Good quality hats for under $100

[rpatrick]

I am new to fedoras, wore cowboy hats years ago. I have always loved hats an I am so glad they are returning. I love the akubra hats but the prices are high. Like Stetson and want to buy American but not sure of the quailty. Need some help with all the choices out there. I want to know is there any hats under $100 that looks good and has a decent quality. Also don't have a hat store where I live so I will need to trust the internet. Who should I trust? What hat can work with jeans or suits if I just decide to buy one quailty hat versus 2 under $100.

 

[VetPsychWars]

I, personally, have not seen a fur felt that I would pay for that was below $100. You might get lucky and find something on eBay....

You can get inexpensive wool felt hats. The Bailey brand comes to mind.

You might mention what size you wear in case anyone here has something extra that they would part with for less than $100, and also check the classifieds.

Tom

 

[Duper]

Keep your eye on the classifieds section here in The Lounge. If you know your sizing and are setup on Paypal you might be able to find something suitable right here.

The classifieds section is at the bottom of the main Fedora Lounge page. You will have to get a few more posts under your belt before you are able to use the PM function (personal message) to communicate with the seller. I think the numbr is around 15 to be able to PM,,but don't quote me.

 

[jlee562]

If you're looking to buy a new hat under $100, I don't think you'll end up very satisfied. Look for a vintage lid on eBay or here in the classifieds.

 

[gtdean48]

You'll be hard pressed to find a decent "new" fur felt hat for under $100. David Morgan has an Akubra Adventurer for $98. Jump on it = http://www.davidmorgan.com/product_info.php?products_id=1470
Due to the exchange rate being in my favor, I bought 3 new Akubra Campdrafts, including shipping, average cost was $75 each. This was late 2008 though & don't think the economies of both countries will be there again soon.
The best looking hat to wear with jeans or a suit or sport coat & for the money is a Silverbelly Imperial Akubra Campdraft. I sold mine because I wanted the Heritage Deluxe & now wish I had it back!

 

[cookie]

You'll be hard pressed to find a decent "new" fur felt hat for under $100. David Morgan has an Akubra Adventurer for $98. Jump on it = http://www.davidmorgan.com/product_info.php?products_id=1470
Due to the exchange rate being in my favor, I bought 3 new Akubra Campdrafts, including shipping, average cost was $75 each. This was late 2008 though & don't think the economies of both countries will be there again soon.
The best looking hat to wear with jeans or a suit or sport coat & for the money is a Silverbelly Imperial Akubra Campdraft. I sold mine because I wanted the Heritage Deluxe & now wish I had it back!

What was the difference in the CDs?

 

[monbla256]

'Fraid you are apt to be dissapointed in what's available in a NEW fur felt hat for UNDER $100.0 Unless it is mabe an Akubra model on sale or one bought used from a fellow Forumer ( as I did recently with my Mid-Brown CD) theres not much available. Add another $50.00 to that and a whole 'nuther world opens up

 

[gtdean48]

What was the difference in the CDs?

Heritage Deluxe compared to Imperial?
Nicer finished, denser felt with better ribbons & much nicer sweatbands.
I don't want to get rid of the Heritage Deluxe CD. I just want the Imperial because I'd like to have a Silverbelly beater version....

 

[Bebop]

You don't have to spend more than $100 to get a decent hat. You just can't expect a "new" decent hat for under $100. Look through the classified here and through Ebay. There are many hats to be had under $100. Many of the vintage hats that are priced under $100 are much better than any of the new hats in that price range. It all depends on what style you are looking for and what your hat size is.

 

[scottyrocks]

Look here:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/forumdisplay.php?15-Classifieds

You might find something nice.

 

[masiaka]

You'll be hard pressed to find a decent "new" fur felt hat for under $100. David Morgan has an Akubra Adventurer for $98. Jump on it = http://www.davidmorgan.com/product_info.php?products_id=1470
Due to the exchange rate being in my favor, I bought 3 new Akubra Campdrafts, including shipping, average cost was $75 each. This was late 2008 though & don't think the economies of both countries will be there again soon.
The best looking hat to wear with jeans or a suit or sport coat & for the money is a Silverbelly Imperial Akubra Campdraft. I sold mine because I wanted the Heritage Deluxe & now wish I had it back!

