Stetson Stratoliner Premier Open Crown

[deadlyhandsome]

Do you mean HatsDirect are no more, or the hat model is no more? HatsDirect are very definitely still around, I just placed an order with them for a bluegrass green Campdraft.

He was saying that Campdrafts from Hats Direct (The Hattery) are more expensive “more” than what Everything Australia charges.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Zoukatron]

Ah, I misread. My mistake.

 

[TunedVWGti]

Do you mean HatsDirect are no more, or the hat model is no more? HatsDirect are very definitely still around, I just placed an order with them for a bluegrass green Campdraft.

I think he means that the heritage grade moonstone CD is exclusive to hats direct?

 

[VetPsychWars]

Gadzooks.

You do not want a "soft" hat. Try pressing the "soft" had down onto your head when it's windy and it goes moosh. No thanks.

The Campdraft is cheap for a reason. The felt is cheap. The Premier Stratoliner is a much better hat. You thought the Royal Stratoliner was stiff? Seriously? You're not on drugs, are you? The Royal is a nice hat.

It's probably best that you don't get too hung up on some of the descriptions these guys are tossing at you, because they've invented a universe for themselves that doesn't always agree with the universe the rest of us live in. I, personally, own many of the same hats these guys do, in the Stetson line, the modern Royal, Royal Deluxe (Premier), and Excellent, Borsalino, Beaver Brand (RIP) and what they say and what I see and feel just ain't the same.

Call Steve (I think) at Bencraft or Jeff at Delmonico. Both of these stores stock a wide variety and these gentlemen have handled a LOT of hats over a LOT of years. Get a hat creased for you to start with. Get a hat with some stiffness to it to start with. Get a hat with a good, comfortable sweatband. Get it a little loose, the sweat tightens up as you wear it. Get a good hat brush when you buy your hat and ask how it's used.

Tom

 

[jlee562]

Point of order, any fedora style hat falls into the "soft felt" delineation in the grand scheme of things (in opposition to a "stiff felt" hat like a derby or bowler).

As far as "softness," goes I think there are two things which sometimes get conflated. There's the actual tactile feel of the fur and the pounce job, which is separate from the malleability of the felt, which I understand to correlate with the quality of the felt and the addition of shellac/stiffeners.

 

[VetPsychWars]

Jared, I agree with both of your points. The Royal's felt is not as nice as the Royal Deluxe, this is true, but from an arm's length away and for a first hat, the difference isn't significant.

The Excellent, my goodness. More, please, Stetson!

Tom

 

[Stacy Reddig]

The video you saw wasn’t by Moontheloon was it? Impressive beard, lots of hats, hat boxes, and drums? The real takeaway from Moon’s and other’s experiences is that there is little consistency in Akubra. Moon’s Silverbelly was stiff and nasty. Mine is soft to and mellow. You won’t have much of an idea of what the hat will be like until you receive it.

My Campdraft in Silverbelly:

I like the hat, but if I’m planning on wearing it I put my hat stretcher in it overnight. The leather sweat has shrunk more than I had hoped. Bummer. Akubra.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do you know just where i might be able to find one of these been looking for one for a long time

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Do you know just where i might be able to find one of these been looking for one for a long time

If you’re looking for an Akubra Campdraft in silverbelly they aren’t hard to find but you’ll wait a couple weeks or more for shipping.

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

https://hatsdirect.com/collections/the-akubra-range-1/products/campdraft-open-crown

They’re great hats. Post photos when you get yours!

 

[Paul Trumbull]

Good looking,the color is good.

I just bought the Premier Stratoliner in Silverbelly from Delmonico. They said it will take 6 weeks which is fine with me. This is a silly question, but I am curious. Is the Stratoliner pin on your Premier Strat sterling silver? I thought I read somewhere that it is.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Jared, I agree with both of your points. The Royal's felt is not as nice as the Royal Deluxe, this is true, but from an arm's length away and for a first hat, the difference isn't significant.

The Excellent, my goodness. More, please, Stetson!

Tom

If the Excellent Stratoliner had sold well Stetson would not have discontinued it. There just aren’t that many people willing to pay that price. Big manufacturers require volume for the economy of scale to make lines profitable.

I’m also hesitant to spend more for a mass produced hat than what a custom hatter would charge me, and I’d get a better hat in the process. I’m hoping to find an excellent on the secondary market at a decent price, but they are rare birds. The Premier (Royal DeLuxe) Line of hats are very nice and heads and shoulders above the Royal hats.

 

[Frunobulax]

If the Excellent Stratoliner had sold well Stetson would not have discontinued it. There just aren’t that many people willing to pay that price. Big manufacturers require volume for the economy of scale to make lines profitable.

