Straw hats: Milano, Akubra....etc

[Edward]

Looking to pick up a couple more straw type hats to broaden my range of brimmed hats in these months when felt is most often too warm for me. In particular, I'm looking for non-Panama, Milano types.... I have a couple of Panamas allready, will probably pick up a couple more soon, but I'm inclined to look to Milanos first, as I believe that they will hold up in the rain(?). I shall certainly be looking into a couple of Akubra's polystraw Capricorn models. Any recommendations on others? I see the Akubra Balmoral, is that a Milano? Can't quite tell from the photos online....

Also interested in a couple of Homberg-style Milanos; any recommendations on where I might find those (ideally, I'd like one of these in natural, black and a brown, maybe)?

 

[AlterEgo]

The Balmoral is constructed of hemp. There's a few comments about it on the Akubra Hemp Range thread, where yesterday I posted a complete review of the latter hat, including an in-depth critique of this straw material.

Milano is a specific type of straw, but vendors are fast and loose with this term, so you may not be getting the real Milano McCoy.

When it comes to rain worthiness of any straw, including Milano, I've never seen a vendor come right out and say, "Sure, wear this hat in the rain all you want. It won't hurt it one bit." Even those selling straws treated with water repellant have caveats.

Even so, I'm going to treat my new Range with Scotchguard and boldy wear it into a storm to see what happens. I'll keep you posted as soon as one blows up.

 

[Edward]

Cool, thanks - I'll check that other thread out too. I'm not so much looking for a straw I can deliberately wear in the rain, as one that won't disintegrate if the weather turns on me suddenly.... lol Definitely interested to hear how your experiment turns out, though... Once it hits this time of year, even in the wet a fur felt fedora can be too much.

I cracked yesterday and ordered a couple of Akubra Capricorns from everything Australian - one in fawn, the other in grey. I'm hoping they send thed fanw on directly, as while it's in stock, there's a three month waiting list for the grey.... Still, notably cheaper than anywhere else I could find them selling, so.

 

[Methuselah]

You want a cheap, quick fix?

Debenhams have this one on sale at £12.80

I got one last year for a tenner, and use it for my hiking hat, just replaced the horrid ribbon and it was sorted.

EDIT: living in Manchester requires some degree of rain resistance, those Capricorns would be my ideal but weren't available in 62cms size.

 

[daizawaguy]

DOBBS NAPLES Sir...$70. A cheap, quick fix. I`m looking at one of these myself...a real Milan...

 

[Edward]

Methuselah, I might look into that, thanks... I'm feeling the need to have a few Summer hats, I get so bored wearing one of two Panamas pretty much all Summer.... have some great cotton caps, but, y'know, times you just need a brimmed lid... You don't know offhand what those Debenhams models are made from? I saw some great looking, inexpensive hats which were similar up Portobello road the other weekend, but they were all labelled as being made from paper, which made me think they'd be even worse than a panama in the rain!

DOBBS NAPLES Sir...$70. A cheap, quick fix. I`m looking at one of these myself...a real Milan...

Not as cheap as it used to be (lousy weak pound!), but I'll have a looksee at that too... cheers!

 

[Methuselah]

Doh! Sorry, that's why I posted in the first place - it's woven polyester, and does hold up to wind & rain OK - it survived 150 miles of the South Wales costal path in May.

I know this isn't authentic or classy - but I like hats that are available on the high street for a tenner or less, very handy.

EDIT: or should that be 'heady'?

 

[skyvue]

Sunbody straws hold up in the rain, and the makers come right out and say it.

 

[Chuck Bobuck]

...

I cracked yesterday and ordered a couple of Akubra Capricorns from everything Australian - one in fawn, the other in grey. I'm hoping they send thed fanw on directly, as while it's in stock, there's a three month waiting list for the grey.... Still, notably cheaper than anywhere else I could find them selling, so.

You're going to like the Capricorn Edward. I'd like to get the grey one sometime too. I almost feel I should only get one in addition to a felt due to the shipping. Love the avitar.

 

[RobFedoraField]

hear hear!

You're going to like the Capricorn Edward. I'd like to get the grey one sometime too. I almost feel I should only get one in addition to a felt due to the shipping. Love the avitar.

I have 3 of the "poly" straws and absolutely love them. they're pert-near indestructible.

with shipping costing a 1/3rd of the capricorn it doesn't make sense to buy just one!

 

[SunbodyNoah]

Sunbody straws hold up in the rain, and the makers come right out and say it.

I'm not trying to shill for our company here - but I can verify this claim our Guatemalan Palm Leafs (product code starts with "HG" are designed to be worn in the rain. They will absorb a bit of water, but they'll hold up just fine and can be dried out. They aren't treated with any sort of water proofing or scotch guard, it's a quality of the fibers used to make the hat.

 

[Quigley Brown]

Maybe look at Biltmore Milans.