Barmah Hats

HarpPlayerGene · Jul 31, 2009

Goose. said:

Well hell, Goose, that looks great!! Better than mine looks on me for sure. I like the band. Oh, and I believe I paid $75 for mine years ago so you did well on the price too.

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Goose. · Aug 1, 2009

Blackthorn said:
So, they squish flat? Who'd have thunk? And it sprang back up to that shape...that's cool.

Yep and yep. Arrived like one of those steel trash can lids that had been run over. Took it out of the flat envelope, punched up the crown, and viola! Just as you see it in the former post on my noggin'.

Chuck Bobuck said:
Goose,
... Does the shirt say Armed and Hammered? lol

Yep

The hat is squashy and rooey too!

Mr. Paladin said:
lol lol lol Goose, you are ..... the funniest!!! I love your posts!

Hey Thanks Mr. Paladin. Fun. Like the Hokey Pokey, that's what it's all about.

HarpPlayerGene said:
Well hell, Goose, that looks great!! Better than mine looks on me for sure. I like the band. Oh, and I believe I paid $75 for mine years ago so you did well on the price too.

Thanks for kudos Gene. Again, because of you, I got my "Roo".

It was about $85 shipped from Down Under. Think the hat was $55. Still, not too bad I'm thinking. I'm happy.

Wore it all day today. Temp in the mid-high 70F range. Interesting, at least to me, that it seemed cooler on the noggin' than my Akubra lids. So, being the exciting old man I am, zoomed by the post office to weigh it on the digital scale in the lobby.

7.3 oz. Squashy Roo

Compared to:
3.8 oz. Sydney/Fedora
5.1 oz. Squatter
5.2 oz. Federation IV Deluxe
5.5 oz. Federation IV Standard

Thank you, gentlemen, for your gracious posts.

Here's some more pics:

.

Goose. · Aug 14, 2009

Decided I "needed" a black Barmah for those more formal occasions. Sundowner Roo Black 1019. While I really like the outtathebox distressed look of the Squashy Roo Hickory that I have, this black may not show the sweat as much.

So, a cool weather and a warm weather Skippy ("Skippy"; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skippy_the_Bush_Kangaroo)

Like Original Recipe or Crispy at KFC. Choices are good.

indycop · Aug 14, 2009

Goose. said:
Like Original Recipe or Crispy at KFC. Choices are good.

What are ya gonna get for the new grilled KFC?lol

Goose. · Aug 15, 2009

indycop said:
What are ya gonna get for the new grilled KFC?lol

Hmmmmm...I'm thinking that since "grilled" is best for keeping "thin", perhaps a "Thin Ribbon" so I can be a member of the "Thin Ribbon Society".
The Odd Fellows wouldn't accept me as I was just too "Odd"

HarpPlayerGene · Aug 15, 2009

Very, very cool, Goose.

"Formal occasions"; that's funny. But those 'Roos rock on you, I gotta' say.

Cheers, no worries, pip, pip and all that rot.

belfastboy · Dec 27, 2019

BryanB said:
Ok just a disclaimer: I know everyone on this website loves Akubra, and convinced me to pick up a Stylemaster recently, when I was going to get a cheaper wool fedora.

I live in Israel, and I really don't know why but in Israel they love Australian outdoors wear. For example Blundstone boots are super popular here. Anyways I made the mistake of walking into the camping store at the mall for no particular reason. They have this 1018 Barmah Kangaroo leather hat. I saw it in black stonewash. I picked it up and was shocked at how light it and thin it was. Being an 80s kid it reminded of the Crocodile Dundee hat. I put it down and was like nah, walked out. But now I keep thinking how much I want it.

It's very hot and sunny here 9 months of the year. I think black would be too hot. I had a buffalo nickel Minnetonka leather hat once, back when I actually lived in Buffalo. It did get quite hot, but I wore it all the time anyway because I loved its looks. I went to orientation at the Buffalo museum of science to be a volunteer for the Byron-Hiscock Mastodon site, later that summer. The head archaeologist told the entire auditorium he didn't want anyone coming to the site thinking they were Indiana Jones. LOL I know that was for me. Another time I wore it to a den of smack heads in East Liverpool Ohio. Recently infamous for the cops finding a kid in the back of the car with both grandparents passed out on heroin. It's ghetto there, my brother dragged me there for some girls. There was an Iraq war vet in the house. He took one look at me and said you gotta alotta b***s wearing that hat around here. To this day I wonder what he meant by that. I guess inner city types would get pissed taking it for a symbol of redneck culture or something. IDK. I just like the hat.

Anways back to the Barmah, the kangaroo leather is much lighter than the cow leather and the barmah has vents. I think the brown version would probably work out better for the sun.

What do you guys think of leather full brim hats? What do you think of Barmah? What do you think of kangaroo leather vs cow hide? Can it be worn in the summer?

