Akubra makes shopping hard!

Doc Glockster · Dec 11, 2017

Seb Lucas said:
40 years ago Akubra made many hats in superfine quality. In fact a Squatter I bought in 1985 had that label. It simply refers to a light weigh felt.

Makes sense for a soldier's hat, I guess. Soldiers always look for ways to lighten their load.

Fed in a Fedora · Dec 11, 2017

Chamuco said:
Hi Edward,

I have most of the available Akubra styles and, IMHO, I won't work right, I have turned into a Safari bash both a Slouch and a Cattleman, both turned real nice, but the Slouch looks way better, I think an Olive Tablelands will make a great Safari hat considering brim and crown sizes !!

I have one and like it. Looking to swap out the hatband and maybe add a pug. But it is also stiffer than any of the CampDrafts - Heritage or Imperial. Just the way it is made - good durable, but stiff. It also sheds rain and snow much better than any other hat that I own.

Fed

Fed in a Fedora · Dec 11, 2017

Doc Glockster said:
Makes sense for a soldier's hat, I guess. Soldiers always look for ways to lighten their load.

I am pretty sure that the super fine were dress hats.
Their military hats were not particularly light when I saw them in Australia and New Zealand. They are quite durable though.

Fed

Doc Glockster · Dec 11, 2017

Fed in a Fedora said:
I am pretty sure that the super fine were dress hats.
Their military hats were not particularly light when I saw them in Australia and New Zealand. They are quite durable though.

Fed

So, are you saying the slouch hat David Morgan sells is not the full military quality hat? Is it a cheaper, less durable quality that won't take the abuse of the genuine military Akubra slouch? I noticed that the puggaree attached to my Akubra slouch is a cheap-looking one in the two-pin style, not the seven-pleat military one that has to be snuggled down over the crown. I had to purchase the authentic puggaree from Lawrence Ordnance.

I also noticed that a used Akubra slouch I purchased on eBay appears to be a denser felt both in the crown and brim--as if Akubra changed its manufacturing standards over the years.

Chamuco · Dec 11, 2017

Fed in a Fedora said:
I have one and like it. Looking to swap out the hatband and maybe add a pug. But it is also stiffer than any of the CampDrafts - Heritage or Imperial. Just the way it is made - good durable, but stiff. It also sheds rain and snow much better than any other hat that I own.

Fed

Same qualities that my Slouch, Cattleman and Coolabah !!!

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jlee562 · Dec 11, 2017

IIRC, Akubra has been using more imported fur for their felts, which may relate to a decline in perceived quality.

Chamuco · Dec 11, 2017

Doc Glockster said:
So, are you saying the slouch hat David Morgan sells is not the full military quality hat? Is it a cheaper, less durable quality that won't take the abuse of the genuine military Akubra slouch? I noticed that the puggaree attached to my Akubra slouch is a cheap-looking one in the two-pin style, not the seven-pleat military one that has to be snuggled down over the crown. I had to purchase the authentic puggaree from Lawrence Ordnance.

I also noticed that a used Akubra slouch I purchased on eBay appears to be a denser felt both in the crown and brim--as if Akubra changed its manufacturing standards over the years.

I have both, the military issued and the regular Slouch, both look the same to me, anyway the pug is different, the original one from the military hat is way nicer than the cheap one on the civilian slouch.

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belfastboy · Dec 12, 2017

jlee562 said:
IIRC, Akubra has been using more imported fur for their felts, which may relate to a decline in perceived quality.

Yes, a minor Aussie kerfuffle over the fact Akubra was switching to Chinese rabbit over the home grown version.

Fed in a Fedora · Dec 12, 2017

Doc Glockster said:
So, are you saying the slouch hat David Morgan sells is not the full military quality hat? Is it a cheaper, less durable quality that won't take the abuse of the genuine military Akubra slouch? I noticed that the puggaree attached to my Akubra slouch is a cheap-looking one in the two-pin style, not the seven-pleat military one that has to be snuggled down over the crown. I had to purchase the authentic puggaree from Lawrence Ordnance.

