In search of toughest Indy hat!

[michaelcmartino]

In search of the toughest/most durable Indy hat! I want the hat that can take the worst beating just like Indy's! Akubra maybe? I don't know, what do you guys think? I'm new and I'm trying to get involved with the community by joining the club and figuring out what hat I should purchase for my first "real" Indy fedora.

[Jeremiah]

My adventurebilt beavers from Steve looks better the more I beat it up by wearing in the FL sun, trimming trees, weedwacking, bushwacking, taking it off like I just don't care etc. etc.

[Ridgerunner58]

I guess the first thing to note is that even the movie hats could not take a beating like the movie hats, which is why they used more than one. The reason the hat in the scenes shot in Tunisia has so much character is because it was so badly deformed from heat and sweat it was pretty much a shapeless wreck.

Good quality hats can certainly take quite a lot of abuse, but swimming in a river, going over a waterfall and being dragged under a truck probably exceed the bounds.

Akubras are tough hats and can take a lot, but if they get crushed, the wire reed in the sweatband will kink and the band will have to be replaced. Also, they are rabbit felt, so they will wear more than, say beaver or a blend, and won't be quite as waterproof - although they will be a bit cooler.

Although pricey, my preference remains Penman. Every bit as good as the best Adventurebilt, cost a bit less, and John Penman's customer service can't be beat.

My oldest is around 6 years old - been through everything, been reblocked twice and looks better today than the day I got it. (assuming "better" can include some fading and softening from age.) My latest, a Penman - Adventurebilt Legacy in rabbit felt (the only way you can get one) is also breaking in nicely and looks like it can take quite a bit of abuse.

Short of those two there are others, like Garrison, Steele and Jones and Northwest make well reviewed hats that will hold up and won't break the bank.

Mostly it's a question of how much you are willing to pay because, with a few noteworthy exceptions, you get what you pay for when buying a decent hat.

Then finally, once you have made that decision, you will have to face the reality that you are going to abuse a hat you just paid $400 or more for and get past the point where you want to put it in a case and look at it.

[michaelcmartino]

The Akubra and Penman are the two I had my eyes on and I just can't decide which would be better because how much longer would the penman really last? Price isn't an issue if the penman could really outlast an Akubra by 5x the amount of time the Akubra would last. If a penman can really do that then I would spend the extra money for sure because I wouldn't have to keep buying hats. I could have a single hat like yours which has lasted 6 years and will last more.

[Jeremiah]

I have a penman ABL. Love it. Saving for a Penman Beaver.

[Chewbacca Jones]

To compare/contrast the Penman and the Akubra, specifically;

An Akubra is probably the toughest factory-made hat you can buy, and for most people, it's all you'll need in hat. But, like even the best hats in the world, it will need service eventually, if not replacement. There's only so much a hunk of felt and leather can take. Overall, the Akubra is a good balance of quality, price, and repairability.

A beaver fur hat made as well as John Penman makes his should last you quite a long while. If you can at least avoid anything that might puncture or tear the felt (and don't grab it by the pinch like people do in movies!), all other parts can be replaced, and the felt can be reblocked. That's also true of the Akubra, but with a Penman (and most hats made by hand), the ability to refurbish the hat is much higher because of how it's made. Also, the Penman's dye will hold better, and the felt will be more resistant to shrinkage from getting wet. There's a bit extra that John does to try to minimize that problem. The result is a hat that will need refurb less often, but be capable of refurb more often. That's the key to a hat that will last a lifetime; maintenance! Just like a car.

[michaelcmartino]

I have a penman ABL. Love it. Saving for a Penman Beaver.

What different options does penman's give for the raiders fedora?

[Gorak]

I know everyone likes to tout their favorite hats and hatmakers but as an old guy around here, I think I can say with the greatest amount of certainty that quite possibly the toughest Indy hat out there would start with PeterBros. And their aptly named "Bullet Proof" Indy fedoras!

[michaelcmartino]

To compare/contrast the Penman and the Akubra, specifically;

An Akubra is probably the toughest factory-made hat you can buy, and for most people, it's all you'll need in hat. But, like even the best hats in the world, it will need service eventually, if not replacement. There's only so much a hunk of felt and leather can take. Overall, the Akubra is a good balance of quality, price, and repairability.

A beaver fur hat made as well as John Penman makes his should last you quite a long while. If you can at least avoid anything that might puncture or tear the felt (and don't grab it by the pinch like people do in movies!), all other parts can be replaced, and the felt can be reblocked. That's also true of the Akubra, but with a Penman (and most hats made by hand), the ability to refurbish the hat is much higher because of how it's made. Also, the Penman's dye will hold better, and the felt will be more resistant to shrinkage from getting wet. There's a bit extra that John does to try to minimize that problem. The result is a hat that will need refurb less often, but be capable of refurb more often. That's the key to a hat that will last a lifetime; maintenance! Just like a car.

So really the Penman is the better hat if price isn't the question?

