What size brim do you prefer

[Red McCutcheon]

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I'm a bit on the lean side with a narrow face, and I currently sport a 2" brim with a center dent and high crown. The old ears poke out a bit and I fear that a larger brim might make them look like wings.

lol

 

[Marty M.]

I like 2 1/4 the best for me. My 2 3/4 that I wear looks a little like something that Sally Field from "The Flying Nun" would wear.
Marty Mathis

 

[pgoat]

2 1/4" - 2 3/8" seems perfect to me

speaking of sally field, my avatar is a bit "flying nun", no?

 

[flylot74]

I have gravitated to 2 3/4" brims, though I have two 2 1/2" (which I don't wear as much), one 2 5/8" and one three inch brim.

 

[K.D. Lightner]

Paddy -- I am looking at the photos you posted and I think you look good in all sorts of brim sizes and shapes. Lucky you, some of us are more limited by our head shapes or weight.

My absolute favorite on you is the light colored fedora in the second to the last photo (I think it must be the cream Borsolino). That hat makes you look like an adventurer and a gentleman. Which, of course, you are.

karol

 

[Rooster]

2 3/4 to 3

 

[PADDY]

Thanks Karol!

Believe it or not, I was considering bringing 'that' hat on the US expedition, but pulled it on the 11th hour, because I didn't think it would stick the punishment I knew it would get on the travels.
With it being 'vintage' I just couldn't risk it and I had to limit myself to just 'one' hat (on pure practicalities of moving around).

So I decided to opt for and 'road test' the Aviator which took a bashing (so to speak) from all angles including GreyHound Buses, Airlines, restaurant diners, the streets of LA to the alleyways of Boston and NYC and British Rail/London Underground. It took the 'slings and arrows' and still was robust enough to come back fighting and reshaped.

Sadly, I'm not sure the Borsie would have faired so well and in any case I wouldn't risk it with a fine hat of that age.

But I really appreciate your comments there Karol, as I do take on board what constructive things folk venture on here Cheers!!

 

[Mojave Jack]

2.5". A fair amount of money wasted experimenting until It got figured out though. That seems to be the only way - try 'em until it feels right.

Ditto on the experimentation, though I think that brims around 2-7/8" are best for me. At least that's what I'm most comfortable in. I think I agree with Metropd and Baron Kurtz. I'm thin and tall, and I think the slightly wider brim is more complimentary. Well, at least I don't as ridiculous as I do in a stingy!

As much as I work outdoors, I have my slouches with 3-1/4" brims that work better here in the desert. I don't wear them around unless I'm going to the field, though.

 

[HamletJSD]

It depends on the size and style of the crown as much as our faces, I think.

I have an Akubra Fedora/Sydney that looks really good at 2 1/2, on and off my head, but my Snowy River ...

It was 3 1/4, I think, but I cut it down to 2 7/8. It's still the widest brim I have, but it's starting to look too small to me now. The crown is so low and wide that it looks out of proportion with the brim cut down.

Just a thought

 

[mingoslim]

2 3/8" - 2 5/8" is my ideal range . . .

I can go up to 2 3/4", and 3" on casuals . . .

 

[indycop]

I prefer at least 2 1/2 in. brim.[huh]

 

[Boris K]

.

I like 2 1/4 or 2 3/8" brims in fedoras for a medium to narrow face structure. Larger brims work well in western hats.

 

[Fatdutchman]

Absolutely no less than 2 3/4". 2 7/8", 3", 3 1/4" are all better. I tend towards the Western/country side of the hat spectrum, so that's natural.

 

[OldSkoolFrat]

Current Fedora is 2 1/2, so I am getting a stingy and a Giant 3 1/4 Borso Mattoni, just to see what I likes bestest.

 

[Patrick Murtha]

I've got everything from 1' 5/8" to 3' brims, plus wider-brimmed cowboy hats, and I like 'em all just fine. Variety is the spice of life! I never settle on just one look -- like to mix it up. That applies to suits, shoes, everything else too.

 

[jimmy the lid]

In a "Whippet-esque" lid, I'm partial to 2 5/8". For an OR-style, 2 3/4" to
2 7/8".

Cheers,
JtL

 

[barrowjh]

Similar to Mingoslim, i guess. Sweet spot is about 2 3/8ths to 2 5/8ths. I will only buy 2 1/4th for something rare (last one was a green Barbiso peluche) and I have some 2 3/4 - 2 7/8ths. Funny, I didn't plan it this way, but the wider brims in my hats are only on OR thin-ribbon style hats, so I tolerate the widest ones on those sunny hot days only (I have some thin-ribbons with more reasonable 2 1/2 - 2 5/8 ths widths also). All the thin-ribbons are in the basement until late spring, wearing heavier regular fedoras now. . . . and on really cold days, add earbags. They are a neat addition!!! I went for one pair of the grey non-insulated.