Akubra Overload

[Desert dog]

I’m not yet willing to admit I have an addiction, but a Sand colored Lightning Ridge is in my VERY near future...

Now I’ll patiently wait for you kind folks to talk me out of it...I know you wouldn’t want to contribute to my delinquency.

PS-Woodtroll, that Campdraft does look excellent on you. Well done!

Nobody here will talk you out of a hat purchase, unless they are bidding against you!

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[Frunobulax]

Nobody here will talk you out of a hat purchase, unless they are bidding against you!

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True dat.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[RJR]

True dat.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Woodtroll]

Well, I dug through my box and found some vintage 1" "Redwood" colored ribbon that I like. It is a little more brown and not quite as bright red in person, rather than what the pictures show. Unfortunately it is the Petersham style ribbon, but I doubt anyone around here will know the difference, or care if they did. I wanted to try my hand at a "frayed edge" bow that I have seen several times on here while I was tinkering with this ribbon, so here's how it turned out:







Not too bad, I don't think, for a hundred-dollar hat, and a little time and handwork.

Y'all take care,
Regan

 

[tropicalbob]

Well, I dug through my box and found some vintage 1" "Redwood" colored ribbon that I like. It is a little more brown and not quite as bright red in person, rather than what the pictures show. Unfortunately it is the Petersham style ribbon, but I doubt anyone around here will know the difference, or care if they did. I wanted to try my hand at a "frayed edge" bow that I have seen several times on here while I was tinkering with this ribbon, so here's how it turned out:







Not too bad, I don't think, for a hundred-dollar hat, and a little time and handwork.

Y'all take care,
Regan

That color suits it nicely. Great job! It's got me thinking about my BGCD.

 

[Just A Hat Rack]

I’m not yet willing to admit I have an addiction, but a Sand colored Lightning Ridge is in my VERY near future...

Now I’ll patiently wait for you kind folks to talk me out of it...I know you wouldn’t want to contribute to my delinquency.

PS-Woodtroll, that Campdraft does look excellent on you. Well done!

I own a fawn colored Lightning Ridge and I couldn't be happier with it. The only thing I could do without is the opal that's on the head band, but I don't think it takes anything away from the hat. It comes at the higher end of the price spectrum for Akubra, but it was a worthwhile choice for me. I was torn between the two colors offered, and erred on the side of the fawn only because I was afraid I'd get the sand one dirty given the amount of head time it gets. Either way, they're both nice colors, and when you pull the trigger be sure to post pics!

Ryan
Hat size: 7 1/2

 

[Frunobulax]

Well, I dug through my box and found some vintage 1" "Redwood" colored ribbon that I like. It is a little more brown and not quite as bright red in person, rather than what the pictures show. Unfortunately it is the Petersham style ribbon, but I doubt anyone around here will know the difference, or care if they did. I wanted to try my hand at a "frayed edge" bow that I have seen several times on here while I was tinkering with this ribbon, so here's how it turned out:







Not too bad, I don't think, for a hundred-dollar hat, and a little time and handwork.

Y'all take care,
Regan

Looks nice, good job.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Jedi5150]

I own a fawn colored Lightning Ridge and I couldn't be happier with it. The only thing I could do without is the opal that's on the head band, but I don't think it takes anything away from the hat. It comes at the higher end of the price spectrum for Akubra, but it was a worthwhile choice for me. I was torn between the two colors offered, and erred on the side of the fawn only because I was afraid I'd get the sand one dirty given the amount of head time it gets. Either way, they're both nice colors, and when you pull the trigger be sure to post pics!

Ryan
Hat size: 7 1/2

Thanks for the feedback, Ryan. I'm glad to hear you're so happy with yours. Truth be told, the Sand color is the primary reason I'm choosing the Lightning Ridge. If the Banjo Patterson came in that color, I'd get it instead. My hats right now are the Slouch, with a 3.5" brim, and the Cattleman, with a 3.25" brim. I was really wanting a brim a bit smaller than either for my next hat, and although the Lightning Ridge fits that criteria, I like the 2.75" width of the BP even better. But I just can't get past the Sand color...that alone is enough to sway me towards the Lightning Ridge.

