Need a new hat

[N E 450 No2]

Gentlemen & ladies I need a new hat.
I do quite a bit of outdoor activities in all sorts of weather all durring the year. Many times I just wear a cap [shame on me], when I really need a hat. Problem is I have never found the right hat. Even though I am in Texas I do not have a cowboy hat, I am not a cowboy, do not have the boots either. All of my hats have been bought at sporting goods stores and are of wool. Some stiff, some soft, except for my Filson waxed cotton Packer hat that I wear if it is raining. It is too hot to wear other wise.
I like the look of the Fedora.
Since Peters Brothers in Ft. Worth is not to far away I was thinking of going there and checking out their Fedoras. This will not be a dress hat, but one that will be worn on true adventures from Texas, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Canada and to Zimbabwe, Africa. It will be worn in all weather including rain and snow, even though I will try and use the Filson if the conditions are real bad.
So I need the expertise of the Fedora Lounge Experts.
Is Peters Brothers a good place to get a Indy type Fedora, and if so which of their models is the best choice.
I think I like the "regular" Indy brown,a demensional cut brim, and the look of a serious "bash" in the front.
So, what do ya'll think?

 

[MK]

.

They are the best hat maker in your neck of the woods. They have a long history with fedoras. They claim to have had a Peter Bros. hat on every President since......I forget. Great story though. Ask Joe about the hat they gave JFK.

 

[Andykev]

Wait till the fall if you can

I have heard that Peter Bros is quite nice...but did someone mention the quality is a bit "rough"?

If you can wait a bit, and that is in the fall season, Art will make you a PURE BEAVER fedora in whatever color you want, for a very good price. I have three of his felts, no make that four.

The black pure beaver is the greatest..
oops, I have FIVE of his felts. Black, vintage silverbelly, light grey, "peach", moss green.....

I love them.

 

[K.D. Lightner]

I have never been to Peters Brothers, and look forward to a visit to the store early this fall when I visit my friend in Houston and go to Ft. Worth to see the Cowgirls Hall of Fame.

I hear their hats are fairly hard, and I like softer fedoras. If you want to visit them online they are at www.petersbros.com.

We also have a hat maker called Fedora on the Lounge who makes, according to those who have purchased his fedoras, the best dead-on Indy hat around. I am looking forward to buying one from him.

karol

 

[Michael Mallory]

If you are specifically going for an Indy style, then Peter Bros. is probably the best place. However, if you just want a protection hat that is impervious to weather, get a Sunbody palm leaf hat. They have their own website, and they do make fedoras, as well as other styles. I have a couple Sunbodys: they're lightweight and comfortable when dry, but they hold up terrifically in incliment weather. If you're really into Indy, you could probably get an open crown Sunbody and shape it to suit you.

 

[Renderking Fisk]

Can't say enough good words about Steve Delk's "AdventureBilt" fedora. He makes a great "Jones" style fedora...

And then there's Art, his style leans more towards the "Bogart" fedora.

These are two incredible craftsmen who know the art of making Fedora's. You can't go wrong with either one of them.

 

[Biltmore Bob]

I have a PB. It's damn tough.

 

[fedoralover]

The Petersbros. custom is $185.00 and is made from a 5X felt and has a lot felt stiffner in it. Their Indy Borsalino is $285. felt content unknown, probably rabbit. They are not bad hats for the money and many people have bought them in times past.

However new vendors have taken away from some of their sales. Optimo, Art Fawcett, Steve Delk and now Jersey Jones has the Camptown. If you prefer a softer hat and a higher quality felt you may want to compare what they have to offer before you make up your mind. Both Art and Steve offer a 100% beaver felt for not too much more money than the PB custom.

After seeing and feeling the 100% beaver I would recommend that as a lot better investment. Steve has a waiting list now of around 3 weeks. Art won't be back in business until fall. You can't go wrong with either one. They are both great people to work with and take a lot of pride in their work.

Whatever you do, DON'T buy an off the shelf fedora or Indy replica. They are just not worth the money.

fedoralover

 

[Kaleponi Craig]

You might also want to check out Club Obi Wan, http://www.indygear.com/cow/index.php, where one of the main topics of conversation is the Indy fedora. It seems that Fedora's (Steve Delk's) Adventurebilt is the fedora of choice for true Indy fanatics.

 

[MK]

.

Agreed on the stiffener. You have to ask them to put the least amount possible to get it more like you want.....because they make a lot of cowboy hats.

I also agree that the above mentioned makers make great hats. But if you are new to hats, there something to be said about going to shop in person.

 

[android]

I have heard that Peter Bros is quite nice...but did someone mention the quality is a bit "rough"?

I think they are having manager turnover problems. I dropped off a hat to be worked on, came back about a month later to pick it up, and there was somebody else in charge. It's easy to let things slip when this happens.

 

[N E 450 No2]

Thanks for the information. First chance I get I think I will go to Peters Bros and have a look.