Stetson Open Road

[rick lombardo]

Hi All:
I am fairly new to the forum, but not to wearing hats. I have a small collection(9) that I rotate during the fall winter and spring. I am looking to add an "Open Road". I just don't know how it should be worn. Is is strictly a western/cowboy hat? If not, when and where can I wear it.

Thanks

 

[Dinerman]

it can be worn as a cowboy hat if you so desire, with a cattlemans crease and the brim up. You can snap the brim down. You can rebash it into a fedora crown. It's a pretty versatile hat, and I'm sure there will be a flurry of pictures soon to follow.

 

[RBH]

Here is the first of many, Im sure.

Not that you need to see a pic of me but you can always tell more about a hat when it is on someones head.
I wear my Open Road as a fedora, with a c-crown.
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/9029/fedorarbhln1.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

good luck in your search and a big WELCOME to the Lounge!

 

[rick lombardo]

I like that.
Is Stetson the only maker of "open road"?
What distinguishes an open road from other hats?

 

[RBH]

Rick,

check this thread out if you havent already done so...

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=15566&page=2

The hat in my avatar is an Akubra Campdraft.

I got mine here...
http://shop.valleycountry.com.au/catalogue/category1/category13/category54/product334

I think the Campdraft is the closest new hat you will get to the Open Road of old. What I mean by that is that it is open crowned, and you could put the cattlemans or fedora crease in it yourself.
At one time Akubra made the Open Road hat for Stetson.

 

[rick lombardo]

[I think the Campdraft is the closest new hat you will get to the Open Road of old. What I mean by that is that it is open crowned, and you could put the cattlemans or fedora crease in it yourself.
At one time Akubra made the Open Road hat for Stetson.[/QUOTE]

I did not know Stetson contracted out some of their models.

 

[rick lombardo]

At those prices is it worth waiting for a vintage OR from Ebay??

 

[RBH]

Check out this thread on the Campdraft..
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=4726&highlight=campdraft

and yes it is worth waiting for a Open Road on the Bay. I just thought you would like to know about the Campdraft, as it is a well made fur felt fedora, that has a reasonable price tag.

Here is a closeup of my Campdraft... you can see the likeness to the Open Road.
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2299/twapin3or9.jpg" border="0" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

 

[rick lombardo]

What are the main characteristics of the open road. must it have a certain hight or length of brim? What about the shape of the crown?
Are there many knock-offs?

 

[jimmy the lid]

What are the main characteristics of the open road. must it have a certain hight or length of brim? What about the shape of the crown?
Are there many knock-offs?

Rick --

You may want to do a search using the term "Open Road" -- search titles, rather than posts. There is a wealth of information here to address your questions. A great place to start is this thread:

The Open Road Guild

Hope this helps.

 

[rick lombardo]

Great thread.Thanks and thanks to all for the info posted.
I will look for a vintage one on ebay. I have seen them in $40-$50.00
range.
Is that a fair price?
Is anyone here with an extra one to sell size 67/8 or 7 silver belly preferred?