Akubra Campdraft

[Bob Roberts]

you will find that I have the same experience here

Nice vid Kid.

 

[RJR]

Nice vid Kid.

+1

 

[Atticus Finch]

That's a nice hat you got there. Is it moonstone or silverbelly?

Hi Christopher. It's silver belly. Akubra's silver belly is a much "warmer" color than most. It is very different from Stetson's silver belly.

AF

 

[Frunobulax]

My Imperial Silverbelly Camp Draft is stiff and my Imperial Bluegrass Green Camp Draft is soft. My Imperial Fed in Taupe Fawn is extremely stiff and my Deluxe (Heritage) grade is very soft.

My SB is stiffer than my BGG, but it's not as dramatic as Moon's in his video.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I've only got one - a one-year-old Taupe Fawn Imperial... but it's hard, not soft. Not QUITE as hard as my old Fed III was (I ultimately got rid of it because it just felt more like a western hat than a fedora), but not like the soft ones in Moon's video.

There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the softness/hardness of Akubra's open crown hats... not that you can state definitively by color or felt grade. It seems to just vary between individual batches of felt. Weird.

 

[rclark]

My SB is stiffer than my BGG, but it's not as dramatic as Moon's in his video.

My Imperial SB is so stiff that I hardly ever wear it even though I love the style and color.

 

[moontheloon]

My Imperial SB is so stiff that I hardly ever wear it even though I love the style and color.

the SB is my least favorite ... not only because of the stiffness ... not really a fan of the color either

kind of a cheap looking hat to me

the other colors are great

 

[tropicalbob]

Is the felt on the SBCD noticeably stiffer than that of the BGCD? My SBCD is still as a board whereas the felt on my BGCD is almost not stiff enough. Strange. Imperial quality on both of mine.

Same here.

 

[Bob Roberts]

We should all beat the snot out of our Silverbelly's. Me included.

 

[RJR]

We should all beat the snot out of our Silverbelly's. Me included.

 

[bluesforchallah]

I just ordered a BGG from EA. Hoping to see it late next week.

Not sure what size you ordered, but I'm at 10 weeks and still waiting for my size 61 BGGCD.

 

[Christopher Lange]

Hi Christopher. It's silver belly. Akubra's silver belly is a much "warmer" color than most. It is very different from Stetson's silver belly.

AF

Thanks Atticus. Your hat looks very nice. I am trying to get Akubra to pre-shape my next Campdraft in that style (probably using the Arena or Kentucky Rancher mold).

 

[daddy0d0]

Not sure what size you ordered, but I'm at 10 weeks and still waiting for my size 61 BGGCD.

59 here. Better not take 10 weeks! When I ordered it confirmation said it would ship out in 2-3 days.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Yes Akubra hats come stiff. Some stiffer than others. But they will soften up over time. But not sitting in a closet. Wear the hat in the rain, snow and sleet. Sunny days do not soften up an Akubra. From personal experience with some of the stiffest country hats Akubra offers. Wear it for two years solid and it will be as soft as butter.
Johnny

 

[Willybob]

My Campdraft experience:
Just thought I'd weigh in. I have three Akubras, a Campdraft in Deluxe Heritage (thick and stiff), a Bushman in Imperial (thin and pliable) and a Down under which I converted to a fedora. Many say they are great in the rain but my experience is different. I have never worn the Bushman or the Down under in much rain but the Campy was my go to foul weather hat all winter and got soaked through many times. Needless to say this did have a negative outcome. Being rabbit, the felt will shrink, thick or thin, and will taper the crown considerably. The brim held up fine.

Just prior to tear down for re blocking.

Crown open and soaked in prep for a good stretch.

Done. Time to re build.

Re bashed next to my old OR beater


So I guess it depends on how much rain. Iv'e heard all bunny with shrink eventually over time if wet, unless its treated. I haven't worn it in the rain since the re block and am wondering if the ironing during the re block has compressed and tightened the felt, making it denser and more resistant to shrinkage. We'll soon find out. If you don't care about taper or don't mind an occasional tear down and re block, wear it everywhere and enjoy.

 

[addison]

you will find that I have the same experience here

I'm soooo looking foward to getting my BGCD, hopefully by the end of the week!!!

 

[Xylophile]

My Campdraft experience:
Just thought I'd weigh in. I have three Akubras, a Campdraft in Deluxe Heritage (thick and stiff), a Bushman in Imperial (thin and pliable) and a Down under which I converted to a fedora. Many say they are great in the rain but my experience is different. I have never worn the Bushman or the Down under in much rain but the Campy was my go to foul weather hat all winter and got soaked through many times. Needless to say this did have a negative outcome. Being rabbit, the felt will shrink, thick or thin, and will taper the crown considerably. The brim held up fine.

Just prior to tear down for re blocking.
View attachment 58510
Crown open and soaked in prep for a good stretch.
View attachment 58511
Done. Time to re build.
View attachment 58512
Re bashed next to my old OR beater
View attachment 58513

So I guess it depends on how much rain. Iv'e heard all bunny with shrink eventually over time if wet, unless its treated. I haven't worn it in the rain since the re block and am wondering if the ironing during the re block has compressed and tightened the felt, making it denser and more resistant to shrinkage. We'll soon find out. If you don't care about taper or don't mind an occasional tear down and re block, wear it everywhere and enjoy.

I would like to reblock my BGCD as it is tapered from shaping it into a long oval, and I would just like to know how to do it
What steps do you take in your rebuild, and what tools are used?

 

[1mach1]

My Imperial SB is so stiff that I hardly ever wear it even though I love the style and color.

I find this true with my RM. Stiff as heck.
My BGG is the softest of the bunch (very soft), with my taupe and SB having a medium stiffness.

 

[1mach1]

We should all beat the snot out of our Silverbelly's. Me included.

That's why I use my SB as a shop and work hat. Looks way better with stains and grease.

 

[Willybob]

Xylophile. I use the straight sided dome plastic crown mold from Hatshapers.com. Check em out. I have three. I pull the liner, remove the ribbon and cut out the sweat by snipping the thread. I get the hat body wet and use an iron over an old t-shirt to apply heat to the felt as I slowly pull it down over the crown mold and then iron it a lot and let it dry in place. Once done I hand sew the sweat back in. This is the hardest step as it is time consuming. I usually do it while watching a TV or listening to the radio. I use a simple figure 8 loop stitch with two needles, one on each end of the thread back and forth. All you need is the Hatshaper, an Iron, T-shirt, sturdy table to push down on, an small razor and thread.