dating a sheplers OR

[pgoat]

Just FYI, I think everythingaustralian has the best prices right now. They have the silver belly and the taupe fawn but there's a three month wait for either. At those prices I may just get one of each, so as not to have to wait 6 months!

I was measuring my hats to see what size to order (would prefer not to make a mistake at this long distance). My best fitting hats (by Art Fawcett) come out at 58.5 cm (23.03"); my wife got 23 1/4" (590.5 mm) using a tape measure around my noggin.

Could anyone chime in on how the Akubras (Campdraft in particular) fit - are they roomy, snug, etc.- when new, and whether they tighten up over time. Sorry if this has been covered before - I saw old threads where people related how the felt was stiff and quickly softened, but I'm still not sure about the fit characteristics. I did see something about how the sweatbands were stiff.....

I imagine a 58 would be too tight and am guessing I should go with a 59 on the Campy, yes?

 

[jimmy the lid]

pgoat -- FWIW, I'm right between a 7 3/8 and 7 1/2, and a tape measure comes in at around 23 1/4 for me, as well. My Akubra "R.M." (which really is a Campdraft) is size 60. It started off as quite a loose fit, but tightened up rather quickly after a bit of wearing. It now fits perfectly -- one of my best fitting lids.

Cheers,
JtL

 

[pgoat]

Hmmm....well, this is why I asked. I was all set to pull the trigger on the 59(s) and realized I should make sure before ordering.

Thanks JtL! we seem to have identical heads, thinking alike! I should have mentioned I am a bit of a long oval as well....but 7 1/2 LOs are oftn too roomy for me. 7 3/8 LOs usually work because they are more efficient on my head shape, whereas the extra room of a reg oval 7 1/2 usually seems to allow it to conform to my egg head......I think.

Anyone else have a sizing view to share, pls keep it coming.

 

[jimmy the lid]

Yup. I'm a Long Oval, as well...


Cheers,
JtL

 

[pgoat]

ahhh........the plot thickens

that makes sense I guess....thanks again Jimmy!

 

[pgoat]

Interesting....I just measured all my hats (using a flexible nylon tape measure held around the inside of the sweatband) and while the ones that I thought would be the smallest and largest based on feel turned to be just that, all the sizes were smaller than I would have thought.

Turns out my comfort zone is right around 58cm (between 577mm and 582mm are my best fits, with an Art Fawcett beauty right in the middle at 580 on the nose). Weird, since listed sizes inside the hats say "59" or "60", but they measure out much smaller......I just ordered a custom over the phone (see Boris' thread on his amazing Bogie clone by Gus Miller of Cincinnati) and told them I take a 59......now I am panicking!

Maybe I should order a 59 in the Akubra after all (so it settles in at 58 long oval after stretching/shrinking/conforming)? The smallest hat I have that fits is a 7 3/8 LO stingy Knox (I just had it on ebay but no takers) it is snug though not painfully so at 573mm. It just sits a wee bit higher on my head than I like, with slightly more noticabel pressure than my other hats. I also have two hats that are 785mm and they feel a bit loose - not 'blow right off your head with a slight gust" loose, but they feel a bit sloppy up there and I think they sit a bit too low around the forehead and ear tops.

Oh, the incongruity of it all!! Is the tape measure around the head more important than the tape measure inside the hat or should both measurements be the same?

 

[indycop]

I go by my head measurement, and akubras will shrink.

 

[pgoat]

thanks IC - I guess this is true for most hats as well (as opposed to them stretching with time).

 

[pgoat]

I'm pulling the trigger on the Taupe Fawn; hope it looks half as good on me as it does on RBH!

I am going with the 60 even though the www.everythingaustralian.com sizing chart says:

7 3/8 59cm (23.23")

7 1/2 60cm (23.62")

As you guys said, if it shrinks I should have a dandy fit!

Adam of EA said they could do a long oval for me, with the same ghastly three month waiting period. I also asked about wider ribbons, though I'll try the thin ribbon for awhile if Akubra won't swap it out.

Looking forward to this one - thanks for the help, guys.

 

[RBH]

You are going to love it!!!
I am wearing mine as I type.
My Campdraft is a 60 and it fit perfect, my Federation is also a a 60 and it was a little big. The sizing tape that they sent was just right on the Federation and it has shrunk down quit a bit.
Be sure to post some photos when the Campdraft arrives!!!

 

[pgoat]

Thanks! I will be sure to post pics.

I want to eventually do one of those "which of these look ok (or not)?" threads with all my hats (about a dozen) to get some expert opinions from FL members. I have a few new hats and a few more on the way (a nice feeling!! ) so I'll wait....but I may have to post before the CD shows up though....three months!!! sigh

I really want to get the silver belly too but the wife says I don't look so hot in very light colored hats.....I am normally inclined to spend recklessly but I guess it's at least worth waiting to see how the sizing works out before ordering a second one.

I was reading through some more old Akubra appreciation threads and am jazzed about finally ordering one of my own. Even though I have splurged on a few customs I am sure it will be a hat I will be proud to own and wear.

 

[RBH]

I think you will be very happy with your Campdraft.
So much so ...that you will order another Akubra very soon!