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[Zombie_61]

Well, I do have an Akubra Campdraft. I've had it out in light rain, but not the drenching downpours we've had here of late...

Two of my Campdrafts have enjoyed playing in the rain and suffered no ill effects. The third might get a chance next week if the weather monkeys' guesstimates come true.

...Most of my hats (and these days, my go-to hats are Stetson Fredericks) are wool, and the above post about wool not standing up to the rain is why I'm worried about wearing them in the rain...

Ah. I haven't had good luck with the wool felt hats I've owned, but they were all of the very cheap variety. Someone here who has dealt with higher quality wool hats could probably advise you about the "do's and don'ts".

...I have a rabbit fur Sterkowski. I wonder if that is a water-resistant as beaver?

Beaver felt repels water better simply because beavers are semi-aquatic creatures and their fur differs from that of rabbits and hares (which don't usually spend a lot of time in water). That being said, if your rabbit fur Sterkowski gets wet it might need a little re-shaping, but should otherwise be fine as long as you allow it to dry on it's own at room temperature and don't try to dry it faster using a heat source like a blow dryer or space heater.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Well, I do have an Akubra Campdraft. I've had it out in light rain, but not the drenching downpours we've had here of late.

Most of my hats (and these days, my go-to hats are Stetson Fredericks) are wool, and the above post about wool not standing up to the rain is why I'm worried about wearing them in the rain.

I have a rabbit fur Sterkowski. I wonder if that is a water-resistant as beaver?

Yikes, keep your wool hats out of the rain. Rabbit fur felt can taper and get out of shape too, but the higher quality rabbit and rabbit/hare felts should take it fine. I was reluctant to get a nice custom hat wet until I read Eric using his beaver Gannons the way I use Akubras and his hats suffered no ill effects. If it ever rains again in Central California I’ll wear my beaver hats in the weather. That said, when I lived on the coast and it would bucket rain I opted for a Gore-Tex boonie hat.

You can also get a plastic hat cover. They don’t look stylish, but they work.


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[Short Balding Guy]

Well, I do have an Akubra Campdraft. I've had it out in light rain, but not the drenching downpours we've had here of late.

Most of my hats (and these days, my go-to hats are Stetson Fredericks) are wool, and the above post about wool not standing up to the rain is why I'm worried about wearing them in the rain.

I have a rabbit fur Sterkowski. I wonder if that is a water-resistant as beaver?

Water proof hat - a felted beaver or rabbit and heavens no a wool hat will not going to be water proof. Water proof, ala Gortex or the like, will not be a felted hat. In a heavy rain for a few hours yes my modern beaver fedora medium or light weight felted hats work very well for protecting my head. The negative is that they eventually distort with the water (brim tips down and lets water drip) and eventually the leather sweat gets wet. My most exytreme rain experience, beaver medium felted hat , was in a heavy rain ( 2 inches per hour over 4+ hours). The Gannon hat suffered brim distortion and a wet leather sweat. The hat to the last minute protected my head from the drenching rain and had the rain dropping onto my synthetic rainproof jacket and pants. I was out working on protecting my and the neighbors property and buildings. Objects were on the line and things had to be done. After the event and finaly out of the rain event I treated the leather (conditioner applied a couple of times with drying time allowed between applications) and put the hat on a block and let it air dry for almost 6 hours. I put the brim on a flange and let the hat dry out. When it was nearly air dry - almost 10 hours after coming inside I began steaming the hat to encourage it back to it's start dimensions. It did not take much steam to have it back to almost original shape. A little coaxing to the brim was what my experience was. Stiffer - not my experience. Softer - not my experience. Brim distorted - not my experience. Leather sweat integirty challenged - not my experience.

Yikes, keep your wool hats out of the rain. Rabbit fur felt can taper and get out of shape too, but the higher quality rabbit and rabbit/hare felts should take it fine. I was reluctant to get a nice custom hat wet until I read Eric using his beaver Gannons the way I use Akubras and his hats suffered no ill effects. If it ever rains again in Central California I’ll wear my beaver hats in the weather. That said, when I lived on the coast and it would bucket rain I opted for a Gore-Tex boonie hat.

