Akubra questions

[JDCrockett]

Cuvier said:
"or do I wait on the possibility of a CD in the right color showing up?"

I'm with you on the color choices for the Campdraft, I would like a Fawn or Taupe myself. Some suppliers show "Sand" with a tan brim binding some show a similar color body with silver or grey binding called "Silverbelly". Anyone have any idea about future availability of Fawn or Taupe?

 

[JDCrockett]

By the way Cuvier, I'm also looking at the Pastoralist on Everything Austrailan"s site. It Would need to be rebashed to a center dent with a pinch for my tastes but that's possible only I'm not sure of the open crown height.

 

[JDCrockett]

"Crown Height- ~ 92mm (measured from where low point on crown to base of the internal leather sweat band)"

Doesn't that sound like they are measuring inside from the lowest point of the telescope to the base of the leather sweatband? I'm trying to figure out if you push the telescope out if the crown would be 4 1/2 or 5" high.I have had good luck steaming and reshaping crowns.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Cuvier said:
"or do I wait on the possibility of a CD in the right color showing up?"

I'm with you on the color choices for the Campdraft, I would like a Fawn or Taupe myself. Some suppliers show "Sand" with a tan brim binding some show a similar color body with silver or grey binding called "Silverbelly". Anyone have any idea about future availability of Fawn or Taupe?

For years Akubra used the name Silverbelly for the color. I suspect it was a holdover from when they had the license to make Stetson branded hats in Australia. There was a time when they had both sand and silverbelly. Recently, they dropped the name Silverbelly and called it sand. It’s the same color but with a different name. No idea on availability. I’ve been waiting for the Akubra Sombrero in my size to be restocked for over a year and a half now, and the same for the Woomera.

NOTE: Akubra doesn’t currently make all these colors and they don’t offer all hats in all the colors that they do currently offer. They also offer “new” colors that are not represented here

 

[Cuvier]

Well the Hattery has somehow tricked me into ordering a Fed IV in Dark Brown. I ordered it yesterday. They show that it's shipped and on a plane here already. It's funny seeing that it's on a flight that left tomorrow. Time zones are weird.
I may have it sometime next week. I'm excited to give it a good punishment. I hope it holds up as well as my Stetson.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Well the Hattery has somehow tricked me into ordering a Fed IV in Dark Brown. I ordered it yesterday. They show that it's shipped and on a plane here already. It's funny seeing that it's on a flight that left tomorrow. Time zones are weird.
I may have it sometime next week. I'm excited to give it a good punishment. I hope it holds up as well as my Stetson.

If you do it right you might receive sometime last week.

 

[Cuvier]

If you do it right you might receive sometime last week.

I must not have done it right. It didn't arrive last week! Maybe it'll arrive yesterday. I'll check tomorrow

 

[dmsantam]

The akubra traveller has a softer felt that is somewhat crushable. Is it still possible to shape the hat with steam and/or water? The reason I ask is that I want to push the middle of the "telescope" up a bit so it doesn't touch the top of my head. cheers

 

[dmsantam]

The akubra traveller has a softer felt that is somewhat crushable. Is it still possible to shape the hat with steam and/or water? The reason I ask is that I want to push the middle of the "telescope" up a bit so it doesn't touch the top of my head. cheers

Can confirm that the pliofelt responds the same as any other akubra felt. A little steam, and it was re-shaped without issue.

 

[Dave1232]

My wife got me an Akubra Adventurer hat for Christmas. I bashed it myself and it came out nicely. I plan on wearing it a lot. The kids and I do a lot of outdoor stuff. So I’m just wondering if the hat gets squished is it going to be ruined?

Or what if it gets wet? Should I try to keep it dry? Or is it going to be fine if it does happen to get wet?

Thanks!

 

[jlee562]

Water should not be an issue for the felt, only the leather. Akubra sweats are not the highest quality leather and are generally known to shrink.

It's not crushable like a wool felt is, no. But it would have to be something like your kid falling/sitting on top of it to risk any significant damage. Say you accidentally whack a branch, or it gets knocked off your head and hits the ground you should be fine, or is not likely to be something that couldn't be straightened out with steam.

It's not worth fretting over too much though, there's just a non zero risk that extreme crushing of the hat would leave creases that would be hard to work out on your own without equipment.

 

[Who?]

My wife got me an Akubra Adventurer hat for Christmas. I bashed it myself and it came out nicely. I plan on wearing it a lot. The kids and I do a lot of outdoor stuff. So I’m just wondering if the hat gets squished is it going to be ruined?

