The wet hat

DarenHenryW · Post by **DarenHenryW** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 4:03 pm

07/07/2007 Somewhere between the junction of North and South Twin Mountain, before I hiked on to Galehead.

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This is an amazing photo! That hat looks like it was absolutely built to be worn in the rain! The shape looks PERFECT! There is not a millimeter of taper and everything looks perfect. Just . . . wet. Indy's hat doesn't look anywhere near this good in Indy IV when they get out of the river after going over the water fall. Of course, he was IN the water, and you're just wearing in in the rain, but still. Seeing this photo gives me confidence that I can wear my Penman Beaver hats ANYWHERE.

Great pic! Very cool!

Daren

Indiana Bugs · Post by **Indiana Bugs** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:23 pm

First, i have no doubts that a Penman beaver will live for a hundred years, looking better and better.

But . . .

A hat that new looking, just having gotten wet, will most likely not shrink and taper that quickly, like while its on a head. It takes time, and some drying, and maybe repeatedly, to make a hat taper.

Again, a top quality beaver will probably look great for years.

tekors · Post by **tekors** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:43 pm

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Fri Sep 24, 2010 8:26 pm

One more from this July. I think the hat attracts rainclouds somehow because they are always present when I hike.

Sorry, I did not see these posts until recently...

Indiana Jeff wrote:Running off topic here, but what jacket is that?

Jacket is a GAP (listed as GAP Issue 0104 inside the jacket). Very lightweight and a perfect summer hiking jacket when the weather turn sour.

DarenHenryW wrote:This is an amazing photo! That hat looks like it was absolutely built to be worn in the rain! The shape looks PERFECT! There is not a millimeter of taper and everything looks perfect. Just . . . wet. Indy's hat doesn't look anywhere near this good in Indy IV when they get out of the river after going over the water fall. Of course, he was IN the water, and you're just wearing in in the rain, but still. Seeing this photo gives me confidence that I can wear my Penman Beaver hats ANYWHERE.

Great pic! Very cool!

Daren

This hat has exceeded my every expectation, and they were high. I have spent a few bucks on hats throughout the years starting back when the beaver fur hats were still in the trial phase around here from various manufacturers (such as the ones referred to as "those of which we do not name" who sell the finest hats you will ever buy). This Adventurebilt has been on virtually every hike with me and has held up perfectly. People comment on it all the time. On one hike this year heading back from Mt. Guyot to Mt. Zealand (I think), a woman hiking up (with her husband) told me she liked the hat. I told her how I almost lost it at the top as there was a storm coming in. She told me I should staple it to my head like Ford did. Of course, that was only in the special features, so you know she was an Indy fan. Or at least a good enough wife to sit with her husband while he watched the special features. On that same hike as I was waiting for some young kids to navigate a stream crossing, one of them yelled over "nice Indy hat!" He was no more than 8 years old. I do find that kids are really fascinated with big hats for some reason.

Mattdeckard · Post by **Mattdeckard** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 3:15 pm

Okay, we need more wet hats!

Indiana Bugs · Post by **Indiana Bugs** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 3:45 pm

My Fed III during one of last summer's frog-stranglers:

Post by **Indiana Jeff** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 3:48 am

Just got back from a family holiday in Denmark. Lot's of pictures will be sprinkled throughout the board. Brought my AB Sahara 'Michaelson' with me. I've had it for about a year, but it got more of a workout in the two weeks we traveled than in the 50 weeks prior! Living in the desert I don't see a whole lot of rain, but we had a few rainy days in Copenhagen. My Bride said I was fairly strutting like a peacock down the street in my AB sans umbrella.

This is the view from the top of the Round Tower built as an observatory in 1642. The observatory is still used to this day.

At the end of the day.

I stayed dry as could be, though there was a few wet spots all the way through the edges of the brim.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:15 am

Indiana Jeff wrote:Brought my AB Sahara 'Michaelson' with me......

HIGH regards! Michaelson

fenris · Post by **fenris** » Tue Aug 02, 2011 10:49 am

So this is the thread where this pic should be...

knibs7 · Post by **knibs7** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 4:07 am

All these wet hats are hurting my eyes

Kyle

Post by **Indiana Jeff** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 4:26 am

Why is that? They're meant to be worn.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:59 am

Exactly. I almost never carry an umbrella. My hat works just as well. (Although I do make an exception on several vintage hats, I have no qualms about wearing my hats in the rain.)

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:03 pm

I learned that wearing my PB straw Indy in the rain is pretty useless, though.

Regards! Michaelson

DanielJones · Post by **DanielJones** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:52 am

This was around last Christmas. My Penman Raider. Not quite soaked through but nice and wet. It did seem to fit and look better after getting out in the rain.

Cheers!

Dan

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Mon Aug 15, 2011 8:08 pm

Not technically soaking wet, but I wore it in the rain while draining 3" of water from the Jeep. I figured it was time for a photo.

Luke Warmwater · Post by **Luke Warmwater** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 10:23 am

Forget rain, my Fed4 has gone swimming in the Potomac River and the Baltic Sea and has fallen out of a canoe (and me with it) on a river in Estonia. It looks better for it.