I also noticed that a used Akubra slouch I purchased on eBay appears to be a denser felt both in the crown and brim--as if Akubra changed its manufacturing standards over the years.

I did not say anything about David Morgan's Akubra military hats. It is likely the same. What I was saying was that I saw Akubras in Australia and they were not all that light but they were durable. Same for the ones that I saw in New Zealand on their heads - different brand but similar specs from what I have heard. This was about 2009 when I was there. I have often thought of buying one, but got other models so far. Most recently the Tablelands which I like. However it is a bit stiff - also very durable and seems a bit larger than my CampDrafts. Likely formed on a different block.

Maybe I was confused by the term superfine. I thought this was for dress hats, but maybe this is a quality rating which is also used for the military hats rather having anything to do with the weight of the hat. Likely my memory being fuzzy as I am recovering from bronchitis.

Fed

Seb Lucas · Dec 12, 2017

The quality of Akubra felt and the specs of certain hats varied a lot over the years. Like any product, source material fluctuates and build quality changes. Akubra is no different. A 1980 Squatter us much nicer than a 2017 Squatter. Now that rabbit felt is being sourced form overseas the felt has lifted. My current Campdraft is better than my 2007 version.

Also up until the 1980's most Akubras came unstamped. I dislike how the Stylemaster has changed - it is now stamped in a very perfunctory manner and it is quite tapered compared to the early versions I have had.

Edward · Dec 12, 2017

I'm definitely more a fan of the open crown models. It was intimidating bashing my own for the first time, butoned I realised how straightforward it is, it was great fun. Makes the hat feel somehow more my own.

Doc Glockster said:
What do you know of the "Superfine" fur quality? AFAIK the slouch hat is the only Akubra listed with this type. I'm assuming it must have something to do with durability since it's a military hat, but I don't know anything about it.

Afraid that's noe model I've never handled, so can't comment on. Sounds like Seb has your answer, though.

Interesting. I didn't know the Snowy River existed in an olive green. I've been tempted to order a Territory in British Khaki, but the brim is a tad too wide for my tastes.

To be fair, I'm assuimng that's the model / colour combination I've sene, I've not looked into it directly.

Seb Lucas said:
40 years ago Akubra made many hats in superfine quality. In fact a Squatter I bought in 1985 had that label. It simply refers to a light weigh felt.

The Snowy River hat came in yellow and red in some stores in the 1980's (for women and dandies I guess).

I heard a rumour they're going to the Bogart in red, for the Linux fans.

Chamuco · Dec 12, 2017

Fed in a Fedora said:
I did not say anything about David Morgan's Akubra military hats. It is likely the same. What I was saying was that I saw Akubras in Australia and they were not all that light but they were durable. Same for the ones that I saw in New Zealand on their heads - different brand but similar specs from what I have heard. This was about 2009 when I was there. I have often thought of buying one, but got other models so far. Most recently the Tablelands which I like. However it is a bit stiff - also very durable and seems a bit larger than my CampDrafts. Likely formed on a different block.

Maybe I was confused by the term superfine. I thought this was for dress hats, but maybe this is a quality rating which is also used for the military hats rather having anything to do with the weight of the hat. Likely my memory being fuzzy as I am recovering from bronchitis.

Fed

Well,

1st of all, get well Fed !!!!

2nd, I think the only super fine quality Akubra that I have are the Slouchs.

Have a nice day

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Doc Glockster · Dec 12, 2017

I emailed David Morgan directly to find out what "Superfine" means. Let's see if they answer....

Zombie_61 · Dec 13, 2017

Seb Lucas said:
...Also up until the 1980's most Akubras came unstamped. I dislike how the Stylemaster has changed - it is now stamped in a very perfunctory manner and it is quite tapered compared to the early versions I have had.

