Ford wrote:backstagejack, seeing as you're from Texas, and seeing it is related to my original 'hat for all seasons' question, isn't it true that the Texas Rangers traditionally wore felt cowboy style hats? Wouldn't they be about as hot to wear in the desert as wearing a Fedora?
True, most did....but in today's world, I think wearing straw is acceptable also...except for Walker, Texas Ranger...I don't think I ever saw him in straw....
People wore felt outside when they had no other option...and when being sweaty was the norm. Right now, I wear my PB straw indy.
Would I prefer to wear a felt? Yes......I like felt hats much better then straw. But in today's world its okay for a man to accessorize and have certain hats for certain weather, etc....lol
Michaelson wrote:Keep in mind, too, that many hatters (and felt hat owners) pierced the crowns of their felt hats to allow ventilation.
I did that with one of my AB's, removed the liner, and rotate wearing it during the summer with my straw PB. Works fine!
Just study the practices of the past. There was a method to their madness.
Regards! Michaelson
I knew that removing the liner would help.....I hadn't thought about piercing it.....pierce it with....a small pin? Something unnoticeable to the general populous right?
backstagejack wrote:I hadn't thought about piercing it.....pierce it with....a small pin? Something unnoticeable to the general populous right?
Punch holes in the crown. I used a leather punch and made a couple 1/4" holes in both sides just above the ribbon. With no inner liner, they're un-noticable, and were the locations that most hat makers placed them for summer wear felt hats. After punching the holes, spray a light coat of either hat stiffner or hair spray inside the crown in the hole area. This will keep the felt in the hole from fraying. Mine have stayed this way for a couple years with no problems at all, including surviving a reblock by Steve.
Michaelson wrote:Punch holes in the crown. I used a leather punch and ... spray a light coat of either hat stiffner or hair spray inside the crown in the hole area.
Well that's a neat trick to remember. And those four small holes make all the difference...
You wonder if the wardrobe department on the Indy films ever thought if it.
backstagejack wrote:People wore felt outside when they had no other option...and when being sweaty was the norm. Right now, I wear my PB straw indy.
Yes, I noticed the rather cool looking (no pun intended) straw western style hats in No Country, so presumed that would probably be the norm nowadays rather than felt.
In the United States Army in the 19th century (and in many countries for that matter) wool and felt hats were worn all year round. In the summer months, particularly in arid locals like Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah ... the soldiers would place wet handkerchiefs or wet leaves into their head gear to cool their heads. In the 1870 a ventilated woolen hat was introduced but was unpopular with the soldiers as the holes weakened the hat and it lost shape or fell apart. Another version had a little "spinner" made of metal inserted into each side. Soldiers would disable the spinner as it made a whizzing sound in the wind. In the 1880's the hat changed color from black to a beige color. This hat had several small holes punched in to each side, some shaped like a snowflake others like a star. This is the hat worn during the Spanish-American War of 1898-99 and the following Philippine insurrection which ended in 1902.
Figured I'd drag this back up as come March....its gonna start getting hot and sticky down here in South East Texas.
I'm thinking on buying a PB and doing as Michaelson suggested, rip out the liner and poke some holes in the crown....but I'm still afraid I'm going to sweat like there's no tomorrow. Should I get an even bigger size then normal for the sweat and heat factor so the shrinkage isn't too much? Especially since right now hatsdirect told me that the Fed's are a running a half size small?
What I have always recommended when dealing with a hat company is to send them you head measurement, and ask them to measure their hats and send you one that matches your specs.
Yes, you're still going to perspire....but you'll do that in a straw hat too (at least I do in my unlined PB straw Indy), but not NEARLY as bad as in one with a liner and no ventilation holes.
Speaking of which, have you CONSIDERED the PB straw for warmer weather?
I actually already have a PB straw, one of their first ones when they just came out with the Indy straw. I like it, but everyone tells me my hats too tall....I reckon I'll get the same from the Fed. but part of the reason I think is because it's straw, the side dents aren't as prominent and/or noticeable as they would be in the felt therefore it makes the hat look taller.
I have worn the straw during the summer and it wasn't too bad, I did sweat a lot, being near the coast in south east Texas it gets pretty darn muggy out there.
I just thought maybe I'd be just as hot and sweaty in a felt with the liner out with holes punched....so if I'm going to be hot and sweaty, might as well look good rocking the felt.
Well, that's what I do, and it works. Some days the straw is better than the vented felt, but it's all in what the weather is doing from one day to the next.
Yep, I have the first straw they made, and I immediately removed that liner and replaced it with a tip sticker at the top of the inside of the crown. That's the way they make them all now. You get air flow through the straw.
Anyway, I personally think you're on the right track....but then, I'm biased. (grins)
I like a good mesh hat for the heat and humidity of the summer, such as HH, something that will allow your head to breath. Others swear by their Panamas or straw varieties, as in the Peters Brothers. As the Indy jacket is a good 3 season jacket, these are good 3 season hats. For the winter, a fur felt fedora is hard to beat.