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:26 pm

Soooo, is that a promotion for the quality of the Fed 4, or just proof you need to stay away from large bodies of water?

Luke Warmwater · Post by **Luke Warmwater** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 5:49 pm

The former. As a water rescue specialist, it's kind of my job to go in.

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 6:09 pm

Well, if THAT'S your excuse, I suppose so.....

beaverlid · Post by **beaverlid** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 11:30 am

This is a shot of my Adventurebilt after it was completely soaked in a heavy downpour that was thanks to Irene. A tree went down across my road and myself and a few others moved the tree over into the ditch while it poured on us.

Beaverlid

rick5150 · Post by **rick5150** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:14 am

I thought I would get in on the Irene fun. Final check around yard to make sure everything is secure.

kwh · Post by **kwh** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:27 am

rick5150 wrote:Not technically soaking wet, but I wore it in the rain while draining 3" of water from the Jeep. I figured it was time for a photo.

all these awesome wet hats.and i look at this mans jeep.and what do i see?an apple logo. someone's a macintosh fan

keith

kwh · Post by **kwh** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 8:30 am

beaverlid wrote:This is a shot of my Adventurebilt after it was completely soaked in a heavy downpour that was thanks to Irene. A tree went down across my road and myself and a few others moved the tree over into the ditch while it poured on us.

Beaverlid

as long as you guys are alright.a tough awesome hat too

keith

Jedirun · Post by **Jedirun** » Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:10 pm

My Adventurebilt beaver:

Unfortunately no cool story. Just a ride at Disneyland.

Dr. Jones

Ian · Post by **Ian** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 2:20 am

Jedirun wrote:My Adventurebilt beaver:

Unfortunately no cool story. Just a ride at Disneyland.

Dr. Jones

Dunno...A ride a Disneyland sounds pretty cool to me..

Ian

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:27 am

Wet is wet......

fenris · Post by **fenris** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 2:30 am

I noticed I keep getting caught in the rain more and more... even if the rainy season here is supposed to be over (freak rain showers). The bad thing was 2 out of the 3 times I was caught in the rain, I didn't have my hat with me!

For a walk in the rain, I really found the cotton Indy jacket (which I sprayed with a whole lot of scotchgard) and the hat really does keep you from getting soaked.

Bruce Wayne · Post by **Bruce Wayne** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:56 pm

lantzn · Post by **lantzn** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:32 pm

A torrential downpour in a distillery could get you in a lot of trouble.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bruce Wayne · Post by **Bruce Wayne** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 3:37 pm

lantzn wrote:A torrential downpour in a distillery could get you in a lot of trouble.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Or it could be the best day of your life!

fifthchamber · Post by **fifthchamber** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:13 am

Not especially "soaked" per se, but this was last night in Shinjuku (新宿), Tokyo central... The rain picked up on the way home and the hat was soaked by the time I got home....

What really impresses me about John's Beaver felts (and others I presume) is the way that the water just won't "soak in" to the felt...It sits there, and a shake or two removes most of it in drops, like rain from plastic sheeting...Incredibly resiliant...It only really soaks in after a full on soak, or a push from a cloth...

I love this hat..Thanks again John..Wonderful gear!

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:21 am

What you are seeing isn't just the felt. You are seeing a few things in how your hat handles water. High grade felt, pre-aged/ stabilized felt with simply the best water protection I have ever seen.

fifthchamber · Post by **fifthchamber** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:25 am

Well...It works better than nearly all the other hats I've had the pleasure to wear...Quite a way ahead of the Fed IV (Although the "deluxe" handles rain very well), and just slightly more resilient that the AB I have... It's an exceptional "Rain Beater" in my humble opinion...

And since it's now getting on for Winter here, that will be just the thing!

I can see why Steve and Marc were so forthright in the opinion that Indy would have used Beaver...It's the best...And for what he seems to have needed to do with it, it makes absolute sense...

Besides the fact that it looks bloody great...

Warmest regards Sir..

ShanghaiJack · Post by **ShanghaiJack** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 7:56 am

Fifthchamber, that is a great photo. But now I have two Penman hats in my list, one in Sahara and the other on grey.

fifthchamber · Post by **fifthchamber** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 8:34 am

Taken on the stretch of walkway leading from the Shinjuku station exit over to Times Square and Kiinokuniya if you're familiar with it? My favourite Starbucks is on the walkway there, and it's great for people watching...Although a lot less so in rain..LOL

The grey is a superb hat in my opinion...I'm still deeply contemplating a bright Yellow Dick Tracy...But I have to survive Christmas with cash to think more about that!

Regards..

david_h · Post by **david_h** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:39 pm

Since Michaelson pointed the way to this thread, I thought I'd add my snowy Garrison from a few weeks ago

This has become my bad weather hat, rain, snow, sleet - still as good as the day it arrived!

Post by **Michaelson** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:40 pm

Now THAT'S a hat being used for what it was designed to be! A tool for protecting the head!

