THE SUNBODY ASSOCIATION

[deadlyhandsome]

Oh, not at all. I don't think I did, anyway. Once again, I agree with you--the perfect tool for each job. I like my boonie hat, but I wouldn't wear it to a wedding or a job interview or any other event that required "dressy" attire any more than I'd wear a suit and tie to do yardwork or crawl under my truck to change the oil. I suppose I'd put my Sunbody hat in the same category--wonderful hat, great for casual occasions, but not quite "polished" enough for anything more formal.

Perfectly stated.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

It’s now May and here in California we have sadly already broken into the 90 degree days.

I just ordered a 2.5” brimmed SunBody oak fedora from One 2 Mini Ranch who has them on sale and with free shipping. While I await the new hat I did some yard work in last years 3” brim fine palm in natural:

If only SunBody would add another half inch to the crown and block them without taper....


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[Zombie_61]

...If only SunBody would add another half inch to the crown and block them without taper...

If I had any real complaints about my Sunbody hat, these would be it. I don't mind the crown height so much because I don't care for overly tall crowns, but I do wish it had less taper; preferably none at all. That said, it's really a very minor quibble and I've enjoyed wearing my Sunbody when the temperatures call for it. The weather monkeys are predicting temps in the high-80s to low-90s (°F) here for this coming weekend, so I'm sure I'll get more use out of it very soon.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

If I had any real complaints about my Sunbody hat, these would be it. I don't mind the crown height so much because I don't care for overly tall crowns, but I do wish it had less taper; preferably none at all. That said, it's really a very minor quibble and I've enjoyed wearing my Sunbody when the temperatures call for it. The weather monkeys are predicting temps in the high-80s to low-90s (°F) here for this coming weekend, so I'm sure I'll get more use out of it very soon.

It’s such a forgiving material; makes me wonder how it would take to being reblocked? I won’t get any extra crown height but my block will take all the taper out of it. Hmmmm

 

[Zombie_61]

It’s such a forgiving material; makes me wonder how it would take to being reblocked? I won’t get any extra crown height but my block will take all the taper out of it. Hmmmm

Without contacting Sunbody to ask their opinion(s) on the matter, there's only one way to find out.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Without contacting Sunbody to ask their opinion(s) on the matter, there's only one way to find out.

Way ahead of you. I started soaking the hat as soon as I wrote the last message. I’ve always been...impetuous. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

By the way, asking SunBody is too similar to reading the instructions; and that’s something I never do.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

My reblocking didn’t work so well. I soaked (submerged) the hat for over an hour. It was a tough sucker to get onto the block and then it only went about 3/4 of the way. No damage done, but not much better either. I guess it is what it is and I’ll leave it there.
Brent

 

[Zombie_61]

My reblocking didn’t work so well. I soaked (submerged) the hat for over an hour. It was a tough sucker to get onto the block and then it only went about 3/4 of the way. No damage done, but not much better either. I guess it is what it is and I’ll leave it there.
Brent

I guess there's only so much you can do with palm leaves once they've been woven into a hat. It doesn't sound like you damaged it, so that's a good thing.

 

[Telemaster]

I want to order a sunbody to pick up when I’m in the states in about a week. I’m torn between the oak 2.5 inch and the outlaw. I really like the freaky hybrid of the Outlaw... am curious if it could take a cattleman crease well. The Oak fedora looks like you could do anything you want with it.... and the darker natural color is very appealing to me as well. I expressed this dilemma to my wife in the (vain) hope that she’d suggest I just get both. This did not happen.

 

[RBH]

For some reason i like the Outlaw myself!

 

[Telemaster]

Yeah. If it was also in the unbleached oak color that would be even better.

 

[Zombie_61]

I want to order a sunbody to pick up when I’m in the states in about a week. I’m torn between the oak 2.5 inch and the outlaw. I really like the freaky hybrid of the Outlaw... am curious if it could take a cattleman crease well. The Oak fedora looks like you could do anything you want with it.... and the darker natural color is very appealing to me as well. I expressed this dilemma to my wife in the (vain) hope that she’d suggest I just get both. This did not happen.

