Heresy! Lite Felt Fedora

[Indy45]

I KNOW there will be flames on this, but...

I wanted a nice looking, weatherproof, Cheap fedora for daily wear. Something comfortable that I could wet, crush, pack, and not lose sleep if stolen.

Found a Country Gentleman Lite Felt Wilton in darker Brown at Hats.com that matches my goatskin USWings jacket. I'd normally buy an XL, but ordered a Large as I know lite felts have some give - and it fits great. Stayed on today in 30mph winds, but no "red ring" on forehead when I take it off.

On the left is my HJ and the right is the Wilton.


Unfortunately, Hats.com has already changed the webpage and colors now are Black and Loden (green) for $41.99. Foleys.com still has Brown but list is a little more, $44.99.

Yes, I still lust after an AB...

Regards,
Indy45

[Feraud]

Nothing wrong with the hat. I have "cheaper" hats that I wear when necessary.

[Michaelson]

I'm working with Ron at HatDirect to come up with something for us in their new 'Traveler' model Akubra. It's a light weight felt, but currently comes with a dinky ribbon. He's had a standard ribbon installed on one as a test, and is in discussion with Akubra to see if it can be offered that way.

A work in progress, but I've got your back, buddy. A lighter weight felt is sometimes QUITE welcome as things get warmer, especially here in the South.

Regards! Michaelson

[binkmeisterRick]

That's not a bad looking hat, Indy45. I've got some "cheapies" I still like to wear from time to time. Who cares if it's not an Indy fedora? As long as you enjoy it, nothing else matters. Wear it in good health!

Michaelson, would the traveler be blocked on the Federation style block, or would it be something different, altogether?

bink

[Indiana Jerry]

[...] or would it be something different, altogether?

"Or would it be something different?"

Sorry, I've got Airplane on my mind...

[Michaelson]

Let's not wander down that trail, Jerry!

I'm not sure, bink, but I'll ask.

The point wasn't to reproduce a Federation, but create a middle of the road look that could be USED in the styling of an Indy hat, but still be able to be packed on a trip, and be cooler on the head during summertime.

Regards! Michaelson

[binkmeisterRick]

Roger, over!

[Michaelson]

Roger, roger!

Regards! Michaelson

[Indiana Jerry]

(properly chastened) (Stopping before we get Over, Done.)

Related question - does Fedora's news of offering a thinner, floppier hat body go far enough to meet the desire for a lighter felt, or is it really just a small measure compared to a 'lite-felt'?

J

[binkmeisterRick]

If it's anything like a thin felted hat I picked up on eBay a while ago, it could be perfect! The Knox I picked up feels "waffer thin" and once I'm done fixing it up, it could make a fairly decent summer felt to bum around in. It's so thin, though, that it needs some stiffener to help shape the brim!

[Indiana Jerry]

The front warbles?

[binkmeisterRick]

The whole HAT warbles! (Especially at the bird feeder.)

[Michaelson]

[quote="Indiana JerryRelated question - does Fedora's news of offering a thinner, floppier hat body go far enough to meet the desire for a lighter felt, or is it really just a small measure compared to a 'lite-felt'?

J[/quote]

I don't know, Jerry. That's a good question. I sure hope so, as in MY camp (well, ok...me ), it's one of the most anticipated felt I've watched come down the pipeline for a while, and it sounds like a real contender...as I've been on a decades long quest for a comfortable felt hat for summer wear. The coolest I have to date is the Camptown, but that's due to the ventilated sweatband. The beaver blend felt is still quite heavy, so it's still a pretty warm hat for summer wear, though more comfortable than an Akubra or AB...at least here in Tennessee with our humid summers and 98 degree temps.

I'm hoping that new AB felt fills the bill. Until then, I'm hoping this Traveler will hold the fort until that day comes. We'll see.

Regards! Michaelson

[Arkansas Russell]

I have a Country Gentleman Lite Felt Wilton in black [only because they had sold out of the brown] that I love. I wear it for yard work, around the farm and during any nasty type job I may have. I like the thin ribbon. I have a vintage Open Road in the fedora style that I am currently wearing, trhough not doing yard work. My AB is a wonderful hat, and since I have had it I have worn it during snows, ice storms and tornados [really high winds] and it has held up great.
You know alot has been said about Indy's brown and grey hats. And did the film makers know they had differnt hats on him. To put a real spin on Indy I think he was just like us and had different hats that he liked to wear at different times.