Ford wrote: I've seen photos here of folk wearing them in places like Indonesia and China, not dressed in Indy gear but the usual T-shirt travel gear, and was surprised how cool it looks
I suppose the right hat you can wear with anything.
You can bet a fedora almost matches every cloth you could be wearing.
OK, it may not, but if you don't care wearing a tall crown fedora in the XXIst Century, I gues you don't care much how does it match your suit!
(PS: It may sound like Tarzan what I'm saying, but English is not my 1st language!)
Just took the phrase under your avatar. In fact my family split 150 years ago, some remained in Ireland, went to the US, and some of us are here, and though my grandfather's 1st language was still English, my fathers speak Spanish, and so do I, that's why I usually read posts here, but don't post too much...
I once read a story about Colin Fletcher, an Englishman who wrote several books. One was the backpackers bible, The Complete Walker, but he also wrote of his accounts walking the length of Ca. as well as the Grand Canyon. He walked through Death Valley on one of these adventures. While doing so, he met up with an old desert rat, a gold prospector. They started to talk about a story in a local paper the old timer had in hand. On the front page was a story about a guy found dead in Death Valley. The old timer looked at the pic, and said, "don't surprise me none. He lost his hat!"
So the old timers felt that if you were in a desert, you better have a hat! And he was talking about felt hats. While they may be hot, the protection from the sun is what is important. You are gonna sweat anyways! A wet hat, soaked in sweat will help cool the head, by evaporation.
For me, I wear felt hats year round. And I live in hot and humid Mississippi. I do find though, that loosely felted rabbit fur hats seem to be a bit cooler, over pure beaver. And I also found out, a tightly woven, i.e. expensive Montecristi is as hot as a felt hat! Unless, of course the Montecristi has vents in the sides for air exchange. But don't get the Montecristis wet! It turns into a wet noodle of hat. Fair weather hats only. And more for looks rather than real protection in the elements.
Oh, the hats Bernie measured if I recall correctly were between 2 7/8 and 2 3/4. Or 2 13/16ths on the front. Sides were 2 9/16ths. So, there probably was a variation in brim widths that Swales hand cut. We probably see 2 3/4 by 2 1/2 as well as a little larger.
The Stetson Temple, that was placed in LC actually came with a 2 5/8 by 2 3/8 brim. I am assuming they, Hatco, used the HJ specs for TLC. Which should tell us what the brim widths were for TLC. Also the open crown height of the Temple is 5 inches. Which makes sense as some of those LC hats look to be shorter than Raiders. Fedora
The Australian hat market is much less seasonal than it is in North America. Australians tend to think of fur felts as good all year around, a lot of Akubras are sold for Christmas.
I liked the distinction made on wet versus dry heat, but there is also day versus night heat to consider.
I would much rather sweat a tad more during the day to have a fur felt on for a high desert night in say Gerlach Nevada. A 24 hour period in August might swing from 40 F to 110 and back again.
That's what I experienced when visiting out in Arizona and Nevada a couple years ago. I wore a 78g beaver felt the entire time, and experienced no where NEAR the amount of perspiration due to fast evaporation during the day (average 112F), and MAN did that hat feel good when things cooled down at night.
It's all in how much humidity is in the air at any given moment.
Bought a PB Indy Straw last year and love it. I remember a vendor attempting to make a hybrid (straw crown/felt brim) that looked really cool. I want to say it was Camptown, but not sure. Maybe one of the moderators can remember.
Michaelson wrote:That's what I experienced when visiting out in Arizona and Nevada a couple years ago. I wore a 78g beaver felt the entire time, and experienced no where NEAR the amount of perspiration due to fast evaporation during the day (average 112F), and MAN did that hat feel good when things cooled down at night.
It's all in how much humidity is in the air at any given moment.
Regards! Michaelson
True, when I lived in Vegas I wore a fedora every day. But I could wear a sports coat every day too. Down here in Huntsville I can barely stand wearing a t-shirt with all this dang humidity.
I live in a hot and humid place. I took out he liner from my hat for cleaning and was surprised how cooler it was without the liner. Summer's fast approaching here... Dunno how long I can get away with wearing a felt hat outdoors.
Well, fenris, you need to be realistic in your case. Unless you have access to a very good hat man who can clean and reblock your felt hats, you may want to seriously consider looking into finding you a nice straw fedora for summer wear.
When you have the luxury of quick access to good hatmakers who can care for our hats, like many of us do, wearing a felt hat in hot times is not a big deal....but when you don't, the perspiration and dirt your hat will get from wear in summer will slowly damage your hat to the point you'll have to ship it off for a professional cleaning and rebuild.
Not a bad thing, mind you, but you'll be without a hat for a while, considering your location.
I'd suggest you box up your felt as things starting warming up, and locate a nice straw fedora (Peters Brothers offers one, as an example), and wear IT during the hot humid summer. Once things cool down again, pull out your felt and wear it during the cooler time of the years.
Rotating hats is always a good plan if you want your hats to last.
