Work Hat for All Seasons?

[jsecunda]

Hi folks - Sorry to bother you with this question, but although I'm registered, I can't seem to access the Search function. Thanks to whatever strange bug you people have infected me with, I now own an Optimo and an Akubra.

Now, I'm looking for a hat that looks flattering/non-dorky but tough enough to be worn while mowing lawns, shoveling snow, walking a beach etc. Is there such an animal, or should I just settle for dorky?

Thanks for your thoughts-
js

[Marc Chevalier]

Dorky is relative.

[Magus]

Hi folks - Sorry to bother you with this question, but although I'm registered, I can't seem to access the Search function. Thanks to whatever strange bug you people have infected me with, I now own an Optimo and an Akubra.

Now, I'm looking for a hat that looks flattering/non-dorky but tough enough to be worn while mowing lawns, shoveling snow, walking a beach etc. Is there such an animal, or should I just settle for dorky?

Thanks for your thoughts-
js

In order to fill all those bills, to me the hat you describe has a basic requirement. It has to be one that you don't mind having ruined or damaged. And to me that means an eBay vintage cheapie....maybe one that has a bit of wear on it that you can work on. I have one like that which you can view in the "MyHattIn Project" thread. I paid $8 or so for it...invested another $8 in fixing it...and would wear it in any of the conditions you mentioned. I would focus on a style you like...then get one I don't mind messing up...in that style...and go for it.

M

[Raindog]

I totally agree with you Magus....But I can't bring myself to not care about any hat I have
Even the lowliest battered old felt missing a liner and sweatband and hatband are precious to me!
I'm working on this psychological fault. I'm thinking of buying another Akubra identical to the one I've already got. This will become my bash about do anything in hat.
If I can bear to do it.....

Jeff.

[Kentucky Blues]

well, I myself don't really believe in all seasons hats, because of temperature reasons. I couldn't imagine shoveling snow in a panama, but I couldn't imagine walking along a beach in anything but. I think for most cases, a cheap panama would do. But for wintery, cooler weather, I'd say even a nice felt hat would work. If its a quality hat, it can take a beating, especially one you don't put on it for the sake of beating. So your akubra or Optimo would probably work just fine while shoveling snow. I myself prefer a wide variety of hats... a hat for any occasion (provided I can) and sometimes too many hats for certain occasions to be able to wear them. And I'm poor as heck, . And I certainly agree with all ebay suggestions... thats where... all but one of the hats I wear came from

[Magus]

I totally agree with you Magus....But I can't bring myself to not care about any hat I have
Even the lowliest battered old felt missing a liner and sweatband and hatband are precious to me!
I'm working on this psychological fault. I'm thinking of buying another Akubra identical to the one I've already got. This will become my bash about do anything in hat.
If I can bear to do it.....

Jeff.

Well Rain....I admit to being a victum of that syndrom myself. But I am going to put it to the test with a Vintage 40's Lee I just won at auction today. $11...moth nibbles and 3/8" too small. If I can get it streched and straightened...ya never know...but the "plan" is a hat to paint (and is paintings) in ...or do yard work etc.


I'll let ya know how ....errrr...badly I fail at it...

M

[astaire]

Speaking of which, where did the search tab go to? I thought i was the only one who 'lost' it...

I think an open road is the closest thing to the all purpose lid, unless light colored hats are considered a no-no during the winter.

Thanks!

[jsecunda]

Thanks so much for the advice! I have noticed that the Akubra seems bullet-proof re: snow, rain and etc. Also-someone at work mentioned a hat company called Tilley for this purpose. Anyone know about them?
Thanks again-
js

["Doc" Devereux]

Tilley's website can be found here.

I have a couple of friends with Tilleys and they love them.

[SHARPETOYS]

Summer Montecristi Panama. Winter a beaver fedora. Rain a Tilley.