Anyone still make a soft Open Road/Alessandria style hat?

[Richard Warren]

I was in the hat store the other day and came across a very nice Borsalino Alessandria (sp?). It was a steel grey color and very light, soft, and pliable. Just what I wanted except three sizes too small. I was told that it had been sitting on the store shelves for a while.

The salesman showed me some newer hats of the same model but different colors. They were much thicker, harder, and heavier.

So, the question is whether it is now possible to get a soft, light, pliable, Open Road style hat (non-vintage), either open Crowned or not so hard and stiff that it cannot be reshaped?

Its possible some vendors still have soft Borsalinos in stock. Is there any vendor I can contact and rely on to tell me honestly what kind of stock he has?

 

[FurFeltFedora]

Well the Akubra Campdraft is an Open Road clone. That is to say, Akubra used to make the Open Road under license from Stetson years ago and they still make the same hat but call it the Campdraft.

Not as soft as vintage (what is?) but open crowned and easily shaped. I've got two now, another on it's way and one more to order once the Spring comes.

 

[Jauntyone]

I second the suggestion to buy a Campdraft. It's really amazing how much like a 1940s hat it is. The felt is a bit coarse, but pliable and rugged. From a few feet away, no-one notices the rougher finish on the felt; also you can lightly sand it and it makes a big difference. Great hat--but it does have a 2 3/4" brim which is pretty wide (though some around here like those wide brims).

 

[jwalls]

Richard Warren

I am in the process of making a very soft Open Road style hat, with the help of my hatter, from a very old body I found in his old stock. When it is finished I'll get pictures and post here.

 

[gtdean48]

Not anymore...

Comparing my 1980's Borsalino to my recently acquired 1950's Borsalino, not even Borsalino is making soft, pliable hats like that. The Akubra Campdraft as stated above is closest modern production hat to the old Stetson Open Road. Also look at Miller Hats' Douglas model, but nobody has posted first hand knowledge of this hat. I'm waiting on a Stetson Roadmaster to deliver that is not supposed to be as stiff as modern Open Road.
My ArtLite custom is closest felt to that vintage Borsalino, see Boraslino Brotherhood thread for more on it...

 

[Inusuit]

Art Fawcett at Vintage Silhouettes made an "Open Road" style hat for me. It is the softest hat I own, softer than any of my vintage Stetsons, including the 7X Clear Beaver OR. Art's hats are an excellent value for the money.

 

[kaosharper1]

If you're willing to shell out for a new Borsalino, why not buy a vintage one? It's higher quality and generally cost a less that $300. If you can afford $300 have Art Fawcett make you one custom fit out of 100% beaver.

 

[Richard Warren]

I am aware of the Campdraft and it seems to be a good hat and quite possibly superior to the current Open Road. They don't seem to make it in grey, however, and by most reports I see here it is probably a bit stiffer than what I am looking for.

The nice Borsalino I was looking at was by no means vintage. I cannot say how it would compare to vintage. It was comparable to other Borsalinos I have bought in the last 5 to 10 years. I really looks to me like the company is in a steep quality decline even in just the last couple of years, at least from the perspective of people like me that like soft, pliable hats. It may be that people now just expect and want a stiffer, thicker product because that is what they are used to. The salesman said the current hats were selling pretty good.

I always had it it my mind to get an Alessandria one day. I may just have waited too long.

 

[Spats McGee]

I am aware of the Campdraft and it seems to be a good hat and quite possibly superior to the current Open Road. They don't seem to make it in grey, however, and by most reports I see here it is probably a bit stiffer than what I am looking for. . . .

I don't know about the stiffness issue, but I think the CD does come in Glen Grey and Moonstone.

 

[fedoralover]

I don't know about the stiffness issue, but I think the CD does come in Glen Grey and Moonstone.

Here's the link to it in Glen Gray, I'm not sure about the moonstone.

http://hatsdirect.com/cgi-bin/products.cgi?view=19&returncat=Akubra+Hats&returnpage=1

fedoralover

 

[Mr. Paladin]

Great hat--but it does have a 2 3/4" brim which is pretty wide (though some around here like those wide brims).

Pick me! Pick me! I resemble that remark!

 

[gtdean48]

Jimmy Pierce in Fort Worth has recently added the super lightweight felt from Winchester to his repertoire...

I've never been successful in getting Jimmy Pierce to respond to either emails from his website or phone messages. You & Carter seem to be able to do business with him tho... [huh]

 

[Richard Warren]

I had not seen that glen gray campdraft. It sure looks tempting.

 

[gtdean48]

Maybe try calling at different times of day, with a credit card handy, so you can order on the spot if you get through. And have a good reason for needing the hat by a particular day, so you don't get put on the back burner (squeaky wheel). Since I only visit Fort Worth from Japan a couple of times a year, I can use the excuse of the need for a personal delivery as a deadline.

Edit:

From his Web site: "Do to the ecomony going the way it is, I have to find a full time job. I will be limiting my hat production to 150 this year, 3 per week. I will be keeping a list and when it is full, it is full."

The Web site hasn't been updated for quite a while, but I don't remember that line being there before.

Maybe his list is full, and he doesn't want to bother with responding.

Although it would seem that if the economy is bad and it's hard to find a job, the best thing to do if you had a special skill like hatmaking would be to try to increase output and make it pay the rent. But maybe it's hard to pay the rent from hatmaking.

All of my inquiries were made before this was ever posted on his website. I know he does good work but don't understand reluctance to get more work. I have taken my business elsewhere & was hoping to save others any undesired frustration.

 

[RBH]

I would say holler at Mike Moore and ask about one of his MooreLites... but I am not sure he can make them anymore. {the thin felt is reallly hard to block}

The MooreLite I have is super thin and and a really great hat.

 

[Spats McGee]

I would say holler at Mike Moore and ask about one of his MooreLites... but I am not sure he can make them anymore. {the thin felt is reallly hard to block}

The MooreLite I have is super thin and and a really great hat.

Good suggestion & certainly worth asking. If I remember rightly, The Covington is a Moorelight & it's really soft and light.

 

[RBH]

Good suggestion & certainly worth asking. If I remember rightly, The Covington is a Moorelight & it's really soft and light.

Yep Spats The Covington is a MooreLite.... but I have to say you need to see and feel one of the 'original' MooreLites! [my Memphis Blues].
That fedora is something else!!!! And it was a hum-dinger for Mike to make.

 

[elvisroe]

Stiff Hat

I checked out a few campdrafts recently and agree with comments on the stiff felt. I was steadilly working my way through a shelf full of fedoras and by comparison it was a very hard hat. Perhaps after a bit of a dunking it might soften up?

As far as the Akubras go something featherweight like a squatter has a really nice pliable felt. Of course it's also got a lower crown and broader ribbon but it can be bought unblocked and a ribbon is easily swapped. Just a thought.

 

[RBH]

The CampDrafts will soften up with use.
They are a great hat.... I softened up my first Campdraft on a flight from Little Rock to Houston. I just worked the felt in my hands and now, the felt is really soft.

 

[Richard Warren]

Just ordered a glen gray Campdraft. Thanks for the advice and comments all.