I've fallen in love...with Biltmore

[Hoyt Clagwell]

Both hats are outstanding,and if black is your colour,go for it.I was at the Biltmore factory last week,picking up a summer straw fedora,but I always check out the felts.All the black Fedoras are sharp,and I will have one someday.A small red feather sets them off nicely,but that is jmo.I have two steel felts one of which I wear as my daily work hat.(I am a farmer) It has been rainsoaked,snowed on and sweat in,and with a little brushing looks great.It is so comfortable to wear, I almost hate to switch to the straw,but it is just too hot an a warm day.Enjoy your new hat, whichever you choose.My guesss is you will have both within a year!

 

[danofarlington]

Both hats are outstanding,and if black is your colour,go for it.I was at the Biltmore factory last week,picking up a summer straw fedora,but I always check out the felts.All the black Fedoras are sharp,and I will have one someday.A small red feather sets them off nicely,but that is jmo.I have two steel felts one of which I wear as my daily work hat.(I am a farmer) It has been rainsoaked,snowed on and sweat in,and with a little brushing looks great.It is so comfortable to wear, I almost hate to switch to the straw,but it is just too hot an a warm day.Enjoy your new hat, whichever you choose.My guesss is you will have both within a year!

I wish I would have known about the existence of the Biltmore factory while I was driving my son to hockey camp in Guelph for several years until 2009. I certainly would have spent time there. On the positive side, the hockey camp was outstanding, and I did shop a lot at Ninvauk, my favorite store, in Jordan.

 

[Hoyt Clagwell]

For how much longer it will be there is another question.The lease on the current building runs out next spring,and I don't know if there are plans to move to another Guelph location,or to pull right out of Canada and make Biltmores at another DP facility.I hope they stay, but I'm not that optomistic.Visiting the outlet store is hit and miss as far as selection.I try and call before going to see if much is available in my size.If only I had a smaller head!I still enjoy going though.I met Mr. Lynnes the president and former owner on my last visit.

 

[DudeInBlack]

Both hats are outstanding,and if black is your colour,go for it.I was at the Biltmore factory last week,picking up a summer straw fedora,but I always check out the felts.All the black Fedoras are sharp,and I will have one someday.A small red feather sets them off nicely,but that is jmo.I have two steel felts one of which I wear as my daily work hat.(I am a farmer) It has been rainsoaked,snowed on and sweat in,and with a little brushing looks great.It is so comfortable to wear, I almost hate to switch to the straw,but it is just too hot an a warm day.Enjoy your new hat, whichever you choose.My guesss is you will have both within a year!

An excellent testimonial! Great to hear how hearty it is in the bad weather. I really don't want to use umbrellas anymore (dumb things always get misplaced or get torn up in the wind - because there is no such thing as rain in So.Cal. without wind). Now I just need a snazzy raincoat to match.

If I may ask, what kind of brim edge does the Ark have? I can't tell from the dealer's photos.

 

[jlee562]

Looks like it just has a raw edge to me.

 

[Blackthorn]

Blackthorn, I have to say the hat in your avatar is outstanding.

Thank you Fmw, that one is by Art Fawcett.

 

[VetPsychWars]

I have that hat, sold by Miller, with their custom stampings. It's ok, but in my opinion the Stetson is a lot nicer. The Biltmore is heavy and stiff and by now the raw-edge brim is sort of wavy. I wouldn't buy it again.

Tom

 

[carldelo]

I have that hat, sold by Miller, with their custom stampings. It's ok, but in my opinion the Stetson is a lot nicer. The Biltmore is heavy and stiff and by now the raw-edge brim is sort of wavy. I wouldn't buy it again.

Tom

Hey Tom - as an aside, I had a brim binding added to a hat with a somewhat wavy raw edge, and it has helped quite a bit. If there's someone nearby who can do it, it's definitely worth the cost.

 

[StrawPorkpie]

Biltmore porkpies were my "first love" hence the "Straw Porkpie" moniker. Then I came across TFL as I was researching a hat purchase and it quickly motivated me to several Stetson and Akubra purchases. Biltmore hats still have a piece of my heart and wallet!

 

[VetPsychWars]

Hey Tom - as an aside, I had a brim binding added to a hat with a somewhat wavy raw edge, and it has helped quite a bit. If there's someone nearby who can do it, it's definitely worth the cost.

Thanks for the suggestion. If it weren't that I "fell in love" with the Stratoliner style, I would. Instead, next fall, I plan on getting the modern version of the Stratoliner in black, instead.

Tom