"Rugged" Fedora Dilemma:

A fedora-purchasing dilemma:

I’m looking for a rugged, sturdy, (and yet) handsome outdoor fedora that will last look good with casual wear and outdoor wear.

Specifically, I am looking for something with a teardrop/diamond crown and a 2 1/8” to 2 3/8” brim – viz. lower crowns (almost all crowns make the fedora look like a top-hat on me) and shorter brims – these styles fit my face much more handsomely.

So far, I have been particularly attracted to the shape, style, color of two particular fedoras: The Stetson “Bear Creek” and the Stetson “Moose River” (khaki Green) fedoras.

http://www.noggintops.com/page.cfm?p=52

http://www2.llbean.com/product/13081.htm

(Looking at the name, I’m wondering if the hat is basically the same thing – different headbands - just marketed to two different websites – what do you think?)

Here are a few more pictures of the “Bear Creek.”











Before I am about to buy either one of these fedoras, I always find another handsome and comparable one. Most Akubras put me off, yet so far I have narrowed my selections to these two hats specifically.

Your thoughts? Opinions?

Also, are there any other types similar to the two above that I’m missing out on?

Thanks for the help,

- M


(And, yes, I have already read all the threads in praise and denouncement of Stetson brand fedoras…)

Matthew said:

A fedora-purchasing dilemma... I’m looking for a rugged, sturdy, (and yet) handsome outdoor fedora that will last look good with casual wear and outdoor wear...

Before I am about to buy either one of these fedoras, I always find another handsome and comparable one. Most Akubras put me off, yet so far I have narrowed my selections to these two hats specifically...

Your thoughts? Opinions?

Click to expand...

Thing is, with your criteria the only item that I can think of is The Akubra Federation. They hold up very well with harsh weather. I have one that I've owned since 2002 and the shape is pretty much the same.

I have had the Bear Creek for about 6 months and before I knew it, it replaced my Adventurebilt as my everyday hat. Although it is not even close to being as well made as the AB, it is not bad and well worth the money. I have abused it with everything from rain, to lifting the hood of a car and having it spew motor oil at it and my face :rage: . I brush it once in a while and it looks like the day I bought it. It has become softer. I do think that the 7 1/8 size seemed a little tight at first. I used a hat strecher and just wore it most every day and now it fits perfectly. The Moose River has always called out to me. That looks like a nice hat also.

...Really?

Bebop said:

I have had the Bear Creek for about 6 months and before I knew it, it replaced my Adventurebilt as my everyday hat. Although it is not even close to being as well made as the AB, it is not bad and well worth the money. I have abused it with everything from rain, to lifting the hood of a car and having it spew motor oil at it and my face :rage: . I brush it once in a while and it looks like the day I bought it. It has become softer. I do think that the 7 1/8 size seemed a little tight at first. I used a hat strecher and just wore it most every day and now it fits perfectly. The Moose River has always called out to me. That looks like a nice hat also.

Click to expand...

...Really? Thats very informative.

Furthermore, if I may:

Does the hat look as tall on you as it does on the model in the photos in the seller's website?

Does the leather band wear into a nice patina, like higher-quality leathers, or does it fade in an unwanted fashion?

Also, of course I have to ask... Does the hat demonstrate any of the afflictions that are said to plague some Stetson hats?

(Oh, and, I'd love to see pictures of the said road-tested hat... )

Thanks!

I am reminded of the Stetson "Gun Club" fedora, but these seem better as current models. I wonder if the Gun Club was a better hat in the past.

Matthew,

You and I are in the same boat (and also nearly the same city...I live in Allendale). I also am looking for an "outdoor" hat. I like the Akubra Federations and Adverturebilts for their build, although I'm not necessarily looking for an "Indy" hat. However, the standard dimensions on these models are much too large for my face. A brim of more than 2 3/8 looks like a sombrero on me and I'm not tall enough to pull off such a high crown.

Let me know what you find. I like the Bear Creek, but might worry about the outside leather shrinking after it gets wet.

If the Federation is too big for you, you might want to consider the Akubra Stylemaster - it's probably just as tough as the Federation, but has a considerably smaller crown and brim. That is, if you're cool with the teardrop bash and bound edge. Like all Akubras, they represent excellent value for their low cost and exellent quality vs. most other modern makes. Check 'em out at HatsDirect or Everything Australian.

Simple Alterations

SinatraStyle said:

However, the standard dimensions on these models are much too large for my face. A brim of more than 2 3/8 looks like a sombrero on me and I'm not tall enough to pull off such a high crown.

Click to expand...

**************
One thing is you can have the brim cut to a smaller dimension. The guys have done a number of Cowboy Conversions, taking a large cowboy hat, then cutting the brim and re working the bash to a fedora style. So it may be possible to rework something close to get the brim size you need.