[michaelcmartino]

I know everyone likes to tout their favorite hats and hatmakers but as an old guy around here, I think I can say with the greatest amount of certainty that quite possibly the toughest Indy hat out there would start with PeterBros. And their aptly named "Bullet Proof" Indy fedoras!

Like I said I'm new to all this so really any hat is in this convorsation as long as it's the toughest/will last the longest without maintenance and you can give some background on it! I know all of you guys have experience so I'm going to need yalls help to really help me decide on my first "real hat".

[BendingOak]

OK, first link didn't' work. I'll try that again

I test my hats……

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNt69cBPCPI" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ridgerunner58]

I know everyone likes to tout their favorite hats and hatmakers but as an old guy around here, I think I can say with the greatest amount of certainty that quite possibly the toughest Indy hat out there would start with PeterBros. And their aptly named "Bullet Proof" Indy fedoras!

Like I said I'm new to all this so really any hat is in this convorsation as long as it's the toughest/will last the longest without maintenance and you can give some background on it! I know all of you guys have experience so I'm going to need yalls help to really help me decide on my first "real hat".

As you are probably gathering there is no clear answer to the "best," "most durable," "most accurate," "best fitting" question. All of the custom made hats have great points and for some people, their negative points.

Ultimately, if you're not worried about price or lead time it just comes down to the intangible "which one do you like better?" Sadly, (or not) to figure that out most of us have to buy several and wear them for awhile.

[Indiana Jeff]

Firstly, welcome! You're among friends.

Secondly, as I'm sure you've already seen, there's no shortage of information here. Take time to slog through thread after thread after thread, "Seventy percent of all archaeology is done in the library."


You're fortunate if cost is not an issue. Opens the playing field considerably.

In terms of general quality the rule of thumb is - beaver felt is better than rabbit felt and custom made is better than factory made.

That's not to say there aren't quality factory made rabbit hats. Akubras have built a strong reputation among members here.

Beyond 'toughest' a couple of questions also to consider.

What's your purpose with the hat? Is it for a display, costuming only, with dress clothes only, daily wear in all weather and environments? I assume you intend daily wear so a custom beaver felt will be the most durable over time.

What's your head measurement? I measure at 23" so I fall between standard hat sizes, even hats sized by centimeters, so I opt for custom to get the perfect fit every time.

Have you worn fedoras before? If not, Indy style lids can be a bit daunting. They are 'big' compared to most styles and many members get concerned when they first put one on that it looks huge on their noggin. If you're not 100% sold you will wear the fedora, perhaps a lower cost 'entry' hat will serve you better until you decide you want to invest in something that will last a lifetime.

What do you want the hat to look like? Except for Crystal Skull, the movie hats were made from rabbit felt and the felt will age and break in differently than beaver felt. If you want a hat that's going to look exactly like one of the movie hats, rabbit may be a better choice. Understanding that a hat will look one way out of the box, but over time will mold to your head and handling and will move away from being a copy of what's seen on screen.

What is your time horizon? Each hatter has different wait times so it depends on how patient you are willing to be.

Most of the hatters in the US source their felt from Winchester Felt, considered to be the best option in the US. Feel free to ask the hatter where they get their felt. I wouldn't buy a hat from a hatter that won't disclose their felt source.

Do you want more than one hat? Most likely once you get one hat, you're going to want a second. So, you may be better served in the long run shopping around to different hatters (all the names mentioned already are high quality - ultimately you can't go wrong with any of them). You may be able to get 2 hats for nearly the same cost as one and double your hat options.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[Texan Scott]

Sometimes, people equate "tough" with maker, but "tough" is in material. The type of felt and how it is sewed, and that is where a custom hatter comes in. Quality of beaver felt used, then the materials used, then sewing technique.

[michaelcmartino]

Firstly, welcome! You're among friends.

Secondly, as I'm sure you've already seen, there's no shortage of information here. Take time to slog through thread after thread after thread, "Seventy percent of all archaeology is done in the library."


You're fortunate if cost is not an issue. Opens the playing field considerably.

In terms of general quality the rule of thumb is - beaver felt is better than rabbit felt and custom made is better than factory made.

That's not to say there aren't quality factory made rabbit hats. Akubras have built a strong reputation among members here.

Beyond 'toughest' a couple of questions also to consider.

What's your purpose with the hat? Is it for a display, costuming only, with dress clothes only, daily wear in all weather and environments? I assume you intend daily wear so a custom beaver felt will be the most durable over time.

What's your head measurement? I measure at 23" so I fall between standard hat sizes, even hats sized by centimeters, so I opt for custom to get the perfect fit every time.

Have you worn fedoras before? If not, Indy style lids can be a bit daunting. They are 'big' compared to most styles and many members get concerned when they first put one on that it looks huge on their noggin. If you're not 100% sold you will wear the fedora, perhaps a lower cost 'entry' hat will serve you better until you decide you want to invest in something that will last a lifetime.

