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Guide for first fedora/hat
- Thread starter Creeping Past
- Start date
- Messages
- 10,379
- Location
- vancouver, canada
You cannot go wrong with an Akubra....fur felt for the winter months one of their straw offerings for the heat of summer.
itsallgood
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 175
Stratoliner. Up your budget. Go for the premier, you'll save 100s of dollars stepping your way through hats as you develop a sense of what they bring. Del Monico has a sale going on. "Visit us online or in store and use discount code HEART21 for 15% off your entire order through February 28th." Steam in whatever bash works best for the shape of your face, breadth of your shoulders, type of shirt you typically wear, etc. If you don't know, experiment! I personally don't like the traditional teardrop or diamond, but a simple centerdent works for me. This hat is not prepressed at the factory, you'll steam it in using a tea kettle. Or, just ask Del Monico, they'll do it for you, although it can be changed anytime by steaming again. You will carry about you a very classy/casual look that can't be beat.
https://www.delmonicohatter.com/product/TFPSTRB12241973.htm
- Messages
- 10,379
- Location
- vancouver, canada
Is your price point still $130 or so?
johnnycanuck
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,005
- Location
- Alberta
The classic would be an Akubra Campdraft.
https://hatsdirect.com/collections/the-akubra-range-1/products/campdraft-open-crown
Same as how Stetson used to produce the Open Road model years ago. You can also buy a nice straw version from sunbody.
https://www.sunbody.com/index.cfm/product/589_1/open-road.cfm
Shorter brim helps with the vehicle.
hope that helps
Johnny
johnnycanuck
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,005
- Location
- Alberta
I have Akubra hats that are 20 years old and still going strong and looking good. I wear mine all summer. It’s usually not until it gets to 27 Celsius or higher that I start to get uncomfortable. That’s about 80 Fahrenheit. But that’s just me.
Johnny
Johnny
Rmccamey
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 5,656
- Location
- Central Texas
It's hard to beat an Acubra for durability or a Stratoliner or an Open Road in felt or straw...or a Sunbody.
- Messages
- 18,930
- Location
- Central California
The premier Stratoliners are decent hats, but I wish the crown was taller, the flange wasn’t as deep, and the brim was wider...of course that would make it something other than a Stratoliner. I like the Akubra Campdrafts over the Stratoliners, but that’s just me.
Another problem with the Stetson Premier Royal De Luxe Stratoliner and similar hats is that they are knocking on the price door for a custom hat. For me, Akubra really does dominate the entry level market, and even if you end up with many hats after many years you’ll still have a place for an Akubra in your rotation. Once you step beyond Akubra money I think a custom is the way to go. Custom hats are really pretty simple to order and you’ll get a much better hat for your money. You can also get the hat with your exact specifications without having to compromise.
We say it a lot around here, but get yourself an Akubra for your first fedora.
I hesitate to mention it, but vintage is another option. The better vintage hats are significantly nicer than modern hats with very few exceptions. It’s a rabbit hole and costly missteps can occur, so I’m sticking with my Akubra recommendation. Good luck.
Brent
Another problem with the Stetson Premier Royal De Luxe Stratoliner and similar hats is that they are knocking on the price door for a custom hat. For me, Akubra really does dominate the entry level market, and even if you end up with many hats after many years you’ll still have a place for an Akubra in your rotation. Once you step beyond Akubra money I think a custom is the way to go. Custom hats are really pretty simple to order and you’ll get a much better hat for your money. You can also get the hat with your exact specifications without having to compromise.
We say it a lot around here, but get yourself an Akubra for your first fedora.
I hesitate to mention it, but vintage is another option. The better vintage hats are significantly nicer than modern hats with very few exceptions. It’s a rabbit hole and costly missteps can occur, so I’m sticking with my Akubra recommendation. Good luck.
Brent
johnnycanuck
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,005
- Location
- Alberta
I will second rmccamey that’s what I am talking about. Here are a few still from “Bad day at Black Rock” of a guy wearing a hat casually.
maybe Paul Newman in “The long hot summer”
Being a history buff and a part of the labour class Open road style hats including the Akubra Campdraft have been a staple in the working class wardrobe for decades and have been copied by every hat manufacturer including every custom hat maker on this forum.
