What about Cold weather?

In-depth discussion of the Fedora of Indiana Jones and all other hats appearing in the Indiana Jones movies

Moderators: Indiana Jeff, Dalexs

Post Reply
User avatar
erikgunnlugson
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 135
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 9:19 pm

What about Cold weather?

Post by erikgunnlugson »

Plenty of topics on how a hat reacts to hot and humid weather but can't find anything on cold weather. What happens (if anything) to having a fedora in -40 to -50 degrees for extended periods of time? Like say 9 or 10 hours at a time.
User avatar
Indiana Jeff
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10214
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:59 am
Location: TX Panhandle

Re: What about Cold weather?

Post by Indiana Jeff »

Heat and humidity are the real killers of leather and felt that'll cause the fibers and/or the sweatband to shrink.

Cold, in and of itself, shouldn't be an issue to my knowledge. If the fedora gets alot of snow on it, it's important to let it dry thoroughly and naturally without direct heat being applied.

I'd be more worried about the wearer under the hat being exposed to -40 to -50 degrees for extended periods of time! :shock:

Regards,

Indiana Jeff
User avatar
Chewbacca Jones
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 3878
Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:17 am
Location: Somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse
Contact:

Re: What about Cold weather?

Post by Chewbacca Jones »

I've never heard of cold harming a fedora. However, at -40, you really should be wearing something else, even for a few minutes. Consider this an unofficial public safety announcement.
BendingOak
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 7011
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:21 pm

Re: What about Cold weather?

Post by BendingOak »

Cold I wouldn't worry about. If its a well made hat I wouldn't worry about heat or humidity. Its when you combine Heat and Humidity while the hat is wet that you have the danger of shrinking. If the hat saw very little water in the production of the hat being built, then heat and humidity is going to cause shrinkage. This is what I have come across but there are exceptions.
User avatar
Texan Scott
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 5838
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:55 am
Location: A felt body at rest tends to stay at rest. Sieze the day!
Contact:

Re: What about Cold weather?

Post by Texan Scott »

The only thing you could wear at -50f would be a parka and layers. It would not be a fedora, with face and ears exposed, etc., right?
User avatar
erikgunnlugson
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 135
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 9:19 pm

Re: What about Cold weather?

Post by erikgunnlugson »

More of a hanging in the garage/car/warehouse type thing. Wear it from one place to the next and sometimes forget it there overnight when i have to put on the touque and scarf and whatnot. I was just concerned about the sweatband cracking or the felt cracking if pinched or whatever. Its an AB so its good quality beaver. A plastic sweat from a lower quality fedora might though ya?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
BendingOak
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 7011
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:21 pm

Re: What about Cold weather?

Post by BendingOak »

It only makes sense that if you are spending money on a great quality hat like the AB, that a little hat care should be expected. Not a lot but a little TLC will go a long way. Buying a decent brush and brushing it will help keep the nap tighten and clean. whipping the sweatband clean once in a while is a good a deal followed by a small amount of petards will keep your sweatband in good condition. When the hat gets wet, let it dry in room temp. one a coat rack or hat stand. If not in regular rotation. store in a good hat box. Not a lot but a little TLC.
User avatar
Ridgerunner58
Dig Leader
Dig Leader
Posts: 695
Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:40 pm
Location: Between the Edge of Nowhere and the Edge of Somewhere.

Re: What about Cold weather?

Post by Ridgerunner58 »

Yeah. If all you have on your head at -40F is a fedora you're going to have bigger worries than whether it hurts your hat.

Still, as long as it's not wet when it gets frozen it would probably be fine. It might even survive if it was damp before it froze - unless you dropped it . . . :shock:
User avatar
Indiana Greg
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:17 pm
Location: East Tennessee

Re: What about Cold weather?

Post by Indiana Greg »

Image

On the Great Wall about six winters ago. Every bit of -40 w/ up to 50 kph wind gusts coming off the Mongolian steppes. No damage to the Lagomarsino on my bean. There is NO such thing as warm in such conditions. I had hunters hand & feet warmers, a thermacare belt and..BRRrrrr. A perfect Saskatoon summer day, my wife said.
User avatar
erikgunnlugson
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 135
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 9:19 pm

Re: What about Cold weather?

Post by erikgunnlugson »

Im from Regina. Thats exactly what im talking about. Brrr is right


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post Reply