By "unstamped", is it safe to assume you're referring to "open crown" versus "pre-shaped/pre-creased"?

Edward said:
I'm definitely more a fan of the open crown models. It was intimidating bashing my own for the first time, butoned I realised how straightforward it is, it was great fun. Makes the hat feel somehow more my own...

I agree 100%. It was a little intimidating that first time, but I quickly saw the "fun" value in creasing my own hats. My creases are far from perfect, but they're all mine and I like 'em that way.

Seb Lucas · Dec 13, 2017

Yes, open crown.

The factory creasing usually looks bloody awful - it's even and charmless and it's all too easy to imagine the stamp mould that has made the impression.

Doc Glockster · Dec 13, 2017

Here is the reply I got from David Morgan's rep:

"Thanks for the email. The ‘superfine’ should have a softer feel, but to be honest I have a hard time detecting the difference. They are all great hats, as you are probably aware by now."

From my own perspective, the appearance is much coarser than other Akubras I've owned, like the Banjo Paterson or Angler, having a more "wool" appearance like a Stetson wool hat.

So I consider the question still open.

tropicalbob · Dec 14, 2017

Doc Glockster said:
Here is the reply I got from David Morgan's rep:

"Thanks for the email. The ‘superfine’ should have a softer feel, but to be honest I have a hard time detecting the difference. They are all great hats, as you are probably aware by now."

From my own perspective, the appearance is much coarser than other Akubras I've owned, like the Banjo Paterson or Angler, having a more "wool" appearance like a Stetson wool hat.

So I consider the question still open.

That's a very honest and accurate response. I have the Fed IV in both finishes and the difference isn't notable, but the Deluxe feels slightly silkier. The real differences lie more in the amount of starch that went into a specific batch, which seem to vary quite a bit but has nothing, as far as I can gather, with the particular style.
With regard to the OP's worries about the distributors, I've had nothing but very nice experiences with both HatsDirect and EA. My last one from HD I got in less than a week, which has to be some kind of record (and yes, the packages do seem to go off the radar when they leave Australia, but they then pop up on your doorstep in a few days and you forget all about your anxieties). BTW, the girls at HD are a lot of fun to chat with and are as helpful as can be: I asked if they thought I could squeeze my enormous melon into a size 62 (I'm a 63) in one of the straw styles, and they were honest enough to strongly advise against it, which I thought was nice of them. Yes, there are slight quirks with the Akubras and the sellers, but the hats are absolutely the best deal on the market and I think the sellers are doing their best.

007 · Feb 25, 2018

Doc Glockster said:
From my own perspective, the appearance is much coarser than other Akubras I've owned, like the Banjo Paterson or Angler, having a more "wool" appearance like a Stetson wool hat.

I think you have the right answer there, Superfine is just not as well sanded as Imperial quality. Being a military work hat, a really smooth finish is less important than on a dress hat

belfastboy · Feb 25, 2018

Paravians said:
I understand what you say but the hats that I have purchased are popular best sellers! Plus, it's not just a matter of stock: for example, two sellers (as well as the manufacturer, Akubra AU) state that there are only three hats in the Heritage collection (Banjo, Lawson and a third one I forgot), so I purchased the standard Campdraft, with confidence that there was not a 'better' version. Turns out that it's not true since The Hattery has it in Heritage!

I have purchased 6 Akubras from various dealers and never found it confusing. It seems pretty straight forward, peruse their websites, pick the hat you like, at the price that works for you, with the delivery you can live with and place the order. Not that hard at all. Everything Aus offers the lower pricing as he carries limited stock, collects the orders and then places the bulk order at Akubra. If I can wait, and I usually can, I order thru EA but if not I pay the premium, order through Hats Direct and get it quicker. I think choice is a wonderful thing.

Mm25 · Feb 25, 2018

Late to the party. Among the current offerings, I believe only the slouch and sombrero are available in the superfine quality.

Akubra makes shopping hard!

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