Akubra Overload

[Adnamira]

I'm nervous about narrow brimmed hats. I like them, but whenever I've tried them in shops they haven't seemed to look right. Maybe it is just because I am used to Western Hats. The Campdraft I tried on in the shop in town didn't look too bad though... wasn't able to put a bash in it to see how that would look - they mightn't have appreciated that... but good to see them stock something other than the Cattlemans and Western Hats.

 

[Adnamira]

My first adventure into narrower brim hats was an Akubra Cooper Pedy. Didn't work that great for me, because my head has seemed to have changed from a size 58 Akubra, which always fitted me just right, to a size 59. I don't really like the feel of lower crowned hats, so it will be interesting when I get the Adventurer - to see if the higher crown makes the narrower brim work for me. Over-all I think the Cooper Pedy is a nicely proportioned hat.

 

[Adnamira]

Akubra Colley, which is what I wore after the Cowboys. Very shady, brim was a bit floppy though. Those eyelets make a big difference to wearability in the heat.

 

[Adnamira]

I actually like the look of this Safari a lot. Like the Fed, except with a tapered crown and eyelets. Anyone tried one of these -

http://everythingaustralian.com.au/shopexd.asp?id=17

 

[new2hats]

I am getting Akubra fever! Want to buy the stylemaster and another (maybe whippet, fedora, or hampton). How are the sizes for Akubra, do they run smaller or larger than some US brands?

I am a size 58 in all panama hats, 58 in Christy's trilby, but 57 in another Mayser-labelled hat. Since it comes from so far away, want to be sure the size is correct...

 

[Adnamira]

I am getting Akubra fever! Want to buy the stylemaster and another (maybe whippet, fedora, or hampton). How are the sizes for Akubra, do they run smaller or larger than some US brands?

I am a size 58 in all panama hats, 58 in Christy's trilby, but 57 in another Mayser-labelled hat. Since it comes from so far away, want to be sure the size is correct...

My head measures 59.5cm with a tape, and my Akubra Arena 59 is a comfortable fit. I've tried other Akubra styles in 59 that seem a bit tight, so that suggests their sizes are pretty close, seeing that I am between sizes. I've ordered 60cm online, and just put something inside the hat band... as I am likely to sweat in it and so it will shrink over time. Some people like to buy smaller and then stretch them. If that works then it is fine, but there a few things worse in my opinion than a hat that's too tight - it will give you a headache - I am also one that likes my hats pulled down rather than perched on top. 10mm is not a huge difference. It's worth having a metric tape if you are ordering in metric... won't make a mistake when doing conversions. I don't know whether Akubra have conversion chart on their site.

Oh yes, and just be careful if you haven't bought a hat for some years. I'm forty, but my head has got fatter since I was in my twenties

 

[EggHead]

It also depends on how much hair one has. When I cut mine, I am about 1 size less than with fully grown.

 

[Duper]

It also depends on how much hair one has. When I cut mine, I am about 1 size less than with fully grown.

I have toyed with the idea of shaving my head a few times. Wouldn't be that great a loss if you know what I mean. But with 25 + felts and straws in the house that fit the way I like,,,best put that idea away.

 

[EggHead]

I have toyed with the idea of shaving my head a few times. Wouldn't be that great a loss if you know what I mean. But with 25 + felts and straws in the house that fit the way I like,,,best put that idea away.

I actually have a few smaller 7 1/4's so I wear them for 2-3 weeks.

 

[Adnamira]

Thanks to Landman about suggesting that I ask if I can change the hat I ordered, after buying an identical Adventurer on ebay. Everything Australian said it would not be a problem at all. I decided to go for a western style hat though, because I want to see how the first fedora looks on me before I order any more narrow brim styled hats, and I need a lighter coloured shade hat for work. Ordered the Pilbara in Sorrel Tan. It's a similar hat to the Colly, I think, but the brim not being quite as big it mightn't be as floppy. The wing up style of western hat I think is actually better at keeping the brim stable and I think creates an aerofoil that makes the flow of air push down, but I prefer the dipped front and back look, in spite of the fact it creates an aerofoil that makes your hat want to fly away. It's just the real sharp western look puts you immediately into a stereotype. I guess I like hiding underneath my hats and caps too.

 

[Adnamira]

Shade.

Blindingly direct sunlight.

As you can now see... this hat is green!

