Akubra Overload

[rogueclimber]

Chose my Deluxe Fed IV for today's chilly (49°) jaunt to the Venice Pier

 

[The Shoe]

How do the Japanese react to a gaijin wearing a nice hat?

Usually I find they say nothing, but I do get regular looks and the occasional compliment.
When I started wearing hats to the school where I work, there was a bit of laughter from the kids and also mirth and “what’s up with that?” type comments from a couple of teachers. Some of the kids wanted to touch my hats or put them on. I told them to take care and showed them how to hold it. Once in a while, a kid would ignore that and just grab the hat, scrunching whatever part they were holding. Those kids got a real earful!
The funniest reaction was when I was in a black pork pie, wearing dark glasses and a suit. A bunch of high school girls walking the opposite direction on the pavement clammed together and took a very wide berth of me. I’m just a little guy, or about average size here in Japan, so that’s never happened to me before. I got a kick out of it.

 

[Marcus G]

How do the Japanese react to a gaijin wearing a nice hat?

Hi GLewis. To be honest, as a foreigner here, I get so many looks even without the hat. There is a fair bit of a hat culture here, so wearing one is not completely out of the ordinary. Of course, far from everyone wears hats, but there are a decent amount of hat wearers around my town, especially people a little up in age. You see them. I notice that it's mostly trilbys on men and they are not particularly quality ones that are mostly made from cotton. I've been wearing hats for a long time, mostly a range of seasonal trilbys, so wider brims are new for me as is fur felt. I used to think that wool offered the best hats, but I've had a change of heart since I put on an Akubra. I admit that I do catch people checking out my Stylemaster, so the reactions seem to be some looks. Not sure how much is due to my skin color or the hat—a bit of both, I'm sure. My Japanese friends will compliment my hats sometimes. As for the Stylemaster, my foreign friends tend throw out the Indy comments.

 

[Marcus G]

Usually I find they say nothing, but I do get regular looks and the occasional compliment.
When I started wearing hats to the school where I work, there was a bit of laughter from the kids and also mirth and “what’s up with that?” type comments from a couple of teachers. Some of the kids wanted to touch my hats or put them on. I told them to take care and showed them how to hold it. Once in a while, a kid would ignore that and just grab the hat, scrunching whatever part they were holding. Those kids got a real earful!
The funniest reaction was when I was in a black pork pie, wearing dark glasses and a suit. A bunch of high school girls walking the opposite direction on the pavement clammed together and took a very wide berth of me. I’m just a little guy, or about average size here in Japan, so that’s never happened to me before. I got a kick out of it.

So you accidently scared them?

 

[The Shoe]

So you accidently scared them?

Yes!

 

[RickP]

Had a Stylemaster in Loden shipped to me to go with my Traveller. Now I have an Akubra for the city and another for the country. I didn't think I'd like the dark brown as much as I do. The Stylemaster is proving to be super versatile. Here's me putting it through some paces. . .

Going to work View attachment 653699

Stepping out
View attachment 653700

on a walk
View attachment 653701

After a few glasses of wine
View attachment 653702

The only issue Ive ever had with my 9 Akubras is deciding which one to wear! lol . One of my 3 stylemasters goes outside just about every week.. Nice refined hats

 

[Marcus G]

I’m definitely happy with mine. Got caught in light rain with my Traveller for the first time. The hat kept me dry without problems.

 

[GLewis]

Usually I find they say nothing, but I do get regular looks and the occasional compliment.
When I started wearing hats to the school where I work, there was a bit of laughter from the kids and also mirth and “what’s up with that?” type comments from a couple of teachers. Some of the kids wanted to touch my hats or put them on. I told them to take care and showed them how to hold it. Once in a while, a kid would ignore that and just grab the hat, scrunching whatever part they were holding. Those kids got a real earful!
The funniest reaction was when I was in a black pork pie, wearing dark glasses and a suit. A bunch of high school girls walking the opposite direction on the pavement clammed together and took a very wide berth of me. I’m just a little guy, or about average size here in Japan, so that’s never happened to me before. I got a kick out of it.

That would be funny! I hope you greeted them in Japanese!

