Hats in the rain, do they bleed so to speak?

[Blackthorn]

I've been wearing a grey ("caribou") Stetson Temple pretty regularly in rain and snow since 2002, and it has never bled - nor lost its shape. That said, I think my Akubra hats are even better in foul weather: nothing phases them, they seem indestructible.

Doc, does it seem to matter whether they are the Heritage or the Imperial felt? Is one just as good as the other, rain-wise?

 

[Doctor Strange]

Alas, all my Akubras are the Imperial felt, so I can't really say. But I don't recall reading anybody else here say that the Heritage felt was any less impervious to the elements than the Imperial. I think it's softer and more refined, but essentially just as tough.

Let's hear from some folks who have both kinds!

 

[Dewhurst]

Nothing short of one of the best custom hats can compare to that felt IMO but that doesn't necessarily make all modern hats bad as I originally thought.

Yes, people have to be careful with their condemnation and enthusiasm. Good hats that are comfortable, pleasing to the eye, and long lasting are being produced today. No worries!

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Has anyone never experienced a brand new hat that bled a bit of remnant dye upon its initial exposure to water (rain, etc.) only to find that it actually holds the color and doesn't bleed anymore from that point forward?

In my experience, once a bleeder - always a bleeder. [huh] I'm not saying that all the color will come out of the hat. Just that it's going to take a heck of a lot of wetting to reach the point where it doesn't bleed onto your head or hands anymore. Which is what I'd be trying to avoid to start with.

 

[jwalls]

I think most good modern manufacturers use color fast dyes. The only problem I've had with mass produced hats in the rain is some brim shrinkage,but then I live in the desert.

 

[Woodfluter]

Doc, does it seem to matter whether they are the Heritage or the Imperial felt? Is one just as good as the other, rain-wise?

Alas, all my Akubras are the Imperial felt, so I can't really say. But I don't recall reading anybody else here say that the Heritage felt was any less impervious to the elements than the Imperial. I think it's softer and more refined, but essentially just as tough.
Let's hear from some folks who have both kinds!

I have both and have worn them in rainfalls heavy and light, but really can't render any judgment - not enough data. I think they're comparable in shedding water.

I'd say this: the Imperial felt is more prone to shrinkage. The Heritage felt appears more stable. But the Imperial can be fought through stretching to a standstill - where it won't shrink much anymore. Tapering might be a different matter. That's why I'm kind of sold on the Heritage.

There's some differences under a stereo microscope that I'll document when I get more time to continue examination. Not proof about why, just interesting.

For me, a felt hat (new or vintage) should be something I plop on my head when I think weather could be inclement, but not a deluge. Don't want to worry about the hat, ya know. YMMV and that's cool.

- Bill

 

[Detective_Noir]

Stetson: Any one else have this problem?

i bought a stetson Downs Model around $175 at a hat store here in Ward parkway and it was in the color brown and as of yesterday it was raining very hard for kansas... Yes it actually rained what a miracle for this heat wave we have here. but i wore the stetson out side to keep my head from getting wet but when i brought it back home with me i find to my discomfort that there are color runs on my hat after it had rained... or some satin splotches on there now. and after wearing through the heat and day of the summer going, the hat has seem to taper and gone very distorted on me. saddened i tossed the hat because it had pretty much become trash... my stetsonian never does this to me in harsh weather, no shrinkage, taper, or stains it still retains its shape albeit being a 60 year old hat. has any one else had a problem with recent stetson hats being made?

 

[Undertow]

You, my friend, should try the search function.

I only say that because there are at least two dozen threads on this very topic. Unfortunately, it would seem SOME modern Stetsons have this issue, and inexplicably others don't. I've had two Stetsons that did this, and a handful that haven't. [huh]

 

[danofarlington]

Buy an Akubra to get a rainproof hat.

 

[jlee562]

You, my friend, should try the search function.

I only say that because there are at least two dozen threads on this very topic. Unfortunately, it would seem SOME modern Stetsons have this issue, and inexplicably others don't. I've had two Stetsons that did this, and a handful that haven't. [huh]

This.

The browns especially seem to be problematic, although it seems more common in dress hats than westerns.

 

[gdc]

The hat store at the north end of the Ward Parkway shopping center? I didn't see anything in there I would prefer over anything vintage although they carry some decent caps. Live and learn, I guess. I've worn several of my vintage hats in the rain and never had a problem. My newest hat is a '70's OR and the felt isn't near the quality of my vintage lids.
It's always good to know a fellow hat lover in the neighborhood.

 

[gdc]

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?65521-Quality-of-Stetson-vintage-vs-new

 

[danofarlington]

It's always good to know a fellow hat lover in the neighborhood.

Someone should do one of those TFL polls to show the site participants by state. I'd be interested to know which states are the top representatives.

 

[Blackthorn]

i bought a stetson Downs Model around $175 at a hat store here in Ward parkway and it was in the color brown and as of yesterday it was raining very hard for kansas... Yes it actually rained what a miracle for this heat wave we have here. but i wore the stetson out side to keep my head from getting wet but when i brought it back home with me i find to my discomfort that there are color runs on my hat after it had rained... or some satin splotches on there now. and after wearing through the heat and day of the summer going, the hat has seem to taper and gone very distorted on me. saddened i tossed the hat because it had pretty much become trash... my stetsonian never does this to me in harsh weather, no shrinkage, taper, or stains it still retains its shape albeit being a 60 year old hat. has any one else had a problem with recent stetson hats being made?

It's a very common problem with Stetson. You can get better hats, at a lot less money, from Akubra. Get a Stylemaster.

 

[Blackthorn]

Buy an Akubra to get a rainproof hat.

No fur felt is rainproof. I've used a Banjo Patterson and a Squatter as rain hats, and both shrunk just a bit. BUT the color never ran, like the Stetsons do. And they were loose before, since I'm in between sizes, so now they fit perfectly.

 

[1961MJS]

HI

As to the Stetson Temple, buy a dark hat brush from Shepler's or go back to Stetson, they'll have them. Brush your hat, much of the brown dust will brush out. Mine's been in the rain a few times and it still looks o.k. Of course, I only paid $80 for mine a couple of years back.

later

 

[RBH]

You, my friend, should try the search function.

It would be nice....

 

[jbucklin]

Buy an Akubra to get a rainproof hat.

+1

 

[Detective_Noir]

I have a couple of great quality 40's and 50's hats and ill say they held together alot better than what the stetson has.

 

[Detective_Noir]

The hat store at the north end of the Ward Parkway shopping center? I didn't see anything in there I would prefer over anything vintage although they carry some decent caps. Live and learn, I guess. I've worn several of my vintage hats in the rain and never had a problem. My newest hat is a '70's OR and the felt isn't near the quality of my vintage lids.
It's always good to know a fellow hat lover in the neighborhood.

didn't know there was another lounger near my area that went to the same store... I will say that I even went down to hatman jacks and there's not much down there either that made my socks fly off except the borsalino alessandria but I found out the quality of borsalino now is bad.... So i dodged that buy by a close one