I just bought a CD for $107 including shipping. The hat itself was $89. Though I don't know if that really fits your budget, rpatrick.

 

[rpatrick]

Thank you all for your replies. I kinda figured I couldn't get one for that but gotta ask. I have my heart set on the akubra stylemaster but I may need to rethink after all of your remarks about the CD.

 

[monbla256]

Thank you all for your replies. I kinda figured I couldn't get one for that but gotta ask. I have my heart set on the akubra stylemaster but I may need to rethink after all of your remarks about the CD.

I wear both models and would have to say the Stylemaster is the hat I grab to wear when I put on a jacket and tie ( my Sydney will also do "dress" chores with a couple of my suits as well) and use my CD as a more "relaxed" hat style. Just depends on the type of wear that will be done as to which style to get rather than just price for me. Either one is a GREAT hat which will last for years.

 

[rpatrick]

Well now a real stupid question. I see you cannot buy the campdraft from David Morgan so I assume I must buy from one of the AU outlets. Which one? The CD comes open and I don't know how to bash one, how hard is that to figure out? I will eventually buy both I am sure I am just trying to get started and had rather buy a quaility hat versus an economy hat.

 

[masiaka]

I taught myself to crease my old wool felt fedora in about 15 minutes of trial and error, with some help from a cowboy hat creasing video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL-XrmKYyj0&feature=player_embedded (Ignore the part about hat stiffener.) My Campdraft is coming from Everything Australian, so that's where you'll find the $107 price.

 

[monbla256]

Well now a real stupid question. I see you cannot buy the campdraft from David Morgan so I assume I must buy from one of the AU outlets. Which one? The CD comes open and I don't know how to bash one, how hard is that to figure out? I will eventually buy both I am sure I am just trying to get started and had rather buy a quaility hat versus an economy hat.

That's not a stupid question. Asking to get info is NEVER stupid The CD is an Aussie only model and is not imported to the US because it originally was a Stetson Open Road made under license by Akubra for Stetson for sale in Australia years ago.
Creasing a hat ( we crease them in the US, they bash in OZ ) is not that hard but if you are hesitant to try on your first hat, you could get a pre-creased model, or buy an open crown and take it to a good western wear store down your way and pay them some to crease it for you. You might want inquire if one of the OZ retailers will pre-crease it for you in the style you want. As to where to buy from, there are many folks who buy from Everything Australian and then there are those who swear by HatsDirect and I've heard nothing but good about both. Some colors are not always stocked by these retailers and have to be ordered from the Factory and will entail some extra waiting time on your order ( it depends on what is available and when so one can't say how long) .
Any model you choose will be a quality hat you can wear for many years. Place your order and let us know what you got

 

[job]

Bencraft sells the Cagney by Stefeno for $90 and Hats-plus has hats on sale for under $100.

 

[jlee562]

Well now a real stupid question. I see you cannot buy the campdraft from David Morgan so I assume I must buy from one of the AU outlets. Which one? The CD comes open and I don't know how to bash one, how hard is that to figure out? I will eventually buy both I am sure I am just trying to get started and had rather buy a quaility hat versus an economy hat.

Yeah, the Campdraft is an Australia only model. It was originally licensed to Akubra by Stetson as the Open Road, but the license ran out and they can't use the name anymore, so now they call it the Campdraft.

Creasing a hat is really not hard, although I know, at first it does seem intimidating. This video is for an Indiana Jones style crease, but the technique is demonstrated pretty clearly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozJKQVCgeZ4

 

[dr.velociraptor]

I just bought an Akubra Stylemaster fedora for $90.00, it came out to a touch over $100 from Everything Australian.

 

[facade]

A little over the limit but...

$125 buys a custom rabbit fur hat from Falcon Park Hattery.