I do agree with you about the opal on the band, but for me it's a non-issue. I plan on using a puggaree from Lawrance Ordnance instead of a hat band. I love the puggaree look on felt hats. I think that the khaki pug will go nicely with the Sand colored hat.

Doug

 

[Zombie_61]

Well, I dug through my box and found some vintage 1" "Redwood" colored ribbon that I like. It is a little more brown and not quite as bright red in person, rather than what the pictures show...

I like it. The mid-width ribbon and relatively simple bow suit the hat, and the color provides some nice contrast without being obnoxious about it. Nice work!

 

[Jedi5150]

My wife and I recently went on her first cruise, a 4-day from Vancouver to San Diego, aboard the Holland America MS Nieuw Amsterdam. My faithful Slouch hat of course got compliments (the only item of clothing I wear that ever does). A gentleman working in the visitor's information center in Victoria made me hand it over to him so he could check it out more closely...he was very enamored with it.

The chin strap came in very handy. I wore it on deck a couple days in strong winds and some rain. I had the upper decks all to myself, the other 2,100 passengers chose to remain indoors , and the chin strap kept me from losing it to the briny deep on many occasions.

 

[bearinfedora]

And a scruffy head shot:

You look like John Goodman from this angle when he has a beard.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Nobody here will talk you out of a hat purchase, unless they are bidding against you!

No truer words ever spoken!






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[deadlyhandsome]

Well, I dug through my box and found some vintage 1" "Redwood" colored ribbon that I like. It is a little more brown and not quite as bright red in person, rather than what the pictures show. Unfortunately it is the Petersham style ribbon, but I doubt anyone around here will know the difference, or care if they did. I wanted to try my hand at a "frayed edge" bow that I have seen several times on here while I was tinkering with this ribbon, so here's how it turned out:







Not too bad, I don't think, for a hundred-dollar hat, and a little time and handwork.

Y'all take care,
Regan

Very nice and bonus points for doing it yourself. Looks good to me.


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[Woodtroll]

That color suits it nicely. Great job! It's got me thinking about my BGCD.

Looks nice, good job.

I like it. The mid-width ribbon and relatively simple bow suit the hat, and the color provides some nice contrast without being obnoxious about it. Nice work!

Very nice and bonus points for doing it yourself. Looks good to me.

Thanks, everyone, for the positive comments, they are very much appreciated! It wasn't hard to do, just took some time, and right now I've got lots of time on my hands to do little chores. One advantage of swapping the ribbon was that I was able to sew the main ribbon together in a slightly smaller loop than the original, which snugged the hat up nicely and made it fit just right without the spacers behind the sweatband. I figure the sweatband still has room to shrink if it's going to.

You look like John Goodman from this angle when he has a beard.

That's funny! I've been told I have no sense of humor though, so I don't think I could fill his shoes.

Thanks again, take care!
Regan

 

[deadlyhandsome]

My wife and I recently went on her first cruise, a 4-day from Vancouver to San Diego, aboard the Holland America MS Nieuw Amsterdam. My faithful Slouch hat of course got compliments (the only item of clothing I wear that ever does). A gentleman working in the visitor's information center in Victoria made me hand it over to him so he could check it out more closely...he was very enamored with it.

The chin strap came in very handy. I wore it on deck a couple days in strong winds and some rain. I had the upper decks all to myself, the other 2,100 passengers chose to remain indoors , and the chin strap kept me from losing it to the briny deep on many occasions.

That’s a lot of brim. I’m not a big fan of chin straps, but I’d be terrified to be on deck without one; maybe I’ll have to rethink my aversion.