What do you want the hat to look like? Except for Crystal Skull, the movie hats were made from rabbit felt and the felt will age and break in differently than beaver felt. If you want a hat that's going to look exactly like one of the movie hats, rabbit may be a better choice. Understanding that a hat will look one way out of the box, but over time will mold to your head and handling and will move away from being a copy of what's seen on screen.

What is your time horizon? Each hatter has different wait times so it depends on how patient you are willing to be.

Most of the hatters in the US source their felt from Winchester Felt, considered to be the best option in the US. Feel free to ask the hatter where they get their felt. I wouldn't buy a hat from a hatter that won't disclose their felt source.

Do you want more than one hat? Most likely once you get one hat, you're going to want a second. So, you may be better served in the long run shopping around to different hatters (all the names mentioned already are high quality - ultimately you can't go wrong with any of them). You may be able to get 2 hats for nearly the same cost as one and double your hat options.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

You guys have all been a huge help! And the way you(Indiana Jeff) put it specifically,really helped me make my decision. I think I need to start with a hat that is more of a starter hat . For me that means going with the Akubra first. I eventually want a high end hat like a penman but I still don't really know anything about hat care or how to maintain a fur felt fedora. I think the Akubra will be a good hat for me to learn with and once I get the hang of what to do I can then make the decision to step up to a higher end hat! I'm getting really excited now haha, "I'm as giddy as a school boy" !

[Michaelson]

Sometimes, people equate "tough" with maker, but "tough" is in material. The type of felt and how it is sewed, and that is where a custom hatter comes in. Quality of beaver felt used, then the materials used, then sewing technique.

Seriously, though all great advice, this advice is about the best 'basic' advice regarding a beaver hat.

Makers are all over the place price wise, so do some research and make your decision based on the info above when you get to moving up to a higher end fedora.

You can't go wrong going with gathering up that info first, and THEN determine a maker when you finally buy.

You'll also enjoy your Akubra. They're built like tanks.

Regards! Michaelson

[Texan Scott]

...back to ya' big dawg!

[Indiana Greg]

Grab a Stratton & rebash it as a fedora, toughest felt known to man.

[Indiana Jeff]

Funny you should mention Stratton's felt being the toughest known to man.

From the Stratton website:

These start at Stratton's wholly-owned subsidiary, the Winchester Hat Corporation in Tennessee.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

[Chewbacca Jones]

So really the Penman is the better hat if price isn't the question?

That's pretty much it, in a nut shell. I'm not playing favorites, by any means, either. I feel that both are good, and have their place. I've owned both, in multiples.

But, as you note in a later post, there are benefits to starting with a lower-end hat. I'd say, given the two hats you're looking at, your decision is mainly about how you want to get into hats - ease in slowly, or dive in full-on. Followed by, do you want to shape it yourself. The Akubra Federation will require you to do so, the Penman can come shaped or unshaped.

By the way, in case you don't know, BendingOak is John Penman, and the video he posted is no joke.

[WConly]

So really the Penman is the better hat if price isn't the question?

That's pretty much it, in a nut shell. I'm not playing favorites, by any means, either. I feel that both are good, and have their place. I've owned both, in multiples.

But, as you note in a later post, there are benefits to starting with a lower-end hat. I'd say, given the two hats you're looking at, your decision is mainly about how you want to get into hats - ease in slowly, or dive in full-on. Followed by, do you want to shape it yourself. The Akubra Federation will require you to do so, the Penman can come shaped or unshaped.

By the way, in case you don't know, BendingOak is John Penman, and the video he posted is no joke.

I will add my, 'Amen,' to this one. John produces really solid hats and better yet, backs them to 'The Max!' So, when one is ready and comfortable with pricing, etc., this would certainly be my choice of choices. There are some truly fine hats on the market (just as there are those that, well....just be left aside and unspoken of...) Peters Brothers hats are truly solid. Aukbra's are also very substantial and very well made, especially for the price. It is all stair-stepping, as has been noted here. A person just has to take the steps before them and climb to the summit of where they find contentment. What an wonderful 'Hat Utopia' it would be, if 'price' was not the concern, or issue. As my mom always taught me, "You get what you pay for, thus always be truly cautious in your search." W>

[RJR]

I have INDYs by AB,Penman,Garrison,Peters Bros and an Akubra Adventurer.They're all nice but I'd rank the AB and Penman at the top with the others not very far behind.

[zaynecarrick]

I've had my AB Raiders beaver squished in a suitcase and by an Indy ride troop transport, whacked at, rained on, stepped on by man and horse, as well as sat on. Still looks the same as the day I got it. Haven't subjected my newer Herbert Johnson LC rabbit to that abuse just yet so I can't quite comment on its durability. So if price isn't an issue, go with Penman and beaver. I gave AB the slight edge for the novelty of having an actual Indy movie prop-maker put his hands on my fedora (at the expense of gambling whether I'd be in the group of 7+ year people who have yet to receive theirs). The quality for either is the top.