First Fedora
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First Fedora
Hi folks
Im Jpevh, Ive been an Indy fan ever since i was a little kid and i always wanted my own Indy style fedora.not to long ago i stumbled across the IndyGear website and saw the range of Fedoras available and the prices so anyway i want to get my first fedora and was wondering what would be a good buy.last month i went to disneyland and saw that they sold Indy fedoras for $45 but they seemed really cheap so i didnt buy one.then i saw the Lee Keppler(Adventure Supply) fedora for $140.so was wondering what do you guys think.what direction should i go in as far as getting a good first fedora.thanks in advance
Jpevh
Im Jpevh, Ive been an Indy fan ever since i was a little kid and i always wanted my own Indy style fedora.not to long ago i stumbled across the IndyGear website and saw the range of Fedoras available and the prices so anyway i want to get my first fedora and was wondering what would be a good buy.last month i went to disneyland and saw that they sold Indy fedoras for $45 but they seemed really cheap so i didnt buy one.then i saw the Lee Keppler(Adventure Supply) fedora for $140.so was wondering what do you guys think.what direction should i go in as far as getting a good first fedora.thanks in advance
Jpevh
Well somebody's going to mention it eventually, so I might as well say it now: Adventurebilt would be an excellant choice. The Keppler would be a good choice, however I have heard some questions as to their durability. If you don't feel comfortable spending A LOT of money on a hat, the Akubra Federation would be a good choice as well. :junior: -IJ
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Welcome to Club Obi Wan Jpevh!
You can buy a rabbit Adventurebilt for $145.00 dollars.
Read this thread.
EDIT: IndianaJones beat me to it!
You can buy a rabbit Adventurebilt for $145.00 dollars.
Read this thread.
EDIT: IndianaJones beat me to it!
Last edited by Indiana Wayne on Sun Jul 03, 2005 4:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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hat
you can ask j-weaver about his rabbit adventurebilt . He seems to be very happy with it and looks great.
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I know what you mean! I haven't even bashed my new Akubra and I already want an AB. Why so many choices?? It sure is fun though.It is an Akubra Fed. And these turkeys on here already have me figuring out ways to get my wife and parents and anybody else to pitch in and get me an AB for Christmas.
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I think it is mostly a combination of sunlight and the camera.Jpevh wrote:how come the ribbon on the AB fedoras looks purple when the sun hits it.
Their has been a lot of good info about the AB posted in the last few days, so just browse through some of the recent topics.
I would check with Fedora about the members discount. I think there might have been a price change recently.
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Hi Jpevh,Jpevh wrote:for me its between the Keppler Fedora and the Adventurebilt Fedora.the prices are about the same but the material isnt.the the keppler is 6X beaver and the less costly Adventurebilt is rabbit.so whats the difference between the two.
Beaver is traditionally known to have finer finish, shape better and have some natural water resistance than rabbit. IMHO, though, Steve's rabbit is still better than some beaver hats I've seen.
Shamelessly I add that my Camptown Hat is 45-50% (apx) beaver fur and at $135.00 is the cheapest beaver blend lid going till I go back to standard COW pricing of $140.00.
Cheers,
Ken
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Welcome to COW, Jpevh! Beaver fur felt is usually regarded as the top of the line in felt. Rabbit is good, too, but beaver felt is of higher quality and density versus rabbit. Beaver is also more durable over time. Some hats are made of a blend of rabbit and beaver, like the Keppler. The Akubra Federation is a rabbit felt, but it is also a very durable hat, too.Jpevh wrote:for me its between the Keppler Fedora and the Adventurebilt Fedora.the prices are about the same but the material isnt.the the keppler is 6X beaver and the less costly Adventurebilt is rabbit.so whats the difference between the two.
As an AdventureBilt owner, I can tell you that Fedora's 100% beaver hats are some of the best hats quality you'll find anywhere these days. He also has the magic touch in achieving the true Indy look in his hats in the opinion of many here. However, I don't own an AdventureBilt (or "AB") rabbit, so all I can do is attest to the comments made by owners of the AB rabbit.
That all being said, you've taken a very important qualifier and stuck to it: price. How much are you willing to pay for a hat at this point? It's a very important question many overlook in their responses. You said the $140 range is what you have to spend. Sure, the AB rabbit is cheaper, but you can get a rabbit/beaver blend for little more. At this rate, I'd consider Jersey's shameless Camptown rabbit/beaver blend as an option. Sure, you shape the hat, but for some, that's half the fun. I've also read some good reviews of his hat, too.
If you had an unlimited budget, I'd recommend the 100% beaver AdventureBilt, just from personal experience. (I have not owned a Keppler or Camptown yet, so I can't give my own true opinion of them.) Fedora's hats are priced FAR below what most hat makers charge for a full beaver hat and they're better than most, too. However, since you've got your budget set, I'd say it looks like it should be a toss up between the Keppler and the Camptown for you. Good luck!
bink
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indy
bink, it's good seeing that you are back. I hope the move went well.
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JPevh, before you order, ask Lee Keppler how long the wait time is, if that's a factor for you. He may have your size on hand, but if he doesn't he'll have to order it and that could take some time. He's great to deal with though, and I'd suggest calling him as he doesn't do emails much. 619-647-6744
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Re: indy
Thanks! I'm still on the fringes, but the move was successful. I hope to be poking my head in here more often soon...jpenman wrote:bink, it's good seeing that you are back. I hope the move went well.
Jpevh, it's a good idea to try on a fedora to see if it looks good on you. A good hat is a wise invenstment unless you're not happy with how it looks on you! I will say, however, that an AdventureBilt is different from most any other fedora you'll find in an average hat shop. Keep in mind, though that the 6X Beaver content in the Keppler is not a 100% Beaver content like the AdventureBilt. I say this in case the percentage of beaver content is vital to your decision. As stated, if money is not an option and you're looking for the "perfect" Indy hat, then you can't go wrong with the beaver AB. The Keppler is a good choice for the money, from what I've heard and sounds like the choice for you if you're looking to stay within the $150 range and still want beaver fur content. But don't forget the Camptown, either. If I've heard correctly, it has a heavier beaver content than the Keppler and is about the same price, if not a little cheaper.
Just so I can get things straight, this is what I'm assuming is important to you in a hat:
1. Good Indy fedora
2. High beaver content in the blend or 100% beaver felt
3. Price
Did I get that right?
bink
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Bink, it's good to see you back.
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Re: indy
Thanks again, jpenman. I'll probably remain a bit sparce until completly settled in, though. What's more important now, however, is that Jpevh gets himself a good hat! There are many good choices, but it sounds like you're doing the right homework which will lead you to the perfect hat for your needs! Good luck!jpenman wrote:Bink, it's good to see you back.
bink
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Heck no ! Thanks for helping a fellow out. And jpevh, I PM'd you !J_Weaver wrote:These are the only pics of the Camptown I know of.
Camptown
Ken, I hope you don't mind me linking your photo album.
Thanks
Ken / JJ
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