Based on my experience shaping my own "Oak 2.5 inch", I'm pretty sure you could give the Outlaw a Cattleman crease without too much effort; these palm leaves are surprisingly malleable once they're good and wet. But this is my first straw hat and all I really did was refine the crease and brim shape on the hat I received, so I'm far from experienced and could be completely wrong. Sunbody seems to be willing to accommodate reasonable requests, so you might contact them in advance to see if they'd be willing to re-crease the Outlaw for you; the worst that can happen is they'll say "No".

With regards to the colors I do like my "Oak" hat, but without it having that "white/bleached" appearance it brings to my mind those cheap wide-brimmed straw hats you'd find in gardening/hardware stores. I wear my hats casually so that's fine for me, but I don't consider it appropriate for "dressy" occasions.

That being said, if you like the Outlaw that much I'd say get the Outlaw. I think the Oak 2.5 Inch is a great hat, but it's really a fedora and probably wouldn't "scratch that itch" the way the Outlaw would.

 

[tropicalbob]

I want to order a sunbody to pick up when I’m in the states in about a week. I’m torn between the oak 2.5 inch and the outlaw. I really like the freaky hybrid of the Outlaw... am curious if it could take a cattleman crease well. The Oak fedora looks like you could do anything you want with it.... and the darker natural color is very appealing to me as well. I expressed this dilemma to my wife in the (vain) hope that she’d suggest I just get both. This did not happen.

If you go back through this thread I think you'll see how accommodating Sunbody is for their customers. I'd definitely follow Zombie's advice and give them a call, stating exactly what you'd really like. I was really bowled over by how helpful they were and pleasant to deal with.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I want to order a sunbody to pick up when I’m in the states in about a week. I’m torn between the oak 2.5 inch and the outlaw. I really like the freaky hybrid of the Outlaw... am curious if it could take a cattleman crease well. The Oak fedora looks like you could do anything you want with it.... and the darker natural color is very appealing to me as well. I expressed this dilemma to my wife in the (vain) hope that she’d suggest I just get both. This did not happen.

I just received my 2.5” Oak, but I like the outlaw a lot.


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[deadlyhandsome]

Based on my experience shaping my own "Oak 2.5 inch", I'm pretty sure you could give the Outlaw a Cattleman crease without too much effort; these palm leaves are surprisingly malleable once they're good and wet. But this is my first straw hat and all I really did was refine the crease and brim shape on the hat I received, so I'm far from experienced and could be completely wrong. Sunbody seems to be willing to accommodate reasonable requests, so you might contact them in advance to see if they'd be willing to re-crease the Outlaw for you; the worst that can happen is they'll say "No".

With regards to the colors I do like my "Oak" hat, but without it having that "white/bleached" appearance it brings to my mind those cheap wide-brimmed straw hats you'd find in gardening/hardware stores. I wear my hats casually so that's fine for me, but I don't consider it appropriate for "dressy" occasions.

That being said, if you like the Outlaw that much I'd say get the Outlaw. I think the Oak 2.5 Inch is a great hat, but it's really a fedora and probably wouldn't "scratch that itch" the way the Outlaw would.

You can shape the hat anyway you want as long as you don’t try to expand it beyond its original dimensions. It will take a cattleman’s crease with ease...shocking how easily these hats can be shaped. My only concern is if the crown is high enough to give you the look you’re after.


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[deadlyhandsome]

The oak color is meaningfully, but not strikingly, darker than the standard color. The standard is not a bleach white either (some yellow and tan in there). My 2.5” Oak has a taller crown and I think that makes more of a difference to me than the color.

Oak is on top.




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[Telemaster]

Thanks for the input guys. My weak / devious mind is still working on the “how can I make both happen.” Question.

 

[Zombie_61]

Thanks for the input guys. My weak / devious mind is still working on the “how can I make both happen.” Question.

That happens a lot around here.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Thanks for the input guys. My weak / devious mind is still working on the “how can I make both happen.” Question.

Life gets simpler when you give in and listen to the hat devil whispering in your ear. Is your 401K really all that important?


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[Telemaster]

Back in the either / or world (which may unfortunately be where I live... for now) a strong argument for the oak is that one2miniranch doesn’t carry the outlaw...