Also, some one wrote about a hat shop that has a brim cutter they had used on their hat, just recently. I wonder if it was done on completed hats very often to change the style?

Hmmm...

SinatraStyle said:

Matthew,
I like the Akubra Federations and Adverturebilts for their build, although I'm not necessarily looking for an "Indy" hat. However, the standard dimensions on these models are much too large for my face. A brim of more than 2 3/8 looks like a sombrero on me and I'm not tall enough to pull off such a high crown.

Let me know what you find. I like the Bear Creek, but might worry about the outside leather shrinking after it gets wet.

Click to expand...

I know what you mean... One of my 2 3/8" brim fedoras looks like a sombrero on me, too, and even my 4" crown hats look like top-hats. I'm sure to get any fedora trimmed to 2 1/8" at the nearby western store. Also, the "Indy" look is not something I want, either.

Concerning the leather, I hadn't thought about that... Good point.

Stay warm,

Matt

Protection available

Matthew said:

Concerning the leather, I hadn't thought about that... Good point. Matt

Click to expand...

********************

There are a ton of leather care products out there so you may find a protectorant for the band and not have to worry about it.

Matthew said:

...Really? Thats very informative.

Furthermore, if I may:

Does the hat look as tall on you as it does on the model in the photos in the seller's website?

Does the leather band wear into a nice patina, like higher-quality leathers, or does it fade in an unwanted fashion?

Also, of course I have to ask... Does the hat demonstrate any of the afflictions that are said to plague some Stetson hats?

(Oh, and, I'd love to see pictures of the said road-tested hat... )

Thanks!

Click to expand...

The Bear Creek does looks like it is as tall as the hat the guy in the photo is wearing. I am used to wearing high crowns so in comparison to something like an Open Road or my Adventurebilt, it does look short but I think it's because I was used to seeing alot more on my head than the Bear Creek.
The hat band has stayed as nice as the day I recieved it. I sprayed it with Scout rain and stain protector when I first recieved the hat so that may have protected the band from any damage.
As far as Stetson complaints, I have none of the ones I have read about. My Stetsons have been pretty good. I have an 8-10 yr. old Stetson Dune that I wore several times in snow storms, rain storms, sand storms and it has softened up quite nicely. I have never had a Stetson go bad or have color bleed because of water or abuse. Nor have I noticed any extreme taper after a few years. I don't abuse any hat and maybe that has something to do with it. I'm sure there are "bad" Stetsons but then again, I have had bad custom hats from %100 beaver.

I bought a Bear Creek last spring, and started wearing it as my dialy work hat now that the weather has turned cooler. The felt is a little thicker than my other hats, but it is nice and soft, and seems to be standing up to the rain and abuse. It brushes up very well. I had ordered it with an extra 1/4" trimmed off the brim to make it 2 1/8", but this was overlooked.Noggintops were quick to refund the extra charge for the trimming, and now I am glad that it is the original 2 3/8". The 7 3/8 size was way too big, and after using all of the sizing strips, it was a bit loose, but it seems to be downsizing enough that even with a fresh haircut, I will soon be removing one of the strips. The liner is a rich looking dark brown with gold insignia, and on windy days, like today I can pull the hat down snug and it usually stays put.
My only dissapointment is with the leather outer band.I am not a big fan of narrow leather bands to begin with, but I thought for a work hat the leather would not show sweat and dirt as bad as a ribbon.The leather band on my hat is not nearly as nice as the one pictured at the beginning of this thread, and looks a bit like a rubber band. One of these days its goona go, and I will replace it with a contrasting ribbon. If the only difference between the Bear Creek and the Stetson Chatham is the outer band, next time I would just go with a Chatham.
All in all though it is a pretty good hat that I enjoy wearing, and I like to think I look good in it even if nobody else does.(Not many farmers in these parts wear fedoras anymore).
Noggintops has provided me with good service, and I would recommend them to anyone.

Here's an off the wall idea that might work.

David Garrison at Garrison Hatters is running a $175 special on his custom Indy hats.

I'd contact him and see if he'll make one with dimensions that work for you at this same price. If he will, you'll get a super tough, custom made hat at a great price.

garrison hatters.com is the website, I believe.

I bought a Stetson Jeremiah that has served me well for a few years. It comes with a 3 1/2" brim "with some variation" which for me meant a full 4" brim (that I just recently reduced to 2 3/8"). I have used and abused the hat so much that if it had legs I think it would run away, but so far nothing I've done has managed to permanently damage or discolor the thing. The crushable wool felt line of stetson hats are rugged enough for whatever you want to do if you don't want to shell out for a fur felt knock-about hat and then have to cut on it to reduce the brim width and it's pretty easy to reduce the crown height.