How many hats do you have?

[Zombie_61]

Well, let's see. Eight fur felt Akubras, one fur felt Knox, one fur felt Winston, one Tweed Dobbs, two cheap cotton Stingy brims, one cheap cotton bucket hat, one Boonie hat, two Sunbody straw hats, seven ball caps, and sixteen flat caps (Ivy and Newsboy). I think. There may be others around here that I've forgotten about because I haven't worn them recently...or ever.

 

[belfastboy]

Well, let's see. Eight fur felt Akubras, one fur felt Knox, one fur felt Winston, one Tweed Dobbs, two cheap cotton Stingy brims, one cheap cotton bucket hat, one Boonie hat, two Sunbody straw hats, seven ball caps, and sixteen flat caps (Ivy and Newsboy). I think. There may be others around here that I've forgotten about because I haven't worn them recently.

Damn, if I add in my ball caps the figure jumps to 100 or so....but ball caps take up so much less room....they satisfied my collector's bug before i fell down the fedora rabbit hole.

 

[scottyrocks]

I have probably about 30 felt hats, and I wear less than half of them on a regular basis or at all. I should sell off most of the ones I don't wear, but I can never bring myself to do it.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I have probably about 30 felt hats, and I wear less than half of them on a regular basis or at all. I should sell off most of the ones I don't wear, but I can never bring myself to do it.

I find it liberating to sell them. Only a couple that I second guess myself over.

 

[Zombie_61]

Damn, if I add in my ball caps the figure jumps to 100 or so....but ball caps take up so much less room....they satisfied my collector's bug before i fell down the fedora rabbit hole.

I only started wearing ball caps a few years ago, and then only when I'm going somewhere or doing something (helping a friend move, for example) where I don't want to risk damaging a better/nicer/more favorite hat or cap. I'm still not overly crazy about 'em, but they get the job done and nobody pays attention to them.

 

[mark balen]

Great idea for a thread. Makes me stop and wonder, what is it that compels us to devote this amount of time, energy, and dollars to hats? The number for me must be around 30, but I will have to count them now. I've been thinking I really need to sell off those that no longer hold my intetest.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

I refuse to count 'em on the grounds that it might incriminate me.

 

[Yahoody]

I find it liberating to sell them. Only a couple that I second guess myself over.

At 100 hats, I bet

 

[steur]

It's the wrong question I think. How many books do you have or how many CD's (LP's or whatever)? Having handled the over 300 hats of my collection recently I realised that, yes, there are too many of them. But that's more to do with the lack of storage and not with me not wanting all of these and more of them. Even if I don't wear several of them, six toppers and eleven bowlers come to mind, I can still appreciate them. Sure, some of them could go, because they don't suit me or fit me well enough, but that's part and parcel of collecting vintage hats. So if I had sufficient storage space I would see no reason to stop collecting. And in my small size it's not about the money either; I can have a hat for the price of a few drinks and a small snack. Every few weeks I select about 8 of them and wear them in rotation.

 

[dkstott]

I'm a mere amateur with the hat count at 10. I've also got 4 flat caps. All hat's are fur felt, no straw. 3-4 of the hats are in my daily wear rotation.

My hats get swapped in & out of the daily rotation depending on my mood and the weather.

The only hat in my collection that doesn't get worn is my Moonstone Akubra Stylemaster. I just haven't bonded with the color.

There was a time when I had close to 20 guitars in the house. I'm down to 2 guitars and now really enjoy the space that they once occupied.

I just can't see me ever having a collection of hats that aren't worn.

 

[Boomerang]

I have a total of 11 fur felts, but I only count 10 since 1 is staged for "finding a new home." 8 hats in daily rotation, 1 beater hat that rarely leaves the house, and 1 black fedora that rarely gets worn.

 

[Frunobulax]

I'm not certain what my count is right now. Somewhere around 125. I've had a few hundred pass through my hands at this point, I guess.

