What are the lightest vintage felt hats out there?

[Levallois]

Looking off in the distance, I can see summer looming and I'd like to buy a lighter felt vintage hat. I already have some straws but would like to wear vintage felt once in a while even with the higher temperatures. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!


John

 

[John in Covina]

I don't know that much about the variety of vintage thin felts that were made by the hat makers.

BUT one of the things that some people continue to do is remove the liner from the inside of the fedora. Taking out this inter-layer allows more heat to radiate through the body of the hat, (So they say.)

Another is that in some older felt hats the maker put in a pattern of small holes on the sides to act as venting.

I just like to add that most felt cowboy hats are pretty darn thick but they still get worn in the hot weather.

 

[Dinerman]

Keep an eye out for a:

Stetson Air-lite
Stetson Zephyr Weight
Dobbs Cross Country

 

[Fletch]

Champ Featherweight

 

[kaosharper1]

I have a Dobbs 20 that's so thin its hardly there.

 

[fedoralover]

I have a dobbs that has stamped on the sweatband "Dobbs 2 Ouncer" I put it on a scales and sure enough, it weighed 2 ounces. Thats fairly light.

fedoralover

 

[Levallois]

Thanks folks - as usual the FL community is the best!

John

 

[ejbhats]

Portis "Tissue Weights", are great lightweight felt hats. Very comfortable to wear.

 

[tonyb]

I got a vintage Stetson Playboy and a Dobbs Cross Country, both of which are relatively lightweight lids.

I suspect the reason we see so few of them these days is because the thinner felt wore through at the pinch quicker than the heavier felts. They also tended to be in the more casual styles, which likely meant they were more of an "everyday" hat than their dressier counterparts, which, following these perhaps dubious assumptions, means they saw more wear, which wore them out faster.[huh]

 

[Rick Blaine]

Dobbs "Hankachif" felt:

 

[Brad Bowers]

Dobbs Gay Prince, at least in the '40s, is a lightweight felt.

Brad

 

[ejbhats]

Dobbs Gay Prince, at least in the '40s, is a lightweight felt.

Brad

I second that! They are suedey, light and oh so comfy. Stetson, Vita-Felts are another.

 

[hatophile]

I got a vintage Stetson Playboy and a Dobbs Cross Country, both of which are relatively lightweight lids.

I suspect the reason we see so few of them these days is because the thinner felt wore through at the pinch quicker than the heavier felts. They also tended to be in the more casual styles, which likely meant they were more of an "everyday" hat than their dressier counterparts, which, following these perhaps dubious assumptions, means they saw more wear, which wore them out faster.[huh]

I second the Playboy.

 

[facade]

I just picked up a Disney "Wispabout" at an antique show in NYC. I guess that's Disney's version of the light weight because it's definitely a summer weight hat.

 

[ejbhats]

I just picked up a Disney "Wispabout" at an antique show in NYC. I guess that's Disney's version of the light weight because it's definitely a summer weight hat.

I'd love to see a pic of that hat!

 

[facade]

I'd love to see a pic of that hat!

Here you go:

Nice hat but has some insect damage and I'm still working on the cleaning process. But for $40 I think it will make a good summer beater.

 

[Levallois]

Very nice looking hat. Thanks!

 

[ejbhats]

Very nice looking Disney. Ya know... if you ever wanna... well, trade that old clunker in on a newer model, I'd be happy to help ya out!

I have a 1948 Packard with a few issues too, but it's got a great hood ornament.

 

[hatophile]

Here you go:

Nice hat but has some insect damage and I'm still working on the cleaning process. But for $40 I think it will make a good summer beater.

Nice hat!

 

[facade]

Very nice looking Disney. Ya know... if you ever wanna... well, trade that old clunker in on a newer model, I'd be happy to help ya out!

I have a 1948 Packard with a few issues too, but it's got a great hood ornament.

Sorry, in '48, I prefer the Cadillac or the Buick Roadmaster.