Guide for first fedora/hat

[andrew_AU]

I will tell you, get an akubra campdraft hat. It is like a tank, made well, Looks like a Stetson Stratoliner in ways, has somewhat a casual look with the color options and being a thin ribbon, so in some ways it is a cross over from a fine Dress Fedora to a Western Hat look, like say a Resistol or Stetson made Open Road look....you can't beat the price and you can bash and crease it any way you want as it comes "open crown". The Campdraft hat will take a lot of abuse and you can brush it, shape it, and it will look great again! Next on a good choice list, if you cannot find a decent vintage hat and do not like a Campdraft, buy a new Stetson Premier Stratoliner. On ebay for less than $200.00 and it over all looks like a fine hat, thin ribbon and has a good look to it.

You will find you may as well start thinking what is that one hat you really want..and aim for it. I say this from all the wisdom of knowing what is going to happen to you. You will buy something not too bad but not what you really wanted..it will be a bargain hat...but not yet what you wanted...you will go through this experience of learning and continue to buy and buy and buy....we can call it, being "bitten" by the hat bug. It is an addiction. A nice addiction...but can get costly. So to cut to the chase and save you maybe 20 or 50 hat purchases that added up would come to maybe 3,000.00 or more...just spend the money on that dream hat and go ahead and get it. But again, for you maybe my first suggestion...a Campdraft...until you will see I was right and aim for that always dreamed of hat.

What she said!

+1 for an Akubra Campdraft

 

[Benzadmiral]

I have 2 felt Akubras and find them good sturdy hats. Their Campdraft would probably be a fantastic first choice. It can be shaped like the classic fedora, or in a little more Western-ish style -- the Stetson model called the "Open Road" goes back a long way, and has a dressy yet rugged look to it. Here's an example done as a fedora:

I have one like it, and it goes with suit, tie, and topcoat, or casual shirt, jeans, and boots.

Someone here, or maybe it was me, once wrote that "A cowboy hat is worn by the guy who works on the ranch. The Open Road is worn by the guy who owns the ranch."

 

[RJR]

I have 2 felt Akubras and find them good sturdy hats. Their Campdraft would probably be a fantastic first choice. It can be shaped like the classic fedora, or in a little more Western-ish style -- the Stetson model called the "Open Road" goes back a long way, and has a dressy yet rugged look to it. Here's an example done as a fedora:

View attachment 65072

I have one like it, and it goes with suit, tie, and topcoat, or casual shirt, jeans, and boots.

Someone here, or maybe it was me, once wrote that "A cowboy hat is worn by the guy who works on the ranch. The Open Road is worn by the guy who owns the ranch."

Here's a pic of another Campdraft looking more western/informal.

 

[Frunobulax]

+1 All good advice in the above posts. We should charge for this

Isn't obsessively buying hats cost enough?

 

[Gruenewald]

I am looking for recommendations for my first fedora. I am not planning to buy lots of hats (my wife even questions this purchase) so I'm looking for one that is versatile. I don't wear suits to work but dress business casual from dress pants and button shirt to dress pants and polo in the summer. I like fashionable, timeless and classic, not trendy. I like the look of the moderate width brims for myself as I'm about 6' and a moderately build. I don't care for the stingy brims as they look too trendy for me or the overly large such as over 2 1/2. From looking at the site I would consider vintage as it looks like they are higher quality. I don't want one that is too formal looking but one that can be worn somewhat casual or moderately dressed up. In colors, I have brown hair and brown eyes so I see that they recommend steering away from brown. Black is too dark for me. Grey would be OK and I do like some of the lighter shades of brown. I would appreciate any suggestions. My budget is around $150.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I am looking for recommendations for my first fedora. I am not planning to buy lots of hats (my wife even questions this purchase) so I'm looking for one that is versatile. I don't wear suits to work but dress business casual from dress pants and button shirt to dress pants and polo in the summer. I like fashionable, timeless and classic, not trendy. I like the look of the moderate width brims for myself as I'm about 6' and a moderately build. I don't care for the stingy brims as they look too trendy for me or the overly large such as over 2 1/2. From looking at the site I would consider vintage as it looks like they are higher quality. I don't want one that is too formal looking but one that can be worn somewhat casual or moderately dressed up. In colors, I have brown hair and brown eyes so I see that they recommend steering away from brown. Black is too dark for me. Grey would be OK and I do like some of the lighter shades of brown. I would appreciate any suggestions. My budget is around $150.