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[Frunobulax]

Thanks, everyone, for the positive comments, they are very much appreciated! It wasn't hard to do, just took some time, and right now I've got lots of time on my hands to do little chores. One advantage of swapping the ribbon was that I was able to sew the main ribbon together in a slightly smaller loop than the original, which snugged the hat up nicely and made it fit just right without the spacers behind the sweatband. I figure the sweatband still has room to shrink if it's going to.




That's funny! I've been told I have no sense of humor though, so I don't think I could fill his shoes.

Thanks again, take care!
Regan

For me, the tough part is curling the ribbon.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[belfastboy]

That’s a lot of brim. I’m not a big fan of chin straps, but I’d be terrified to be on deck without one; maybe I’ll have to rethink my aversion.


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I use stampede strings on two of my Akubra hiking hats. When not in use I tuck them up inside the hat out of sight and I don't notice them. Beats hiking with the fear of losing a hat over the cliff edge

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I use stampede strings on two of my Akubra hiking hats. When not in use I tuck them up inside the hat out of sight and I don't notice them. Beats hiking with the fear of losing a hat over the cliff edge

I can see if hat. Beats being constantly worried.


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[Jedi5150]

My new Lightning Ridge arrived today, and all I can say is, WOW! It's funny how in the 5 years since I bought my first felt hat (Akubra Slouch), my taste in style has changed. After my first Slouch, I bought a Cattleman, which I did after hours and days of pouring over the website, deciding between models. The Cattleman looked the most like what I was looking for. Although I still have my Cattleman, and have no plans on parting with it, it took a back seat to my Slouch, so I decided to buy a second Slouch (one size bigger than my first).

Recently I got the hankering for another Akubra, so I went back to the site and started looking again. My two main criteria were that it have a smaller brim (at least slightly) than the Slouch, which is 3.5", and that it be in lighter color. I happened upon the Lightning Ridge, and fell in love with the sand color. But with a 3" brim, I was worried it might not be "enough" smaller than my Slouch, particularly for wearing around town. Out on the trail, the Slouch's brim is excellent. I also wanted to try a crown that was something besides a pinched telescope, since all three of my Akuras have that crown.

So my initial impressions when I received my Lightning Ridge were how incredible the felt looked and felt. The thickness just screams quality, without making the hat feel heavy. The 3" brim width is just perfect! I very much liked the color in person, as I thought I would. I didn't care for the dark leather band with the opal, but that's OK, because I knew I would be replacing it regardless, with a puggaree. I can't help it, I know they aren't everyone's cup of tea, but to me the pug just screams "adventure" like no other hat band. My wife and daughter both preferred the original hatband, they liked the dark leather contrast.

Another thing I wasn't crazy about was how wide the flat area between the pinches was on the front of the crown. So that's where my modifications began. I removed the liner immediately (I can't stand them), and then I fired up the tea kettle to get to work bashing. I'm pretty confident with the tea kettle after being so happy with how my recent Slouch turned out, when I changed it from a military bash to a pinched telescope. So on my new hat, I deepened and lengthened the side dents, bringing the front to a much narrower pinch. Then I added the puggaree off my Slouch, to see how it would look. I have two more pugs on order, and will use one of the new ones on the Slouch. Now I am in love with the way my new Lightning Ridge looks. I may make one final modification though...since I'll now have 3 good, aftermarket pugs, I think I'm going to use tea to dye one of them, making it a fair bit darker, and then see how I like it on the sand colored Lightning Ridge, for just a bit more contrast.
Sorry for the teaser post without photos. I'll try to get photo or two tomorrow of my new hat, showing the "upgraded" dents and pinch. I think I may have found my new favorite Akubra. In fact, it probably won't be my last Lightning Ridge...a fawn one is calling my name.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I use stampede strings on two of my Akubra hiking hats. When not in use I tuck them up inside the hat out of sight and I don't notice them. Beats hiking with the fear of losing a hat over the cliff edge

Been thinking about adding some braided stampede strings to one of mine but I just hate to punch two grommet holes. Once punched they are there forever. If you punched your own, any tips on locating them?