You can also get a plastic hat cover. They don’t look stylish, but they work.

Brent; I agree - pouring rain for hours and hours - Gortex hat. I do have a couple of hat covers that see use. When I am wearing a hat when traveling or out and about without access to hat shaping or conditioning stuff the plastic hat covers are the perfect equipment. I picked up a few State Trooper plastic covers a couple of years ago and have been using the covers to date.

My modern beavers I use as heavy weather hats as the Gannon/VS hats I own do the trick. I do treat them gently and offer gentle care to them after weather events. This said I do enjoy their features more than my one Akubra CD. If I had to choose one to really whoop on - the Akubra CD only because it had a smaller monetary cost to it (affording me the less risk rationale). Fit - beaver custom. Appearance - beaver custom. Ability to take some whooping - custom beaver felted fedora.

I hope I have contributed to the answer to your query about hats in heavy weather.

Eric -

 

[OldStrummer]

Thanks, everyone! It appears that I'm right to be concerned about wearing a nice wool hat out in the rain. My Campdraft may be safe, but perhaps the thing to do is like @Short Balding Guy, buy hat covers!

 

[Winston Carter]

Water proof hat - a felted beaver or rabbit and heavens no a wool hat will not going to be water proof. Water proof, ala Gortex or the like, will not be a felted hat. In a heavy rain for a few hours yes my modern beaver fedora medium or light weight felted hats work very well for protecting my head. The negative is that they eventually distort with the water (brim tips down and lets water drip) and eventually the leather sweat gets wet. My most exytreme rain experience, beaver medium felted hat , was in a heavy rain ( 2 inches per hour over 4+ hours). The Gannon hat suffered brim distortion and a wet leather sweat. The hat to the last minute protected my head from the drenching rain and had the rain dropping onto my synthetic rainproof jacket and pants. I was out working on protecting my and the neighbors property and buildings. Objects were on the line and things had to be done. After the event and finaly out of the rain event I treated the leather (conditioner applied a couple of times with drying time allowed between applications) and put the hat on a block and let it air dry for almost 6 hours. I put the brim on a flange and let the hat dry out. When it was nearly air dry - almost 10 hours after coming inside I began steaming the hat to encourage it back to it's start dimensions. It did not take much steam to have it back to almost original shape. A little coaxing to the brim was what my experience was. Stiffer - not my experience. Softer - not my experience. Brim distorted - not my experience. Leather sweat integirty challenged - not my experience.



Brent; I agree - pouring rain for hours and hours - Gortex hat. I do have a couple of hat covers that see use. When I am wearing a hat when traveling or out and about without access to hat shaping or conditioning stuff the plastic hat covers are the perfect equipment. I picked up a few State Trooper plastic covers a couple of years ago and have been using the covers to date.

My modern beavers I use as heavy weather hats as the Gannon/VS hats I own do the trick. I do treat them gently and offer gentle care to them after weather events. This said I do enjoy their features more than my one Akubra CD. If I had to choose one to really whoop on - the Akubra CD only because it had a smaller monetary cost to it (affording me the less risk rationale). Fit - beaver custom. Appearance - beaver custom. Ability to take some whooping - custom beaver felted fedora.

I hope I have contributed to the answer to your query about hats in heavy weather.

Eric -

+10 on Hat Covers. If it's just sprinkling most any hat can handle that. Downpour keep your head and hat dry. Hatco sells them by the dozen.
http://www.hat-co.com/perch//resources/s19hataccessoriespdf.pdf

 

[Frunobulax]

If it's raining, let your hat protect you. If it's pouring, carry an umbrella.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Tukwila]

I've not had problems with rain on my vintage hats which are usually some blend of rabbit/beaver. I also soaked an Akubra Coober Pedy and despite a colleague's assurance that my hat was screwed, it looked as good as new after it dried.

