New Member to the Hat Forum

[biffnix]

Hi, and welcome. I joined less than a year ago and (a dozen hats later -- including two caps) have found tons of good advice and fun here. For adding the foam 'sizing tape' check out this video:

Kevin at JJ Hat Center (in the heart of midtown manhattan) makes cool, fun, and informative vids about all things hat. During the lockdowns he made some from home where he also picks up a guitar and noodles around, so you'll dig that, too. Aside from the good advice (helped me to stretch a tight hat by watching his video -- different technique than a lot of others and it worked for me) I love his accent. I have a cousin who grew up in the city and they have the same accent -- a real old-timey New York timbre. Hear that and know you're listening to a native Manhattanite.

I've actually watched several of Kevin's videos while researching fedoras, but not this one, so thanks for the link! I've ordered some sizing tape from Amazon, since I haven't received a response to my phone message or email regarding the sizing tape. We'll see.

 

[Cornelius Crewe]

Hello, all. Been a long time lurker, I’ve only just posted today. Always like hats, but really only wore baseball caps until a few years ago. As my hair thins and my skin ages, I find I need more substantial headware. I’ve had an Akubra Federation IV I’ve used as my hunting/outdoor hat, and I’ve recently acquired 3 Snowy Rivers that have really become my go tos for nearly everything, especially as I have found a newfound passion in caring for my wife’s horse.

 

[Uncle Will]

I've actually watched several of Kevin's videos while researching fedoras, but not this one, so thanks for the link! I've ordered some sizing tape from Amazon, since I haven't received a response to my phone message or email regarding the sizing tape. We'll see.

Bifnix, thank you for putting up that video, it made all the difference. My new Dobbs wool fedora that I bought online is too large by a centimeter, and my head felt like the clapper in a bell with that hat on. I put in the filler tape, worried a bit about the wrinkles and it still feels like the hat would get blown off my head in a light wind.
Here's the thing, though: I've had the hat in the box for a year now. I've tried to give it to friends, but they don't want it because they're not "hat guys." So after seeing this wildman Kevin show how it's done and talk about the fit of a hat like the pro he is, inspired me to cut off the tags, pull up the sweat band, stick in the foam tape, layer it if necessary, wear it and finally call the hat mine. Phew, that took a while to happen.

 

[Blare]

Bifnix, thank you for putting up that video, it made all the difference. My new Dobbs wool fedora that I bought online is too large by a centimeter, and my head felt like the clapper in a bell with that hat on. I put in the filler tape, worried a bit about the wrinkles and it still feels like the hat would get blown off my head in a light wind.
Here's the thing, though: I've had the hat in the box for a year now. I've tried to give it to friends, but they don't want it because they're not "hat guys." So after seeing this wildman Kevin show how it's done and talk about the fit of a hat like the pro he is, inspired me to cut off the tags, pull up the sweat band, stick in the foam tape, layer it if necessary, wear it and finally call the hat mine. Phew, that took a while to happen.

Looks quite nice on you. Enjoy.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Hello, all. Been a long time lurker, I’ve only just posted today. Always like hats, but really only wore baseball caps until a few years ago. As my hair thins and my skin ages, I find I need more substantial headware. I’ve had an Akubra Federation IV I’ve used as my hunting/outdoor hat, and I’ve recently acquired 3 Snowy Rivers that have really become my go tos for nearly everything, especially as I have found a newfound passion in caring for my wife’s horse.

Welcome to our group! You’re in good company with your appreciation of Akubra. I hope you enjoy your time here and feel free to post photos of your hats as you see fit.

Cheers,
Brent

 

[Cornelius Crewe]

Welcome to our group! You’re in good company with your appreciation of Akubra. I hope you enjoy your time here and feel free to post photos of your hats as you see fit.

Cheers,
Brent

Thank you, I will

 

[Uncle Will]

Looks quite nice on you. Enjoy.

Thank you Joe! Cheers!

 

[FOXTROT LAMONT]

Good morning Gentlemen,

Insomniac fedora and homburg man (homburg preferred wear) newly joined Londoner.
Looking to learn from you lads and other loungers. The variety of topics and evident expertise is impressive.

 

[Rmccamey]

Good morning Gentlemen,

Insomniac fedora and homburg man (homburg preferred wear) newly joined Londoner.
Looking to learn from you lads and other loungers. The variety of topics and evident expertise is impressive.

Welcome to the hat madness! Plenty of fedoras, homburgs, bowlers, and many others around these parts.

 

[Cuvier]

Howdy Howdy everyone. New member from Texas here just trying to learn a few things about hats. I've been a fan of hats most of my life. Started with ball caps, then grew up to cowboy hats, then bowlers, flat caps and now I've got my first fedora. I'm looking forward to learning a lot from all of you.

