Great Outdoors article - "Topping Off"

[MattJH]

See here.

I've never seen that article before, but there are some fairly glaring inaccuracies, although the tone of the article is really nice and I enjoyed reading it. Check it out.

I did send a letter to the editor, though. Many of you may disagree with a few things I've said, but it's more of a personalized note:

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ATTN: Jason Lathrop
RE: "Topping Off"

I enjoyed reading your article! A few suggestions/corrections, though:

COMMENT #1: FELT

Under the "Hat Materials" section, you state that felt "doesn't particularly hold its shape after a few severe beatings and isn't too adept at dealing with water." While this holds true for wool felt, it couldn't be farther from the truth when talking about fur felt. A well-made fur felt fedora can withstand a significant beating by mother nature and, in fact, the more of a beating they take, the better they look!

In the section where you mention cowboy hats, you state yourself that they provide "an unparalleled level of sun and rain protection." The only difference between a fedora and a cowboy hat is the shape and, occasionally, the amount of stiffener added to the fur felt.

A wide-brimmed fur felt fedora and a fur felt cowboy hat will offer identical protection from the elements, although I've personally found the fedora to be far more comfortable on my head -- cowboy hats are often extremely stiff.

COMMENT #2: The X Rating

You state that a "...quality hat, made with at least 4X beaver felt (that's 40% beaver, each X denoting 10% content), will literally last a lifetime." The X rating doesn't mean anything at all. It is not a unit of measurement, quality, material, percentage -- it's purely cosmetic. Manufacturers and dealers are not only rating hats differently using the X rating system, each according to their own criteria, but they are also using the X as a price plateau rather than an actual quality rating system(*). It's not standardized. It's too bad! Once upon a time, it actually meant something.

SUGGESTION:

The ultimate hat for withstanding weather, in my experience, is a fur felt Australian outback hat with ventilation eyelets.

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(*) Credit to a Lounger for that line!

 

[LeeB]

"Topping off"

After a quick perusal of the article, I have concluded that the author doesn't know squat about hats or the functioning of in the outdoors. What the writer is stating is his own views of particular hats styles not thier actual usefulness in the outdoors.
I can agree with some points, specifically about the canvas/wax hats. I have a Filson packer style hat that I wear for camping/hiking on the occasion that I'm not wearing a fedora type hat. Baseball caps are all but useless as head protection as your ears either get sunburnt or chilled to freezing. Cowboy hats are usually bothersome as the stiff brim hangs up on brush where a softer brimmed hat will not.
Your response was well worded although I doubt it will make any impression on the author of the article.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

I think the only felt he knows about is the red and green kind my 6 year old daughter uses to make Christmas cards.

 

[Tango Yankee]

Good comments, Dumbjaw

Hopefully they won't fall upon deaf ears. Perhaps a reference to this site would be in order!

Cheers,
Tom

 

[mingoslim]

Or perhaps he is thinking of . . . .

I think the only felt he knows about is the red and green kind my 6 year old daughter uses to make Christmas cards.

Perhaps he is thinking of "paper felt" . . . That cheap felt-like materials that kids cowboy hats used to be made out of when I was a kid . . . I had a red and white number, myself . . . and a civil war kepi (grey of course, being a southerner) . . . that were made of that awful stuff.

 

[Joel Tunnah]

Editing and fact-checking are almost non-existant in even bigger periodicals these days. They have low profit margins, and low staff numbers.
I'd bet that article was written based 100% on Google searches. Also the same writer will work on a story about cats tomorrow, and about depression the day after that.

Another interesting thing to note about magazines is that the interviewees are usually other freelance writers, or the writer's friends.

Joel
(once featured in an article in Redbook...)

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

I must challenge your asertion that

"A wide-brimmed fur felt fedora and a fur felt cowboy hat will offer identical protection from the elements, although I've personally found the fedora to be far more comfortable on my head -- cowboy hats are often extremely stiff."

You paint with much too large a brush and generalize beyond compare. I own and wear a variety of both hats as well as others.
1. Few fedoras have as wide a brim as most westerns - common sense will tell you that the western is bound to give a larger area of coverage/protection. Remember the westerns were designed to provide more protection out in the wilderness than was their cousin fedora who dwell-ed predominately in the city.
2. It is a shame that you have never had a western that fit your head properly, maybe you should contact John at Rockie Mt. Hat Co. , I am sure he could erase such foolish thoughts that westerns are not as comfortable.
http://www.rockymountainhatcompany.com/
3. Westerns are stiffer, and there is a reason for that, just like a bowler is very stiff for a reason. They do however soften with use, and I have stiffener added on mine from time to time as needed.
It is sad that some are so quick to judge what they do not know. It would seem that editors are not the only one guilty of this. JMHO

 

[MattJH]

Take note that I added the disclaimer "Many of you may disagree with a few things I've said, but it's more of a personalized note" at the beginning of my post for this very reason.

1. Few fedoras have as wide a brim as most westerns

But there are those that do. The Akubra Squatter, for instance, has a generously-sized brim, more than ample enough to protect the face/neck from the sun. My Akubra Cattleman has a large brim as well, although that's more of an outback hat, I suppose.

It is a shame that you have never had a western that fit your head properly, maybe you should contact John at Rockie Mt. Hat Co.

I appreciate the suggestion and recommendation! I'll contact him if I ever want a western hat, but I don't like them. Any of them. I'm a Philadelphian, born and raised. I like old cities and freezing winters. Outside of an aunt that lives outside of Galveston, TX, I have no ties to the west, be it current or ancestral, culturally or musically or historically or, even more relevant, fashionally. I just made that word up.

I am sure he could erase such foolish thoughts that westerns are not as comfortable.

Every western hat I've handled has been stiff and uncomfortable. If you want to toss around "foolish," toss it at the vendors who provide western hats in the north-eastern portion of our country. I didn't do anything wrong. Your bias towards western wear doesn't make me a fool, just as my bias towards city/casual wear doesn't make you one.

Hypothetically, if you called fedoras functionless ornamental yankee fluff, then that's what you think of them. You're not a fool. You know what you like and what you feel comfortable in. My intent was not to insult those who wear western-flavored clothing, believe me.

Ask somebody in France what they think of tyroleans. Ask somebody in Switzerland what they think of berets. Ask any sane person outside of Turkey what they think of the fez!

It is sad that some are so quick to judge what they do not know. It would seem that editors are not the only one guilty of this. JMHO

I know as much as I can know being located where I am in the country without putting out money to have a superior product shipped to me that I'd never, ever wear just so I can appease those who color me ignorant.

Now let's hug.

 

[Bud-n-Texas]

DJ a handshake will do fine, sorry I am not into hugging men. I stand by my prior post 100%. Let me point out once more, I own and wear fedoras as well as westerns, both styles in felt and straw.

 

[mingoslim]

On the Fez

Ask any sane person outside of Turkey what they think of the fez!

Actually, since the 1920s, when Kemal Attaturk began to westernize Turkey, it has been ILLEGAL for Turkish men to wear the Fez . . . Though you do see them from time to time in Syria, Jordan and North Africa . . . Especially in Morocco, where they originated.

 

[MattJH]

Actually, since the 1920s, when Kemal Attaturk began to westernize Turkey, it has been ILLEGAL for Turkish men to wear the Fez

Took them long enough!