Stratoliner or Open Road

[Adman256]

Wearing a Stetson Florintine Stratoliner B. Very comfortable and stylish. Need to upgrade to a Hemp Open Road in sage. Any comments?

 

[RickP]

Wearing a Stetson Florintine Stratoliner B. Very comfortable and stylish. Need to upgrade to a Hemp Open Road in sage. Any comments?

Im rather fond of all my Hemp Stratoliners and Open Roads. Just a bit more fond of the stratoliners. Great warm weather hats. I love the Sage... it weathers really nicely as it gets worn. A Hemp Stetson trick I learned is that as it dried out it starts getting floppy... Just hit it with some steam to add some moisture and body back to it

 

[jlee562]

I think you will find the hemp to indeed be an upgrade to the shantung straw. The difference is small, but I also prefer the wider OR brim. They've recently brought back the Panama OR, though a comparable weave can be had for cheaper. I also don't know why they chose a leather band for it. But that's another option that will be a little bit lighter weight. By just an eyeball guesstimate, it looks like it is a finer weave than the last time they had it in the lineup.



Though not as elegant as the Panama, I would also consider one of the shantung variations. They are a stiffer straw, but that can be a positive in some situations. A lot more carefree for air travel, as one example. Depending on your location, the water resistance may also be valuable.


(red and white band is my customization)

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Hemp is cooler & weighs slightly less than Shantung. Hemp has a rougher texture & not as dressy in appearance. It helps to keep hemp clean by vacuuming in the direction of the seams with a duster brush on a canister vacuum, like you would with Guatemalan Palm leaf.

If you are going to fedora-ize the brim & iron it down like a snap brim then stick with the Strat. Because of the slightly wider brim & the flange of the hemp OR it will usually end up with an ugly bird beak if you take it below horizontal.

I have both hemp & Shantung OR’s & think they both have their place. Ideally I would like to find a “twisted straw” OR for the ventilation, & would enjoy the dressy Panama OR.

Hemp

Shantung

Twisted straw