This is a 50's Penney's Marathon that I was wearing while walking off a big lunch and got caught in a huge downpour... and then some shots after it was dry. If anything, the rain knocked off some dust and the hat looked better than it ever had. Even the hand of the felt seemed improved to me. Maybe the hat needed a good cleaning in the first place, I don't know. But it was soaked through the crown ribbon and into the sweat band and rain was pouring off the brim.

Point is, I have no problem wearing my hats out in the weather. Sure, if I expect heavy rain over an extended period of time I'll take an oilskin rain hat or my Stratton western that has been treated with Scout hat rain repellent spray, but a little rain here and there doesn't worry me in the least when wearing a fine fur felt hat.

.

 

[Woodtroll]

Beavers may be water animals, but even rabbits get caught out in the rain sometimes!

I know it's not the same thing, and I certainly understand wanting to protect a really fine vintage hat from damage, but I've always worn hats for protection from either sun or falling weather, so the ones I buy are purchased with that in mind. Like some have already pointed out, though, a felt hat needs a cover if it's going to protect you literally all day long in the pouring rain. Otherwise eventually it will soak through and, while not harming the hat, you're gonna get wet!

This is a very interesting discussion, and I really enjoy reading everyone's thoughts. Even though not everything here on the Lounge "trips my trigger", the broad perspective on this board keeps me interested and learning something new every day.

Thank you, take care,
Regan

 

[belfastboy]

If I am knowingly going out into a downpour for an extended period I will opt for a Newsboy cap rather than a fedora. I have a AmiCharnel Newsboy that has a rainproof insert between tweed and liner. Works well and other than taking proper care in the drying out phase it poses no risk to the cap or my fedoras.

 

[crawlinkingsnake]

In Casablanca both Rick's and Sam's fedoras were soaked while waiting on Ilsa in a downpour at the train station. I'm fairly certain both would have been quality fur felt. But I've often wondered how both hats survived.

 

[ruvort]

I am looking to complete a conversion and need to change out the ribbon. I'd like to do an "Open Road" style ribbon. Does anyone know of a good guide on making such a ribbon style? Also, does anyone know a good source for purchasing the ribbon itself?

Thank you

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[drmaxtejeda]

I am looking to complete a conversion and need to change out the ribbon. I'd like to do an "Open Road" style ribbon. Does anyone know of a good guide on making such a ribbon style? Also, does anyone know a good source for purchasing the ribbon itself?

Thank you

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Yeah. Where do they sell them?

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[Zombie_61]

In Casablanca both Rick's and Sam's fedoras were soaked while waiting on Ilsa in a downpour at the train station. I'm fairly certain both would have been quality fur felt. But I've often wondered how both hats survived.

If you notice, in the scene immediately following that one their coats (and probably their hats) are completely dry. I'd like to find rain gear that dries that quickly.

 

[drmaxtejeda]

If you notice, in the scene immediately following that one their coats (and probably their hats) are completely dry. I'd like to find rain gear that dries that quickly.

Are you casting aspersions on the storyline plausibility of one of the best films ever made, Z? For shame. [emoji33]

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[Zombie_61]

Are you casting aspersions on the storyline plausibility of one of the best films ever made, Z? For shame. [emoji33]

It's really more of a continuity error than a story error, so, yes.

 

[drmaxtejeda]

It's really more of a continuity error than a story error, so, yes.

[emoji2]

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[Frunobulax]

If you notice, in the scene immediately following that one their coats (and probably their hats) are completely dry. I'd like to find rain gear that dries that quickly.

There's just something about the rains down in Africa.


Sent directly from my mind to yours.

 

[Rmccamey]

I've run across several hats recently where the logo on the liner is smugged. What usually causes that to happen?

 

[Tukwila]

I've run across several hats recently where the logo on the liner is smugged. What usually causes that to happen?

Probably Brylcreem...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brylcreem

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I've run across several hats recently where the logo on the liner is smugged. What usually causes that to happen?

Rogaine?