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Ken David · Feb 17, 2020

Frunobulax said:
Yeah, I'd say mid- to late fifties with those dimensions and that re-order label. The liner tip is also indicative of a higher end 50s hat.

Thanks for the confirmation

If only it was 2 3/4" like this similar one that just sold on ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/STUNNING-M...l-/233449926838?nav=SEARCH#vi__app-cvip-panel

jonesy86 · Feb 19, 2020

Any suggestions for a travel hat?

I'm planning a trip to Italy and Greece 4 weeks, around the end of may-beginning of June, looking for a decent travel hat. Will be traveling light on planes, busses, trains and ferries with a small carryon back pack, and smaller day pack. Going to visit Rome, Athens, and several Greek Islands. Thinking of a foldable or packable hat.

Any ideas or suggestions welcome>

Peace

deadlyhandsome · Feb 19, 2020

jonesy86 said:
Any suggestions for a travel hat?

I'm planning a trip to Italy and Greece 4 weeks, around the end of may-beginning of June, looking for a decent travel hat. Will be traveling light on planes, busses, trains and ferries with a small carryon back pack, and smaller day pack. Going to visit Rome, Athens, and several Greek Islands. Thinking of a foldable or packable hat.

Any ideas or suggestions welcome>

Peace

Stop by Agnoulita while in Greece. He has Milan and Panama straw hats as well as fur felt.

As for a hat recommendation, the foldable/packable requirement is quite limiting. How about a Tilley hat?

jonesy86 · Feb 19, 2020

Thanks DH
I just went to the Agnoulita page and saw that he is featuring "The Deadly Handsome" hat LOL. I may stop by his shop on my way north from Crete, as I noticed that it is not far from where the ferries land near Athens.

Thanks for the suggestion on Tilley hats, I had not considered a cloth hat, but this one doesn't look too bad:

https://www.tilley.com/us_en/ltm6-airflo-hat.html

Are there any lesser quality foldable Panamas worth looking at? I have heard about foldable felt, but never seen one. Maybe I will see if I can crunch one of my plastic hats into a backpack if need be. Possibly my Akubra Country Club, or Dobbs Rosebud. The Akubra certainly seems indestructible.

Thanks again.

jlee562 · Feb 19, 2020

jonesy86 said:
Thanks DH
I just went to the Agnoulita page and saw that he is featuring "The Deadly Handsome" hat LOL. I may stop by his shop on my way north from Crete, as I noticed that it is not far from where the ferries land near Athens.

Thanks for the suggestion on Tilley hats, I had not considered a cloth hat, but this one doesn't look too bad:

https://www.tilley.com/us_en/ltm6-airflo-hat.html

Are there any lesser quality foldable Panamas worth looking at? I have heard about foldable felt, but never seen one. Maybe I will see if I can crunch one of my plastic hats into a backpack if need be. Possibly my Akubra Country Club, or Dobbs Rosebud. The Akubra certainly seems indestructible.

Thanks again.

I bought a foldable Hatco Stetson Forty Seven 'Panama.'

It was.....not great. It does fold, but the brim just never looked presentable to me.

JJ has some travel felts on clearance, but I've no idea on the quality
https://jjhatcenter.com/collections/the-backroom/products/the-explorer-in-navy

Xylophile · Feb 19, 2020

jonesy86 said:
Any suggestions for a travel hat?

I'm planning a trip to Italy and Greece 4 weeks, around the end of may-beginning of June, looking for a decent travel hat. Will be traveling light on planes, busses, trains and ferries with a small carryon back pack, and smaller day pack. Going to visit Rome, Athens, and several Greek Islands. Thinking of a foldable or packable hat.

Any ideas or suggestions welcome>

Peace

I needed a hat to travel with on motorcycle trips, and ended up with a linen eight panel cap. Linen for the warm weather and the cap for portability. I was taking an Akubra Country Club and wanted to avoid having to accommodate it. (for the curious, and because I can't find any pictures of my bike at the moment, here are some images of what I ride: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=henderson...com/listimg/img1_1215/12/img_M7H0l4HCA8_r.jpg)

Paycheck · Feb 19, 2020

Question from a new guy. Are there any good hat shops in NC, specifically the Raleigh area?

Bamaboots · Feb 19, 2020

Paycheck said:
Question from a new guy. Are there any good hat shops in NC, specifically the Raleigh area?

Almost eleven years ago. Doubt it’s changed much.
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/anyone-know-of-a-hatter-near-raleigh-nc.26944/

Hat and Rehat · Feb 21, 2020

Frunobulax said:
I would say it depends on the box. A traditional, old-style commercial hat box - oval with the support in side - seems kinda dodgy if turned sideways. Without the inner support (not all still have them), you might as well just store your hat on the side, which would affect it's shape. I think you'd have better luck with the newer, square boxes with the full insert/support. Still not ideal. Sit one up on it's side for a week and check the hat for "damage."

Frankly, I just advise getting a bigger house. Or all that pesky furniture; it's just getting in the way of your hats anyway.

I have mission style dining furniture. Each chair is good for two hats.

Dotneck · Feb 21, 2020

Paycheck said:
Question from a new guy. Are there any good hat shops in NC, specifically the Raleigh area?

I don't know of any good stores in Raleigh but there is a place in Greensboro called Mitchell's Clothing. Large selection of hats. The place is run by the original owner and his wife. They're kind of quiet until you get them talking. We ended up buying a handful of straw hats for my son's wedding. Its worth a look see if you are in the neighborhood.

