Hat Shops in London?

[carranty]

Got quite a few Bates Hats. Happy with all and with service. Don't know if I'd buy a hat online, but I'm often in W1. Bates staying in Jermyn St (there was a chance recently they would've had to leave cos of redevelopment) has kept prices reasonable by not letting the other venerable London hatter have a clear run!

Do you own any Akubra's, or other off the shelf hats, how would you say Bates's hats compare with these?

 

[daizawaguy]

I have one Bates (Weekender) and had a few abubra`s (shorter brim, forget name). There is quite a difference. Firstly, lower level (cheaper) Bates don't use real leather in the band, and there is a high wool (if not mainly) wool component in my weekender felt. Bates seem to source hats from different places (my opinion, given the wide difference in leather bands and finish), although the more expensive ones did have nice felt. Abubra felt is much more standard across their range, and so is finish and the leather bands etc. For me it depends on what `look` you want. Akubra is a `country` hat, with a tallish crown usually, whereas the Bates is a more `city` look. The nice ones though if I recall do go for at least GBP300++. If it`s price you're looking at, you can't beat the Akubra. But frankly, go with a custom, and it will give you return over the years - just my opinion.

 

[Methuselah]

I'm thinking of buying a hat from Bates hats and was wondering what peoples thoughts are on their hats? They're priced at almost twice the price of an Akubra (~£180), I don't mind paying this for a custom -made to measure - hat from one of the many custom haters often mentioned on this forum, but it seems a little high to me for an off the shelf hat. What do people think, are they worth the price?

I live in the north west, so traveling to them to look at the hats isn't really an option, I'll be buying from their website.

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I don't own any hat from Bates, but a couple of years ago I went in to try some on whilst wearing my Akubra Stylemaster. Only the really expensive hats were better, most seemed about the same for quality - but that was just my uneducated impression.

I think that there is a shop in Manchester that sometimes stocks Susquehanna hats - is that a brand that you've considered?

 

[carranty]

If it`s price you're looking at, you can't beat the Akubra. But frankly, go with a custom, and it will give you return over the years - just my opinion.

Oh yeah, I agree you can't beat custom hats, I have two and I love them, but can't afford them every time. I'd decided to get an Akubra fed, but its not available until January so I was looking into possible alternatives. From the sounds of it, I'll probably give Bates a miss - its probably great if you're near enough to actually visit and try some hats on, but for an online order it just sounds like their quality varies too much and the prices are a little high. Thanks.

I think that there is a shop in Manchester that sometimes stocks Susquehanna hats - is that a brand that you've considered?

Hmm, I'm pretty close to Manchester but have never heard of this hat brand. Can you give any more info, all I can find on google is a music band or an Abbot & Costello routine

 

[mingoslim]

I think that there is a shop in Manchester that sometimes stocks Susquehanna hats . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THZV5g1CNZM

And all I asked is where Bagel Street is?

 

[ManofKent]

Hmm, I'm pretty close to Manchester but have never heard of this hat brand. Can you give any more info, all I can find on google is a music band or an Abbot & Costello routine

They're not bad hats - made by Tonak in the Czech republic (one of the oldest European hat firms). Decent felt and an okayish sweatband. Certainly fair value.

 

[PHIL1959]

I have a Susquehanna hat in light grey
its here-
http://www.johnhalifax.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=MH02Masona
nice hat although i find the felt to be on the soft 'floppy' side.

 

[job]

I gotta get the pink one.

 

[Panacheman]

Being a guest of the big city while I'm here studying, I will say after visiting Lock and Co, Bates, and Laird. the only one I've spent my money at was Bates. I bought a very nice very dark navy blue poet. It is high quality and gorgeous, the finish on the felt is a little more plush then I'm used to but not quite a long haired or silken finish. biggest plus for me was that it came as a open crown letting me bash it myself, which I insisted on doing in store with their steam much to the chagrin of the staff. All and all a good hat and worth what i paid for it in particular compared to the similar model sold at lock and co which is no better in quality and will run you another 75 pounds. that being said Bates is best with a visit. It is the best and only way to find the right hat in the store for you. Because their models range from overpriced to great value, and from the mundane to extravagant.
On that note wait and buy your fed from akubra I've heard some great things about them.

 

[Daze]

Bates do a Poet? oooh I GOT to see one


Checked the website, nice shape to it too

 

[DNO]

I have a lot of hats from a lot of makers (nothing custom, though): Borsalino, Stetson, Akubra, Knox, Biltmore, Dobbs, Christies, Dunn, etc. I have one Bates fedora. It's excellent quality, well made, and with lovely thick soft felt, akin to my higher quality Borsalinos. One of my favourite hats.

 

[Panacheman]

For the money its the best hat they sell. If you make a visit to the brick and morter. I highly suggest that you try on the Bruand, if only for a laugh. When they say wide brim they mean WIIIIIIDE brim.

 

[PHIL1959]

just bought a weekender, 100% fur felt ( JL racing felt) not wool as previously stated
its a nice lightweight hat with a 2inch brim.

 

[DJH]

I used to have a Bates hat, from the 50's I believe.
Quite nice and decent quality, although the felt was a little stiff compared to other hats I have from the same period.

 

[ManofKent]

Looks good David. I wonder who made it for them? There were still a fair few hat manufacturers in the UK back then.

 

[daizawaguy]

Good for you PHIL1959 - I like my Weekender, and I think it was me that referred to the wool. It says its all felt, but that does not refer to what the blend may consist of. Felt I believe is the process, and not the composition, though I may be wrong.

I have no way to prove there is wool in there, but it does feel rougher and more `synthetic` than some of my pure beaver or rabbit felts - even has some shiny colorless threads that I`d really like to know their composition. My only point for a $300 hat ( I think thats what it converts to ), its on the lower grade of the felt ladder in my opinion. It`s not a criticism of the hat nor the company, just my personal view.

Here are some more photo`s.

You will also see it`s not very dense, but as I mentioned, a visit to their shop did show that they had some finer felts of top quality further up the price range.

I`m grateful though that they are still producing hats, and hope my views don`t distract purchases. I don`t regret buying mine, just state my views as to my experience.

 

[daizawaguy]

If these hats are made by Tonak, they are available on the Tonak site for just over 1/3 of the Jermyn Street price.

http://www.tonak.cz/en/e-shop/felt-hats/felt-hat-100036-s412000347

They also are said to contain `non textile parts of animal origin` :eeek: although they do seem to be 100% fur felt, so I will retract my wool comments.

 

[ManofKent]

daizawaguy - it looks like a Tonak to me, but whilst I'm sure Bates have a heavy mark up it may not be the same grade of felt as the ones you linked to. Tonak produce hats at various price points, and appear to supply most of the UK hatters.

 

[PHIL1959]

hi daizawagay,
heres photo of my weekender-


my hat has 2inch brim-has yours
im starting to think mine might not be a weekender!

 

[ManofKent]

Phil - yours is an older model - it's not unknown for hatters to keep the name yet drastically alter the design!

I think yours might have been made by Christys for Bates from what I can see.