Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

The Open Road Guild

Fivesense

One of the Regulars
Messages
210
Location
Idaho
After a couple years of deliberation, I finally took the plunge on the Open Road 10X in toast.

I sure am happy with it. I love the classic shape and cattlemen crown. As much as I love the various bashes of fedoras, I'm a cattlemen crease type of guy. The venting on the OR straw is great for warmer weather and acts like air conditioning when there's a nice breeze. I have a handful of traditional, wide brimmed cowboy hats, but the 2 3/4" brim of the OR is so versatile when going in and out of doors.

Now I can't wait for fall, whereupon I'll decide between the 6x felt and the Royal Deluxe. There's a case to be made for both, with the RD having a slight edge in versatility. Any thoughts on the matter will be welcomed.
 
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
After a couple years of deliberation, I finally took the plunge on the Open Road 10X in toast.

I sure am happy with it. I love the classic shape and cattlemen crown. As much as I love the various bashes of fedoras, I'm a cattlemen crease type of guy. The venting on the OR straw is great for warmer weather and acts like air conditioning when there's a nice breeze. I have a handful of traditional, wide brimmed cowboy hats, but the 2 3/4" brim of the OR is so versatile when going in and out of doors.

Now I can't wait for fall, whereupon I'll decide between the 6x felt and the Royal Deluxe. There's a case to be made for both, with the RD having a slight edge in versatility. Any thoughts on the matter will be welcomed.

The vented Open Roads are compelling hats. We’d love to see photos.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

Fivesense

One of the Regulars
Messages
210
Location
Idaho
The vented Open Roads are compelling hats. We’d love to see photos.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I love this hat the more I wear it. I have a number of straw, palm, and vented cotton type hats. This has fast become my favorite.
 

Attachments

  • or1.jpg
    or1.jpg
    800.6 KB · Views: 3,141
  • or2.jpg
    or2.jpg
    1.3 MB · Views: 2,548

jlee562

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,047
Location
San Francisco, CA
Yah I think I have to grab one of those from JJ, I was looking at them last night (browser tab still open, lol).

Going on a trip next month and it would be nice to not have to baby my Panama OR.

I did have a chuckle upon seeing the "authentic x's" imprint on some of these (others have the regular OR imprint). Would sure love to know what an "authentic x" means for a shangtung hat.
 

Fivesense

One of the Regulars
Messages
210
Location
Idaho
Yah I think I have to grab one of those from JJ, I was looking at them last night (browser tab still open, lol).

Going on a trip next month and it would be nice to not have to baby my Panama OR.

I did have a chuckle upon seeing the "authentic x's" imprint on some of these (others have the regular OR imprint). Would sure love to know what an "authentic x" means for a shangtung hat.

I think “authentic x” means somewhere between 6-12x, which for Shantung may mean, oh who knows what.

Either way, I really like it. It handles steam and while it takes awhile, subtle changes are possible.

I don’t plan to beat this hat, but I won’t baby it either.
 
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
Yah I think I have to grab one of those from JJ, I was looking at them last night (browser tab still open, lol).

Going on a trip next month and it would be nice to not have to baby my Panama OR.

I did have a chuckle upon seeing the "authentic x's" imprint on some of these (others have the regular OR imprint). Would sure love to know what an "authentic x" means for a shangtung hat.

Those pesky counterfeit Xs!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
If the hemp had vents, I’d likely have gone with that. Or if they made a palm with vents.

But the Shantung OR looks and feels classic. It works.

I’m right there with you. The vents are great and go a long way to tip the scale that direction. This is a great hat to take advantage of the qualities of shantung.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

Fivesense

One of the Regulars
Messages
210
Location
Idaho
Is there a link or post number(s) in this thread that discusses the advantages of the 6X felt vs. Royal Deluxe Open Road? I know the stiff vs. softer factors, which is likely what will determine my decision, but I'm wondering if anyone has a particularly compelling utilitarian reason for either.

I don't wear hats for fashion or to complement my dress; I wear them for utility and if the hat happens to be a cool style like the Open Road then that's a bonus. Regardless, either the 6X or RD can dress up whatever I'm wearing.

I suppose the ability to re-bash the Royal Deluxe is key. Just musing here, so any thoughts are welcomed.
 
Messages
19,096
Location
Funkytown, USA
Is there a link or post number(s) in this thread that discusses the advantages of the 6X felt vs. Royal Deluxe Open Road? I know the stiff vs. softer factors, which is likely what will determine my decision, but I'm wondering if anyone has a particularly compelling utilitarian reason for either.

