?

 

[Zombie_61]

@Zombie_61 I See that you have commented previously about breaking your Akubras.
My Tablelands is a touch too big. I put the felt strips in on both side and sits snugly on my head now.
The problem is that the shape does not match the shape of my head with a little too much space on the sides. Only certain parts of the hat actually bear up against my forehead and sides. So, based on what you have previously posted, should I remove the strips, sweat a bit to allow the leather to shrink and then reassess if I need the strips? Will the process of the leather shrinking assist also in shaping the hat to my head or do I need to do a walk in the rain trick and then allow the hat to dry on my head?

I'm far from being an expert, but my general advice is exactly what you wrote--wear your Tablelands as-is (without the strips) until the sweatband shrinks and the hat becomes at least a little more snug, because until this happens you won't really know how the hat fits your head. Assuming the size is right for you, the sweatband should also somewhat conform to the shape of your head as it shrinks. Then add the strips behind the sweatband if necessary. That has been my experience, anyway.

That being said, if there is space between the sides of your head and the sweatband you're probably a "long oval" to some degree. I'm not, so you would be better off getting advice from someone who is. I'm actually a bit of a "wide oval", so the sides of my head push outward on the sides of my hats' crowns a little.

 

[johnnycanuck]

I am a long oval hat shape. All my Akubras have touched my forehead and back but not the sides brand new. I put foam in to snug it up so i don't loose it in the wind. Over time it shrinks and snuggs up. When that happens I remove some of the foam strips and keep going.
Hope that helps
Johnny