Anyone Familiar with the "River Runner"?

[Rick Blaine]

I really like this, a current thin ribbon that is not a Borsalino or an Open Road... found here: John Helmer Haberdasher described as "100% fur felt. Made in USA. Sizes: 6 7/8 - 7 3/4. Colors: black, light olive, silver belly(off white/bone). 2 3/4" brim, lined, leather sweatband, grosgrain bound edge, narrow hat ribbon." Any Portlanders been here?
There are others I recognise as being Stetsons (eg - Chatham, Pinnacle, Dune) but I haven't seen the River Runner before & for less than a c-note this may merit further investigation.

 

[RBH]

I havent seen that one before, Rick. But I like it, the thin ribbon, the wide brim. I wonder what the crown height is?

 

[woodsie]

Way to be Rick

Great find. I have 2 Campdrafts on order, and scour OFAS for Stratoliners or old OR's that can be shaped as a fedora. There should be a FL award for "Find of the Month," and I nominate you for the first one for this genuine discovery.:eusa_clap

 

[Rick Blaine]

Thanks fellahs, woodsie & RBH,

Yeah, I found this to be quite evocative of the Stratoliner, tighten the pinch & swoop the brim a bit & you'll be in bidness, so to speak.

I would just wanna know the manufacturer first, I also wish I could get a gander at the sweat, I am spoiled by vintage & can't see going back to cardboard, eh? The crown heights, as you say, would also help in making a decision .... good thing I'm broke till 1/1/08, makes the choice (of none) all the easier! lol

I can just put this on a (very) short list of current production fedoras that raise my interest, along w/ the Akubra Swing & Stetson Easterner

 

[Spellflower]

I can't speak about that particular hat, but I used to be a Portlander, and I can say that John Helmer is a very friendly family run haberdasher that's been in Portland for a very long time. They sell hats and other classy men's clothing. I bought a Stetson Chatham when I was visiting my old stomping grounds a year ago. Then I looked up "Stetson Chatham" on google, found the lounge, and got buyer's remorse from reading posts about Chathams that fell apart in the rain. The good folks at Helmer let me send the hat back, and promptly refunded my money. I'd definitely do business with them again if they had a hat I wanted.

 

[jake_fink]

I can't speak about that particular hat, but I used to be a Portlander, and I can say that John Helmer is a very friendly family run haberdasher that's been in Portland for a very long time. They sell hats and other classy men's clothing. I bought a Stetson Chatham when I was visiting my old stomping grounds a year ago. Then I looked up "Stetson Chatham" on google, found the lounge, and got buyer's remorse from reading posts about Chathams that fell apart in the rain. The good folks at Helmer let me send the hat back, and promptly refunded my money. I'd definitely do business with them again if they had a hat I wanted.

I've had a Chatham for years and years and it's held up very well. I have absolutely no complaints. I've had other hats that didn't perform well, that turned into leprechaun caps in the rain or that just plain fell apart, but for some reason my Chatham keeps on kicking. (Must have been made of very healthy rabbits.)

 

[besdor]

At that price point ,the hat was probably made by Beaver Brand Hats so you know it's a good hat for the money . At the current price points , there isn't another company that could make a fur felt hat for under 100.00 besides Biltmore Hats.



Steven'
www.bencrafthats.com

 

[Spellflower]

It's good to know some Chathams hold up. Maybe if I'd read your review I would have kept it! I don't think anyone believes that Stetson's current quality is not non-existent, just inconsistent, and for >$100, I just couldn't afford that risk. Not when there's a company like Akubra offering similar hats with consistently good track records for less money.

Still, I hope you wear your Chatham in good health for many more years than the rabbits wore their fur! And if you decide to buy another, you couldn't find a nicer shop to buy it from than Helmer.

 

[Razzman]

I emailed Helmer Haberdashers regarding the River Runner hat. The response I received was that the hat was made by Beaver Brand Hats and that it was rabbit fur. It has a leather sweatband, an ivory satin liner and a plastic protector at the top of the liner. It sounds like a very nice hat for the money.

 

[Rick Blaine]

I emailed Helmer Haberdashers regarding the River Runner hat. The response I received was that the hat was made by Beaver Brand Hats and that it was rabbit fur. It has a leather sweatband, an ivory satin liner and a plastic protector at the top of the liner. It sounds like a very nice hat for the money.

:eusa_clap
Thanks Razz, I like the sound of that, maybe in the new year.