HIGH regards! Michaelson

lantzn · Post by **lantzn** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:59 pm

david_h wrote:Since Michaelson pointed the way to this thread, I thought I'd add my snowy Garrison from a few weeks ago

This has become my bad weather hat, rain, snow, sleet - still as good as the day it arrived!

Rabbit, beaver felt?

david_h · Post by **david_h** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:32 pm

Thanks guys - I've been very pleased so far with how well this hat handles everything thrown at it.

lantzn, this is David's rabbit felt. It's funny, I tend to baby my beaver hats but the two modern rabbit ones I have - the Garrison and an Akubra Campdraft - take all the abuse.

Sammy · Post by **Sammy** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:53 pm

david_h wrote:Since Michaelson pointed the way to this thread, I thought I'd add my snowy Garrison from a few weeks ago

NICE pic!! That's one of those pics that you should have transferred to canvas, framed, and handed down to your loved ones.

david_h · Post by **david_h** » Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:55 pm

I'm not so sure Sammy.

For some reason, I have a picture in my mind of a few generations in the future trying to figure out who on earth the weird looking old geezer in the funny hat was.

MARQ · Post by **MARQ** » Fri Apr 13, 2012 7:03 am

Nice pics about wet lids,Yoshinori especially your snow-covered images.

j2m · Post by **j2m** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 5:45 pm

Hi Everyone,
Here's my Advintage during a really rainy day in the Swiss Alps...

http://s1101.photobucket.com/albums/g44 ... 8471_n.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Regards

JM

Post by **Indiana Jeff** » Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:17 am

Dragging this one back to the top.

AB during a rainstorm at the Johannesburg Zoo at their Howl'oween event.

What the family was wearing.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Kilcornan · Post by **Kilcornan** » Sat Jan 19, 2013 2:42 pm

Please follow the link to see my Christies Adventurer handling snowfall in the arctic circle-

http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/what- ... _1_1740878" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

....and feel free to read my book!

Ravenswood · Post by **Ravenswood** » Wed Mar 27, 2013 6:36 pm

I wish I could say something utterly positive about my experience with downpours and my Indy hat. While the felt on my Beaver Brand rabbit fur fedora has held up nicely after thoroughly drying, the same thing cannot be said about the ribbon, which now sports some pretty visible water stains. I suppose the stains could have settled in because I dried my hat by hanging it on a mic stand as opposed to turning the leather sweat-band out and sitting it level on a table with the brim turned up, as was suggested by the Beaver Brand website.
I gave it ONE shot in the rain where the hat got soaked, but after it dried, the stains settled into the ribbon. I am considering getting the ribbon replaced, but it happens to be the last of a dead breed as Beaver Brand has unfortunately closed its doors for good. Crying shame if you consider that they were the longest running brimmed hat manufacturer in the US (under differing names along the way).

So here is a pic of how my hat stands at this moment:

With all the discussion about how the felt holds out, I have to say my concern lies more with the ribbon. Let me know if you think this is something I can clean (and believe me, I have been up and down the subject of getting rid of stains on a ribbon, be they water or sweat), replace the ribbon, or do you think I should just stick with it an chalk it up to a lovingly worn hat? You know how we Indy gear fanatics can get

Whaddya think? Replace? Clean? or live with it? lol. I can tell you I'd rather have a spiffy and non-stained ribbon-- but this is an INDY gear site, and I think most of us here would likely get over it as Indy would definitely have.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 7:06 pm

Rabbit fur felt hats and downpours, regardless of manufacturer, are never a good mix.

Regards !Michaelson

ChrisMD · Post by **ChrisMD** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:01 am

Can you treat the hat every now and then to keep it from soaking in water? And does this mess up the shape of the hat? My first custom fedora arrives tomorrow!

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:01 pm

You can apply product to help make a bit more water resistant, but there no way to 'water proof' a rabbit felt hat. It's just the nature of 'the beast', I'm afraid.

That's why folks like beaver felt. It's MUCH more water resistant in these kinds of situations.

Do a search and you'll find a lot of good discussions about this.

Here's an old one where the discussion compared AB rabbit to AB beaver and the problem of taper etc. over time, among other things.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13793&p=185101&hili ... of#p185101" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Regards! M

michael · Post by **michael** » Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:12 pm

Based on everything I've seen (mostly here), when it comes to rabbit, a light rain or snow is no problem, but letting the hat get soaked leads to risky territory.

It seems like the best options for avoiding taper / maintaining shape once a rabbit hat (an AB, in my case) gets wet is to either dry it resting on the crown or keep it on your head to prevent shrinkage. Obviously if you take a swim or something, you're done for.

I do have a question about resting the hat on the crown though. My rabbit AB is quite light – people are always surprised by how little it weighs. But, like any hat, resting it on the crown tends to flatten the "humps" created by the raiders bash, and I'm concerned that over time those flat "mesas" could become permanent.

Obviously one can use a hat box or another contraption at home, but what do you do with your hat, say, at the office? I wear my hat daily, but I usually take it off when I'm not outside.

I'd appreciate any advice from experienced COWers.

Thanks,
Michael