What hat size do you wear? In vintage you have to wait around until something comes along in the style and colors you like.

If you want new, and if you stretch your budget just a bit, this would be high on my list:

It’s a nice dove grey and would be very versatile and well-made. Look it up here:

https://vscustomhats.com/product/off-the-rack-dove/


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[Rmccamey]

Day in, day out, for what you describe you would be hard pressed to do any better than a new or vintage Stetson Stratoliner. A lot of vintage Strat's are high, but there are many that can be found within your budget if you look. New Strat's are right in your budget and even the Premier Strat would not be too far off base. Of course, if you could get to HATCO in Garland, TX (you may even be able to call them), you can pick up a "factory second" for half-price.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I am looking for recommendations for my first fedora. I am not planning to buy lots of hats (my wife even questions this purchase) so I'm looking for one that is versatile. I don't wear suits to work but dress business casual from dress pants and button shirt to dress pants and polo in the summer. I like fashionable, timeless and classic, not trendy. I like the look of the moderate width brims for myself as I'm about 6' and a moderately build. I don't care for the stingy brims as they look too trendy for me or the overly large such as over 2 1/2. From looking at the site I would consider vintage as it looks like they are higher quality. I don't want one that is too formal looking but one that can be worn somewhat casual or moderately dressed up. In colors, I have brown hair and brown eyes so I see that they recommend steering away from brown. Black is too dark for me. Grey would be OK and I do like some of the lighter shades of brown. I would appreciate any suggestions. My budget is around $150.

Do you know if you want a more standard fedora? Do you like the thin ribbon quasi western dress hats? Do you like tall crowns? Straight sided or tapered crowns? Raw edge, bound edge, felted edge, etc.? Maybe a couple of photos of what you’re looking for might help us give you better recommendations.


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[deadlyhandsome]

Day in, day out, for what you describe you would be hard pressed to do any better than a new or vintage Stetson Stratoliner. A lot of vintage Strat's are high, but there are many that can be found within your budget if you look. New Strat's are right in your budget and even the Premier Strat would not be too far off base. Of course, if you could get to HATCO in Garland, TX (you may even be able to call them), you can pick up a "factory second" for half-price.

View attachment 153986

Great choice if you’re a thin ribbon guy!


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[Gruenewald]

I don't have a solid preference on the edge. I like the bound but I think it looks more formal than what I want. I prefer a straighter side to one that is too tapered. I prefer a more narrow ribbon to one that is really wide and don't mind if there is a feather decoration. Personally, I would steer away from something that looks more western. The For the crown, a lot of hats I've looked at and liked were in the 4 1/2" range with crease. I would be open to an open crown but don't know if it would annoy me too much if I had to fuss with it to keep the shape somewhat consistent. I would wear it in a pinch front and tear drop crown shape most likely.

 

[Rmccamey]

The Stetson Whippet is another perennial favorite of the mid-width ribbon crowd and there are lots new and some vintage hats within your budget.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I don't have a solid preference on the edge. I like the bound but I think it looks more formal than what I want. I prefer a straighter side to one that is too tapered. I prefer a more narrow ribbon to one that is really wide and don't mind if there is a feather decoration. Personally, I would steer away from something that looks more western. The For the crown, a lot of hats I've looked at and liked were in the 4 1/2" range with crease. I would be open to an open crown but don't know if it would annoy me too much if I had to fuss with it to keep the shape somewhat consistent. I would wear it in a pinch front and tear drop crown shape most likely.

