Akubra stiffness

[Doc Glockster]

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

Good write-up. I'm not sure what a toliker mark is but this is the kind of detail I wanted to see in a write-up.

I can agree with many of the points: I am almost a perfect size 59 cm, and some Akubras come a little over that, some just right. I've never had to return one that was too small for the quoted size, though. I've also found that the sweatband "sizes" itself pretty well after a few wearings.

Coarseness of felt: On the slouch hat I agree it has a "wool" appearance--but it's a military hat not expected to wow fashion wonks. My Angler and Banjo Paterson look really nice.

Rubbery feel of sweatband: I noticed it too. It's sheepskin. I prefer the feel of this softer sweatband to the almost "stiff plastic" feel of a Stetson sweatband (just for comparison).

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

My inkling is that you want a really "fine quality", sort of "upscale" hat like men of means wore in the '30's and '40's. Nothing wrong with that.

There is an old (allegedly) Russian proverb: "The best is the enemy of good enough."

I glean that you opt for the "best". I opt for "good enough."

Other than that, we are not that far apart.

 

[1mach1]

After reading all this, I would have to agree with @moontheloon 100%. I own two Akubra Campdrafts, and only ever wear them doing yard work or working on the cars. Same goes for my Federation.

Other than a work hat, I don't rate them very high at all.

It took you 11 Akubras to figure that out Anthony? [emoji14]

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[moontheloon]

Good write-up. I'm not sure what a toliker mark is but this is the kind of detail I wanted to see in a write-up.

I can agree with many of the points: I am almost a perfect size 59 cm, and some Akubras come a little over that, some just right. I've never had to return one that was too small for the quoted size, though. I've also found that the sweatband "sizes" itself pretty well after a few wearings.

Coarseness of felt: On the slouch hat I agree it has a "wool" appearance--but it's a military hat not expected to wow fashion wonks. My Angler and Banjo Paterson look really nice.

Rubbery feel of sweatband: I noticed it too. It's sheepskin. I prefer the feel of this softer sweatband to the almost "stiff plastic" feel of a Stetson sweatband (just for comparison).



My inkling is that you want a really "fine quality", sort of "upscale" hat like men of means wore in the '30's and '40's. Nothing wrong with that.

There is an old (allegedly) Russian proverb: "The best is the enemy of good enough."

I glean that you opt for the "best". I opt for "good enough."

Other than that, we are not that far apart.

a tolliker is a hat making tool

And every Akubra I’ve owned had this mark ...this is one of my CDs

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[moontheloon]

After reading all this, I would have to agree with @moontheloon 100%. I own two Akubra Campdrafts, and only ever wear them doing yard work or working on the cars. Same goes for my Federation.

Other than a work hat, I don't rate them very high at all.

It took you 11 Akubras to figure that out Anthony? [emoji14]

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Yeah bro... I held out hope



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[scottyrocks]

Any hat can have flaws. Fer instance:

These are two different hats. One is over 3 times the price of the other and is a modern hand made. It also has a 'flaw' mentioned above. The less $$ hat does not have this 'flaw' (look at the bottom of the ribbons).

The point? It is only one aspect of hat flaws, but it's not fair to assume that all less expensive hats will be so inferior. It can be a part of any hat, regardless of price.

If you want to try a less expensive hat, go for it, and see what you think. And don't buy 11 of them if you don't like them.

Many of us here feel these are very good hats, especially for the money. Some look down their noses at them. We're all different. But make up your own mind based on what you think will be good for you.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I own two Akubra Campdrafts, and only ever wear them doing yard work or working on the cars. Same goes for my Federation.

Other than a work hat, I don't rate them very high at all.

Wow Harv, guess I better cancel my subscription to the Akubra of the Week Club! And from now on I'll save a few gigabytes on the FL server.

 

[1mach1]

Any hat can have flaws. Fer instance:

These are two different hats. One is over 3 times the price of the other and is a modern hand made. It also has a 'flaw' mentioned above. The less $$ hat does not have this 'flaw' (look at the bottom of the ribbon).

View attachment 99007 View attachment 99008

The point? It is only one aspect of hat flaws, but it's not fair to assume that all less expensive hats will be so inferior. It can be a part of any hat, regardless of price.

If you want to try a less expensive hat, go for it, and see what you think. And don't buy 11 of them if you don't like them.

Many of us here feel these are very good hats, especially for the money. Some look down their noses at them. We're all different. But make up your own mind based on what you think will be good for you.

Agreed Scotty. I do like my Akubras. Just for a certain purpose.

You should wear one while tinkering with the Mustang

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[1mach1]

Wow Harv, guess I better cancel my subscription to the Akubra of the Week Club! And from now on I'll save a few gigabytes on the FL server.

Hahahahaha!

Again, I enjoy my Akubras, but for certain things.

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[scottyrocks]

Agreed Scotty. I do like my Akubras. Just for a certain purpose.

You should wear one while tinkering with the Mustang

Actually I do have an outdoor work hat that I shouldn't wear for that reason because I really like it and can't replace it - my Fed III.