[Serial Hero]

If it's anything like a thin felted hat I picked up on eBay a while ago, it could be perfect! The Knox I picked up feels "waffer thin" and once I'm done fixing it up, it could make a fairly decent summer felt to bum around in. It's so thin, though, that it needs some stiffener to help shape the brim!

“No, no, I couldn’t possibly get another fedora, my hat rack is full”

“Just try it on. It’s wafer thin!”

[AGRo]

I just got home from The Hattery (can't get enough of the place) and I was speaking to Jenny about the Traveller. It's a nice hat, very light and soft and the brown colour isn't bad at all. Jenny showed me the one behind the counter with the Federation style ribbon on it. It's a fair bit shallower than the Fed but like Michaelson said, should make for a good summer hat. Good stuff.

[Michaelson]

Let's hope Ron can get Akubra to move forward on the ribbon change out on the Traveler.

Thanks for the eye witness account, AGRo! THAT'S the kind of information we crave around here! Honest to gosh hands on information, and that's the prototype that Ron has been working up for me! Glad a fellow gearhead got to actually see it before it moves on! GREAT report!!

High regards! Michaelson

[Indy_Max]

Hey I'm not the only one with a Country Gentleman lite felt hat! Mine's the "Safari". VERY similar bash, the hat band is leather and it has "vent holes" in the sides. It's a wonderful hat in the summer for hiking and it's taken quite a beating (it once blew off my head on an interstate)! Can't wait for my AB to arrive though

[AGRo]

No worries at all Michaelson, happy to have been able to have a looksee. It was a very soft hat, also it had a (I don't know the corect term to use) "border" around the brim edge.

http://www.hatsdirect.com/hat-info/traveller.html

I'm learning as fast as I can hehe. I saw the safari hat in there too, it wasn't bad, though I wasn't too keen on the little vent holes and the feathery thing in the ribbon. I was looking at the different coloured Feds too. The bug is starting to bite!

[Michaelson]

That's called a 'bound edge' on the brim.

The safari hat has been owned by a few folks here, and from all reports it just does NOT hold up to field use at all.

Regards! Michaelson

[agent5]

A lighter weight felt is sometimes QUITE welcome as things get warmer, especially here in the South.

Man, that's no lie. I'd have to say it's always welcome in high heat. The only two hats I've owned were the PB (standard Indy) which was a very heavyweight hat and the Optimo, which is a very lightweight hat. It was like night and day in the same temps. I was sweating my behind off in that PB and in the same heat with the Optimo, I was fine. Didn't even feel as though I was wearing a hat.
I thought Fedora stated that he was sourcing the same lightweight grade of felt as Optimo has and if so, I think a good portion of the members here will want them after seeing them in person. IMHO, lightweight is the way to go.

[Michaelson]

As I get older, I'm finding I'm enjoying my 'comfort' a LOT more than I did when I was younger. Heck, I wore a heavy fur felt fedora year round, and it didn't bother me one bit....but MAN have things changed.

It got up to 81 here yesterday, and after driving to WalMart wearing one of my AB's, my hair looked like I had dunked it in a lake, I was perspiring so much....and it's not even HUMID yet!

SO....the search goes on by THIS writer for the ultimate light weight felt (I'm still not a 'straw' man, but times are a changing.... )

High regards! Michaelson

[agent5]

It got up to 81 here yesterday

You ****. :evil: I wish it would touch 60 here. At least the trees are starting to budd.

[Michaelson]

Don't blame me! Weirdest winter I can remember!

Heck, I even fired up the lawn mowers to make sure they'd start ok, as the grass has already grown high enough to have to give serious thought about cutting. :evil: I noticed that the flowering trees are already dropping their petals, and going stright to budding leaves!

It's supposed to cool down again, so it's not 'Spring' here yet....but it's sure close, and all we ever get is 1 week of 'Springtime' here, then it's immediately Summer and 90+ degrees for the rest of the year. Ick.

Regards! Michaelson

[raindog]

Nice looking hat Indy45:)
I like the idea of the lighter felt a lot. I wonder how the Traveller would take a new bash? I'm thinking raiders bash.
Maybe the crown isn't tall enough to make it? Still want one though.
Agree with Michaelson on the straw debate.....Can't wear one without thinking of plantation owners, ex nazis hiding in Brazil, or Hannibal Lector in 'Hannibal' looking for the next victim.


Jeff.

[Erri]

SOrry for the little personal comment not linked to the thread directly but your HJ looks really good