Portland Rain

[PDXHAT]

Hello:
Looking for a NEW hat (not vintage) I can beat the hell out of in the fall and winter Portland rain. Love the look of OR, and the pre-formed Strats. I have a stylemaster, I'm just looking for something different.

Would the 6x OR hold up in rain, ditto the Strat? I have the open crown strats and Deluxe ORs but would rather not beat them up in the rain.

Thanks!

 

[Frunobulax]

Hello:
Looking for a NEW hat (not vintage) I can beat the hell out of in the fall and winter Portland rain. Love the look of OR, and the pre-formed Strats. I have a stylemaster, I'm just looking for something different.

Would the 6x OR hold up in rain, ditto the Strat? I have the open crown strats and Deluxe ORs but would rather not beat them up in the rain.

Thanks!

Get a Camp Draft.

 

[PDXHAT]

Yeah. Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it. Not a fan of the styling. Anybody have any experience with the hats I mentioned in my question in the rain? Like I said, I already have an Akubra Stylemaster, looking outside the brand, specifically at Stetson. I understand the 6x version of the OR is more "workhat" oriented, and wonder if anybody has one that holds up in the rain?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Yeah. Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it. Not a fan of the styling. Anybody have any experience with the hats I mentioned in my question in the rain? Like I said, I already have an Akubra Stylemaster, looking outside the brand, specifically at Stetson. I understand the 6x version of the OR is more "workhat" oriented, and wonder if anybody has one that holds up in the rain?

I’m not sure what you mean about not liking the styling of the Campdraft. It’s the same as the Stetson Open Road.

I’ve had a few of the recent Stetson 6X hats. They are stiff westerns (overly stiff for my taste), but they seem rugged. The build quality is not the best, but it’s mostly cosmetic. I can only dream about living somewhere that could put their rain worthiness to the test. Unless you want the stiff western felt, I would look at the Royal De Luxe or Pure lines.

 

[PDXHAT]

Thanks. What I mean re Campdraft is I have plenty of open crowns to play with. I'm looking for a formed hat I can plop on my head when it rains.

Maybe I'm thinking that the stiffness (like a 6x) would be good for the rain, when I should really be looking at the fur. Maybe a smarter choice would be something like an Open Road Beaver.

 

[Frunobulax]

Yeah. Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it. Not a fan of the styling. Anybody have any experience with the hats I mentioned in my question in the rain? Like I said, I already have an Akubra Stylemaster, looking outside the brand, specifically at Stetson. I understand the 6x version of the OR is more "workhat" oriented, and wonder if anybody has one that holds up in the rain?

Well, you indicated you like ORs. The CD is just a rebranded OR from when Akubra had the Stetson license in OZ.

I have a few Modern Stetsons in RD and Excellent qualities, and wouldn't hesitate to wear any in the rain. A vintage 3X OR would be ideal, though.

 

[PDXHAT]

Well, you indicated you like ORs. The CD is just a rebranded OR from when Akubra had the Stetson license in OZ.

I have a few Modern Stetsons in RD and Excellent qualities, and wouldn't hesitate to wear any in the rain. A vintage 3X OR would be ideal, though.

No, the suggestion of a Campdraft is logical, I'm just not looking for open crown.

As i pondered above, I wonder if the OR beaver would give me an edge in rain because of felt?

 

[belfastboy]

Thanks. What I mean re Campdraft is I have plenty of open crowns to play with. I'm looking for a formed hat I can plop on my head when it rains.

Maybe I'm thinking that the stiffness (like a 6x) would be good for the rain, when I should really be looking at the fur. Maybe a smarter choice would be something like an Open Road Beaver.

Yes, I think other than the rabbit Akubra your best bet would be to look at a custom hat made from 100% or at least 50/50% beaver.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

No, the suggestion of a Campdraft is logical, I'm just not looking for open crown.

As i pondered above, I wonder if the OR beaver would give me an edge in rain because of felt?

I guess I’m still not getting it. Once you shape the Campdraft for the first time what’s the difference? A personally shaped Campdraft or a factory shaped Open Road…?

As for the rain handling, I don’t think that any felt hat is ideal. I know Akubra handles the rain well, but all normal felt has its limits. You can apply water proof sprays etc., but this isn’t something I’ve had to deal with so no firsthand experience. You can also look at a Stratton uniform hat: those are rugged and should take the rain well. My personal preference is for a cheap 3-5X Stetson or Resistol from the 1970s to the 1990s; trim the brim as desired and shape the crown and you’re good to go. As you’re looking at new hats, I’d think that a new Open Road would probably serve you well. I think the 6X might even be the best for getting soaked and holding it’s shape. The beaver might do great too, but I’d hate to try it and find it tapers or gets wonky.

 

[Aerielle Max]

I personally don't use them when raining. Good luck on finding one!

 

[Frunobulax]

I guess I’m still not getting it. Once you shape the Campdraft for the first time what’s the difference? A personally shaped Campdraft or a factory shaped Open Road…?

As for the rain handling, I don’t think that any felt hat is ideal. I know Akubra handles the rain well, but all normal felt has its limits. You can apply water proof sprays etc., but this isn’t something I’ve had to deal with so no firsthand experience. You can also look at a Stratton uniform hat: those are rugged and should take the rain well. My personal preference is for a cheap 3-5X Stetson or Resistol from the 1970s to the 1990s; trim the brim as desired and shape the crown and you’re good to go. As you’re looking at new hats, I’d think that a new Open Road would probably serve you well. I think the 6X might even be the best for getting soaked and holding it’s shape. The beaver might do great too, but I’d hate to try it and find it tapers or gets wonky.

