Introduction and request....

[ipokebadgers]

Hi,

My name is Sean and I have been a lurker for a while. I recently decided to register so I could take advantage of the vast knowledge base here.

I am in my late forties and have been wearing hats for twenty plus years. I have never had any high dollar hats although my favorite is a Thoroughbred Fedora my wife bought me at A&D Clothing in Durango, CO over 20 years ago. I still wear it today even though it is old, worn, and slightly stained (much like me). I work a blue collar job so I don't dress in suits, therefore all of my hats are more casual.

I am looking for a new hat. The style I prefer is a fur felt Fedora with a teardrop crown, 2 1/2" - 2 3/4" snap brim and a 1/4" hat band. I want it in some shade of gray. When I was a child I remember seeing a lot of non-suite wearing working men wearing this style. They looked less dressy than the hats with wider hat bands. I would like to keep it under $200. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Sean

 

[feltfan]

Hi Sean,

Welcome to a fellow Californian. I spent a year
down in Central CA, near Morro Bay. I have never
poked a badger, though I shave with a bit of their fur.

I'm not a big expert in inexpensive new hats.
I do know there are a lot of discussions of this
topic if you look around. Usually people end up
recommending Akubra when the dust settles.
You might want to search on Akubra in the Hats
forum and see what you get.

 

[kiltie]

new hat

As stated above, Akubra is awfully popular around these parts, and reasonably priced, to boot. While I don't posses the deepest well of knowledge, being from Tejas I'm inclined to suggest you look for an old Open Road from Stetson or one of the many knockoffs. That looks like a working man's hat and can also be dressed up quite a bit. It'll hold any number of creases and the classic Silver Belly color falls into the grey catagory you described. You gotta make sure you get an older, more pliable one, as the new ones are tougher to work with. Depending on your hat size ( in this instance, smaller is better {read: cheaper, more readily available} ), you should be able to find one on ebay for a hundred bones or less. I'm sure you'll get a bum load of responses to this query, as everyone's got there fave, and some none too humble opinions ( though always prefaced with, "In my humble opinion"' or IMHO... ), but that's my two pennies.

 

[ipokebadgers]

Thanks feltfan and kiltie,

I live on the San Joaquin Valley side of the hills. It is hot here unlike Morro Bay which is a favorite get-a-way for us.

I have a couple of Akubras. My favorite, the Banjo Patterson, was stolen out of my Jeep several years ago which is another story. I have an Akubra Coolabah which I wear in the winter, although it isn't really a Fedora.

I should have mentioned I am looking for a light weight fur felt and I would like a raw edge. I have the picture in my mind and I have seen a few on the web I just don't have many resources locally where I can see them in person.

Thank you for the response.

Sean

 

[feltfan]

I live on the San Joaquin Valley side of the hills. It is hot here unlike Morro Bay which is a favorite get-a-way for us.

Ah. I head into the San Joaquin Valley as often as I can,
to catch the Portuguese bullfights.

I should have mentioned I am looking for a light weight fur felt and I would like a raw edge. I have the picture in my mind and I have seen a few on the web I just don't have many resources locally where I can see them in person.

Do you have a picture you can post (or a link
to a picture)? People here have a lot of experience -
a picture isn't always the best indicator of quality.
I'll just go ahead and say what someone else would say
if I didn't- you might raise your budget just a bit and
get a light felt hat from Art Fawcett.

 

[Kaosharper1]

Akubra Sydney

There's the Sydney, which is a lightweight, soft felt for an Akubra, though the brim is still stiff and a snap brim. I just bought one and it and should be good in warmer weather. Also looks good casual or with a suit. I like it a lot. You'll have to bash it yourself, though, because its an open crown. Currently its $98 at Noggintops.

 

[RBH]

I would suggest an Akubra Campdraft.... althought the color you want may take a little longer to get.

