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Akubra Capricorn Review

Edward

Bartender
Messages
24,736
Location
London, UK
Enjoy. My sole complaint is that after eight years or more of hravy wear, the pleather band in my grey one has cracked and the surface id peeling off. For that reason, I wish they'd use a xloth one of aome sort, but it's harfly a major deal with a hat in this priceband and the level of wear it has had.
 

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,160
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
Enjoy. My sole complaint is that after eight years or more of hravy wear, the pleather band in my grey one has cracked and the surface id peeling off. For that reason, I wish they'd use a xloth one of aome sort, but it's harfly a major deal with a hat in this priceband and the level of wear it has had.

Yes, I wasn't crazy about the pleather sweat, either, but I figured, as you did, that at the price point it's fine. Also, it's more in line than leather with the weather resistance of the hat, in general.
 

PHIL1959

One of the Regulars
Messages
265
Location
anchorsholme england
just placed order for a fawn Capricorn from EA, on hindsight a bad choice.
i ordered a 58 as im a 57.5 and asked them to choose a hat that was close to a 57.5 .
i received this reply from Tim Martin,
Akubra Hats only come in full sizes, not half-sizes. Please let me know what you would like to do. Kind Regards Tim Martin
I should have bought from the Hattery! they give fantastic advice and service. well here's hoping the hat fits!
 
Last edited:

SvH

New in Town
Messages
26
Location
Eindhoven, the Netherlands
My favorite summerhat is my panama, but here in the Netherlands the summer weather conditions are not always suited for straw hats. Or maybe I should say: often not suited for straw hats. Last week I got surprised by heavy rain. And before I could put my panama in a bag and find myself a shelter, the hat was already fairly wet, and myself completely soaked. At home I inmediately tried to put the hat back in shape and let it dry, but feared it was the end of this panama. It was nothing fancy or expensive, but still, I really liked this hat.

Now today reading this thread, maybe a Capricorn might be a good solution. Normally I wouldn't consider a 'plastic' hat, but you all somehow convinced me. And it's a nice looking hat too. It's hard not to make it an impulsive buy... I think one of these days Hatsdirect can expect an other order.

Oh, and btw, my straw panama luckily survived after drying.

Sander
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
24,736
Location
London, UK
I have owned five Capricorns over the years; my grey, a fawn, a second fawn (a thread came loose on the original and I pulled it.... the vented middle unravelled. Oops!), and two in the white. I'd love it if they did a black one (think a wider brimmed version of hat Connery wore during the golf scene in Goldfinger). I fidn the sizing to be entirely consistent (as you'd expect with a man-made material and decent QC); if you're between sizes, best option is probably to go one up and pad the back of the hatband.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
24,736
Location
London, UK
Or the sides if you're a long oval, as I will most likely need to do.

All my felt Feds were this way until the sweats shrunk to fit. But the Cap, having a pleather sweat, will not shrink?

In my experience, no, there's no shrinkage and the sizing is exact, which is why I'd suggest a little padding of one a half-size up if the extra 0.20" makes the fit off.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
24,736
Location
London, UK
I’m a 62 in Akubra felt hats with their shrink to fit sweats and I also ordered my Capricorn in 62 as well as my Akubra hemp hats. They all fit slightly differently, but I haven’t regretted my sizing choices.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


That's been my experience of their 57s.
 

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,160
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
My Capricorn arrived today. Lightning fast from the other side of the globe.

All the nice things everyone has said are in evidence in my hot little hands (and head).

I am currently playing with sizing tape.
 

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,160
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
i've had the hat a coupla/few days now.

Right now it's got a bit of sizing tape around the back and sides so it doesn't slide down to my ears.

The hat is relatively stiff, but not unwearable. The proportions are very nice. I like the way it looks on me.

My main complaint with some of my straws is that they are not stiff to the point that they get misshapen relatively quickly. This one should keep its shape for a long time. I guess you can't have both.

I wore it on a walk yesterday, temps in the '80s. Because it is not vented at the very top, it was warmer than my other straws that are more vented at the top. I'll have to see how it functions in the summer when I'm outside all day.

Overall, it's a good start.
 
Messages
11,894
Location
Southern California
...My main complaint with some of my straws is that they are not stiff to the point that they get misshapen relatively quickly. This one should keep its shape for a long time. I guess you can't have both...
Have you ever worn a Sunbody hat? Sometimes it feels like I'm wearing a palm leaf hard hat.

I'm looking forward to reading your opinions after you've lived with your Capricorn for a while, and perhaps seeing a photo or two. There are things I like about it and things I don't, so I'm really on the fence about getting one for myself. I think you and I have very similar tastes, so your opinions carry a lot of weight with me.
 

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,160
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
Have you ever worn a Sunbody hat? Sometimes it feels like I'm wearing a palm leaf hard hat.

I'm looking forward to reading your opinions after you've lived with your Capricorn for a while, and perhaps seeing a photo or two. There are things I like about it and things I don't, so I'm really on the fence about getting one for myself. I think you and I have very similar tastes, so your opinions carry a lot of weight with me.

And yours with me for the same reasons.

The proportions of this hat are really nice. With me, it doesn't take much - like an eighth of an inch sometimes, to 'break' a hat, as far as whether I'll wear it or not. The brim has a great snap, and the shape is really right all around.

The sides are pretty straight, although at the very top it does taper a bit before bending inward toward the top, but not like some that have really noticeable taper from the ribbon up. Nothing wrong with that - just not my thing.

I hadn't posted a picture because the hat really looks like all the other ones I've seen here. But another picture couldn't hurt, and I really try to capture what I consider to be a best angle for every hat I photograph and post here.

20180622_172501_500x889.jpg


I will probably wear this hat most of the summer, outdoors for 8 hours a day.

I know what that did to my first Fed IV, the brown one - softened it up good. I don't expect poly-straw to soften, but I am curious what happens to the pleather sweat, if anything.

And although I do like hats better when they have taken on some, um, personality, if this one stays pristine then that's fine, as it is a good looking hat right out the box.

Expect a photo here roundabout August 18th. ;)
 

SvH

New in Town
Messages
26
Location
Eindhoven, the Netherlands
Yesterday the mailman delivered my Capricorn. Didn't expect it this fast, and I was also lucky the taxman didn't charge me this time. Normally I always have to pay extra at the door when ordering from outside te EU.
Straight out of the box, the hat felt hard like a construction workers safety hat. But after 'crunching' it, it got much better. I do miss a bit the natural straw look, but it doesn't look too plastic. The sweatband is not perfectly placed, it sticks out a few millimeters at the back, but not too bothering. And if it starts to bother me, a needle and a thread will fix it easilly. The fit is perfect. My size is a bit under 58, so I orderd a 58, and it even stays on my head while biking with strong wind, and without being too thight. For the rest it is a nice looking hat with a nice shape. And water resistant! The brim could have been a bit wider for me for more protection from the sun, but it is not too stingy.

Yes, I am very pleased with this hat! A few minor details that could have been better, but I am not complaining at all.
My girlfriend is now jealous for not ordering one for her too... But on the other hand, both walking on the street with the same hat? I don't know...
 

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