Akubra stiffness

[moontheloon]

Oh well, it was a nice couple of weeks.

imagine ... someone having a differing opinion ... so very odd huh ?

sorry guys ... let me fall into line here ...

AHEM!!... Akubra hats are amazing ... I'm actually wearing 3 right now ... nothing like cardboard hats that come 3 sizes too large that you have to sweat in for 3 months so they fit ... boy do I love 'em

I'm going to call Trudy right now and order a few more ...

what color should I get guys ?

maybe Tawny ?

 

[Doc Glockster]

imagine ... someone having a differing opinion ... so very odd huh ?

sorry guys ... let me fall into line here ...

AHEM!!... Akubra hats are amazing ... I'm actually wearing 3 right now ... nothing like cardboard hats that come 3 sizes too large that you have to sweat in for 3 months so they fit ... boy do I love 'em

I'm going to call Trudy right now and order a few more ...

what color should I get guys ?

maybe Tawny ?

That's better. LOL.

Seriously, though. I'm just trying to get information. You are entirely welcome to your opinions and tastes. I was just looking for some better understanding of why you hold the opinion you do.

 

[scottyrocks]

imagine ... someone having a differing opinion ... so very odd huh ?

sorry guys ... let me fall into line here ...?

Nah, it's not that. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. So it's not the product. It's the presentation.

 

[Doc Glockster]

I will say that I do NOT like the way David Morgan occasionally ships their hats. I got one box nearly crushed and miracle of miracles the crushing ended just before it would have touched the hat. Every order I've placed since then has had a comment "Please ship in a good sturdy box with "do not crush" stamped on it."

 

[moontheloon]

Nah, it's not that. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. So it's not the product. It's the presentation.

I'll make sure I start posting up to your standards

maybe take some photos in my bathroom .. who knows

 

[scottyrocks]

I'll make sure I start posting up to your standards

maybe take some photos in my bathroom .. who knows

Thanks for proving my point. Condescension all the way.

 

[moontheloon]

Thanks for proving my point. Condescension all the way.

as if ... "Oh well, it was a nice couple of weeks." ... wasn't condescension ?

good evening pot my name is kettle ... should we shake hands or hug ?

I've done nothing but express an opinion about a product in this thread

it was you who offered a limp personal dig .... not me ...

 

[scottyrocks]

as if ... "Oh well, it was a nice couple of weeks." ... wasn't condescension ?

No.

I've done nothing but express an opinion about a product in this thread

As I said, it's consistently the presentation, not the opinion itself. Regardless, we're not gonna move this along anywhere so I suggest we

 

[moontheloon]

No.



As I said, it's the presentation, not the opinion itself. Regardless, we're not gonna move this along anywhere so I suggest we

View attachment 98659

fair

I'm out

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I'll make sure I start posting up to your standards

maybe take some photos in my bathroom .. who knows

Love the humor!

 

[moontheloon]

I never meant to ... I meant to just give an honest differreing opinion ... but I believe I ruffled a few feathers in the process

so to make it up I'd like to give away an Akubra CampDraft

@Doc Glockster is there any chance that you are a 58?

if so I have a sliverbelly CD that I would love for you to have ... for nothing

if Doc is not a 58 the first 58 to contact me will be the proud owner of a DeLuxe CD in perfect condition .. barely worn

 

[JackieMatra]

I will be delighted to take your size 58 Akubra Campdraft off your hands, if you would be so inclined, Moon.

 

[Nathaniel Finley]

I’ve worn Akubra exclusively for about 4 years, mostly because I didn’t know anything better and the price was right for me. But I recently purchased my first “vintage” hat and I find myself reaching for it more and more often. I don’t know if it’s the kashmir finish or the stingy brim but something is compelling enough about my 60s Champ that I choose it regularly over the Akubra FED IV.

Unless I’m going on an adventure.

Akubra will always have a place in my heart: it was my first felt hat brand and I appreciate what the company offers - a durable, unique (each hat is unique, as Moon has pointed out, and I like that), weather-proof hat for a working family’s price. Plus there are a huge range of styles. None of the Akubras I’ve ever handled, seen or worn have been “inferior” (I think that was a word that was used here at some point) - I don’t even know how you would judge such a thing. Why attack a brand for not offering something it never claimed to be offering? Akubra is very public that each hat is unique.

All that being said, the more I start to handle soft vintage felts the more I am sure that I will probably never spend another dime on an Akubra or any other contemporary-made hat. These vintage felts are just too much fun! My second vintage is meeting me in Australia in 10 days.

(Btw, I don’t know where we got the idea that “vintage” = “soft”. I’ve seen tons of adds for “stiff” vintage hats, so Akubra stiffness doesn’t seem to me to be anything new in the world of hats.)

Here are my two felts, just for sh*ts and giggles. One of these will stay in SE Asia while the other flies with me to Australia next week.

Cheers,
Nathan

 

[Nathaniel Finley]

Sorry, I just looked again and no the word “inferior” was not used but it was certainly implied. Again, I find nothing whatseoever inferior about a brand that offers the quality that Akubra offers for a price a working family can afford. The fact that one would be best served by personally visiting a retailer and hand-picking the felt, color and size that best suits you rather than ordering it online where every piece is exactly the same is charming and old school and I’m glad it’s that way. I’ve owned four Akubras and all but one were purchased in a store down under.