Here is mine in the fawn color


<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/807/hpim1740hn0.jpg" border="0" alt="1campdraft"/></a>


<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8795/hpim1741at9.jpg" border="0" alt="2campdraft"/></a>

<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/3522/hpim1742eh8.jpg" border="0" alt="campdraft3"/></a>

 

[carldelo]

Suggestions

Here's a few suggestions based on your wish list
Stetson Merrick
http://www.millerhats.com/stdress_index/stetsona.htm

Miller Toronto
http://www.millerhats.com/mdressfelt_index/derby1.htm

Really nice but has a bound edge, Miller Douglas
http://www.millerhats.com/mdressfelt_index/index.html
Also the Miller Floyd, right next to it on the page

People downplay the quality of Stetson, and say the Millers are really nice, although I've never had one. I think the Douglas is the best of this bunch and it comes in both silver belly and gray. I think the edge banding is a nice touch, not necessarily dressy, but classy.

Cheers, Carl

 

[bolthead]

Wow.....

Here's a few suggestions based on your wish list
Stetson Merrick
http://www.millerhats.com/stdress_index/stetsona.htm

Miller Toronto
http://www.millerhats.com/mdressfelt_index/derby1.htm

Really nice but has a bound edge, Miller Douglas
http://www.millerhats.com/mdressfelt_index/index.html
Also the Miller Floyd, right next to it on the page

People downplay the quality of Stetson, and say the Millers are really nice, although I've never had one. I think the Douglas is the best of this bunch and it comes in both silver belly and gray.

Cheers, Carl

That Douglas Dress hat is something else.....:eusa_clap

 

[carldelo]

Thanks, and yep

the Douglas is great - I'm on the fence about buying one or having a VS custom hat made in that style, with the crown shortened to my liking. It doesn't help that Miller has a no refund policy, I'm just not sure I can pull off a tall crown. Decisions, decisions...

 

[indycop]

Welcome to the lounge! You have a lot of choices for under $200! Akubra, Stetson,and more. For $200 you can get a custom made from Peters Bros. Thats a rabbit/beaver blend made by hand to your specs. and they offer many different colors and ribbon choices. www.petersbros.com/

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Try Duanne here; http://www.thefedorastore.com/Design-A-Hat-s/169.htm

His "Design-a-Hat" idea might be just what you're looking for. If you e-mail him what you're looking for in felt and design, he can tell you how to order it, and which felt type/hat base to pick. And you'll probably be able to stay on budget.

 

[KY Gentleman]

Welcome to the Lounge, ipokebadgers! Good luck in your search.

 

[Stoney]

Now on clearance sale. You may want to consider it.

Duane Dewsbury, thefedorastore.com, has one on clearance that may interest you. It's a center dent but would work well as a dress or casual hat.
It's made by Beaver Brand hats and currently (Feb 21 2008) costs $115.07.
Only available in size 7. [huh] I guess it really is a close out.

At this price if you really want a raw edge you can just cut the bound edge off and sand it.

http://www.thefedorastore.com/Beave...oo-Center-Dent-Fedora-p/bbkangcenterbound.htm

You might want to take a look around Duane's site. He has many other hats on there from Christys, Beaver Brand, Hatco ect.

This is what one buyer had to say about the above hat,

Reviewer:

Very nice hat for a production line hat January 18, 2008
Reviewer: Shawn R from Clarkston, WA United States
I was very apprehensive at first, being spoiled on vintage beaver hats. But overall, considering the price I am very happy with the fedora. The felt is light and soft with a medium temper that softened up very quickly. It fit very well and the color combo, ribbon and trim match very nicely. the fit and finish is very good, stiching is close and straight. Thanks for a great fedora at a great price! I get lots of complements on this wonderfull fedora.

 

[ipokebadgers]

Thanks all. You have given me a lot of good leads. Many of the suggested hats seem to be what I am looking for. Sometimes, it seems, many choices make the choice tougher.

 

[feltfan]

Did you see this thread?

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=28232

If the quality is really there, it does appear to be grey,
in the right brim width, and have a raw edge. Changing
the ribbon wouldn't be too tough.

Let's see what we find out about it!

 

[Justdog]

Silver belly/Adams

This seems like what you described.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/justdog/Hats/adams.jpg

 

[carldelo]

Justdog - that's a beauty - is it commercially available or vintage?

 

[bolthead]

I agree....

Justdog - that's a beauty - is it commercially available or vintage?

That is a sweet lid.

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Wow, that's beautiful. It looks blue on my screen, and... wow!