Akubra vs Jacaru hat

[Ryan's Hat]

My vote is for Akubra. Dollar for dollar they are a great hat. I wear an Akubra almost daily and I never worry about the elements. Rain or shine, cold or hot, Akubra’s hold up well.

Steven

Thank you so much for you input. I seem to hear that Akubra's are such a good hat, and a good value. How the hat holds up to the elements is very important.

 

[Ryan's Hat]

Here is my Snowy River in Sandtone Fawn. Bought in 2003 so 17 years ago. I still wear it regularly.
View attachment 297366
View attachment 297365
Any questions please feel free to ask. I have quite the collection of quite a few Akubra styles and colours
Johnny

That's so nice, and looks very good on you! That color is something else. I'd also consider black, or a brown. Do you have experience with black fur felts being hotter?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I think @The Shoe regularly wears a leather hat. It would be nice to have his opinion.

 

[Ryan's Hat]

I think @The Shoe regularly wears a leather hat. It would be nice to have his opinion.

I'd be interested for sure.

 

[johnnycanuck]

That's so nice, and looks very good on you! That color is something else. I'd also consider black, or a brown. Do you have experience with black fur felts being hotter?

I do have a black Akubra.

Long story short colour does matter on a hot sunny day. I can wear anything until the temp gets above 22-23 degrees Celsius. If I am working in the yard, going for a walk longer then 15-30 minutes. I usually choose a lighter coloured hat without a liner. Another consideration is the lighter the colour the easier it is to get dirty.
My two cents worth.
Hope that helps.
Any more question please feel free to ask.
Johnny

 

[The Shoe]

I’ve got two leather hats that I bought before I discovered felt. The first was a Henschel cowboy hat. It’s western weight and then some. It’s a good, hardy hat that I’m told is fine in all weather, though I haven’t worn it in significant rain. The second is kangaroo leather that I think is very similar to the Jacaru squashy hat. Since I got into felt, it has been relegated to my barbecue hat. Since I love to barbecue, it’s been worn more often, treated more roughly and subjected to more of the elements than any of my other hats. Three and a half years on and it’s still going strong. It’s not as pretty to look at as my felt hats, but it is comfortable to wear and it definitely serves a purpose. When it finally succumbs to the treatment I give it, it will probably be replaced by one of my cheap second hand Akubras, but that still looks to be some way off.
I hope that’s of some use to you.

 

[The Shoe]

I’m wearing the kangaroo leather in my profile picture.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I do have a black Akubra.
View attachment 297458
View attachment 297459
Long story short colour does matter on a hot sunny day. I can wear anything until the temp gets above 22-23 degrees Celsius. If I am working in the yard, going for a walk longer then 15-30 minutes. I usually choose a lighter coloured hat without a liner. Another consideration is the lighter the colour the easier it is to get dirty.
My two cents worth.
Hope that helps.
Any more question please feel free to ask.
Johnny

I wear a really dark grey Cattleman even when it gets really hot here, like 45 degrees (113). Good thick felt is is the only material I can trust to block sun rays.

 

[Ryan's Hat]

I do have a black Akubra.
View attachment 297458
View attachment 297459
Long story short colour does matter on a hot sunny day. I can wear anything until the temp gets above 22-23 degrees Celsius. If I am working in the yard, going for a walk longer then 15-30 minutes. I usually choose a lighter coloured hat without a liner. Another consideration is the lighter the colour the easier it is to get dirty.
My two cents worth.
Hope that helps.
Any more question please feel free to ask.
Johnny

Well that looks good as well. I figured the lighter color would be cooler. The lighter shades getting dirty easier is something to think about. Thanks for posting those pictures, it's been a great help.

 

[Ryan's Hat]

I’ve got two leather hats that I bought before I discovered felt. The first was a Henschel cowboy hat. It’s western weight and then some. It’s a good, hardy hat that I’m told is fine in all weather, though I haven’t worn it in significant rain. The second is kangaroo leather that I think is very similar to the Jacaru squashy hat. Since I got into felt, it has been relegated to my barbecue hat. Since I love to barbecue, it’s been worn more often, treated more roughly and subjected to more of the elements than any of my other hats. Three and a half years on and it’s still going strong. It’s not as pretty to look at as my felt hats, but it is comfortable to wear and it definitely serves a purpose. When it finally succumbs to the treatment I give it, it will probably be replaced by one of my cheap second hand Akubras, but that still looks to be some way off.
I hope that’s of some use to you.

Thank you, that's very helpful. One of that hat's I'm looking into is also kangaroo leather. It's good to learn about it's durability.

 

[Ryan's Hat]

I wear a really dark grey Cattleman even when it gets really hot here, like 45 degrees (113). Good thick felt is is the only material I can trust to block sun rays.

You have experience with the Australian sun, I trust you.

 

[johnnycanuck]

I wear a really dark grey Cattleman even when it gets really hot here, like 45 degrees (113). Good thick felt is is the only material I can trust to block sun rays.

Not the most common colour for a Cattleman. Any pictures?
Johnny

 

[scottyrocks]

I wear a really dark grey Cattleman even when it gets really hot here, like 45 degrees (113). Good thick felt is is the only material I can trust to block sun rays.

I'd be interested to know how a thinner felt lets light pass through.

 

[johnnycanuck]

I'd be interested to know how a thinner felt lets light pass through.

I am not sure about thinner felts letting light rays thru but I know Akubra has had their hats tested and they do block the rays. I contacted them about this years ago. If I recall they told me that the hat got a SPF rating of 50 which was the highest rating legally allowable at that time..... honestly I am tempted to ask Akubra what they are rated to now being there are now higher ratings then 50.
Johnny

EDIT: I hate it when people say something without looking it up... and I just did the same . So here is the link to Akubra
http://www.akubra-usa.com/Akubra_Catalogue_(USA).pdf
so it’s UPS and akubras are rated 50+ So over 50.
Hope that answers the question.
Johnny

 

[Lean'n'mean]

I'd be interested to know how a thinner felt lets light pass through.

I think Seb is refering to the harmful UVs, not light.

 

[scottyrocks]

I think Seb is refering to the harmful UVs, not light.

Yes, the harmful stuff is the concern. I had just never thought of a thicker felt being better at doing the job, just making me hotter.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Yes, the harmful stuff is the concern. I had just never thought of a thicker felt being better at doing the job, just making me hotter.

Yep, you're right to be pedantic, Scotty.

Thickness is just my preference. However (thick or thin) I don't really notice the heat difference once it gets to 35. I prefer a thick felt with a wide brim so it doesn't flop about in the wind, which is another issue here. Cattleman is a useful design and grade of felt.