But I don't wear any felt hat in an oil-n-grease situation. I have an old cotton Harley cap for that.

 

[1mach1]

Actually I do have an outdoor work hat that I shouldn't wear for that reason because I really like it and can't replace it - my Fed III.

But I don't wear any felt hat in an oil-n-grease situation. I have an old cotton Harley cap for that.

Good call.

I still need.to see pics of your baby.

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[1mach1]

I have some old ones. The car still looks the same. I'll find them and put them here in a few minutes.

I am anxious to see her. Perhaps better in the car thread. Forgive me for forgetting where the hell that is at the moment. Too much beer.

Just @ tag me when you do. I can't wait to see her.

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[scottyrocks]

They'll be in the car thread. I'll tag you.

Edit: they're here, right under yours:
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/show-us-your-vehicles.7262/page-142#post-2326094

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I think we all have different needs and have various points of reference. If I wasn't a 7 5/8 to 7 3/4 I might never have needed Akubra. Since vintage hats are hard to come by and expensive in my size I have to look elsewhere. I'll grab what I can on the vintage market, but Akubra, D'aquino, etc., fill in the gaps. I'm ordering some better custom hats too, but I find Akubra to be serviceable, even if nowhere near as nice vintage.

I think I just have lower expectations. I've seen the hats that @moontheloon posts and if I had those hats I'd look down my nose at Akubra too. And is it really that surprising that a vintage hat that costs $400 (adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars) is nicer than a hat you can buy today for just over $100?

And because I too like to stir it up: my experience with modern open crown Stetsons has been mostly positive and I'm not hesitating from buying them again.

And Anthony, if you have any Campdrafts in say a size 62 that you need to give away feel free to send me a PM. . Good to have you back.


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[scottyrocks]

I think we all have different needs and have various points of reference. If I wasn't a 7 5/8 to 7 3/4 I might never have needed Akubra. Since vintage hats are hard to come by and expensive in my size I have to look elsewhere. I'll grab what I can on the vintage market, but Akubra, D'aquino, etc., fill in the gaps. I'm ordering some better custom hats too, but I find Akubra to be serviceable, even if nowhere near as nice vintage.

I think I just have lower expectations. I've seen the hats that @moontheloon posts and if I had those hats I'd look down my nose at Akubra too. And is it really that surprising that a vintage hat that costs $400 (adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars) is nicer than a hat you can buy today for just over $100?

And because I too like to stir it up: my experience with modern open crown Stetsons has been mostly positive and I'm not hesitating from buying them again.

And Anthony, if you have any Campdrafts in say a size 62 that you need to give away feel free to send me a PM. . Good to have you back.

Nothing here is in dispute except the bolded text, even if it wasn't said outright. Everything else is fact or valid opinion. But the snootiness? Feh.

And if you don't see or agree with it? Oh well. But it's now out there. Be nice. There are people here who like a lot of different things.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Nothing here is in dispute except the bolded text, even if it wasn't said outright. Everything else is fact or valid opinion. But the snootiness? Feh.

And if you don't see or agree with it? Oh well. But it's now out there. Be nice. There are people here who like a lot of different things.

I thought that was what I said? Some of us are a bit more blunt or even forceful with our opinions, and some of us take things personal when there is no reason to. It's just how the world works with all then different personalities. I wasn't trying to throw gasoline this fire and I wasn't discounting anyone's opinion. I personally like my Akubra hats. I own several and I have one more in the mail. I plan on buying more too. I think you implied some "snootiness" that wasn't there or at least wasn't intended.

All I was as saying is that if you are constantly surrounded by dozens of pre-war and other incredible vintage hats it's hard to not be critical on a current mass produced budget hat. How could you not compare the two? A hat from seventy (plus) years ago was handmade by an industry that was at the pinnacle of the craft. It was also the time when men were willing to spend more (as a percentage of their income) on a quality hat and there was a lot of healthy competition between the brands. Those vintage hats as wonderful, and it's not fair to compare them to a modern Akubra, Stetson, etc. Akubra, in my opinion, is a wonderful hat and I have places for them in my rotation. If I had one-hundred prime vintage hats I don't know that Akubras would fit into my rotation.

Snootiness? I'm the guy who started the thread in defense of wool fedoras.
If I offended anyone then I offer my apologies.

 

[moontheloon]

for the record ... I never once and still don't compare Akubra hats to vintage hats ... actually a few of the Akubra hats I have owned WERE vintage

I owned an Akubra made Stetson Open Road ... it was terrible

I simply said that the majority of the hats I handle are between 30s and 50s so my opinion of them may not be fairly drawn because my standards may be skewed in the upward direction.

Akubra hats are fine ... they own that price range ... and as most companies have QC issues with their low range hats it seems

... and I would never buy a hat that costs more than 3X an Akubra without handling it first ... or at the very least seeing detailed photos of the actual hat that will be shipped

 

[blueAZNmonkey]

for the record ... I never once and still don't compare Akubra hats to vintage hats ... actually a few of the Akubra hats I have owned WERE vintage

I owned an Akubra made Stetson Open Road ... it was terrible

I simply said that the majority of the hats I handle are between 30s and 50s so my opinion of them may not be fairly drawn because my standards may be skewed in the upward direction.

