Sunbody questions...help, please?

[H Weinstein]

Checked out some Sunbody hats while in Arizona on vacation last week. Tempted, but I'm hoping some of the Sunbody guys can answer some questions before I decide to buy.

The open-crown hats seemed very...round, rather than oval. Does anyone know how a Sunbody takes to being coaxed into a longer oval by using either/both a block or stretcher-jack? If they do OK with stretching into a better shape, do they keep that shape as fur-felt hats do, or do they tend to resume their original round-ish shape over time (especially if they're not work for a while)?

Does steaming work on Sunbodies, or does the website-suggested soaking work better for shaping or stretching?

Is there much functional difference between the standard palm and the more expensive fine palm hats?

Size: The Sunbody website says the foam-padded cotton twill sweatband tends to shrink about 1% with heat and moisture and suggests buying a hat 1 size up. I wear a 58, and a 59 I tried felt HUGE! I can't imagine it shrinking that much!! Based on your experience and how well Sunbodies do or don't take to slight stretching, do you guys order your regular size or 1 size up?

Thanks for any info and help!

 

[RJR]

I have a couple.Soaking is the way to shape/stretch.I always put a band block in mine so shrinkage has never been an issue.
They are pretty heavy but if you have handled one you know that.

 

[H Weinstein]

I have a couple.Soaking is the way to shape/stretch.I always put a band block in mine so shrinkage has never been an issue.
They are pretty heavy but if you have handled one you know that.

Are your Sunbodies 1 size up from your fur-felt hats? Or same size? Thanks!

 

[RJR]

Mine are the same.

 

[H Weinstein]

Thanks. That's helpful to know.

 

[gtdean48]

One size up for me

 

[H Weinstein]

One size up for me

Hey, gtd. Did you feel that 1-size-up was crucial to having the hat fit? Did it shrink down quickly, or did you have to put some padding in? Thanks.

 

[VetPsychWars]

After you drench it you'll find that the fit can be adjusted some.

I wore one and got caught in a torrential downpour, which soaked the hat until it was nearly mush, so I took advantage and reshaped it some. When it dried out, it kept the shape.

Tom

 

[Lando]

Soak in water for shaping. One size up, and then stuffed a little paper behind the cotton band till it shrank down some. I sweat a lot so I knew it would shrink with use lol.

The fine Palm is nice but most of mine are standard Palm. I prefer the standard Palm for the price point and that way I dont feel bad about beating on them through the hot months. Great hats for hot weather though. Yes, heavier than a panama but feel more resilient to me.

 

[gtdean48]

Hey, gtd. Did you feel that 1-size-up was crucial to having the hat fit? Did it shrink down quickly, or did you have to put some padding in? Thanks.

Mine shrunk to fit right after dunking it & shaping. Wore it wet, let it dry on my head, fits like a custom....HTH

 

[H Weinstein]

Thanks for the first-hand info, folks!

 

[tropicalbob]

I'm about to go for the three-inch standard palm (my first). Any pics of these in the wild? I don't believe I've seen any on this forum.

 

[Lando]

That's me in what was an Aussie Tear Drop hat. I played around with the brim and added a beaded band and gave it more of my flavor lol.
And that's the same hat on my son, so you can get a close up of it.

 

[tropicalbob]

Hmm, the Aussie teardrop, eh? Very nice job you did on it. Has the little guy given it back?

 

[tropicalbob]

I just ordered the hat and took the advice to order up one size. It'll be a complete novelty for me to try on a hat that's too big, as, at 7 7/8, I usually can't find any in my size. If I want it to shrink a bit, I should get it wet and wear it in the sun? I'd appreciate any advice.

 

[hatsRme]

You can simply add shims beneath the inner (sweat) band. First in the back try a (roughly) 5 inch piece, and then if more is needed, in the front. The one time I needed to do that I used thin adhesive backed foam tape, around 1/8 or 1/16 thick. I don't recommend using the adhesive, so don't remove the premask unless you are sure it needs to stay there. I have found cork shims, newspaper (1938) and paper towels folded into place for downsizing on some of the vintage lids I've come across. A simple problem, Bob. Just one you and I aren't accustomed to. Good luck, and POST a few pics!

 

[tropicalbob]

Thanks. My kid's been promising to teach the old Luddite how to post, so over the holidays I'm going to threaten him with the cutting off of funds if he doesn't.

 

[hatsRme]

Time to update, but only to "Neo-luddism," Bob. I'm with you.

 

[Landman]

I'm a little late to this thread but I'll add my two cents anyway. I'm a long oval and in between a size 59 and 60. I buy the size 60 in Open Crown Fine Guatemalan Straw. I don't completely soak it in water but run water from the shower over all parts of it until it becomes soft enough to shape. Once I have the crown and brim shaped I put it on and then conform the sweatband to my head shape. I'll wear it until it dries and the end product feels like a custom made hat. They are great hats for a very reasonable price. They are a heavier straw but I prefer that for the durability.

 

[tropicalbob]

Thanks, Landman. I was thinking of giving it a kind of Van Gogh look similar to one of his self-portraits. I also have some old ties that I might replace the ribbon with. I'm of the same mind as you with regard to the durability: I need an everyday hat that I don't need to worry about too much, especially when I go sailing.