Vent holes on my VS...

[Aureliano]

Yes, and here's why: on the vintage hats that I've seen in person, the side vents were always on both sides.

Good thing I added them on both sides of my VS

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Good I added them on both sides of my VS

 

[jamespowers]

 

[Aureliano]

Cool!

 

[Viper Man]

You're the expert.

 

[DJH]

Well here's my "totally not expert" view on this...

I think the little vent holes are more of a style feature than a real cooling device. But, if they help just a little and are combined with very lightweight felt (which will be cooler than traditional felt) and no liner (which keeps in heat in a traditional hat), the result is:

I really like the vents that Art put in my VS Natural ArtLite.
With the liner out, it makes it almost a year-round wearer, only the really rough August of GA make it not....

I'm thinking this kind of hat would be perfect for our New Hampshire summers!

Personally, I really enjoy this kind of thread on hat ideas - I'm a beginner with a lot to learn and this is a great help.

 

[rlk]

It takes very little ventilation to relieve the build-up of condensation, the main benefit of this type of treatment. There is some cooling effect although obviously limited. Light rain is not going to be an issue, and heavy rain will eventually soak through any natural fiber hat that is not specially coated. Rain certainly is not likely to run through your side ventilation. You'll probably have to get your horse to drink more quickly from your vented Stetson however.

 

[Aureliano]

I agree with you, David based on the one time I took my Cervo out (winter) very little, almost nothing, I'd say, wind was felt inside. Perhaps in the summer the effect will be more apparent.

 

[Aureliano]

It takes very little ventilation to relieve the build-up of condensation, the main benefit of this type of treatment. There is some cooling effect although obviously limited. Light rain is not going to be an issue, and heavy rain will eventually soak through any natural fiber hat that is not specially coated. Rain certainly is not likely to run through your side ventilation. You'll probably have to get your horse to drink more quickly from your vented Stetson however.

Thanks for your impressions, Robert. Always informative and helpful. If you have any hats with vents, please post them here.

 

[jamespowers]

It takes very little ventilation to relieve the build-up of condensation, the main benefit of this type of treatment. There is some cooling effect although obviously limited. Light rain is not going to be an issue, and heavy rain will eventually soak through any natural fiber hat that is not specially coated. Rain certainly is not likely to run through your side ventilation. You'll probably have to get your horse to drink more quickly from your vented Stetson however.

All hats were treated in the old days at least. You had Aqua Shed, Cravenetted, Du Pont Process and a host of other "treatments" that hatters would apply to make a hat very weather proof. They even touted it in their advertising. A hat should still shed water.
I have no idea how modern hats are treated though I imagine most custom hatters treat their hats just as they did in the old days.

 

[rlk]

All hats were treated in the old days at least. You had Aqua Shed, Cravenetted, Du Pont Process and a host of other "treatments" that hatters would apply to make a hat very weather proof. They even touted it in their advertising. A hat should still shed water.
I have no idea how modern hats are treated though I imagine most custom hatters treat their hats just as they did in the old days.

Shellac is not water soluble. Fur absorbs water or would not have felted in the first place. Animals secrete oils which are removed for felting. Oils lacquers and silicones will slow the penetration. You would have to basically laminate it for full waterproofing and then it would not breath. Note the above text says "moisture resistant".

 

[jamespowers]

Shellac is not water soluble. Fur absorbs water or would not have felted in the first place. Animals secrete oils which are removed for felting. Oils lacquers and silicones will slow the penetration. You would have to basically laminate it for full waterproofing and then it would not breath. Note the above text says "moisture resistant".

Raw fur in general is not easily wet. The guard hairs and oils that you mention make it tough. When these are removed in the felting process it is not without much difficulty. You have to use heat and caustic chemicals. However, the heat, massaging and shrinking it together make it fairly water resistant on its own. The "scales" of the fur lock the hairs together tightly. Add to that the chemicals that are put on the surface and the shellac at its core and you have to wet the heck out of a hat like that to get it to leak through. Taking a ducking is just what they do. I have walked in a downpour for several hours with a Dobbs on and it still didn't go all the way through it. I didn't say they were water proof just weather proof. They'll take rain coming down on them for quite a while---very seldom will you be out that long with a hat on. They will get wet easily---straight through---if you dunk them in a bucket of water though. There is another thread around here about weather proof hats.
Whatever the case, as I have said for quite a while, a fur felt hat should be able to take the weather or it is just a costume hat---not the real thing.

 

[rlk]

Not the right thread really but I get tired of hearing this nonsense about water resistance/hat quality.

I've walked in a Chicago downpour for about 15 minutes(no option) with a Dobbs on and the water soaked through the felt and into the sweatband which cracked at the line where it is stitched when it dried. I have soaked through all Beaver hats as well in brief but vigorous downpours. I soaked through an Akubra that had a couple of coats of waterproofing spray in a few minutes. Felt hats absorb water and will soak through when water hits them in sufficient volume(this you admittedly say). They are not rain hats. Generally no permanent damage is done to the felt, but they have leather sweatbands, cotton/rayon bands and silk/cotton thread. Even greasy Beavers get wet.

The last line bothers me the most. Hats have different styles functions and durability.

Would you say "if my jacket can't take the weather its just a costume jacket"? I suppose suits, tuxedos, cotton, wool,linen or leather jackets may be worn without any concern forthe weather(or fur coats as well)?

My Polypropylene hat must be the best ever made. It has nice big vent holes too.

 

[jamespowers]

Not the right thread really but I get tired of hearing this nonsense about water resistance/hat quality.

I've walked in a Chicago downpour for about 15 minutes(no option) with a Dobbs on and the water soaked through the felt and into the sweatband which cracked at the line where it is stitched when it dried. I have soaked through all Beaver hats as well in brief but vigorous downpours. I soaked through an Akubra that had a couple of coats of waterproofing spray in a few minutes. Felt hats absorb water and will soak through when water hits them in sufficient volume(this you admittedly say). They are not rain hats. Generally no permanent damage is done to the felt, but they have leather sweatbands, cotton/rayon bands and silk/cotton thread. Even greasy Beavers get wet.

The last line bothers me the most. Hats have different styles functions and durability.

Would you say "if my jacket can't take the weather its just a costume jacket"? I suppose suits, tuxedos, cotton, wool,linen or leather jackets may be worn without any concern forthe weather(or fur coats as well)?

My Polypropylene hat must be the best ever made. It has nice big vent holes too.

How old were the hats? I make no claims for hats made today. You pay your money you take your chances. Indeed, wrong thread.
However, if felt hats aren't for rain and weather then what are they for? Display? No. They were made to be worn and I wear all of my felts in all weather without anything happening to them. I have no idea what happened to yours.
[huh]
A rain coat should be a rain coat; just as a hat should be able to be used in rain. We don't expect that of a tuxedo, we treat leather jackets and we don't expect a suit to be a raincoat.

 

[Aureliano]

I agree with Robert but can see your point too, James. I also like that you both acknowledge it. Let's try and not digress too much from subject, guys. Be good [bad] lol

 

[jamespowers]

I agree with Robert but can see your point too, James. I also like that you both acknowledge it. Let's try and not digress too much from subject, guys. Be good [bad] lol

Ok but here is the evidence:
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...rviving-The-Elements&highlight=hats+worn+rain

 

[rlk]

Dobbs version of Aureliano's pattern:

Also vented at the top of the crown on this one.

 

[Aureliano]

Nice! What's the pattern in the crown?

 

[rlk]

Nice! What's the pattern in the crown?

 

[RBH]

That hat looks great Robert... it is looking as if my chances are now better to be able to have a new vented fedora!