Akubra questions

[deadlyhandsome]

Hello all,
I received my Akubra Fedora from a land down under a few months back. My first ever Akubra. It’s lovely. I only wish the felt was a bit stiffer/thicker so to speak. It wouldn’t really hold a dry bash. Steam helped a great deal. Anyway, I’m leaning towards a Banjo Paterson in heritage fawn or the Stylemaster in acorn fawn. I know they’re two very different lids. I’ve never seen either hat in person. I’m looking for something I can just bang around in so to speak. Hit the woods or go shopping with the Wife and everything in between. How does the raw edge on the Banjo hold up over time? With rain and snow exposure etc? Would I be better off with the bound edge of the Stylemaster for long term use in any and all climates? Is the heritage series felt stronger compared to the felt used to make the Stylemaster? Any and all information or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Pics of either hat can’t hurt either

Cheers!

I see raw edges as sturdier that bound edges. The brim binding can get ratty if you use the hat as a knockabout.

My issue with Akubra’s dress felt such as the Fedora is just the opposite from yours. I wish it was thinner and denser and less stiff/firm. We must drive hat makers mad with our competing preferences.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Hello all,
I received my Akubra Fedora from a land down under a few months back. My first ever Akubra. It’s lovely. I only wish the felt was a bit stiffer/thicker so to speak. It wouldn’t really hold a dry bash. Steam helped a great deal. Anyway, I’m leaning towards a Banjo Paterson in heritage fawn or the Stylemaster in acorn fawn. I know they’re two very different lids. I’ve never seen either hat in person. I’m looking for something I can just bang around in so to speak. Hit the woods or go shopping with the Wife and everything in between. How does the raw edge on the Banjo hold up over time? With rain and snow exposure etc? Would I be better off with the bound edge of the Stylemaster for long term use in any and all climates? Is the heritage series felt stronger compared to the felt used to make the Stylemaster? Any and all information or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Pics of either hat can’t hurt either

Cheers!

Both hats will do the job you want. Both are very similar in size and dimensions both come pre creased so no worries about bashing yourself. For me it’s a matter of what look you prefer. The Banjo is a little more relaxed/outback/weekend look. Style master is a little more formal in town hat, church on Sunday's but that doesn't mean It can’t go everywhere and do everything you want. The bound edge can get tatty and pop the odd stitch over time (years) the ribbon can get sweat stained or sun bleached as well. As I say, over years of use. The leather of the Banjo hat will still look good years later With little effort. The higher grade felt used to be because of the wild hare thrown into the mix of farmed rabbit but Akubra outsources their fir now so I have no idea what the difference is anymore.
Hope that helps some. Sorry no pictures, I bought my wife a banjo she doesn’t wear and I never bought a style master, I prefer bashing my own Federation or Squatter.
Johnny

 

[Scooterz]

The Banjo Patterson is stiffer than the Stylemaster. The Banjo is closer to a western hat with a stiff brim and will hold up well to weather I would not hesitate to wear it in a driving rain. The Stylemaster can take some weather too. I would pick whichever you lean towards. The Banjo Pete will meet your desire for a stiffer felt.

 

[belfastboy]

The Banjo Patterson is stiffer than the Stylemaster. The Banjo is closer to a western hat with a stiff brim and will hold up well to weather I would not hesitate to wear it in a driving rain. The Stylemaster can take some weather too. I would pick whichever you lean towards. The Banjo Pete will meet your desire for a stiffer felt.

Yes, two different hats. I have the Sydney from David Morgan the Akubra NA distributor. Same hat as the Stylemaster without the bound edge. I have had mine for 10 years and its precursor the Madison for over 20 years. Both good hats but def on the soft felt side of things. In my view if you want a rugged outdoors hat get the Banjo it will serve you well. If you want something a little more dressy then go Stylemaster/Sydney.

Or in my world for the great price of Akubra get both....there problem solved.

 

[Scooterz]

Yes, two different hats. I have the Sydney from David Morgan the Akubra NA distributor. Same hat as the Stylemaster without the bound edge. I have had mine for 10 years and its precursor the Madison for over 20 years. Both good hats but def on the soft felt side of things. In my view if you want a rugged outdoors hat get the Banjo it will serve you well. If you want something a little more dressy then go Stylemaster/Sydney.

Or in my world for the great price of Akubra get both....there problem solved.

Yep if you hang around here you will wind up with several.

 

[dkstott]

I own both of those hats.

My Banjo Patterson hat is my hiking, yard work and general purpose hat. It is indeed almost western thick stiff felt, but it softened up nicely after a month or so. During my 5 mile hike yesterday, it got soaked during a sudden downpour. It survived it without any issues at all, most of the rain beaded up and rolled off of it. I did a quick wipe down of the hat when I got home and set it aside. Did a light brushing last night after it dried & it's ready for today's hike.

My Stylemaster is the hat that I grab most often when going out for lunch, dinner with my wife or just about anything else around town. I liken the felt of the Stylemaster to the current Stetson Royal Deluxe felt in feel and weight. But it's a little coarser in appearance. My personal opinion is that the Akubra felt is more durable too.

You can't go wrong with either hat.

Dave

 

[Doctor Strange]

I've got a Stylemaster and a Leisure Time... which is the same shape/size as the Banjo Patterson, but less expensive.

The Stylemaster is the only Akubra I've handled that I would call "soft". All the others I've had (Federation III, Stockman, Cattleman, Campdraft, Leisure Time) are plenty tough, even the open-crown fedora style Campdraft. Only the Stylemaster is soft and floppy.