Akubra hats are fine ... they own that price range ... and as most companies have QC issues with their low range hats it seems

... and I would never buy a hat that costs more than 3X an Akubra without handling it first ... or at the very least seeing detailed photos of the actual hat that will be shipped

I thought that was what I said? Some of us are a bit more blunt or even forceful with our opinions, and some of us take things personal when there is no reason to. It's just how the world works with all then different personalities. I wasn't trying to throw gasoline this fire and I wasn't discounting anyone's opinion. I personally like my Akubra hats. I own several and I have one more in the mail. I plan on buying more too. I think you implied some "snootiness" that wasn't there or at least wasn't intended.

All I was as saying is that if you are constantly surrounded by dozens of pre-war and other incredible vintage hats it's hard to not be critical on a current mass produced budget hat. How could you not compare the two? A hat from seventy (plus) years ago was handmade by an industry that was at the pinnacle of the craft. It was also the time when men were willing to spend more (as a percentage of their income) on a quality hat and there was a lot of healthy competition between the brands. Those vintage hats as wonderful, and it's not fair to compare them to a modern Akubra, Stetson, etc. Akubra, in my opinion, is a wonderful hat and I have places for them in my rotation. If I had one-hundred prime vintage hats I don't know that Akubras would fit into my rotation.

Snootiness? I'm the guy who started the thread in defense of wool fedoras.
If I offended anyone then I offer my apologies.

I see my two Akubra Fed IV's as workhorses. They're excellent in rough environments, which is emblematic of what I think their market vertical is. But my own personal everyday style highly favors softer, more malleable dress pieces. All that being said, it's been widely discussed in other threads that Akubra and other hatters are also limited by the type of felt that is being produced vs. the market demand for better felt. Vintage felt treatments and repeat pouncing processes are likely too expensive for modern hat producers to attempt. So here's a thought -- maybe I'll try repouncing one of my Fed IV's...

 

[deadlyhandsome]

for the record ... I never once and still don't compare Akubra hats to vintage hats ... actually a few of the Akubra hats I have owned WERE vintage

I owned an Akubra made Stetson Open Road ... it was terrible

I simply said that the majority of the hats I handle are between 30s and 50s so my opinion of them may not be fairly drawn because my standards may be skewed in the upward direction.

Akubra hats are fine ... they own that price range ... and as most companies have QC issues with their low range hats it seems

... and I would never buy a hat that costs more than 3X an Akubra without handling it first ... or at the very least seeing detailed photos of the actual hat that will be shipped

I'm sorry if I misinterpreted what you were saying. I just assumed (very dangerous, I know) that with your exposure to so many incredible hats that the Akubra line would pale in comparison. We all base our subjective evaluations based on some baseline or some standard wether we are aware of it or not. Still, it was wrong of me to attribute opinions to you that you did not explicitly express.

I will now retreat from this thread as I don't seem to be able to contribute anything meaningful.

Moon, I truly am grateful to see that you're posting again. You're a person of strong opinions and you can come across a bit brusque at times, but your knowledge and experience is needed here. Even though you don't know it, you're the reason I felt comfortable buying a Premier Stratoliner over the internet (I know, best to try them on in person). I'm sorry if I misquoted you.

Happy holidays, Brent

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I see my two Akubra Fed IV's as workhorses. They're excellent in rough environments, which is emblematic of what I think their market vertical is. But my own personal everyday style highly favors softer, more malleable dress pieces. All that being said, it's been widely discussed in other threads that Akubra and other hatters are also limited by the type of felt that is being produced vs. the market demand for better felt. Vintage felt treatments and repeat pouncing processes are likely too expensive for modern hat producers to attempt. So here's a thought -- maybe I'll try repouncing one of my Fed IV's...

Let us know how that turns out. I'm afraid that you can't make a silk purse from a sows ear and the potential in the Akubra won't be there either. We won't know until someone tries it.

 

[moontheloon]

I'm sorry if I misinterpreted what you were saying. I just assumed (very dangerous, I know) that with your exposure to so many incredible hats that the Akubra line would pale in comparison. We all base our subjective evaluations based on some baseline or some standard wether we are aware of it or not. Still, it was wrong of me to attribute opinions to you that you did not explicitly express.

I will now retreat from this thread as I don't seem to be able to contribute anything meaningful.

Moon, I truly am grateful to see that you're posting again. You're a person of strong opinions and you can come across a bit brusque at times, but your knowledge and experience is needed here. Even though you don't know it, you're the reason I felt comfortable buying a Premier Stratoliner over the internet (I know, best to try them on in person). I'm sorry if I misquoted you.

Happy holidays, Brent

guilty as charged ... subjective evaluation baseline and brusque in my delivery at times I guess ...

it is definitely not intentional ... it doesn't always sound in my head the way it reads to others I guess

my apologies to Scott for my tone getting under his skin a bit

thanks for the kind words Brent ... and back at you