Looking for a hat

[Bill Hughes]

That's a heck of a haul.

I finally got around to taking a picture. The two outside straw hats I already had. The other six are what I picked up that one visit to Hatco a few weeks ago.

Bill

 

[Bird Lives]

I finally got around to taking a picture. The two outside straw hats I already had. The other six are what I picked up that one visit to Hatco a few weeks ago.

Bill

Wow...you really hit the ground running....
After hearing those prices, I might have to relocate to Texas...}8^))

I always snap my brims up when I take mine off, but if Fruno' says it doesn't matter, then it doesn't...He's forgotten more about Hats than I'll probably ever know...}8^))

 

[Redfokker]

Wow...you really hit the ground running....
After hearing those prices, I might have to relocate to Texas...}8^))

I always snap my brims up when I take mine off, but if Fruno' says it doesn't matter, then it doesn't...He's forgotten more about Hats than I'll probably ever know...}8^))

I find some hats want to be stored with brims snapped up and others don't. The setting the hat on the crown thing is meant to keep the shape of the brim intact. If I don't rest the hat on it's crown, the snapped brim hangs over the edge of the surface as to not screw up the shape.

 

[Frunobulax]

Wow...you really hit the ground running....
After hearing those prices, I might have to relocate to Texas...}8^))

I always snap my brims up when I take mine off, but if Fruno' says it doesn't matter, then it doesn't...He's forgotten more about Hats than I'll probably ever know...}8^))

I appreciate the props, but my experience is only a few years. I'm still a noob compared to many around here.

I'd say it depends on several factors. For one, how long is it going to be stored? Many of my hats are hanging on hooks or on stands around the house, brim snapped down. The ones in boxes usually are snapped up for storage. Also, the age and felt of the hat. Vintage normally have nicer, thinner, more pliable felt, and are more easily shaped. A new Akubra, however, is going to have a different reaction. I think it's more a matter of preference than anything else.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[MajorRags]

I currently have an Outback Trading Co. Kodiak. It replaced a Tilley that was run over by a lawnmower. Its an oilcloth cotton hat thats served me well for four years, but its horrendously salt stained and beat. The brow area is bleached white, from its standard dark brown.

So! I figured I would retire it, and look for something else, and Im hoping this is the place to do it!

I like the style of the Kodiak, and want to keep that look. Idk if Im allowed to link to it, or post photos of it from the Outback Trading website, so Ill simply say its easy to find via googling that. Dont know how to upload from a mobile. Ive been reading here a bit and have seen the whole wool vs fur felt debate, and wouldnt mind suggestions of a similar style in either fabric.

Keep in mind Ill be wearing it when hiking, backpacking, bushcrafting, mowing the lawn, and generally working while wearing it and getting it beat up. So not much point in a pretty and super expensive piece. Id be willing to spend a couple hundred as long as it will last, and have no experience with those materials to know if it will. Id imagine less expensive would make more sense, but Ill leave my options open.

Id rather avoid straw, its not strong enough.

Suggestions, please?

 

[Boomerang]

Maybe an Akubra Cattleman? It is similar in style to your Kodiak. The Cattleman is a fur felt hat, but has a rep for being a real workhorse.

 

[belfastboy]

I currently have an Outback Trading Co. Kodiak. It replaced a Tilley that was run over by a lawnmower. Its an oilcloth cotton hat thats served me well for four years, but its horrendously salt stained and beat. The brow area is bleached white, from its standard dark brown.

So! I figured I would retire it, and look for something else, and Im hoping this is the place to do it!

I like the style of the Kodiak, and want to keep that look. Idk if Im allowed to link to it, or post photos of it from the Outback Trading website, so Ill simply say its easy to find via googling that. Dont know how to upload from a mobile. Ive been reading here a bit and have seen the whole wool vs fur felt debate, and wouldnt mind suggestions of a similar style in either fabric.

Keep in mind Ill be wearing it when hiking, backpacking, bushcrafting, mowing the lawn, and generally working while wearing it and getting it beat up. So not much point in a pretty and super expensive piece. Id be willing to spend a couple hundred as long as it will last, and have no experience with those materials to know if it will. Id imagine less expensive would make more sense, but Ill leave my options open.

Id rather avoid straw, its not strong enough.

Suggestions, please?

Yes...check out the Akubra line....great hats for your particular needs. EVRRYTHING AUSTRALIAN has great pricing or Hats Direct for selection

 

[dkstott]

Hats direct had the Akubra Stylemaster priced at $113 plus shipping over the weekend.

 

[MajorRags]

That cattleman is the exact style I'm looking for. Anything similar I should look at?

 

[Doctor Strange]

You can't go wrong with the Akburas. But if you're going to be using it as a working hat, I'd suggest going with the country styles like the Cattleman vs. fedora styles like the Stylemaster. Also, you haven't said where you are located, but if you're mostly in warm weather, I'd suggest the unlined and ventilated models... again, like the Cattleman.

 

[MajorRags]

See, this is why Im here!

Pennsylvania, so warm and humid summers, cold wet winters. If that makes any difference, and thank you.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I’ll also say that the Akubra line is worth a serious look. If you like the Cattleman it’s a model that comes up with some frequency on the used market. I bought a Cattleman in great shape last month for $25. They are a bargain new, and even more so used.

You would also be well-served by many of the commonly encountered used 3X to 6x Stetson or Resistol, or ??? hats that are common on the used market. It’s a simple thing to trim the brims to your desired width and shape the crown and brim to your liking and end up with a sturdy hard-wearing fur felt hat for a bargain.

What hat size are you?

 

[MajorRags]

Ill remeasure tonight, but it was near 24", so roughly 7-5/8
I checked with the Outback hat sizing chart and that seems to fit since I wear their XL.

 

[Boomerang]

Since you are stateside, if you decide to go with a new Akubra be certain to shop the David Morgan site. They don't carry every model, but they DO carry the Cattleman and many others. You might save on shipping/foreign-currency-exchange-fees by ordering from David Morgan in Bothell, Washington.

 

[MajorRags]

Double checked my hat size, 7 5/8, just under 24" so probably up a size?

 

[Mark70]

At 24" that's 61cm, you said you're just under 24" I'd still stick with a 61 since you're using this as a working hat and will likely sweat a lot with it on the sweatband will shrink slightly snugging it up if it is somewhat loose when you first wear it.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Double checked my hat size, 7 5/8, just under 24" so probably up a size?

A large percentage of Akubra owners have experienced their leather sweatbands shrinking so we buy a size larger than normal. Not everyone has had this experience so it’s hard to say with any certainty. If you buy new, some of the stores will go through their inventory and get you a hat that runs a bit on the large size.

In my experience, this is the cheapest place to get a new Akubra (sometimes they don’t have them in stock):

https://everythingaustralian.com.au/row/cattleman-hat.html

$102 isn’t a bad price.

 

[glider]

If you want a felt hat the Akubra is no doubt a good choice. A Tilly is a hat for people that are very active outdoors and also known for being very durable. Probably in the same price range.

 

[itsallgood]

In Pennsylvania, I think the Akubra would be a great three-season hat. I think you'll immediately notice a step up from the Outback Trading oilskin. However, during the summer heat and humidity in the Keystone State, I think the fur will be hot and uncomfortable, especially during the daytime.

I have three Akubras and they get used regularly. I bought them at my true size. For the most comfortable fit, each one requires a bit of a tweak with a hat jack occasionally, the newer ones more so than ones I've had for a couple of years. The leather sweat bands in these do seem to want to tighten up a bit.