I don't wear hats for fashion or to complement my dress; I wear them for utility and if the hat happens to be a cool style like the Open Road then that's a bonus. Regardless, either the 6X or RD can dress up whatever I'm wearing.

I suppose the ability to re-bash the Royal Deluxe is key. Just musing here, so any thoughts are welcomed.

Are you comparing a modern 6X with a modern RD, or vintage? Does the modern RD come open crown?

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk
 
Messages
18,915
Location
Central California
If you’re talking about new hats, you’ll need to move soon to get a Royal De Luxe (RD) Open Road (OR) has discontinued making them. I’ve owned the 6X and it you want a hard wearing hat for protection it does an admirable job. However, if it doesn’t fit you perfectly it is so stiff that it doesn’t easily conform to your head shape. It also isn’t easily reshaped, but with lots of steam and time you can reshape the 6X hats. The RD OR is on my list for a future outlet purchase. My RD Stratoliners are excellent hats and the felt is quite impressive.

As the prices are usually so close, I don’t know who would chose a 6X over a RD. Then again, at full retail prices you can get a custom made hat for less than the Stetson.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

Fivesense

One of the Regulars
Messages
210
Location
Idaho
Are you comparing a modern 6X with a modern RD, or vintage? Does the modern RD come open crown?

Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk
I'm considering a new Open Road. As to the RD, I've only seen it with the cattleman crease, but others may know differently.
 

Fivesense

One of the Regulars
Messages
210
Location
Idaho
If you’re talking about new hats, you’ll need to move soon to get a Royal De Luxe (RD) Open Road (OR) has discontinued making them. I’ve owned the 6X and it you want a hard wearing hat for protection it does an admirable job. However, if it doesn’t fit you perfectly it is so stiff that it doesn’t easily conform to your head shape. It also isn’t easily reshaped, but with lots of steam and time you can reshape the 6X hats. The RD OR is on my list for a future outlet purchase. My RD Stratoliners are excellent hats and the felt is quite impressive.

As the prices are usually so close, I don’t know who would chose a 6X over a RD. Then again, at full retail prices you can get a custom made hat for less than the Stetson.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Interesting... Why is the RD OR being discontinued? I guess technically one could re-bash a Stratoliner into a cattleman crease.

At retail, I've found a new 6X OR for about $160. A new OR RD seems to be going for about $180-$200, but just this morning, now that you've said they are discontinued, I can't seem to find any in Silverbelly in my size (7 3/8)!

I've found a couple of the 1865 Distressed, but I prefer to do any of my own distressing "naturally." There are also some in Sage, which isn't a bad option.

The more I research, the more I think I prefer "Natural" vs. Silverbelly, at least in Open Road.
 
Last edited:

AbbaDatDeHat

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,638
A personal perspective:
New stuff is nice. Unmolested, all the wear and character is your’s, not someone else's. As for new hats, excluding customs, the newness is the appeal, imho. The quality and craftsmanship, the durability and longevity of modern new hats are variables only time will bare out. With vintage hats these variables are well established.
If i have $160-200 for an Open Road style hat purchase, i’m looking for a vintage hat without question, because there is no way your bang for the bucks will be greater with a new modern. Imo
You will get new and unmolested, much lesser quality and craftsmanship, and then have a hat not worth $160-200 like you would with a vintage.
To each his own but for the money, i’ll look patiently for a little/lightly worn OR style vintage hat and will find them in short order and know a new kind of newness that only a vintage hat can bring.
To me, that’s what we do here.
Just a perspective....ymmv.
Bowen
 

Fivesense

One of the Regulars
Messages
210
Location
Idaho
A personal perspective:
New stuff is nice. Unmolested, all the wear and character is your’s, not someone else's. As for new hats, excluding customs, the newness is the appeal, imho. The quality and craftsmanship, the durability and longevity of modern new hats are variables only time will bare out. With vintage hats these variables are well established.
If i have $160-200 for an Open Road style hat purchase, i’m looking for a vintage hat without question, because there is no way your bang for the bucks will be greater with a new modern. Imo
You will get new and unmolested, much lesser quality and craftsmanship, and then have a hat not worth $160-200 like you would with a vintage.
To each his own but for the money, i’ll look patiently for a little/lightly worn OR style vintage hat and will find them in short order and know a new kind of newness that only a vintage hat can bring.
To me, that’s what we do here.
Just a perspective....ymmv.
Bowen
No doubt the character of a vintage is going to be a major part of the appeal, as well as the quality.

I've yet to venture into vintage, yet I know that's what most folks here do. Maybe this is the hat that could be my first step into that realm.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
107,028
Messages
3,026,684
Members
52,533
Latest member
RacerJ
Top