Did you like the Vintage Silhouette hat I provided the link for? If you like thin ribbons you can find a Premier Stratoliner in your price range with some looking. What size do you wear?


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[Rmccamey]

As Brent says, tne VS hats are outstanding and if you are looking for that one hat, you cant go wrong.

 

[Gruenewald]

I like the VS hat. The ribbon is not too big, not too small. The only thing is the color. The grey is too light for me. I was looking more for a color like the Stetson Caribou to the Carbon Grey of the Akruba Stylemaster. I like the Akruba but, again, I like a little narrower brim. I like the Stratoliner but am unsure about the really narrow ribbon and the wider brim.

 

[RomanImperator]

Save your money and don't spend $150-$300 on a modern production hat when you can get lucky in the vintage market at flea markets, online etc for the same price if not less on a higher quality felt vintage one in good condition. As far as style goes, try medium ribbon hats like a playboy. The medium ribbon can easily be dressed up or down.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Save your money and don't spend $150-$300 on a modern production hat when you can get lucky in the vintage market at flea markets, online etc for the same price if not less on a higher quality felt vintage one in good condition. As far as style goes, try medium ribbon hats like a playboy. The medium ribbon can easily be dressed up or down.

I mostly agree. I have some good things to say about some new production hats, but I’d prefer vintage or custom. If you’re like me with a non-vintage sized head you can have a hard time in the vintage market (I’ve been looking for both a Playboy and a Wonderer in my size for over two years).


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[belfastboy]

Save your money and don't spend $150-$300 on a modern production hat when you can get lucky in the vintage market at flea markets, online etc for the same price if not less on a higher quality felt vintage one in good condition. As far as style goes, try medium ribbon hats like a playboy. The medium ribbon can easily be dressed up or down.

I would agree with this post with the caveat of finding one that you can see/feel/tryon before purchase. There is so much crap out there on Ebay and Etsy that if you buy vintage you need to be prepared for disappointment when the item shows up on your doorstep unless you buy from a known and reliable seller.....but then you have to be prepared to pay the premium for that assurance.

 

[Frunobulax]

I like the VS hat. The ribbon is not too big, not too small. The only thing is the color. The grey is too light for me. I was looking more for a color like the Stetson Caribou to the Carbon Grey of the Akruba Stylemaster. I like the Akruba but, again, I like a little narrower brim. I like the Stratoliner but am unsure about the really narrow ribbon and the wider brim.

I wouldn't get too worked up about the brim width, especially of the Strat. A 2.5" brim isn't that big for a 6' tall guy. I'm 6' as well, and believe 2 5/8" is my "sweet spot," but regularly wear much wider as well. Once you get use to seeing yourself in a brimmed hat, the wider ones will grow on you.

Pun intended.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Rmccamey]

All mfg's and custom makers have an array of colors. Look at their websites and, of course, here on the lounge for lots of ideas and felt/ribbon color choices.
It would be a good idea to visit a hat store or hat maker near you to see some hats and/or colors in person.

I like the VS hat. The ribbon is not too big, not too small. The only thing is the color. The grey is too light for me. I was looking more for a color like the Stetson Caribou to the Carbon Grey of the Akruba Stylemaster. I like the Akruba but, again, I like a little narrower brim. I like the Stratoliner but am unsure about the really narrow ribbon and the wider brim.

I would agree with this post with the caveat of finding one that you can see/feel/tryon before purchase. There is so much crap out there on Ebay and Etsy that if you buy vintage you need to be prepared for disappointment when the item shows up on your doorstep unless you buy from a known and reliable seller.....but then you have to be prepared to pay the premium for that assurance.

 

[Rmccamey]

Most Gannon hats have what I would call medium ribbons...on his website, anyway. His rabbit felt starts at $200.