Club Obi Wan

That does look great Mountaineer.

5 1/2 more weeks and I should have mine. Man, this is gonna be a long 5 1/2 weeks

Thanks very much guys.

Tundra: Yeah, that's one way to hurry up and age it, but I wasn't going for that.

NES: That's the standard ribbon. I had to go back and look at the photos to notice it, but you're right, it's very different depending on the light/distance.

The Dude: Your wait will be rewarded.

I should also add that it was in the high 80's, low 90's yesterday and it never really felt like this hat was cooking my head. Once.

It's awesome to see such great pics of the hat.

Nearing the end of week 6 for me, so anticipation levels are rising...

Mountaineer, looks great ! With every pic I see and review I
read, I'm knowing that I made a great choice.

LLS told me that this week it should be wrapping up, so my
'anticipation level' is really on the boil at this point

I came out of the closet with my Garrison today, so to speak. I used to crack my whips only in the back yard, until at my son's birthday party I did a little whip demo and now I can crack in the front yard in full view of the neighbors. Yeah, it's a little weird. Today I was going to be outside working in the yard, front and back, so I put on my Garrison and although temperatures ranged from high sixties to high eighties, I didn't take it off all day. I love this lid. I'm sure it looked especially cool when I took my dirt bike down the street for a test ride with my son on the tank. I think those are the memories he will cherish the most: riding helmetless down the street with Daddy in his Indy fedora on a blatting old dirt bike.

Oildale Jones wrote: I think those are the memories he will cherish the most: riding helmetless down the street with Daddy in his Indy fedora on a blatting old dirt bike.

Yep, those are the memories. The ones that one day you'll tell him, "Don't ever let me catch you doing this!" I do the same with my boys. (and my Dad did with me...)

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Oildale Jones wrote:I think those are the memories he will cherish the most: riding helmetless down the street with Daddy in his Indy fedora on a blatting old dirt bike.

Wow. Sounds like my dad, except minus the fedora and insert a Brett Myers hairstyle...and throw a wheelie in there somewhere

Thanks Scoot!

Oildale, that is awesome.

David let me know that he shipped my hat today. Beyond excited to get it. The little bit of extra wait has been rough, but I know how life goes, so it's all good. I'm just happy to have it in time for a festival / camping trip weekend after next. I plan to spend three glorious days lakeside cracking whips, making whips and breaking in my new lid!

Same here Zuiun ~ - just got the notification today that the Garrison is on the way!
Now, the daily checking of the UPS tracking status has begun ...

Over the weekend I met an AB owner and got to examine his fedora a bit. My first impression was how similar it felt to my Garrison Raiders--thick and "doughy"--the major difference being that the AB had a smoother surface. My experience with fedoras is very limited, but I have to say that the Garrison felt compared quite favorably. Just my non-expert, off-the-cuff opinion.

Congrats guys I'm sure you will love your hats once they arrive.

- bish

"Out For Delivery" is one of the sweetest three-word sentences there is. Just sayin'.

Zuiun - First impressions ASAP please (pics too ...) Need to keep feeding the
building anticipation.

Still in transit .... scheduled for Tues 7/3.
Like Bugs Bunny once said, "It's the suspense that get me..."

Rest assured, guys, getting your hat in hand (or on head) makes all the anticipation and suspense worth it.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

ScootGaloot wrote:First impressions ASAP please (pics too ...) Need to keep feeding the
building anticipation.

Ok, so frame of reference: I own one other hat that I'd consider to be a decent hat. It's a black Keens made in the late 50's / early 60's, beaver felt, perfect condition. Think Mad Men style rather than Indy. It's my size if I were to walk into a hat store and buy a hat off the rack. Fits great and I love it. Wearing it makes the cheap fedoras that are popular in department stores now feel like a helmet for how clunky they fit.

So, the Garrison arrives in a large, well protected box. I take it out and the felt feels amazing (I went with rabbit for this one). Soft, smooth, zero imperfections. I dig the "staff of Ra" graphic on the lining. I put the thing on. I'm not kidding when I say that the difference between it and my Keens is almost as significant as the difference between the Keens and cheap departments store fedoras. Even though the measurements I gave David vary ever so slightly from the 7 3/8 "stock" size of the Keens, that extra bit of custom fit makes all the difference in the world.

Here are a couple of crappy cell phone pics that do not do the hat justice. (I'll take better pics later, but I have weddings to photograph this weekend, so it may be a day or two...)

Bazinga! That looks fantastic, and you wear it well.

Oh man .... that is SWEET. What Oildale said ....

That's one good looking hat. I think I'm 3 weeks out.... The anticipation is killing me!!!

-The Dude

Zuiun, That lid suits you right to the ground!

Zuiun wrote:Even though the measurements I gave David vary ever so slightly from the 7 3/8 "stock" size of the Keens, that extra bit of custom fit makes all the difference in the world.

