I was very much like that when I started wearing hats regularly. And I'm still a little OCD when I get a new hat (or new to me) and give it it's first shaping/re-shaping. But as time passed and I got another hat, then another, I found the fun for me was in watching each hat develop it's own character and just allowing that to happen. But you're right--Sunbody hats don't really do that...not so far, anyway.
I was in a heavy downpour and it just required a little fixing in the brim and let it dry overnight. I don't even think my head got wet. Easy upkeep.I was very much like that when I started wearing hats regularly. And I'm still a little OCD when I get a new hat (or new to me) and give it it's first shaping/re-shaping. But as time passed and I got another hat, then another, I found the fun for me was in watching each hat develop it's own character and just allowing that to happen. But you're right--Sunbody hats don't really do that...not so far, anyway.
And you are right a hat takes on it's own life. No matter how many times you steam them if it's cockeyed it just goes right back.I was very much like that when I started wearing hats regularly. And I'm still a little OCD when I get a new hat (or new to me) and give it it's first shaping/re-shaping. But as time passed and I got another hat, then another, I found the fun for me was in watching each hat develop it's own character and just allowing that to happen. But you're right--Sunbody hats don't really do that...not so far, anyway.
Well, silly me. I don't even know how I came across Sunbody Hats and went ahead and ordered one. Only now do I find there's a whole subforum here dedicated to them! Well, they just sent me a message confirming shipment, so it should be here in a few days...
Congrats on your Outlaw. A couple of ideas that may help your sizing issues at a minimal level...I'm not sure if the band has a tie in the back, but if it does, try tightening it up a bit. I bought a beaded band from some local Navajo in AZ/UT. I've noticed that when I tie it a bit tight, the hat is tighter on my head. Also, be sure to run the hat through some water and give it some head time in the sun. I feel that it helps the hat conform to your head. It's not the nicest straw out there, but it definitely fills a niche and serves it's purpose. Feel free to post some pics!
I have two of them and, yep, they both shrank down just enough so I could get rid of the spacers. N.B. If you go back to some earlier pages of this thread you'll see some entries from the owner of Sunbody, who encourages us to call them if we want any custom work: I took him up on his offer and wound up with exactly the hat I wanted, and at a price that actually made me laugh it was so reasonable. Though they're a little heavier than a Panama, you really don't have to worry about getting them wet, which is a big plus down here during this Monsoon season we're in right now.
Just so you (and anyone else reading this) will know, the ends at the back of Sunbody's cloth sweatbands are sewn together without even the traditional "bow" so that's not an option. If your hat fits snug you can soak it in water and use a Hat Jack to stretch it out just a little, but with my limited experience with straw hats I'm guessing they won't stretch nearly as much as fur felt. And if they're too loose...well, I haven't had that problem so someone who has can probably answer that, but I'd guess a little padding behind the sweatband is probably your best bet.
Seconded. After I soaked and shaped my first Sunbody I set it aside to dry, checking it every now and then to make sure it was holding the shape I wanted (it did, by the way). If you soak their hats, the last parts to dry are the sweatband and the area around the sweatband because it's made from foam and fabric, both of which absorb and hold water. Somewhere around hour six or seven I was checking the hat again and it occurred to me that it would be a waste of my time if every part of the hat held it's shape except the part that's supposed to fit my head, so I put it on and wore it for a couple of hours as the sweatband continued to dry. I don't really know if that helped, but the hat does fit my head rather nicely so I'm assuming it did. Partially, anyway.
In my mind Sunbody hats are the straw hat equivalent of Akubras--they aren't the finest hats available and they're a little rough around the edges, but they're good hats for the price and can handle a bit of abuse because they're "working" hats.
Gustin Vintage Heavyweight Sweatshirt - Natural Rainbow Nep - $119 Rugged 14oz cotton that gets better with every wear. 
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - #395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. 
Himel Bros. - The Ross Mk. 1 Leather Jacket Classic D-pocket motorcycle/aviator style jacket. 
Gas powered weed wacker and some mulching tonight found me wearing a Sunbody hat. I have sweated and dirtied up this "big"brim and it still is kicking. Great work hat!
The brim and crown get mishapen after some really sweaty effort, but I have reshaped it with a lot of steam. The sweat, some man-made material, gets dirty and filthy with my chores and I just put the entire hat and sweat under the hose and rub the dirty parts with my hand. So far clean and no odor.
If I had to order another soon, I would pick-up a 2.5" brim. The bigger brim is always at some weird shape/angle when I go to take a pic. I hypothesize that the "bigger brim (3")" shows the distortions easier than a smaller (2.5") brim. I look forward to finding out. I need to order another one soon.
Cheers, Eric -
I have a 3 1/2 and I basically rolled the brim so that it's curled at the binding. It's darn near perfect for me, but I could be talked into 4 inches. I guess it's up to you and how much brim you want.