 

[BobHufford]

Howdy Howdy everyone. New member from Texas here just trying to learn a few things about hats. I've been a fan of hats most of my life. Started with ball caps, then grew up to cowboy hats, then bowlers, flat caps and now I've got my first fedora. I'm looking forward to learning a lot from all of you.

Welcome to the Lounge!

 

[Cuvier]

Welcome to the Lounge!

Glad to be here.

 

[Frunobulax]

Glad to be here.

Now let's see some of your hats!

 

[Cuvier]

Can do. Here's one. Borsalino Centurion

 

[Blare]

Howdy Howdy everyone. New member from Texas here just trying to learn a few things about hats. I've been a fan of hats most of my life. Started with ball caps, then grew up to cowboy hats, then bowlers, flat caps and now I've got my first fedora. I'm looking forward to learning a lot from all of you.

Welcome aboard

 

[Yancy.41]

Hello,

After lurking for several years, I decided to join. This is absolutely a top teir forum for hats and other things. I hesitated to join as I don’t have the knowledge or the items to “compete” with 98% of you.

Always wanted a hat but hesitated. When I was a kid I used to handle a Fedora my grandad owned. I still remember how that hat felt in my hands.

Anyway, I visited Peters Brothers in FW Texas before Covid. Ordered a “western” Fedora from them. Prior to that, i intended to order a hat from Limpia Creek Hats in Fort Davis, Texas during a trip there. As my bad luck luck would have it, Limpia Creek was closed during my visit.

Hence, my visit to PB, which is closer to my home. it was a Father’s Day treat from my wife & daughter.

Not to criticize, but when I visited PB I didn’t feel they cared too much whether or not I bought a hat. They were very quick to say they were covered up with Stock Show orders (Forth Woth has a huge, two week stock show every winter). I didn’t know much about hats and they didn’t discuss much with me. They measured my head with a tape measure and I ordered a rabbit fur hat. Took two years to get it. That was due to Covid and the resulting supply chain issues.

I like the the hat. I assume it is at least very decent. I wear it often. It is a very stiff hat. I recently decided to get a darker color fedora and called Limpia Creek. I found out it’d been bought out by a hat place in Mason, Texas called Bronco Sue Hats. The very nice and pleasant lady I spoke to told me I needed to come to the store to be properly fitted. This was after she learned I was just a few hours away. She didn’t try to pressure me into a hat. She just stressed I needed to show up in person if I wanted a great hat.

My daughter lives less that two hours away from Mason so I slipped south during a recent visit. My experience with Bronco Sue was light years better. Ordered a wide brim fedora in 100%. beaver. Got my head traced and on file and they discussed ribbons, sweatbands, and liners with me. I will say the fedora example I handled there was much softer and far more reminiscent of my grandfather‘s fedora than my PB hat.

I was so pleased and comfortable with Bronco Sue and their service that I’m planning future hat purchases from them. I can’t rave about them enough. They had a couple dozen or so examples of felt hats- not to mention straw hats.

I have one hat thus far with a second coming. Other that that I have three pair of Wesco footwear and a pair of Limmer hiking boots. That’s about all I have to boast about here.

I mainly wanted to say if not for this forum and the good people posting on it… I would’ve never had the courage to buy or wear a proper hat In public. As it stands, no one has ever criticized my PB hat and I’ve gotten a handful of compliments.

i can’t wait to receive and wear the Bronco Sue hat.

i really do appreciate this forum and the regulars posting here. I’ve learned a lot from just looking and reading.

Thanks much.

 

[Rmccamey]

Good to have you in the Lounge. There are lots of hats to check out.

Just an FYI, there are a number of hatters in the US (and abroad) who can build a rabbit or pure beaver hat to your specs at a much lower price than PB, Bronco Sue, or Limpia Creek.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I was so pleased and comfortable with Bronco Sue and their service that I’m planning future hat purchases from them. I can’t rave about them enough.

Bronco Sue builds a fine custom fit Western hat.

 

[Who?]

There is absolutely nothing which can’t be found “at a much lower price”.

The real question is then “are they the same?””

 

[belfastboy]

There is absolutely nothing which can’t be found “at a much lower price”.

The real question is then “are they the same?””

Like much of life the answer is..."It depends". All hatters are dealing with the same raw product. The number of felt factories in the world are very limited and we all have to buy from one of them So we are all starting with the same raw materials. it is like any any fashion item. You do pay for a 'name' and the hat biz is very much a fashion item. What price will the hatters name command? If you peruse online you can find basic Tshirts anywhere from $10 to over $100....it is still a cotton T but the price is whatever level the maker's name can command. Hats be like that too!