Randy

Bluegrass Green? Maybe it is named after Queensland Bluegrass - Dichanthium sericeum

 

[Adnamira]

Akubra Homburg in acorn, with dark brown trimmings. Exclusive to the Hattery and arrived today.

I really like that. Looks like it would make a good musos hat.

 

[Adnamira]

You know, I've almost been going to purchase a Campdraft on several occasions. Tried them on in town, and like the hat, but something just didn't seem right to me. For some reason, I just liked the idea of having a broader ribbon. Well, I just found this http://www.felthats.com/hats_info/style.html

I don't know if it is right, but I have a long face and big ears With a long face it says to steer away from high, square crowns with no taper, and to go for a broader ribbon, but for big ears it says that a squarer crown might be a good choice. It will be interesting to see how this adventurer goes when I get it. I might have to bash it to lower the crown and give the appearance of a taper. I don't like crowns that are too low though. I mean if you have a long face, then you probably tend to have a high skull, so I've always tended to go for a moderate to higher crown. Maybe a Squatter with a centre dent and front pinch would be a good choice for me. Hard to know, isn't it. I'd like to wear a smaller brimmed hat, but just haven't been able to find ones that look alright on me.

 

[EggHead]

Adnamira, I found that if crown height allows me to shape it anyway I want, that is if it's tall enough, my, perhaps perfect height is 4 1/2 in front and 4 1/4 in the back. Then tapered vs. full crown, if it's fuller I use diamond crease, if tapered - C or tear-drop.
I own 4 Akubras, the one thing about most Akubra's is that their crowns are not tall enough for me to shape the way I want to except for Campdraft. There may be a few others but I don't own them.

 

[Adnamira]

Adnamira, I found that if crown height allows me to shape it anyway I want, that is if it's tall enough, my, perhaps perfect height is 4 1/2 in front and 4 1/4 in the back. Then tapered vs. full crown, if it's fuller I use diamond crease, if tapered - C or tear-drop.
I own 4 Akubras, the one thing about most Akubra's is that their crowns are not tall enough for me to shape the way I want to except for Campdraft. There may be a few others but I don't own them.

It makes sense that you can bash a crown to make it look lower, but you can't really make a low crown higher. A diamond crease might be a good idea for the Adventurer I ordered. I think it has the same crown height as the campdraft, but maybe a little more taper. I think a crown that is too low on someone with a long face would look odd, so I think 4 1/2 is probably the height that is alright for me. Anyway, I guess I will find out when the Adventurer arrives. I've never been real fond of hats like the Snowy River because of their low crown height. I'm not sure what other brand hats there are that might suit me. Akubra is just the easy option for me, I guess. I'm tired of the western look, so I hope I can find an alternative style that will work for me. You look good in a hat, by the way, EggHead.

You know, that guide is one thing, but I don't think I am going to have an issue with crowns being too high in any hat that has a bash, unless it is a sombrero, top hat or open crown. That idea of having a wider ribbon to balance the crown with the length of my face might be a factor.

 

[Neophyte]

You ought to check out the ArtofManliness "The Perfect Hat For Your Ugly Mug" article. It's a lot more informative, and I believe most Loungers run across it sooner or later.

 

[Adnamira]

Righteo, thanks for that, Neophyte. I will check it out. What that hat you are wearing in your Avatar?

 

[Adnamira]

Some of those suggestions from both references don't add up entirely with my experience of western hats. It says for pale complexion, blue is a good colour and brown is better for those with darker complexion. I find brown hats work for me and blue hats don't work for me at all. I guess you just have to try the bloody things on. Might have to take a trip to the hattery in katoomba.

 

[jlee562]

My suggestion: don't over think it

Alternatively, a popular 'lounge-ism' is: wear the hat, don't let it wear you.

 

[jlee562]

And IMHO, there's more to matching a hat to a person than just face shape or color. I don't mean to come off as sounding like I have an overly inflated opinion of myself, but I'm pretty confident that I can wear a variety of different hats in different contexts and with different outfits and, as Tim Gunn would say, "make it work." I have some stingy brims with taper that I wear sometimes, I have some wide brims that I wear sometimes, I have taller crowns, shorter crowns, etc.

These guides are just general guidelines. What's most important is finding a hat (or, if you stick around here too long, hats) that you're comfortable wearing, and bully if it's not what a guide says is "right" for you.