Akubra is very public that each hat is unique - that’s why the Hattery in Katoomba actually physically measures every mail-ordered hat it sends out to be sure the hat is a true size (or at least they claim to do so on their website).

 

[T Jones]

I had an Akubra Squatter. I hated that hat, not for the way it was made, but for the color. I'm not a fan of black hats. I have a Resistol that I recently converted and it's the only black hat I ever liked. But, besides the color of my Akubra black beast I thought it was a pretty decent modern hat for the money. There's some stiffness to them but unless you've handled a few Resistol and Stetson Westerns of more recent vintage you hardly notice it. The sweats are nice and Akubras are fairly easy to shape too. My one drawback is that the finish on Akubras are rough to the touch in comparison to actual vintage. But for a starter hat and for the money they're a decent value, I think. I've been wanting to get hold of a Campdraft for a while and do some work on one to try and smooth out the finish and to do a few other little "tweaks". I think I can do a little something nice with one.

 

[Doc Glockster]

I never meant to ... I meant to just give an honest differreing opinion ... but I believe I ruffled a few feathers in the process

No feathers ruffled here. I just think it's unfair to say or imply something is inferior--especially a hugely popular item--and then not give detailed reasons why. I think I fulfilled that with my detailed gripes against Stetson. I would have appreciated a similar write-up on Akubras if you don't like them. That's all.

so to make it up I'd like to give away an Akubra CampDraft

@Doc Glockster is there any chance that you are a 58?

Thanks for the offer but I'm a 59 cm. No need to "make it up." The only time I get upset is when someone starts ad hominem attacks.

 

[Frunobulax]

No feathers ruffled here. I just think it's unfair to say or imply something is inferior--especially a hugely popular item--and then not give detailed reasons why. I think I fulfilled that with my detailed gripes against Stetson. I would have appreciated a similar write-up on Akubras if you don't like them. That's all.



Thanks for the offer but I'm a 59 cm. No need to "make it up." The only time I get upset is when someone starts ad hominem attacks.

While I think Anthony is overcritical in his analysis, his criticisms weren't attacking Akubra's character, which is what ad hominem means (loosely, in this case, as it's usually against the character of a specific person). He indicated their workmanship, quality, and felt characteristics were inconsistent. You may disagree with his assessment, but it's a fair cop, in my book. I am very fond of my Akubras, and have found them to be well built and attractive hats. But if you've spent much time on these boards, Moon's beef against Akubra is not new, nor without sound reasoning.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Doc Glockster]

While I think Anthony is overcritical in his analysis, his criticisms weren't attacking Akubra's character, which is what ad hominem means (loosely, in this case, as it's usually against the character of a specific person).

I meant ad hominem attacks against ME.

 

[moontheloon]

No feathers ruffled here. I just think it's unfair to say or imply something is inferior--especially a hugely popular item--and then not give detailed reasons why. I think I fulfilled that with my detailed gripes against Stetson. I would have appreciated a similar write-up on Akubras if you don't like them. That's all.



Thanks for the offer but I'm a 59 cm. No need to "make it up." The only time I get upset is when someone starts ad hominem attacks.

I think I was pretty clear about my experiences with Akubra

all 11 hats I have owned were somewhat poorly constructed “cheap” feeling hats ... just did not have that quality feel to them ... felt cheap and wool like

a good number of them extremely inconsistent in size.

One 58 would be slightly snug while the next would come down over my eyes.

the felt on all of them had an unfinished feel and look... and depending on the color can be quite stiff and as a result spider when creased... can’t stand that

many of them had the ribbon tacked too high above the break which gave the hat an odd look ...

every single one of them had that horrible toliker mark at the break that Akubra has become famous for ... this is probably what bothers me most about Akubra

The sweatbands on most of them leave a lot to be desired ... they have a sort of rubbery texture that I do not enjoy against my forehead

but like I said .... you spend $130 you get a $130 hat .... I just thought with all the hype surrounding them that maybe I was getting some misfits
... but 11 misfits ?.... nah

The three I still own are the best of the 11 but still all have the toliker mark and the silverbelly CD is stiff as a board

They are fine hats ... I wear them in heavily inclement weather or while doing yard work ... they are pieces I wouldn’t mind just leaving outside for days

Unfortunately as far as modern hats these are the issues we deal with in this price range ... you get stuff that is just eh
I have many of the same complaints about modern Stetsons which cost much more

My entire point in this thread is that these hats do not equal the hype built up about them on this forum

But hey I’ve bought 11 of them and still own 3 so I’m a glutton for punishment I guess


This is just one mans opinion ... and I am clearly in the minority on this forum

I’d just rather spend a little more and get a better hat

 

[moontheloon]

(Btw, I don’t know where we got the idea that “vintage” = “soft”. I’ve seen tons of adds for “stiff” vintage hats, so Akubra stiffness doesn’t seem to me to be anything new in the world of hats.)




Cheers,
Nathan

When dealing with vintage hats .... especially 30s and earlier there are really only two types of hats .... soft felt and stiff felt

all the terms like “fedora” “homburg” “bowler” .... those are pretty much just fashion terms devised to decipher the style or specific look of a soft felt or stiff felt