Y'know, I guess I have a different take. While I don't wear my real collectibles in terrible weather (E.g., Demon Hanover), I regularly wear nice vintage hats in some pretty bad weather. I have a Resistol San Antonio that I trust in the rain at least as much as a CD, if not more. It's been soaked a few times - takes a licking and keeps on ticking!

And as I've mentioned before, I view old 3X ORs as pretty much bulletproof. They are also a go-to during inclement weather.

 

[belfastboy]

Y'know, I guess I have a different take. While I don't wear my real collectibles in terrible weather (E.g., Demon Hanover), I regularly wear nice vintage hats in some pretty bad weather. I have a Resistol San Antonio that I trust in the rain at least as much as a CD, if not more. It's been soaked a few times - takes a licking and keeps on ticking!

And as I've mentioned before, I view old 3X ORs as pretty much bulletproof. They are also a go-to during inclement weather.

Yeh, I live in Vancouver, the rain belt (I think Seattle gets a bit more rain than us but it is damn close) ...if I don't wear my hats in the rain I would never get to wear them unless you count wearing them about the house.

 

[jlee562]

Does anyone here even have a modern 6x? It's not one of the more popular Hatco Stetsons around these parts. I've only ever seen one at the Garland outlet store and the ones they had in that day were definitely outlet hats.

I have a Resistol 10x Cogburn that I use as a rain hat. It holds up pretty well, but after a while the brim did start to curl up on itself a little bit. It was easy enough to iron back out, but that hat has a flat brim in back which doesn't need a flange like an OR would.

Which is a roundabout way to say you'll probably be fine, but you may need a reflange sometime in the future if you want it looking fresher.

 

[PDXHAT]

Does anyone here even have a modern 6x? It's not one of the more popular Hatco Stetsons around these parts. I've only ever seen one at the Garland outlet store and the ones they had in that day were definitely outlet hats.

This is what I'm trying to determine: does anyone have a modern 6x, how is it, and does it hold up in weather? It may be I just have to get one and beat the hell out of it to see.

But I guess I'm in the same camp as my PNW cohorts: I wear my hats in the weather, or they would not get worn. I'm just looking for something besides my Akubra to wear when it's really rainy.

 

[glider]

The older western hats from Stetson are usually at least 4x beaver and pretty stiff, perfect for bad weather. If you like the OR style you can find an older Stetson western with a cattleman bash and cut the brim down to OR size and you're set. Older westerns are usually a good deal and there are a lot of them available.

 

[belfastboy]

This is what I'm trying to determine: does anyone have a modern 6x, how is it, and does it hold up in weather? It may be I just have to get one and beat the hell out of it to see.

But I guess I'm in the same camp as my PNW cohorts: I wear my hats in the weather, or they would not get worn. I'm just looking for something besides my Akubra to wear when it's really rainy.

Being in Canada, I am actually in the Pacific SouthWest!

 

[johnnycanuck]

Great question. I will say you made a nice choice as I think Stetson’s current 6X is in fact 100% rabbit felt. The lower X you go is more wool, the higher is more beaver. If you have your heart set on Stetson I would say go for it. The only experience I have in modern Stetson’s comes from the late 90’s when they were pretty bad. But they stepped up the quality a few years ago. Current offerings seem be pretty good quality. If you search the Stetson threads here you can see what people have to say. I personally find the $250 price tags a little high compared to other factory produced hats. It’s also pretty close to most custom made hats in 100% rabbit. Custom hats also requires a wait time for your hat to be made.
last thing I will add is if you are concerned with the felt getting wet and maybe loosing its shape over time hit it with some Scotchguard. It doesent water proof it but makes it water resistant. The other option is buy two hats to let them dry out completely between wearing.
That’s my take on it without actually answering your question.
Sorry
Johnny

 

[Just Chris]

This is what I'm trying to determine: does anyone have a modern 6x, how is it, and does it hold up in weather? It may be I just have to get one and beat the hell out of it to see.

I have a modern 6x Stetson Tom Mix. To be honest, I'm not overly impressed with the quality. It's stiff and heavy. Even in cool weather I find myself sweating through the felt, which developed sweat stains after only a couple wears. I don't have this problem with my Akubra Sombrero.

I haven't worn my Stetson in the rain yet.

I know it's probably not what you want to hear, but in my opinion Akubras are more comfortable and durable. Stetsons have a better finish (more velvety touch) but that's not something I really care about. Akubras are also significantly cheaper.

Worth mentioning: I live in Houston. Our winters are only slightly cooler than summer time in your parts. So you may not have the same sweating issue.

 

[glider]

When I suggested An older Stetson I was talking about a used hat. Those will say beaver. Some of the new Stetsons might say 4X , if it doesn't say fur felt it isn't. I talked to someone at Stetson just to ask them that and they admitted that if it doesn't say fur felt it isn't and if it doesn't say beaver then it has no beaver fur in the felt. Actually there is some disagreement about whether or not beaver is actually that much better than rabbit. If you want to complicate things even further, in Europe wild hare fur is used and is said to be every bit as good as beaver. I have always heard that an Akubra is the best bad weather hat available, beats me.

 

[johnnycanuck]

A Stetson 6X review from a new member.
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/new-member-to-the-hat-forum.87263/page-60#post-2842947
hope that helps
Johnny