Ken David · Feb 21, 2020

Dotneck said:
I don't know of any good stores in Raleigh but there is a place in Greensboro called Mitchell's Clothing. Large selection of hats. The place is run by the original owner and his wife. They're kind of quiet until you get them talking. We ended up buying a handful of straw hats for my son's wedding. Its worth a look see if you are in the neighborhood.

Ken David · Feb 21, 2020

Never heard of the store. Thanks for posting the info. I live near Greensboro and will have to check them out. What kind of hats do they sell?

The Shoe · Feb 23, 2020

I’m looking for some advice re Akubra hat size. You can’t buy them here in Japan, but I found a nice looking second hand Plainsman for a reasonable price.
My head measures just under 59 cm (but over 58.5). I usually wear a 59 or 60cm hat. I have wool felt and soft straw Bailey hats at L size (59) and a stiffer Toho paper Bailey at XL (60). My Christys’ is a 59.
The Akubra is a 59 and I think it’ll be a good fit, but I can’t try one at the shop, so advice from anyone who owns one would be great.

Lean'n'mean · Feb 23, 2020

The Shoe said:
I’m looking for some advice re Akubra hat size. You can’t buy them here in Japan, but I found a nice looking second hand Plainsman for a reasonable price.
My head measures just under 59 cm (but over 58.5). I usually wear a 59 or 60cm hat. I have wool felt and soft straw Bailey hats at L size (59) and a stiffer Toho paper Bailey at XL (60). My Christys’ is a 59.
The Akubra is a 59 and I think it’ll be a good fit, but I can’t try one at the shop, so advice from anyone who owns one would be great.

Since it's second hand, you don't know how the hat was used & stored. It's probably safe to presume that the sweatband/hat may have shrunk a little, so either it will fit or may need some gentle coaxing with a hat stretcher. If however, the previous owner left the hat in a car or next to a window in summer or dried it close to radiator when it got wet, etc. then it could be several sizes too small.

The Shoe · Feb 23, 2020

Lean'n'mean said:
Since it's second hand, you don't know how the hat was used & stored. It's probably safe to presume that the sweatband/hat may have shrunk a little, so either it will fit or may need some gentle coaxing with a hat stretcher. If however, the previous owner left the hat in a car or next to a window in summer or dried it close to radiator when it got wet, etc. then it could be several sizes too small.

Thanks for the reply.
Judging by the photos, it really looks to be in excellent condition. They’ve included pictures of the sweatband and it looks fine, too.
Any particular questions I should ask?

jlee562 · Feb 23, 2020

The basic answer is that anytime you are buying a second hand hat, it's a crapshoot. Most sellers can't competently measure the inside circumference anyways.

Akubras are notorious for shrinkage. Check the Akubra threads, it happens more often than not.

new2hats · Feb 24, 2020

Guidance please??

So I have come to the realization that I like my hats a bit looser than what I have thought I preferred previously. I find that a size OVER my normal size feels better with some padding, (I like a little movement with head turns, but grips with nods.). But most of my stuff is slightly tight or just right, with some being loose the way I now like them. Should I revamp my collection and sell off the tighter hats? Or stretch the slightly tighter hats with hat stretchers? If I buy a hat stretcher to store with all of my hats, then I would need ~ 40 hat stretchers! I do know that haircuts will change the fit. And also, our head shrinks with age?? Anyone been through this before?!

belfastboy · Feb 24, 2020

new2hats said:
Guidance please??

So I have come to the realization that I like my hats a bit looser than what I have thought I preferred previously. I find that a size OVER my normal size feels better with some padding, (I like a little movement with head turns, but grips with nods.). But most of my stuff is slightly tight or just right, with some being loose the way I now like them. Should I revamp my collection and sell off the tighter hats? Or stretch the slightly tighter hats with hat stretchers? If I buy a hat stretcher to store with all of my hats, then I would need ~ 40 hat stretchers! I do know that haircuts will change the fit. And also, our head shrinks with age?? Anyone been through this before?!

Not much help but my answer is that it depends. How tight are they? I have never hat much success stretching a hat. Even trying to ease it out a bit affects the look and structure of the hat. My response is to sell off the hats that are too tight as I don't wear them so no sense keeping them. I have been collecting for 25 years and my head has not changed in size at all over these years. If you plan ahead you could use just one hat stretcher and stretch the hat for 24 hours before wearing them. That will save you buying one for each tight hat.

deadlyhandsome · Feb 24, 2020

new2hats said:
Guidance please??

So I have come to the realization that I like my hats a bit looser than what I have thought I preferred previously. I find that a size OVER my normal size feels better with some padding, (I like a little movement with head turns, but grips with nods.). But most of my stuff is slightly tight or just right, with some being loose the way I now like them. Should I revamp my collection and sell off the tighter hats? Or stretch the slightly tighter hats with hat stretchers? If I buy a hat stretcher to store with all of my hats, then I would need ~ 40 hat stretchers! I do know that haircuts will change the fit. And also, our head shrinks with age?? Anyone been through this before?!

I’ve had luck stretching hats up a fraction of a size. If you’re just giving it a little nudge you might try one hat and see how it turns out. If you stretch too much you can ruin sweatbands and often the brim distorts and won’t look tight unless the hat is reflanged. I’d say try it with one hat and see how it goes. I’ll also say that I’ve had better luck with a tapered band block rather than a hat stretcher. Good luck.

Louis Mountbatten · Feb 24, 2020

It also depends on the sweatband. If it is that real think, pseudo-leather popular in the 1960s, it won't likely stretch very much.

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