It seems to have acquired a bit of a tan over the years.
To my mind the brim curl gives it a hint of a "sombrero" look, but I like it that way and I think it really suits you. Looks like it's in really good condition; I wouldn't even have noticed the "small flaws in the brim edge" if you hadn't mentioned them, and even after it made no difference. Nice!
Excellent choice. I have one of the "Outlaw" hats. It has become my favorite summer hat. It's a little on the heavy side, but I love how it looks.I am getting ready for summer in the Deep South. I have a nice Panama hat but I came across the Sunbody's today and I ordered one that I like the look of and it appears to be named after someone on the site. RB Hathcock?
Yes tip a hat to RBH, our hat section bartender.
I remember when this style came up. One of the custom hat makers from the Midwest said the most common work he did was reshaping Stetson Open roads to have the Gus crease. Looks good.I am getting ready for summer in the Deep South. I have a nice Panama hat but I came across the Sunbody's today and I ordered one that I like the look of and it appears to be named after someone on the site. RB Hathcock?
Its got me curious too. Reshaping requires soaking the straw, so I wonder if these hats aren't very water friendly? It also mentions that there's a wire for shaping the brim. That also makes me think that changing the crown may affect the integrity of the straw and crown structure, or being able to truly rid the hat of its previous crease. Kind of like trying to recrease a factory creased fur hat.
@johnnycanuck I came across these yesterday online and was happy to see a thread here on them. I read through the thread last night and people that have them(Sunbody hats) seem to like them and say they are great in the rain which is important where I live. After seeing some of the people that posted in the thread who are serious about hats saying they were decent hats I decided to give one a try. I saw a couple of Akubra owners relate them to Akubra's as being a quality product for the money. Can't wait to get it and give it a whirl.
There's only one thing I don't like--it isn't mine.Got the Sunbody today in the mail. Added a beaded hatband to spice it up a little.
I like it so far. I think it will tighten up a little and there is just enough room for that. I think this will get a lot of wear this summer even with shorts and t-shirts and flip flops.
Nice!
Thanks Al. it will soon be time to put it into service.There's only one thing I don't like--it isn't mine.
Nice hat! It will wear a little heavy in the summer months, but it's good to soak and throw on your head to cool off. It's also nice that you can change the bash and brim shape with ease if you ever want to try something different. I have a band that is very similar for my Sunbody that I bought from local Navajo in Monument Valley. It is shown in my profile pic.Got the Sunbody today in the mail. Added a beaded hatband to spice it up a little.
I like it so far. I think it will tighten up a little and there is just enough room for that. I think this will get a lot of wear this summer even with shorts and t-shirts and flip flops.
Not soon enough!
Gustin Vintage Heavyweight Sweatshirt - Natural Rainbow Nep - $119 Rugged 14oz cotton that gets better with every wear. 
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - #395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. 
Himel Bros. - The Ross Mk. 1 Leather Jacket Classic D-pocket motorcycle/aviator style jacket. 
Got the Sunbody today in the mail. Added a beaded hatband to spice it up a little.
I like it so far. I think it will tighten up a little and there is just enough room for that. I think this will get a lot of wear this summer even with shorts and t-shirts and flip flops.
Thanks Eric. That looks like a nice one.Kicking summer hat! The beaded band does add eye appeal.
I have had one on order for a few weeks. My neighborhood does get a warm season, just a bit later than many of our southern Forum members. This hat, like ETB's, is a 2.5" brim. I have a 3" brim and used it hard last summer. It worked like a champ. I am hoping this smaller brimmed hat will not show as much brim distortion with hard wear.
Excellent hat ETB.
Last summers hat pic.
Eric -
Wow Eric! You made that into an awesome hat. The shape and the band look really good on the oak color.Good afternoon. Before heading to work I submerged my new Sunbody fedora into 5 gallons of water. I purchased the 2.5" brim oak-colored teardrop Sunbody Hat (https://www.sunbody.com/index.cfm/product/428_6/2-12-inch-brim-oak-colored-tear-drop.cfm) . The hat shipped ASAP and arrived during a snowstorm last month. I did not take a pic of the new hat, but here is a pic from the Sunbody website of same hat.
I came home to find that the hat was ready for some shaping. As you can see from the pics I gave the hat a light teardrop with a bit of a tugboat (rake from front to back). The soaking wet palm weighed a LOT more than light, but was ready to take on the shape.
The brim I molded by hand also. The brim shape I made into a gentle snap brim not reducing the back brim's sun protection much.
Since my head is not the same shape as the purchased hat, I have been wearing the hat around and letting it take my heads shape as it continues to dry.
The Sunbody hats are dynamite warm-weather or work hats. I am reminded of the Timex advertisements of old, "they take a licking and keep on ticking." My experience is the same with the Sunbody palm leaf hats.
The band is an addition. The black bands get water logged and slip, slid around.
I add a note of caution for folks picking up the oak colored palm leaf hats - a lot of "oak color" came out in the water. I rinsed the hat a long while under the hose. I have no idea if the color would come out during use or stain clothing. Caution tells me to rinse hard and avoid answering the stain question.
Today will be the first mid 70'f day of the year. My hat is drying on my head and will be ready.
Cheers, Eric -
