New to the Lounge and need a Hat!

[Matt Deckard]

As a starter hat for someone going into the realm of fur felts I always recommend Akubra. They are sort of the old Ford of hats... you know, the new Toyota. Not too frilly, very durable, and they tend o have a high enough crown that will allow you to play with the shape till it looks like it belongs on your head.

When you get a new hat you also have to allow some break in time. Play with it, keep it on your head, let the sweat hit the band and watch as time goes by and the hat looks less and less like an affectation and more and more like something that is part of you.

Check out the thread on Felt Hat Basics.

 

[chanteuseCarey]

Hello tbrunke, welcome here, so much to see in FL-land...

I found FL via the same avenue about maybe two weeks ago. My DH now has just two vintage fedoras bought very recently, and a tourist shop Panama bought like 15 years ago. I've been learning LOTS from checking in on the threads here, such as "What Hat are you wearing today?". I have a list going now of great hats to look for for DH and our 12-1/2yo son. He just got his first, a vintage stingy brim 50-60s fedora, and a vintage beaver Opera hat for wearing with his white tie and tails.

The Campdraft and Fed IV hats I've seen on all the gents here are fabulous. You can't go wrong by looking and learning on FL. Good luck and happy hunting. Don't forget to post a pic of your mug in your lid when you get one!

Hello to all,

Well I am new here to the Fedore Lounge, and stumbled across this site while looking into purchasing a Fedora. I am very interested in this site and enjoy reading what everyone writes!

Am not well versed on the different types of headwear, so any bits of info I can get are very helpful. I am looking for a nice inexpensive Fedora; on quite a tight budget since going back to school. If anyone can help to steer me into the right direction I would be most grateful.

 

[Bob Smalser]

Here’s a different opinion

If you have an average sized head, the best buy in felts right now isn’t Akubra, it’s vintage Resistol through the 1970’s and even later. There are a lot of them, and while they have the same quality felt as vintage Stetson grade for grade, they go for a pittance in comparison. In even recent 3X or higher grade Open Road clones and other fedoras, the felt is lighter in weight and finer in texture to Akubra’s new Imperial Grade felts, and without the crown shrinkage problems some recent Akubras and Borsalino rabbit felts have experienced.

Most have a cattleman’s crease, but those are easily changed to whatever you like with a little steam. I love that crease however, because it seems to scare off fedora seekers from bidding.

Because they are so inexpensive, you might be tempted to convert their more common wide-brimmed western hat. Before spending money however, be aware the larger the brim, the thicker the felt, and the result without major sanding is a stiffer, heavier fedora than you may be happy with.

$22.01 for a close to perfect, 50’s-vintage 3X 7 ¼ with box:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=300304210042

$54 for two 7 ¼’s, one a Resistol, one a Portis:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Portis-Super-lu...oryZ2998QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

$20.50 for a 7 1/8:

http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-RESISTO...ryZ52389QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

$10.50 for an unworn, 50’s-vintage Beaver 100 in 6 7/8, later stretched to 7 1/8:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170293509388

$20.50 for a perfect, 70’s-vintage 3X in 7 ¼, later stretched to 7 3/8:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250353988083