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rgrice

New in Town
Messages
30
Location
United States
Got a vintage Dobbs straw with no ribbon. Want to put grosgrain on it but easiest way possible. I want to wear hat for gigs beginning tomorrow so any quick help is greatly appreciated!
 

Eliesti

A-List Customer
Messages
316
I think I am finally going to order a custom hat. I have only worn rabbit fur so far. My understanding is that beaver is nicer (and the price reflects it), but can anyone explain why it is nicer? I don't have any beaver hats so I'm not sure. I also wanted to know if beaver is hotter or cooler than rabbit fur. Since I live in Houston, how hot the hat gets matters.


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Messages
19,122
Location
Funkytown, USA
I think I am finally going to order a custom hat. I have only worn rabbit fur so far. My understanding is that beaver is nicer (and the price reflects it), but can anyone explain why it is nicer? I don't have any beaver hats so I'm not sure. I also wanted to know if beaver is hotter or cooler than rabbit fur. Since I live in Houston, how hot the hat gets matters.


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Oh, Lord, you just opened up a whole can of worms...

There are many discussions on this forum on the superiority of beaver vs. hare. While beaver is considered better by most, I've seen Steve (mayserwegener) make a good case that fine hats were made from European hare for decades and still are. Steve even makes a good case for wool. Akubra hats, perhaps the favorite current production hats of the Lounge, are hare. Most of our custom hatters use beaver for their premium hats. Gosh knows what type, or blend, Stetson uses.
 

EstherWeis

Vendor
Messages
2,615
Location
Antwerp
Well, it all depends.
I work mostly with rabbit and hare (TONAK) but have beaver as well.
I'm quite fond of the quality of the rabbit and find the results very pleasing.
They will last you for many years and more.
Perfect to reblock and good for all round weather etc.
From lightweight to super sturdy hunter felt.

That being said;
What I find is that the beaver I work with is very lightweight yet still sits better on my head.
( i have no knowledge on other brands or hatters qualities) It can rain,hail,storm and it won't budge.
It's been soaked through or exposed to the sun And still will feel like a breeze on my head.

I was stupid enough to not put my hat on the rack when I arrived home once and my cat had a little nap on it.
I just pushed it back up and it looked like nothing happened.
Beaver is just that little bit more resilient.

It's all a matter of what you are willing to spend and what you want out of said hat.

But that is just the way I look at it.
 

InsolentPuppy

A-List Customer
Messages
338
Location
Chicago, USA
Ok. JBS invented the cowboy hat. All the literature says his family were hat makers before he did that. What was the name of that company and what happened to it?
 

memphislawyer

Practically Family
Messages
771
Location
Memphis, Tn
I am finding this year I am really sweating under my Panama Bob cuenca, moreso than the parabuntal straw hat from Buckaroo Hatters. In fact, I prefer many days to go hatless then to wear the cuena. I can walk five, ten minutes in my cuenca and my scalp is soaking wet. It used to be I just noticed that it was the sweatband. Given that, heck, I would wear my felt hats and don't think I would sweat that much more. Anyone else experience that?

I don't think my Tilley hat would work for suits and dress clothes (khakis and a nice polo).
 

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