I’m also hesitant to spend more for a mass produced hat than what a custom hatter would charge me, and I’d get a better hat in the process. I’m hoping to find an excellent on the secondary market at a decent price, but they are rare birds. The Premier (Royal DeLuxe) Line of hats are very nice and heads and shoulders above the Royal hats.

I lucked out getting mine from the Garland outlet. Keep trying, one will turn up.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Paul Trumbull]

If the Excellent Stratoliner had sold well Stetson would not have discontinued it. There just aren’t that many people willing to pay that price. Big manufacturers require volume for the economy of scale to make lines profitable.

I’m also hesitant to spend more for a mass produced hat than what a custom hatter would charge me, and I’d get a better hat in the process. I’m hoping to find an excellent on the secondary market at a decent price, but they are rare birds. The Premier (Royal DeLuxe) Line of hats are very nice and heads and shoulders above the Royal hats.

What's the "Excellent" Stratoliner? was it a superlative version? How much different was it? can't find it online. What did it retail for?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

What's the "Excellent" Stratoliner? was it a superlative version? How much different was it? can't find it online. What did it retail for?

The Excellent Stratoliner came and went very quickly and relatively few were made. They were a 100% beaver fur felt like the other hats in the Excellent line. The Premier is rabbit fur felt.

 

[Frunobulax]

What's the "Excellent" Stratoliner? was it a superlative version? How much different was it? can't find it online. What did it retail for?

Stetson bas three quality designations for its felt hats (if you don't count "wool"). Royal, Royal Deluxe, and Excellent. These designations were "revived" by Matt Deckard during his years there. Very few items are offered in Excellent. I believe the Strat was the first offered in maybe 2011. Others have included the New Yorker LE, and the Temple. There are two threads on the FL you may want to look at (on phone, sorry no linky),

"Stetson Excellent Quality thin ribbon," and "Hatco catalog." Thread titles approximated.

To my knowledge, other than the advertised 100% Beaver Pinnacle, Stetson (or Hatco) does not divulge the felt content of their hats. One would think there would be more Beaver in an Excellent, but only Stetson knows the mix, if any. It does seem to be finished to a higher quality.

However, consensus is the Royal Quality contains a significant amount of dryer lint.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[M Hatman]

However, consensus is the Royal Quality contains a significant amount of dryer lint.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Stetson bas three quality designations for its felt hats (if you don't count "wool"). Royal, Royal Deluxe, and Excellent. These designations were "revived" by Matt Deckard during his years there. Very few items are offered in Excellent. I believe the Strat was the first offered in maybe 2011. Others have included the New Yorker LE, and the Temple. There are two threads on the FL you may want to look at (on phone, sorry no linky),

"Stetson Excellent Quality thin ribbon," and "Hatco catalog." Thread titles approximated.

To my knowledge, other than the advertised 100% Beaver Pinnacle, Stetson (or Hatco) does not divulge the felt content of their hats. One would think there would be more Beaver in an Excellent, but only Stetson knows the mix, if any. It does seem to be finished to a higher quality.

However, consensus is the Royal Quality contains a significant amount of dryer lint.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

Agreed, particularly with the dryer lint comment! I’m still laughing.

I have two New York LE hats where the sweat is stamped 100% Beaver.
Brent

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Stetson bas three quality designations for its felt hats (if you don't count "wool"). Royal, Royal Deluxe, and Excellent. These designations were "revived" by Matt Deckard during his years there. Very few items are offered in Excellent. I believe the Strat was the first offered in maybe 2011. Others have included the New Yorker LE, and the Temple. There are two threads on the FL you may want to look at (on phone, sorry no linky),

"Stetson Excellent Quality thin ribbon," and "Hatco catalog." Thread titles approximated.

To my knowledge, other than the advertised 100% Beaver Pinnacle, Stetson (or Hatco) does not divulge the felt content of their hats. One would think there would be more Beaver in an Excellent, but only Stetson knows the mix, if any. It does seem to be finished to a higher quality.

However, consensus is the Royal Quality contains a significant amount of dryer lint.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

New York LE:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Frunobulax]

New York LE:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I just saw that posted in the New Hats thread. So there's a second example. I only have one Excellent, a Strat, and it says nothing about content on it. However, I think it's reasonable to assume it may be all beaver, as well.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I just saw that posted in the New Hats thread. So there's a second example. I only have one Excellent, a Strat, and it says nothing about content on it. However, I think it's reasonable to assume it may be all beaver, as well.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

I made the same assumption that all the Excellent hats were pure beaver. Only Stetson knows and I don’t think they’ll be telling us any time soon.

 

[Frunobulax]

I made the same assumption that all the Excellent hats were pure beaver. Only Stetson knows and I don’t think they’ll be telling us any time soon.

True dat.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.