In general, the preshaped "country hats" are thicker/stiffer and more like western hats than Akubra's "city" hats, especially the open-crown models. But after being here daily for 15 years, it would appear there is A LOT of variation in Akubra's addition of stiffener to their felts, because this topic comes up frequently. Reports of fedoras that are too hard (my Fed III never softened, not after nearly a decade of wear in rain and snow, it was always more like a cowboy hat than a fedora!), and country hats that are too soft.

So there's a luck-of-the-draw aspect, but generally the country hats are thicker/tougher/more stiffened than the fedora styles. Like many here, I wear the Stylemaster and Campdraft as my around-town hats and use the Stockman, Cattleman, and Leisure Time for hiking and yard work.

 

[BIGG SHOW]

Hello all,
I have no doubt I’ll receive some backlash regarding this post. Simply because these two questions have likely been asked and answered before. I didn’t find the answer I need so, here goes..
I have an Akubra Fedora from Australia. Not the Sydney from David Morgan. I’m looking at The Stylemaster in Acorn.

First question,
is the felt that makes the Stylemaster the same as the felt that makes my Fedora? I’ve never had a Stylemaster in hand. Sounds and looks tougher and slightly stiffer from what I’ve seen on YouTube etc.

Second question,
is the Acorn color green at all or more of a light tannish/brown?

Ok, bring on the “there’s a ton of information on The Stylemaster and all Akubra hats if you search...blah blah blah” comments

Cheers!

 

[dkstott]

Almost all Akubra vary in stiffness from lot to lot.

After a month or two or wearing the Stylemaster it'll get softer. I have the Carbon Grey Stylemaster and I've changed from the teardrop to a diamond crease.

My Banjo Patterson is really soft after it got soaked twice in rain storms.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Hello all,
I have no doubt I’ll receive some backlash regarding this post. Simply because these two questions have likely been asked and answered before. I didn’t find the answer I need so, here goes..
I have an Akubra Fedora from Australia. Not the Sydney from David Morgan. I’m looking at The Stylemaster in Acorn.

First question,
is the felt that makes the Stylemaster the same as the felt that makes my Fedora? I’ve never had a Stylemaster in hand. Sounds and looks tougher and slightly stiffer from what I’ve seen on YouTube etc.

Second question,
is the Acorn color green at all or more of a light tannish/brown?

Ok, bring on the “there’s a ton of information on The Stylemaster and all Akubra hats if you search...blah blah blah” comments

Cheers!

Hats Direct (The Hattery) doesn’t include the Fedora in with their Heritage felt hats and the Stylemaster is made from Imperial felt so I think it’s a good bet that they are both Imperial grade felt. Circumstantial, but there you have it.

 

[BIGG SHOW]

Thank you Gents for the helpful information.
Does Akubra make a Stylemaster in Heritage felt? I’m actually looking for something a tad stiffer than my Akubra Fedora..
Anyone know if the Acorn color is green at all? Thanks again

Cheers!

 

[johnnycanuck]

Usually bound brims are softer and thinner felt from my experience. Raw edge seems thicker and stiffer. If you want stiffer contact the company you are ordering from and make it a special request. I have ordered from hats direct and everythingaustralian and both have been very accommodating. Have you considered the federation or campdraft as options? As for colour ask over at the Akubra thread and you will probably get some comparison pictures.
Johnny

 

[BIGG SHOW]

Thanks Johnny,
I have considered a Campdraft. Not into The Federation, too “stove pipe” for my taste. I understand everyone is looking for something different but for me, I wish they made a Campdraft with a shorter brim and a lower crown. If the dimensions were just a bit smaller it would be my perfect hat. Just my preference. As they say, different strokes for different folks!

Cheers!

 

[DougC]

Bigg—they do...it’s a modern open road!

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Thanks Johnny,
I have considered a Campdraft. Not into The Federation, too “stove pipe” for my taste. I understand everyone is looking for something different but for me, I wish they made a Campdraft with a shorter brim and a lower crown. If the dimensions were just a bit smaller it would be my perfect hat. Just my preference. As they say, different strokes for different folks!

Cheers!

Haha! My issue with the Campdraft is that the crown isn’t high enough. You can crease a tall crown to lower it, but you can’t get it higher than it was made. Like you said: different strokes.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Bigg—they do...it’s a modern open road!

Too true. And that’s why I don’t own one of the new Pure Beaver Open Roads.

 

[DougC]

Pure beaver open road? I’ve got an older 7x pure braver...but tel me more. Maybe not in this thread...

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Pure beaver open road? I’ve got an older 7x pure braver...but tel me more. Maybe not in this thread...

New for 2020:

http://www.hat-co.com/perch//resources/f20-stetson-city-no-prices.pdf

 

[BIGG SHOW]

Hello all,
Ok. My head is spinning.

I don’t have a retail location that sells Akubra hats locally.

I am unable to hold these hats in my hand to get a feel for the stiffness of each model.

The long and short of it is, I want a hat with a brim that’s stiff enough to hold without the crown/middle of the hat dropping down.

I’m reading that the Stylemaster is floppy but then others say it is stiff?

Is the Campdraft brim stiff? I’ve been told on this website that the Banjo brim is stiff but then read that it’s soft?

How about the Fed IV Deluxe? It seems from what I’ve read that it’s a pretty stiff hat.. ? Is the Campdraft deluxe stiffer than the regular Campdraft?

Obviously people’s idea of lid stiffness differs so different folks have different outlooks.

All my hats so far (two Stetsons and 1 Akubra Fedora) have fairly floppy brims so to speak.

I’d really love a modest brim sized Fedora with western hat stiffness. Thin country band in a country tan or fawn color. I want a hat that can take a beating. That’s what I’m looking for. I know Akubra hats can handle weather.

Cheers!

 

[belfastboy]

not clear on what you mean when you say.....'hold without the crown/middle of the hat dropping down'?