Waaay back in the day when I played baseball, in the era before plastic shoes/man made 'leather' the pinnacle of baseball cleats were those made with kangaroo leather. The leather was much lighter than cow and tougher. Not sure how that translates to hats but it is a slow day here and I am bored!

belfastboy · Dec 28, 2019

BryanB said:
How was the kangaroo leather for using in the heat?

If I can recall a time long ago....they were the same as cow leather but felt much better due to their lightness.

johnnycanuck · Jan 15, 2020

BryanB said:
Hi guys,

What's the deal on streching leather barmah hats? It's kangaroo. I'm a 59, ordered a large per the size chart. There's no way it's a 59. Fit is quite tight, and looks a bit goofy on my head. I'm not sure if it is worth it to return it to hats-by-the-hundred in AUSTRALIA! I may just buy another or try to stretch this one.

Do you guys think it could even out with a bit of stretching or is this size L a lost cause? Would you return it to Australia?

Plus we had historic rains in Israel this month and the box came partially damaged with a note from customs apologizing, so I don't have a proper box to send it back in.
https://ibb.co/HgV8HqJ
https://ibb.co/TcTHnpK

A buddy of mine has one of these hats. Was a truck driver that loaded and unloaded his own truck. So lots of sun rain and sweat. When it started to get tight he would just stretch it over his knee. Same as you go a Tilley hat. See if that works. Hope you enjoy your hat.
Johnny

johnnycanuck · Jan 15, 2020

BryanB said:
Ok just a disclaimer: I know everyone on this website loves Akubra, and convinced me to pick up a Stylemaster recently, when I was going to get a cheaper wool fedora.

I live in Israel, and I really don't know why but in Israel they love Australian outdoors wear. For example Blundstone boots are super popular here. Anyways I made the mistake of walking into the camping store at the mall for no particular reason. They have this 1018 Barmah Kangaroo leather hat. I saw it in black stonewash. I picked it up and was shocked at how light it and thin it was. Being an 80s kid it reminded of the Crocodile Dundee hat. I put it down and was like nah, walked out. But now I keep thinking how much I want it.

It's very hot and sunny here 9 months of the year. I think black would be too hot. I had a buffalo nickel Minnetonka leather hat once, back when I actually lived in Buffalo. It did get quite hot, but I wore it all the time anyway because I loved its looks. I went to orientation at the Buffalo museum of science to be a volunteer for the Byron-Hiscock Mastodon site, later that summer. The head archaeologist told the entire auditorium he didn't want anyone coming to the site thinking they were Indiana Jones. LOL I know that was for me. Another time I wore it to a den of smack heads in East Liverpool Ohio. Recently infamous for the cops finding a kid in the back of the car with both grandparents passed out on heroin. It's ghetto there, my brother dragged me there for some girls. There was an Iraq war vet in the house. He took one look at me and said you gotta alotta b***s wearing that hat around here. To this day I wonder what he meant by that. I guess inner city types would get pissed taking it for a symbol of redneck culture or something. IDK. I just like the hat.

Anways back to the Barmah, the kangaroo leather is much lighter than the cow leather and the barmah has vents. I think the brown version would probably work out better for the sun.

What do you guys think of leather full brim hats? What do you think of Barmah? What do you think of kangaroo leather vs cow hide? Can it be worn in the summer?

I never owned this brand but I did own a leather hat of this style and used it for hiking. It was what Akubra would call Sandtone in a suade finish. Never found it too hot, worked out great. The brim with the wire in the brim took some getting used to. It wouldn’t flop in a strong wind like a felt hat would, it would kind of wobble. Overall a good packable hat that provides good sun protection.
Hope that helps.
Johnny

johnnycanuck · Jan 15, 2020

BryanB said:
Yeah I do think it would stretch because it did a little just forcing down and wearing it a few minutes. Still I think the crown of the hat looks shrunken and silly on my head. Its a very shallow crown and the top pushes over my head when pulled down to about my ear. Will it look like it fits better if I stretched with a hat stretcher or a knee?

The shallow crown is what it is. A larger size will be looser but not higher. Also unless to treat the leather regularly it may shrink over time. Not sure what to suggest. To stretch it out you will need a hat jack and work your way up the crown. That could warp the crown or pop the top stitches If done wrong. If you know what I mean. My buddy never concerned himself with that. Just wore high and back on his head most of the time and only snugged it down when weather required it (windy)

johnnycanuck · Jan 15, 2020

BryanB said:
Yeah I'm pretty happy with my akubra stylemaster. I wear it all the time. It was too small at first too, but that was because the 60cm was round for my 59cm LO head. Now it is a little big just how I like it

Same thing happened to me. Except the first Akubra I bought was 59cm. That was a interesting breaking in period. Honestly I always prefer my Akubra/felt hats over my others. I have Tilley hats I love and wear from time to time. My cold weather toques. My crazy hot weather Pith helmets. But the rest of the time I am usually in a felt hat.
Johnny

Lean'n'mean · Jan 15, 2020

BryanB said:
Hi guys,

What's the deal on streching leather barmah hats? It's kangaroo. I'm a 59, ordered a large per the size chart. There's no way it's a 59. Fit is quite tight, and looks a bit goofy on my head. I'm not sure if it is worth it to return it to hats-by-the-hundred in AUSTRALIA! I may just buy another or try to stretch this one.

