The Stratoliner Appreciation Club {MODERN}

[Michael R.]

The 2016 Fall Catalog looks Great . I particularly like that Stetsonian (Like Robert's Tawny) , it's SWEET ! Nice New Colors added to the Strats , too , The Premier Strats open crown . I just would like a little taller crown like the Stetsonian - 6" open crown as opposed to 5 1/2" for the Frankennoggins among us .

 

[moontheloon]

The 2016 Fall Catalog looks Great . I particularly like that Stetsonian (Like Robert's Tawny) , it's SWEET ! Nice New Colors added to the Strats , too , The Premier Strats open crown . I just would like a little taller crown like the Stetsonian - 6" open crown as opposed to 5 1/2" for the Frankennoggins among us .

it's amazing the versatility of a bash that the 1/2" gives you ... or even a little less

I have a few vintage strats that are around the 5 3/4 or a hair more range ... and even that gives you worlds more to work with

 

[LuvMyMan]

it's amazing the versatility of a bash that the 1/2" gives you ... or even a little less

I have a few vintage strats that are around the 5 3/4 or a hair more range ... and even that gives you worlds more to work with

Some of those "stagecoach" resistols have those nose bleed high crowns...elevator up! I have one four inch wide straw that is about 6 1/4 or so tall....wanting to get it "fedoraised" and get rid of the Gus bash and a bit off the brim. It just does not look right on Daniel the way it is now.

 

[Michael R.]

There are So Many options in Straws , dressy , and real out in the frying sun shade hats like the Sunbody Hats out of Houston . They may not be dressy , but they serve the purpose . But a nice Dressy Panama , or Hemp (I love them) sure look Good .

 

[RJR]

I've become very fond of PB hemps.

 

[Michael R.]

From a Few Weeks ago , after I got it , no steam , really soft , no quality issues at all , Cornhill Strat ... Premier Quality ...

 

[safetyfast]

From a Few Weeks ago , after I got it , no steam , really soft , no quality issues at all , Cornhill Strat ... Premier Quality ...

View attachment 50978

I love mine as well. Very nice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[DavidVillaJr]

Questions for the modern production Stratoliner Appreciators

Is the modern production Stratoliner, soft-ish, with a pliable-ish brim or is is stiff and cardboard-y?

How's the fit, is a 7 3/8 really a 7 3/8 or is it more like a 7 5/16?

The reviews I've read say the hat is soft, but are they talking pliability or just the velvety feel of the felt?

Or maybe, which grades are stiff and which are more flex-y?

I made the mistake of watching The Aviator and now I keep looking at them online and getting antsy about adding a new hat to the stable.

I know stylistically there are differences in crown height, brim width and the shaping, but I'm not having vintage luck, so I'm looking at modern production.

I own a modern production Open Road and am happy with it, despite the stiffness of the crown and brim.

I also own a Nostalgia which is soft-ish, steamable and moldable and the brim is flexible, but almost too floppy.

The Open Road is a 7 3/8 but fits just a tiny bit snug.

The Nostalgia is the same and fits really loose.

Knowing the vagaries of production, is the Stratoliner 7 3/8 genuine, or should I go up to a 7 1/2?

Thanks in advance.

dv

ps - I read the whole thread (sans pictures - thanks workplace!) and my head is now swimming...in hat-thoughts

 

[Monavillecowboy]

The Strato is much softer and more pliable than the OR.
Sizing is a bit more complicated.
A size is a 3/8" range and any hat within that range is that size.
A 7 3/8 e.g. is anywhere from about 23" to 23 3/8".
You can go to any store and grab 3 identical hats of the same size and chances are that each will fit quite differently.
Many folks consider a hat to be "true to size" if it fits them, not realizing that others with different head measurements wear the same size.
Each thinks theirs is the one that is "true to size" when in fact they all are.

 

[moontheloon]

I own 3 modern Strats ... 2 Premier and 1 Excellent

all fit true to size
all are very soft and pliable
very nice modern hats ... I really like them

stay away from the Royal because frankly they are hot garbage

 

[Michael R.]

I think the Premier is called Stetson Royal Premier Stratoliner , but I could be wrong . Mine is a Premier and its definitely soft , not mush , but no where near western felt or the standard version . I can't imagine an Excellent .

 

[DavidVillaJr]

The felt question was the biggie, I'd like a softer hat.

I can dig the size discrepancy - I might just go for it regardless.

I've got my eye on one in particular online, premiere felt and in my size.

So very, very tempted.

Thanks for the input, gentlemen.

dv

 

[Monavillecowboy]

I think the Premier is called Stetson Royal Premier Stratoliner , but I could be wrong . Mine is a Premier and its definitely soft , not mush , but no where near western felt or the standard version . I can't imagine an Excellent .

The Premier is a Royal Deluxe quality hat.
The Stetson Excellent quality are now their 100% beaver hats.
There is nothing in the catalog about an Excellent Stratoliner these days.

 

[Michael R.]

The Premier is a Royal Deluxe quality hat.
The Stetson Excellent quality are now their 100% beaver hats.
There is nothing in the catalog about an Excellent Stratoliner these days.

Thanks Mike !

 

[SurfGent]

Special edition Sage with brown trim

 

[SurfGent]

This was my silverbelly one. One day I had my girlfriend make a custom ribbon for.

 

[SurfGent]

I guess it looks more like a Whippet now but I like it

 

[SurfGent]

I have 8 of them. one on every color, 3 Milan straw. Just need a blue one that they came out with this year. They have the graphite premier but I don't think I'm gonna get that one due to price and it's close to my black one anyway

 

[DavidVillaJr]

I own 3 modern Strats ... 2 Premier and 1 Excellent

all fit true to size

That's good to know.

I'm almost a perfect 7 3/8 in vintage hats, Dobbs especially, do you find these moderns fit similarly to the oldies?

 

[SurfGent]

I'm a 7 3/4 but the 7 5/8 seems to be my size in strats.