Hi GLewis. To be honest, as a foreigner here, I get so many looks even without the hat. There is a fair bit of a hat culture here, so wearing one is not completely out of the ordinary. Of course, far from everyone wears hats, but there are a decent amount of hat wearers around my town, especially people a little up in age. You see them. I notice that it's mostly trilbys on men and they are not particularly quality ones that are mostly made from cotton. I've been wearing hats for a long time, mostly a range of seasonal trilbys, so wider brims are new for me as is fur felt. I used to think that wool offered the best hats, but I've had a change of heart since I put on an Akubra. I admit that I do catch people checking out my Stylemaster, so the reactions seem to be some looks. Not sure how much is due to my skin color or the hat—a bit of both, I'm sure. My Japanese friends will compliment my hats sometimes. As for the Stylemaster, my foreign friends tend throw out the Indy comments.

I bet you do get a lot of attention; especially in rural areas! Akubras are nice hats. I’ve been to stores where the salesmen told me that they have nice hats. They turn out to be wool felt, unlined and not nearly as nice as my Akubras!

 

[Marcus G]

I’m impressed with the quality of my Akubra through and through. I just love having one on!

 

[Marcus G]

Shrinkage report:
Am I ever happy! OK, so I've had my Stylemaster for about 3 weeks now. My head measures 54.7cm. In my first Akubra, a Traveller, I have a size 56, and I have a pretty thick piece of foam inserted in the back of the band that is about 8mm thick but it's a spongy material. The hat is a bit loose without the foam, but with it the fit is really good with the cloth sweat band. So, to error on the cautious side according to what I've read on this forum, I ordered my brand-new Stylemaster at a 56, and it was big.

I put a 5mm thick piece of hat foam in the back and have been living with it thinking that a few good and sweaty wearings would reduce the size. After 5 or so of such wearings, it didn't work. Yes, it shrank a tiny bit, but without the foam insert I was still swimming in it. So, I inverted the sweatband, wet the inside only a bit, and let it dry in the sun on a 25 degree C day. It took just a minute to dry. Nothing happened. I tried again with a bit more water. It dried in 5 minutes without a change in size. So, I just thought that it might not shrink or had shrunk as much as it ever would. I wore it for a few more days thinking that I'd just wear it in the rain to soak it on the next downpour and maybe that would help, but I got tired of waiting.

So, today I was able to finally shrink it. I inverted the sweatband again, but this time I really wetted it. Like sopping wet on the inside of the band and let it dry in the sun on a 25 degree C day for about 4 hours in the morning. When I returned to the hat at lunch time, I could see that it had dried and it looked a bit smaller, and when I put it on my head I found success! It has now shrunk down to fit me perfectly! If not the tiniest bit big. I mean, I couldn't ask for it to be better. I could even stand to have a thin sliver of foam in the back if I want. But there is really no need. It fits really well now without any foam.

Thank you to all here who advised that I get a larger size! I wasn't given that specific advice per say, but the consensus on the board seemed to be to go one size up, especially due to my plans to wear it in the rain at some point. With the size 56 of my Traveller, I was quite tempted to move down to a 55 with my purchase of the Stylemaster, but I'm so so happy that I got the bigger size to let it shrink.

Glad that I ordered my (ahem) brand-new Hampton as a 56.

 

[RickP]

Im looking for a new project. Has anyone ever put a pencil curl on a larger brim Akubra? Im thinking a big pencil curl Akubra would be cool. Something like a raw edge Riverena should be doable, but Im unsure whether a bound edge would be problematic...

Something like this is what Im thinking...

 

[One Drop]

Im looking for a new project. Has anyone ever put a pencil curl on a larger brim Akubra? Im thinking a big pencil curl Akubra would be cool. Something like a raw edge Riverena should be doable, but Im unsure whether a bound edge would be problematic...

Something like this is what Im thinking...

View attachment 655569

I had a tighter pencil curl put on my Sombrero, perhaps that's an option? I did have the brim cut down slightly as well, and of course the crown is higher than the example in your picture.

I've seen pencil curls on bound edge western hats, shouldn't be a problem.

 

[RickP]

I had a tighter pencil curl put on my Sombrero, perhaps that's an option? I did have the brim cut down slightly as well, and of course the crown is higher than the example in your picture.

I've seen pencil curls on bound edge western hats, shouldn't be a problem.

The tool I have coming has both 3/8 and 1/2" curls. Depending on the original brim size, Im thinking The curl can take the place if trimming the hat narrower ( Im not real big on oversized brims). A nice roll should effectively reduce the brim acerage lol

 

[Who?]

I think it depends on whether you go for form or for function.

A wide brim serves a real purpose, but if you are only concerned with appearance, I guess there’s a chance you won’t like them.

One man’s “improvement” is another man’s abomination.