Since the only time I really go out is to go to the mall, wearing the hat won't bother me too much as the places I go to are always air-conditioned. Hehehe... As long as I don't stay too long outside, I guess it's cool (pun intended).
I'm actually looking for a nice straw hat for when it's time to hit the beach. The Philippines may have been a good source for straw hats before, but I have yet to see a really nice on being sold here.
I added it to the FAQ thread, but keep in mind that not all hatters are consistent in how they size their hats, so the chart is posted for reference only. Be certain to discuss it with the hatter before choosing a size which works for you.
I totally agree, Steve. But there will always be folks who try to figure it out in other ways, hence the caveat, of talking with the hatter ahead of time.
Fedora wrote:Best way is to forget the charts and just use head circumference measurements. Just too much variety in hat charts. Fedora
I totally agree with you Steve. Better to get someone to take your measurements a few times. Then send that info to the hat maker or retail outfit. Let them size you up.
Fedora wrote:Best way is to forget the charts and just use head circumference measurements. Just too much variety in hat charts. Fedora
I totally agree with you Steve. Better to get someone to take your measurements a few times. Then send that info to the hat maker or retail outfit. Let them size you up.
Thats exactly what I did with my Fed IV the other day....sent a few emails back and forth and I think we're good. Can't wait!!
Thinking on getting another PB straw...this time a none indy style. I like the type of straw used....its got a nice weight and its comfy on the head.
I just want the chart as reference for when I look at ebay hats... they seldom put measurements as sizes. I just wanted to have a general idea what size my 58.5cm head is in terms of the usual sizes being posted on ebay. Too bad not all hats conform to a standard sizing guide...
Don't always go by what size the ebay seller says. I've seen hats listed as 7 1/2 and asked what the circumference of the sweat is only to be told 22 1/2". Always ask the circumference before bidding. It will save you a headache later.
Two questions. What are you planning do doing while wearing your hat? What do you normally wear?
You mentioned traveling in hot countries, but you also mentioned getting dragged behind a truck in the Sahara. Since getting dragged behind a truck is probably only a common occurrence by members here, I was just curious if you are serious about either. I think that a high quality beaver fedora should at least be in your collection and then you can decide if it works for you. You can get a lightweight felt, a straw hat or a baseball cap, but determine the weather conditions where you will wear it. Unexpected rainstorms may wreak havoc on a straw hat - then you will be relying on a pile of mush sitting on your head for protection. A wool hat probably will not last that long either in extreme conditions.
Generally, when you get gear, you want it to last. And it should look good. When you say you are looking for a hat for all seasons, most only point out summer. None of the listed hats so far will cover your ears, so there will be a limit to how warm you can expect them to be in colder climates. You have to use common sense, since it will do you no good to keep the top of your head nice and warm while your earlobes snap off like twigs in a windstorm.
I do not find fedoras to be temperature restrictive in any way from -10 degrees to 105 degrees. Especially in the upper temps as I am out in them for 12-14 hours per day. The other thing that I am not hearing is the fact that if you feel really hot in a fur fedora, you can take it off for a few minutes. I know it sounds daring, but it works. There are few things more exhilarating than being on the top of a mountain and working up a good sweat. Then you take your hat off and you are instantly cooled by the smallest breeze.
Realistically, you can wear a beanie cap with eyelets and a propeller on top. It may keep you cool, but it will also keep you from looking cool. Your hat should go with your attire. All of it. Or don't wear it, as it cheapens the coolness of the rest of the outfit. For example: You can be all ready to go to the most exotic location and have on some great rugged pants and a killer safari shirt. Then you put your beaver fedora on and you are looking good. But once you strap on a pair of sandals, the hat will try to jump up off your head and hide behind the shed while vomiting in disgust.
rick5150 wrote:
Realistically, you can wear a beanie cap with eyelets and a propeller on top. It may keep you cool, but it will also keep you from looking cool. Your hat should go with your attire. All of it. Or don't wear it, as it cheapens the coolness of the rest of the outfit. For example: You can be all ready to go to the most exotic location and have on some great rugged pants and a killer safari shirt. Then you put your beaver fedora on and you are looking good. But once you strap on a pair of sandals, the hat will try to jump up off your head and hide behind the shed while vomiting in disgust.
So true. I refuse to wear my fedora with anything but at least a long sleeve button and a decent pair of pants. If I can't wear a sports coat due to weather.
I won't wear it with shorts and a t-shirt, to me thats somehow degrading my lid....lol.
Not that there's anything wrong with it. I know that plenty here wear their caps with anything and everything and thats fine. My personal standards though (even in the Texas heat). If I'm wearing a fedora, be it straw or felt...its going with a long sleeve button up. Pearl snap, buttons, etc....If I'm too hot, I roll the sleeves up.
rick5150 wrote: For example: You can be all ready to go to the most exotic location and have on some great rugged pants and a killer safari shirt. Then you put your beaver fedora on and you are looking good. But once you strap on a pair of sandals, the hat will try to jump up off your head and hide behind the shed while vomiting in disgust.