Now with that said, is this the style you were going for? Honestly you can wear just about any hat you want. If you want visual references watch those two movies. Who Framed Roger Rabbit has lots of casual fedora looks as extras in the background. Even Archie Bunker from “All in the family” was a dock worker and wore a Stetson Whippet style of fedora in 1971.
If we are not giving you the feedback you are interested in, maybe give us a little more information on what your thinking, influences you are looking at? I have a buddy that was a in city trucker for a few years and he wore a Barmah hat, usually when loading and unloading. https://hatsdirect.com/collections/the-barmah-range
I would personally go for a Tilley hat instead as the nylon and cotton would be cooler on hot days. You would just have to wash them regularly to keep them clean.
https://www.tilley.com/ca_en/
Let us know.
Johnny
maybe Paul Newman in “The long hot summer”
Being a history buff and a part of the labour class Open road style hats including the Akubra Campdraft have been a staple in the working class wardrobe for decades and have been copied by every hat manufacturer including every custom hat maker on this forum.
Now with that said, is this the style you were going for? Honestly you can wear just about any hat you want. If you want visual references watch those two movies. Who Framed Roger Rabbit has lots of casual fedora looks as extras in the background. Even Archie Bunker from “All in the family” was a dock worker and wore a Stetson Whippet style of fedora in 1971.
If we are not giving you the feedback you are interested in, maybe give us a little more information on what your thinking, influences you are looking at? I have a buddy that was a in city trucker for a few years and he wore a Barmah hat, usually when loading and unloading. https://hatsdirect.com/collections/the-barmah-range
I would personally go for a Tilley hat instead as the nylon and cotton would be cooler on hot days. You would just have to wash them regularly to keep them clean.
https://www.tilley.com/ca_en/
Let us know.
Johnny
- Messages
- 14,534
These are all great recommendations. I saw an Akubra Stylemaster for $160 with UPF protection. I'm leaning toward this one right now. Acorn color should go with most other colors I imagine.
https://www.delmonicohatter.com/product/1746.htm
https://www.delmonicohatter.com/product/1746.htm
johnnycanuck
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,005
- Location
- Alberta
That’s a great choice. For your first fedora
Welcome to the club. Let us know when you pull the trigger and remember to post pictures when it arrives.
Johnny
- Messages
- 18,930
- Location
- Central California
https://www.davidmorgan.com/shop/product/1382/stylemaster-hat/
I’d also look at the Sidney on sale for $115. It’s a open crown hat too boot!
https://www.davidmorgan.com/shop/product/92/sydney-hat-open-crown/
itsallgood
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 175
For your first fedora
We all enjoy the process. An Akubra was my first hat. And my second. And my third...
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itsallgood
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 175
The Sydney is a nice hat, I have one, purchased from David Morgan. Personally, I'd go for the Sydney over the Stylemaster. It's a lighter weight felt, so cooler, and being open crown, you can easily steam in that classy/casual look that I was referring to.
Oh, editing to add that the Sydney is softer to the touch than my other Akubras. The felt seems to be more dense, with a more thorough pounce. As such the felt has a finer, for lack of a better word, visual appearance.
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- Messages
- 10,379
- Location
- vancouver, canada
I have a 20 year old Sydney and I concur. The felt is soft, easily bashed and has stood up very well to the years.
itsallgood
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 175
Here you go. If either of these colors work for you, I'm pretty sure this is the same hat. Has a wind trolley though, so a little fancier.
https://hatsdirect.com/collections/fashion/products/fedora?variant=6431534341
Have no fear ordering from so far away. Very nice people, very reliable. When I ordered a hat from the Hattery and we were emailing back and forth, I was surprised to discover that I have been to Katoomba. Spent a day there. Small world!
Scooterz
Practically Family
- Messages
- 846
- Location
- The Great Plains
One advantage to wearing a fedora is to use it as an extension of your sunshade while driving. I don't know about big trucks, but in pickups and cars there are lots of times I tweak the brim down in front or on the side to block the sun when its hitting at an angle that my real sun visor does not cover. With a straw hat the brim might not be as manuverable but you can always tilt the hat some.
