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Cheap Fedora

ADHD librarian

One of the Regulars
Messages
138
Location
Oz
define cheap,

cheap for some of the OCD characters on this board may well be different from your idea.
 

Yohanes

One of the Regulars
Messages
287
Location
Indonesia
Yeah, you'd better define the price range. If $20-30 is considered cheap, then I don't think there's any other brand that can compete in that price range. Maybe some Indy Jones Dorfman Pacific in ebay, or Wool Scala. Other than that maybe the stingy brim tweed/cloth/cotton made in China as normally found also in ebay - but I believe those styles are not among the favorites here :D
 

ADHD librarian

One of the Regulars
Messages
138
Location
Oz
So, for me $120 on an Akubra is cheap (for what you get)
$20 in a thrift store is better but that is only any good for 'extra' hats because you can't plan on a style or a colour being there when you want it.

To give some examples from my own modest collection...
my Stylemaster cost me $120, my Flattop cost $20, two trilbies for my kids were $10 each while my Arena was found by the side of the road (but it isn't a Fedora)
 

Wesne

One of the Regulars
Messages
165
Location
Montana
There are a lot of "cheap" (price-wise) vintage fedoras on eBay if you can wear a 7 1/4 or smaller. For the price of a new, cheap wool felt hat you can get a barely worn vintage fur felt hat that will likely surpass the quality of new fur felt hats costing 10 times as much. As long as you don't have a hangup about wearing something that has probably been worn by someone else, fifty or more years ago, that would be my recommendation.
 

Magus

Practically Family
Messages
655
Location
Southern California
K

kpreed

Guest
My everyday Fedora is a Bailey Gangster, I got on eBay for less money and for day to day use is just fine for me.( I would rather lose or damage a hat that is less cash) I do have a Jaxson too, but of a different style and F.Y.I, they do come from China. I only use my fur-felt fedora on "special" times out. Good luck with your choice.
 

Rick Blaine

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,958
Location
Saskatoon, SK CANADA
FedoraFan112390,
I would stay away from all wools, you will only be disapointed. I had one of these and it was also quite low-crowned.
For the same scratch on eBay there is a seller goes by the handle "1a-cards-and-collectibles" and s/he has many Scala furfelts on a BIN/make an offer auction format. I have purchased three very nice (contemporary, not vintage) hats from her (I think, her). In my case(s) she accepted an offer of about 65% of her BIN price. I have found her to be a great seller, some of the feedback complains of a "smoky" smell to the goods, I must say I have never noticed it. Any of the fur felts would (IMO) be superior to the Jaxon wool. Jaxons' "Iconoclast" is said by some to be a good entry level fur felt, it is now at $60, but I have seen it go as low as $42 a year or two back... lotsa rabbits in China that year, I guess!... my .o2
 

David Conwill

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,854
Location
Bennington, VT 05201
I'm not going to be too hard on wool felts. They're a great choice for a student or a working man on a budget who needs something right now. All I own are woolies, and they do their job well. But be prepared to replace your hat about once a year if you wear it daily like me. My Dobbs "Gray Fedora" from Hats in the Belfrey has about had it after six months of daily wear - and that's with good care. I can probably revive it if I take out the sweatband and liner and give her a soak and whatnot, but I'm already eyeing fur felts for after graduation.

I think if I were going to do it again, I'd probably have paid the extra forty bucks and gotten a fur felt. I wouldn't be looking at replacing it already, I'm sure. Plus, having this hat that I've worn every day wear out is sort of like losing a friend.

-Dave
 

David Conwill

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,854
Location
Bennington, VT 05201
Oh, I will say that I'm not a fan of any felt hat that comes without a liner and with a fabric sweatband (as does that Jaxon, I suspect). They're not much more than costume items for playing "adventurer" or "gangster" and they'll soon end up in the closet because they're not very nice looking or wearing. Trust me, I owned a ton of them as a kid.

-Dave
 

Rick Blaine

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,958
Location
Saskatoon, SK CANADA
Really & truly for the $$$, I would still go vintage uber alles. I have paid way too much and own way too many hats, but my daily beater felt-wise is a vintage Stetson 3x Open Road I picked up on eBay for twelve bucks + shipping. It has seen more wear than thirty of my other felts combined, by the same token, straw-wise, 'have many, but my go-to is a Biltmore I eBayed for eight bucks. [huh]
 

Corith

New in Town
Messages
1
Location
Orange County, CA
I have one. And yes, it does not come with a liner and does have a simple fabric sweatband. In my book, its not a real hat, however, it does take inclement weather punishment very well. I tend to where it when slopping about on the weekends in winter (it doesn't look too bad with my blue M-65 foul weather jacket).

My real complaint is that it won't hold any type of brim shape.
 

Yohanes

One of the Regulars
Messages
287
Location
Indonesia
OK FedoraFan112390, as you've read the replies, I think 1st thing you must inform us here is your hat size :)

If you wear 7 1/4 or smaller, then start hunting for vintage on ebay. But please keep in mind that even 7 1/4 can't go cheap either these days. So I say you have better luck in getting a bargain at size 7 1/8 or lower.

If bigger, then it's much much harder. Better follow Rick Blaine's suggestion to find that Scala furfelt seller on ebay.
 

thunderw21

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,044
Location
Iowa
Rick Blaine said:
Really & truly for the $$$, I would still go vintage uber alles. I have paid way too much and own way too many hats, but my daily beater felt-wise is a vintage Stetson 3x Open Road I picked up on eBay for twelve bucks + shipping. It has seen more wear than thirty of my other felts combined, by the same token, straw-wise, 'have many, but my go-to is a Biltmore I eBayed for eight bucks. [huh]

+1
There are still very cheap vintage fedoras out there to be had. Definitely look for them first. The quality is better and they will last longer and look better. I don't know about anyone else (though I can guess), but most of my vintage hats were $20 or less, some of my best ones being only $3 or $4.

It takes some patience, but finding a good quality vintage fedora for cheap is the way to go.
 

Maguire

Practically Family
Messages
619
Location
New York
I own the above hat in brown and a regular crown fedora in that color from the same company (and same price). The C crown gray is actually an ok hat, i like it but generally i'm not a fan, the gangster bailey is a much better hat as far as i'm concerned.
 

FedoraFan112390

Practically Family
Messages
642
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Well, my only true fedora is a gray fur felt Miller and the size is 7 3/8. It's only a little big and sometimes flies off in wind. I have a more ''modern'' style trilby which is much smaller and is a snug--a bit too snug--fit, but I don't know the size. The tag inside is missing.
 

jec

One of the Regulars
Messages
196
Location
Hudson Valley, New York
Convert from cheap wool to vintage fur

I started with a crushable Scala outback hat that I purchased last fall and wore through the winter. It was a easy introduction into hats. I loved that one; I still do. BUT it does not fit as well, or have as 'rich' a feel as the used fur Stetson I won on Ebay a couple of weeks ago (see avatar). I paid just a few bucks more for the Stetson than for the wool Scala (and I probably overpaid due to a bidding frenzy at the last moment). So, I am sold on vintage vs new wool. I will save the Scala; it is perfect for travel. But I am now on the prowl for more vintage fur.

Just my 2 cents.
 

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