Do you guys think it could even out with a bit of stretching or is this size L a lost cause? Would you return it to Australia?

Plus we had historic rains in Israel this month and the box came partially damaged with a note from customs apologizing, so I don't have a proper box to send it back in.
https://ibb.co/HgV8HqJ
https://ibb.co/TcTHnpK

The Aussie leather hats are notorious for running small & Barmah are no doubt the worst. It's always recommended to get the next size up from your normal size, plus these hats shrink, so if the hat is already too small, stretching it isn't going to work. Barmah hats have low, snug fitting crowns at the best of times, not to everyone's taste. If it's really too small then the sensible thing to do is send it back & if you get the next size up, never leave the hat in a car (or by a window in direct sun) in hot weather & regularly treat it with wax to keep the leather supple & water resistant.

StoryPNW · Sep 14, 2021

I don't mean to resurrect a dead post here but I bought a Barmah kangaroo leather hat when I went to Australia 6 or 7 years ago. I love that hat it has traveled all over with me and held up very well.

belfastboy · Sep 14, 2021

StoryPNW said:
I don't mean to resurrect a dead post here but I bought a Barmah kangaroo leather hat when I went to Australia 6 or 7 years ago. I love that hat it has traveled all over with me and held up very well. View attachment 361570

When I was teen playing baseball (many many years ago) the grail of baseball cleats were made of kangaroo leather......tough & light....but they were expensive.

StoryPNW · Sep 14, 2021

BryanB said:
I'm actually not crazy about the Barmahs. I have huge collection of about 30 adventure style and boonie style hats. The barmahs looks cool, but but I've found its way too hot in even the high 80s. Also, when it gets hot the sides curl up totally changing the style of the hat, and taking away a lot of the sun protection. It's light and and collapsable so that's going for it.

The sizing is way off, by like 2 or 3 sizes, so I had to order it twice. It wasn't cheap, and one one of the few hats I regret buying.

I know what you mean about the sizing, I'm a 7 1/2 or 60 in most hats the Barmah is a snug XL. I have some sentimental attachment to mine since I got it in Australia. I find it to be warmer the my Tilley airflow hat but definitely cooler than my Akubra Stockman. It will remain a part of my collection for a long time I hope.

hatsRme · Sep 14, 2021

belfastboy said:
When I was teen playing baseball (many many years ago) the grail of baseball cleats were made of kangaroo leather......tough & light....but they were expensive.

Of course ‘Roo leather cleats are great. They really give the wearer a jump on the competition!

belfastboy · Sep 14, 2021

hatsRme said:
Of course ‘Roo leather cleats are great. They really give the wearer a jump on the competition!

I know it was illusion but I sure felt faster wearing mine!

LEOSTARK · Apr 21, 2022

Sorry to revive an old thread. I am interested in getting one of those 'Roo hats. I have two questions.

1- How is the sizing? If I am 57cm, should I go a size up? Do they all come with some sizing tape?
2- How do they handle the wind without a chin strap? Are they a flight risk in gusts?

Thank you very much!

LEOSTARK · Apr 21, 2022

BryanB said:
The quality and look is good. That said as an adventure hat collector, leather isn't for me.

The sizing is way off, about two sizes too small. In other words, I normally wear an L, but had to get XL. I don't care for these hats. They're only comfortable in the 60-70s F. In the sun the brim curls and reduces the sun protection and changes the look.

I'd say they're decently heavy with the grabby elastic sweat band, that they would only fly off in heavy wind. There's an after market barmah chin strap you can buy. I'd say most adventure hats are comparable in wind resistance, but most have chin straps for a reason. If you like the hat but plan on windy days, just get the after market strap.

Appreciate the reply, Bryan. I read about your odd experience earlier in the thread with sizing and was hoping you would chime in.

The curling in the sun, is that because the leather is getting dry possibly? Have you tried treating it with a conditioner of some sort to restore its resilience?

I have never had a leather hat before, but I have a few leather jackets and boots. I do like the style of the squishy, and assumed if anyone is gonna make a good outdoors hat for sunny hot weather, it's going to be the Australians.

I am all ears on their utility, and your recommendations.

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