Which fedora "producer" do you like best?

[IndyMaster]

Which fedora "producer" do you like best. I personally like Herbert Johnson.

[Michaelson]

Are you talking about factory 'producer', or custom 'producer'?

Regards! Michaelson

[Indiana Jeff]

And around here that's sort of like saying, "What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?" EVERYBODY's got an opinion as to why their favorite is the best.

That being said, for a custom, my best is Adventurebilt.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[binkmeisterRick]

Also, does that include non-Indy fedoras and classic brands? It's a wide field, my friend.

[darthbish]

Factory....Akubra, no contest..

[BendingOak]

If it's a Factory hat......... Henry hands down

If its a handmade hat/ custom Adventurebilt

If its a non Indy, I would still go with the two AB guys.

[Ian]

I could only really comment on factory hats at the moment cos I only have 1 custom, but I'm gonna go with the Henry. I got 2 feds, Heratige brown and Imperial Grey and love them both, but my fave is the Henry.

Ian

[kiltie]

Dorfman Pacific, with Adventurebilt running a close second. Once AB sources some pins, they'll be hard to beat.

[binkmeisterRick]

kiltie, you're my hero.

[Ian]

I thought those pins were exclusive to the DP, but my wife got my boy a moulded hat last week for a fathers day photo and that had the imfamous but coveted pin on it. The exact same one as DP. I know this cos I fell into the 'Newbie DP trap' myself.

Ian

[Michaelson]

Nope. They came on Stetson's too 'back in the day', so I suppose they're available to what ever company has a license from LFL.

Regards! Michaelson

[indyclone]

well i havent bought any of the "big names" but i do have the hats from todds costumes the uptowner and the downtowner and love those hats , in pictures they look just as good as any of the other hats out there

[Long John Tinfoil]

I have an Akubra, a Christies and a PB. The PB is hands-down my favourite of the three.

LJ

[The Antiquarian]

I like the idea of ordering a hat from one of the higher end makers around here, but I'll have to go with Akubra. As a matter in fact, I think I'll be buying from them again this fall; a silverbelly Campdraft... or a moonstone grey Federation. I'm feeling rather indecisive right now about that.

[fenris]

I have an Akubra, a Christies and a PB. The PB is hands-down my favourite of the three.

LJ

Thanks to Texan Scott, I have the same brands of hats.

Here are the rankings:
3. Christy's Adventurer
My first real hat. Beat the @#$% out of it (wore it everyday, it got sat on, got wet, got hot, etc...) but it's still alive!
Compared to the other 2 hats, it gets last place due to how it now looks (think SOC look). Although the crown has shrunk a bit and became lower compared to the Fed. The heat and humidity in my country did it in...

2. Peters Brothers
It's kinda big for me, but 2 foam strips took care of the fit. The only thing I've noticed is the crown height. It seems too tall for me.
I'm planning on bashing this in a non-Indy style to bring the crown height down. I like the felt's texture as well, very soft. As for the color it has a more reddish tint to it.

1. Fed IV Deluxe (TS says it's his first hat, but it really looks brand new!)
The felt is soft and has a nice texture to it. It suits my face and height plus it fits perfectly! According to most people, Akubras can take a beating... I wonder how it will hold up to the heat and humidity in my country? Only time will tell.

...now I wonder what a Henry would look and feel like in person.