Or what if it gets wet? Should I try to keep it dry? Or is it going to be fine if it does happen to get wet?

Thanks!

I’m curious, under what circumstances do you foresee it getting “squished”?

Getting it rained on will not be a problem. It might be a good thing to wear it, or put a hat stretcher in it until it dries, if it is soaked.

 

[Molechi]

Hi all - I'm looking to get the Akubra Traveller for my wife and I. I'm a 58.5 cm and she's a 56.5. The Traveller doesn't have a leather headband (no shrinkage?) and, according to some posts, the Akubra's are a 'bit large' to start with... so should be getting the 58 and 56 or the 59 and 57 (assuming a little shrinkage or the akubras are not largish in those models)?

I have another Akubra (much older but basically in new condition) that has leather and it is slowly conforming to my head.

Thanks for any advice

 

[RockyR]

Well the Hattery has somehow tricked me into ordering a Fed IV in Dark Brown. I ordered it yesterday. They show that it's shipped and on a plane here already. It's funny seeing that it's on a flight that left tomorrow. Time zones are weird.
I may have it sometime next week. I'm excited to give it a good punishment. I hope it holds up as well as my Stetson.

You won't be disappointed... Their Fed IV is amazing.

I was out at the store last weekend... they are lovely people and I will make the 3hr drive to get my hats because of them any day! Patrick also does a good bash.

 

[RockyR]

Hi all - I'm looking to get the Akubra Traveller for my wife and I. I'm a 58.5 cm and she's a 56.5. The Traveller doesn't have a leather headband (no shrinkage?) and, according to some posts, the Akubra's are a 'bit large' to start with... so should be getting the 58 and 56 or the 59 and 57 (assuming a little shrinkage or the akubras are not largish in those models)?

I have another Akubra (much older but basically in new condition) that has leather and it is slowly conforming to my head.

Thanks for any advice

They have a buckram inner band (at least the new Travellers do). I always go one size up in Akubra to take into account shrinkage... but that's with leather inner band. The buckram will still likely shrink, just not as much as leather.

TBH, I'd still probably go 59 and 57 (and just use some hat tape if a little too loose).

 

[Edward]

For years Akubra used the name Silverbelly for the color. I suspect it was a holdover from when they had the license to make Stetson branded hats in Australia. There was a time when they had both sand and silverbelly. Recently, they dropped the name Silverbelly and called it sand. It’s the same color but with a different name. No idea on availability. I’ve been waiting for the Akubra Sombrero in my size to be restocked for over a year and a half now, and the same for the Woomera.

NOTE: Akubra doesn’t currently make all these colors and they don’t offer all hats in all the colors that they do currently offer. They also offer “new” colors that are not represented here View attachment 502908

Oh for a Federation in Lagoon blue!!!

My wife got me an Akubra Adventurer hat for Christmas. I bashed it myself and it came out nicely. I plan on wearing it a lot. The kids and I do a lot of outdoor stuff. So I’m just wondering if the hat gets squished is it going to be ruined?

Or what if it gets wet? Should I try to keep it dry? Or is it going to be fine if it does happen to get wet?

Thanks!

FWIW... about a decade ago I rather rashly wore an Akubra Rap (their porkpie) to a Pogues gig. It got knocked off and pogoed on before I could retrieve it (these things happen in a heaving crowd). Looked like it had been driven over. Fifteen minutes with the kettle when I got home, and while certainly 'broken in' (read: softer feel than before), it was completely restored to its normal look.

 

[dmsantam]

Hi all - I'm looking to get the Akubra Traveller for my wife and I. I'm a 58.5 cm and she's a 56.5. The Traveller doesn't have a leather headband (no shrinkage?) and, according to some posts, the Akubra's are a 'bit large' to start with... so should be getting the 58 and 56 or the 59 and 57 (assuming a little shrinkage or the akubras are not largish in those models)?

I have another Akubra (much older but basically in new condition) that has leather and it is slowly conforming to my head.

Thanks for any advice

Hi, if 58.5cm and 56.5cm are what your heads measure, I would go 59 and 57 for the traveller. You can always pad out the back of the band with some sponge or paper. Much better to be a size too big than too small.

If they were leather sweatband hats, I would even go 60 and 58. They shrink, and it's easy to pad out with foam.

Picture of one of my hats (Fed IV) with the sticky back foam under the sweatband is attached.

cheers,