Where do you all order your Akubras?

[rebelgtp]

Hey guys I was wondering where you all get your Akubras? I have dealt with Hats Direct before and always had great luck, but there selection is kinda limited at the moment it seems. I'm looking for something that would be more of one of their "country" hats for wearing in the field (when I want something more sturdy than my Sunbody).

So where are you all getting them? What places have the best service? I have about a month or so before I'm out in the field again so preferably places that keep things in stock and ship quickly.

Also what model hats would you all suggest with say a minimum 4 inch bashed crown and 3-4 inch brim? I like the look of the "bushman" on David Morgans site but $120 seems a bit steep considering the prices you can get with the low Aussie dollar now days.

 

[gtdean48]

I've ordered 3 from Everything Australian, since I really didn't care about the wait. I've ordered 1 from Hats Direct, since I said I would if they could get Akubra to make a run of a discontinued color. Only received notice that the HD order is in stock & shipping soon. Sam at EA has been more than helpful via email but hats are not in from Akubra as far as I know. HTH...

 

[Goose.]

I picked up my first two Akubras before Al Gore invented the internet...well, before it really ballooned to be the marketplace it is now. Both while in Reddng, CA. One, a MIA black Akubra with a leather band and white liner (wish I had more to describe it my lost lid ) That store closed shortly afterwards (poor location). The other, my old trusty charcoal Sydney from a Australian Outlet store that opened there near the interstate.

Now to cyber-days...
Sydney from David Morgan (received in less than a week).
Casual from Hats Direct (about a week to receive)
Federation IV Deluxe and Hampton from Hats Direct (ship notice two weeks ago)
Capricorn from Everything Australian (ship notice received about 10 days ago)


If you need a quick fix to get that Akubra monkey off your back, for "instant gratification", David Morgan is the way to go.


Note: Sam at EA is nothing less than fantastic in communcation and helping me. I wanted a grey Capricorn but there'd be a wait. So, I ordered a Fawn. The day after that I asked Sam about how to get wait listed or notified about the grey Capricorn coming in.
His reply was to the point, "don't worry it. I ordered your 60 Grey Capricorn already" Pretty cool especially since this was my first order from EA...not like he thought he had to do anything for a "long-term customer"...but I will be one now. All things being equal, if EA has it in stock, I'm ordering from Everything Australian.

 

[Doctor Strange]

Federation - Hats Direct, of course. You know what they're like.

Cattleman and Stockman - Aussie Bush Hats and Oilskins. The Cattleman was a stock color and came in under two weeks; the (Glen Grey) Stockman was a special order and took a little under three months.

Stylemaster - Everything Australian. Ordered on 1/23, but grey was out of stock. It finally shipped about 8 days ago, so I'm hoping it will be in tomorrow's mail. (Note that my stupid work email system LOST their original message telling me that it would be delayed; Sam has since been as nice as possible in all subsequent correpsondence.)

Bogart - Hats By The Hundred. A total disaster from start to finish... when they finally shipped me a black hat rather than the custom grey-with-black-ribbon I had waited 13 weeks for... and then they refused to admit their mistake! AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

 

[jec]

I have also ordered from Everything Australian and have been pleased with Sam's responsiveness and service. EA and HD do not stock all of the same hats, so you may have to find the hat and color that you want, rather than choosing the retailer. The prices at EA tend to run less than those at HD, which is why I chose to order there.

As for a wide-brimmed field hat, I wear an 'Angler' that I like a lot. The brim on the Angler is just shy of 3". I also have a Cattleman, which has a wider brim (3 1/4") - and looks silly on me, but a larger guy could surely pull it off.. Both are great field hats. Both have vent holes. My Cattleman is not lined (I think some might be, depending on where you order from).

THere are so many similarly styled wide-brimmed hats that Akubra makes, I am sure you could find one in stock at either EA or HD. Shipping from Australia to NY for me took just over 2 weeks last November.

Good luck

 

[kaosharper1]

Hey guys I was wondering where you all get your Akubras? I have dealt with Hats Direct before and always had great luck, but there selection is kinda limited at the moment it seems.

You should email them too. They have a lot of stuff that's not listed on the web site.

 

[xigxag]

4 stylemasters at EA (2 on wait).
1 fedora at EA (on wait)
2 Federation Deluxe iV at Hats Direct.

 

[gtdean48]

Another tidbit... I saw a hat on Akubra's site that was not on HD or EA sites, so I emailed Sam at EA if he could get it & he said of course. He got me to order another model that was same price & put the actual model in the special comments section.
My first Akubra actually was purchased in Australia by my mother when she was touring New Zealand & Oz. I still hear about her hauling that lid all over the place & that was over 15 years ago. I also have a Riverina that I bought from a US outfitter but can't recall which one, Cabelas, SportsmansGuide, Gander Mtn, etc.

 

[HamletJSD]

Ebay can be a good source, too ... depends what you're looking for.

 

[rebelgtp]

Thanks for the advice guys, Everything Australian is great, I love the fact they list the brim and crown height. I'm looking at the Coolabah on on there right now that comes with the Croc hat band. Also Looking at the Jackaroo on HD. Anyone have either of these they could post some pics up of?

Oh as for Ebay I have been avoiding that place for over a year now I think its been.

 

[gtdean48]

For your desired specs, I have a Kiandra & a Riverina. I wear the Kiandra for horseback riding with the stampede string & the Riverina for hunting. The Riverina has vent holes so I can wear it practically year round here in Georgia, all except August = way to hot & humid.
Kiandra

Riverina in action

 

[Spats McGee]

I got 2 Stylemasters from EA and have been very pleased with the service. I wasn't under any sort of time pressure, so the Akubra Wait (for the mid-brown Stylemaster) wasn't a problem. I've never ordered from Hats Direct or David Morgan, but I've read good stuff about them, too.

 

[Carlisle Blues]

So Far Hats Direct a couple of them. Great communication and accurate :eusa_clap

 

[Gilgamark]

I only have a Stylemaster, mid-gray, that came last week. Bought it from Everything Australian. Sam is very responsive. There were some delays from Akubra (not from EA), but he stayed in touch, even when the news wasn't good. From my experience, EA is also a little cheaper than HatsDirect.

 

[rebelgtp]

Yeah EA is looking better and better and they do have the Coolabah in my size and in Sandtone in stock (at least it isn't listing a 3 month wait). Also shipping is only $12

 

[jpbales]

Don't you wish there was just one site that sold all of the hats??? It seems like Akubra goes through a gazillion different retailers and they should just sell the hats themselves!

 

[xigxag]

Don't you wish there was just one site that sold all of the hats??? It seems like Akubra goes through a gazillion different retailers and they should just sell the hats themselves!

Everybody has to make a living

 

[rebelgtp]

actually what gets me is how you can have an Akubra with the same name as another but they are two different hats :eusa_doh:

 

[Viggen]

website?

I'm new to the forum although I have read through a fair bit.
Have you got the website addresses to the Akubra sits mentioned. Hats Direct I can find. Everything Australian I can't locate. And I might be forgetting one.

 

[Spats McGee]

Welcome to the Lounge!

Everything Australian is here: http://www.everythingaustralian.com.au/default.asp

Oddly, I couldn't get it to load, but that's where I have it bookmarked.