Question about sizing for a wool felt hat

[Mark Brody]

I recently ordered a BSA campaign hat. I ordered my normal size (61, or 7 5/8), and although it's comfortable from front to back, it fits a little large in the sides. I'm unsure of whether I should exchange it for a smaller size, here's why: It's 100% wool, which I know doesn't hold its shape like fur. It's also made by Stetson, and I still don't feel Stetsons live up to the company's former reputation, having had recent Stetsons shrink in the rain. I plan to wear this hat as hard as Indy wore his, so I don't expect the brim to stay flat as my long oval head distorts the crown, and I'm okay with that. It's a Scout hat, not a drill sergeant hat. I'm not going on parade.

I'm sure the vintage hats are better quality than the current production, but as I've stated, I have a rather large noggin, which makes it difficult to find vintage hats in my size.

Am I right to expect the right amount of shrinkage to make this hat fit me better?

[cm289]

I don’t know the answer to that question, but as a member of the campaign hat brigade, I wanted to say, “Welcome aboard”.


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[davidd]

As a fellow fat head... err... I mean, size 61 wearer, based on my experience I would discourage you from sizing down with your Stetson campaign hat.

I do not own a Stetson campaign hat, but I have an Akubra slouch hat, which is essentially the same "round" shape, which I bashed in to a campaign style.

(There's a topic about "Montana peak" campaign hats here: http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=65193" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )

At this point, when I do not wear my slouch hat for a while, it shrinks considerably. I tried it on just now, prior to posting, and it has become extremely tight all the way around. It will take a few hours of wear to stretch it out so it is not uncomfortably snug.

I also own a Stetson fur felt western hat. The size 61 / 7-5/8 Stetson felt a smidgin too large initially, but after being worn, there was some shrinkage, and now, as with the Akubra, it is almost uncomfortably snug after not being worn for a while. As with your new campaign hat, the Stetson is tighter front to back and looser on the sides. I suspect it is an innate characteristic of hats with a "round" shape.

A long time ago I owned a wool felt Dorfman-Pacific Indy hat. That hat had a serious shrinkage issue. It definitely got tighter over time, to the point where I sold it, partly because I could not comfortably wear it anymore.

Perhaps try tucking a little strip of foam rubber inside the sweatband on the sides for a better initial fit, and then go out and "wear that hat as hard as Indy wore his" on a few dusty, dirty, sweaty adventures. I suspect you will find the hat will "shrink to fit" after a while, and then continue to shrink when it's not being worn. Because of the almost certain shrinkage, I don't think you will want to go down a size.

Let us know how it works out for you, and share some pics in that "Montana Peak" topic!



(Oh, and... where did you find a Stetson BSA campaign hat in size 61?)

[cm289]

(Oh, and... where did you find a Stetson BSA campaign hat in size 61?)

There’s 2 on eBay now. One looks pretty good, the other has, well let’s just say, significant character.


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[davidd]

There’s 2 on eBay now. One looks pretty good, the other has, well let’s just say, significant character.

Thanks. I can find one of them. Looks good, but the cost of shipping really bumps up the price.

I found an online vendor that offers Stetson campaign hats: https://www.filenesbasement.com/product ... n-hat.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Or, you can buy them from the official Boy Scouts online store, but I don't know if they're still made by Stetson: https://www.scoutshop.org/campaign-hat-606089.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Stratton Hats offers uniform-style felt campaign hats in different oval shapes: https://strattonhats.com/products/unifo ... -felt-hat/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mark Brody]

I ordered the hat new from ScoutShop, I can confirm that they are still made by Stetson. I think older BSA Campaign hats were made by Stratton. Someone at TFL recommended getting the current offering from Stratton instead - they said the wool Stetson wouldn't hold up well if I plan to wear it hard. I know it won't hold it's shape, and it's prone to shrinkage, but I have a 20 year old wool Pendleton that is completely intact. It's shrunken and faded, but wool is still a very strong material, and it shows no weak spots in the felt.

[davidd]

I ordered the hat new from ScoutShop, I can confirm that they are still made by Stetson.

Thank you for the confirmation. The ScoutShop hats are much more reasonably priced than those from other online sellers I found.

[jlee562]

Well, the other reason I suggested the Stratton is that it seems a long oval hat would fit you better.