I'm with Stefan, though. I've had a "collector mindset" for most of my life. Coins, LPs, CDs, books, etc. I don't consider it hoarding. I enjoy each new purchase and also enjoy appreciating the construction and design of vintage hats, plus I like seeing the variations from brand to brand. I try to wear them all, but those ones in the boxes in the back on the bottom sometimes get neglected.

 

[scottyrocks]

It's the wrong question I think. How many books do you have or how many CD's (LP's or whatever)? Having handled the over 300 hats of my collection recently I realised that, yes, there are too many of them. But that's more to do with the lack of storage and not with me not wanting all of these and more of them. Even if I don't wear several of them, six toppers and eleven bowlers come to mind, I can still appreciate them. Sure, some of them could go, because they don't suit me or fit me well enough, but that's part and parcel of collecting vintage hats. So if I had sufficient storage space I would see no reason to stop collecting. And in my small size it's not about the money either; I can have a hat for the price of a few drinks and a small snack. Every few weeks I select about 8 of them and wear them in rotation.

Maybe that's the difference. I don't really 'collect' anything. I buy things that I like and will use, and (usually) stop when I have what I think I want/need. Inevitably I have too many examples of some items.

Re the hats, there are some that I don't wear that I do like to look at and could see myself wearing and won't sell them, and those that I just won't wear for whatever reason - not comfortable enough, or just don't like (enough) the way the hat looks on me and then I grab one that I really like.

 

[BobHufford]

Probably somewhere around 75. There are at least 25 that I need to sell (size not quite right, came in a lot and they are not my style or I bought them to re-sell), but selling hats is no fun.

 

[mark balen]

It's the wrong question I think. How many books do you have or how many CD's (LP's or whatever)? Having handled the over 300 hats of my collection recently I realised that, yes, there are too many of them. But that's more to do with the lack of storage and not with me not wanting all of these and more of them. Even if I don't wear several of them, six toppers and eleven bowlers come to mind, I can still appreciate them. Sure, some of them could go, because they don't suit me or fit me well enough, but that's part and parcel of collecting vintage hats. So if I had sufficient storage space I would see no reason to stop collecting. And in my small size it's not about the money either; I can have a hat for the price of a few drinks and a small snack. Every few weeks I select about 8 of them and wear them in rotation.

 

[Zombie_61]

...I just can't see me ever having a collection of hats that aren't worn.

This I agree with 100%. I have enough junk around here to qualify as a "collector", but clothing items serve a singular and very practical function and if I don't/won't/can't wear them I have no use for them 'cause they're just taking up space.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Probably somewhere around 75. There are at least 25 that I need to sell (size not quite right, came in a lot and they are not my style or I bought them to re-sell), but selling hats is no fun.

I hear that! Buying is much more fun than selling. Opening a box with a new hat is much more satisfying than carefully packaging a hat for shipping.

 

[TheGuitarFairy]

I hear that! Buying is much more fun than selling. Opening a box with a new hat is much more satisfying than carefully packaging a hat for shipping.

At least hats are eeeeasy to ship!
Try shipping an old 78rpm a 75lb amplifier or one of these ... we're talking a multi hour proposition packing some stuff up.

Btw I'm trying to keep it under 20 hats ; )

1925 Federal Type 61

 

[dkstott]

I hear ya!! My primary hobby is repairing & restoring old radios. Those are a bear to ship.

At least hats are eeeeasy to ship!
Try shipping an old 78rpm a 75lb amplifier or one of these ... we're talking a multi hour proposition packing some stuff up.

Btw I'm trying to keep it under 20 hats ; )

1925 Federal Type 61
View attachment 265145
View attachment 265146

 

[belfastboy]

I hear that! Buying is much more fun than selling. Opening a box with a new hat is much more satisfying than carefully packaging a hat for shipping.

I received your box of hats on Friday along with a shipment from my felt supplier......it was Christmas in September and I am still in the after glow.