I know exactly what you mean. My first 'real' fedora was an Akubra Rink in 59cm. I measure 23" which puts me at roughly 58.5cm. I loved that Rink until I got my first custom made hat. The fit was so much better right out of the box. I've never gone back to 'standard' sized hats. When you get something that fits so great, you know the difference from then on out and "nothing else has come close."

Wear it in good health.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Well, my Garrison arrived (yesterday). Needless to say, I was
stoked.

First off - first impressions. Exactly as I expected ... beautiful.

This is my first quality felt hat, and David's handiwork lived up to
my expectations. Everything everyone before me has said is true.
When I took it out of the box and set it down to take this pic, my
thoughts were "I Can't wait to wear this."

Then .... I put it on. And I just don't think it works with me. I
honestly am beginning to think that I'm just not meant to wear a tall
crown Indy fedora.

No matter what I tried to do with it (in the mirror) on my head - moved
this way and that, back on head, towards front of head, etc etc.) it
just doesn't seem to work.

The capper (sorry for the poor pun) was when my wife came over to the
bathroom door while I was working it. She looked at me/hat - and her
expression spoke volumes (although she was not trying to be critical).
My spirit dropped like a rock. She finally said (likely after working to find
the correct comment) "it looks too tall". I did explain that it's meant to
be a taller crown than other hats (like a recently acquired fedora style
Ultrafino Panama I have).

Although I'm new at wearing quality hats, I believe that I correctly
sized myself and gave the proper dimensions to David per his directions
to take my measurements 3 times (and, other directions I've found doing
research):

1) 21 3/4“
2) 21 13/16”
3) 21 3/4”

Anyway, one and all, Here is a photo album with a lot of pics that I've
taken with the hat (and others I have) on me, for you all to perhaps provide
some guidance. All suggestions / honesty gratefully accepted. Hope the link
works.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1022475868 ... directlink

Scoot.

Shame you think it isn't working for you Scoot.

I'm biased because I'm a tall crown kinda guy, but I think the Garrison looks great on you - better then the slightly lower crowned Panama.

Since this is the first taller crown hat you've owned, you might find it does take a little getting used to. I know when I first started wearing fedoras a couple of years ago, it was a while before I wear one out of the house. Even once I took that step, it again was a little while before I wore one confidently. People always say "wear the hat, don't let the hat wear you" - a real cliche, but it is true. These days I really never leave the house without a fedora - mainly straw at this time of year, but I wore my Garrison early this morning on a little hike with my dogs.

Anyway, I'd say that the proportions of your Garrison look great on you - of course, you're the one who has to wear it!

Scoot, I agree with David. The Indy hat is a tall hat, but from a time and place where tall hats were common. As I've become a daily fedora wearer (usually not an Indy hat) I also still prefer fairly tall crowned hats. There is definitely an adjustment period, and I think we've all had a little "hat anxiety" now and again. Just wear it for a while and see if it doesn't start to feel more at home on your head.

Jlee & David ~

Thanks for the positives .... I'm more than famous around my household
for my occasional self-criticism, and after I reread my tome, I feel I'm more
than a touch guilty here as well.

That said, I've been spending my day wearing the Garrison on and off
re-reviewing myself in the mirror, looking at the pics more, and just plain
analyzing things ... and as I am wont to do, more research on the interwebs.
I've found something that I didn't pay enough attention to prior to ordering,
and I think may be at the crux of my thoughts.

What is causing my doubts is not so much the crown - it helps to look at
pics rather than in the mirror, it seems to show a more 'detached' view,
that seems more realistic, and it's growing on me - and it's not the sizing,
because it does sit comfortably on my head, not overly tight nor loose so
I believe I hit that correctly ~ but the waviness of the brim. I just can't
seem to get that smooth look I see in so many other pics. It's all over the
map.

Now, I think I understand what's up - I hope for more wisdom on this from
everyone here on the board - summed up in one term: Wide oval. I believe
that's the shape of my head, and it's distorting the brim on my hat a bit.
Unfortunately, that's something I now know I should have brought to David's
attention, and failed miserably in doing so.

When I put a slight tension on the sweatband for and aft, the brim takes on
a wonderful shape ... and the same slight tension placed side to side distorts
the brim exactly as I feel it looks on my head.

Thoughts ... ?

Scoot that hat look fine on you. Many of us have gone through this and your wife's comments were identical to my wife's when I bought my first Indy hat by Penman. I also have a Garrison Raider now and she actually likes the hat on me. It just take getting use to. Watch some 30s and 40s classic films and they are full of tall fedoras.

Look at how similar these look, angle-wise. The style was different from the Raider and LC but you get the gist of it.

Well, I have to agree with everyone else here. It took me a while to get used to wearing such a full crowned fedora. Based on the other hats you have pictures of, I can see why your wife would comment your Garrison is a tall hat. But not too tall for you. What'll really help with getting a more objective view (for as objectively as we can ever be of ourselves) is to get some pictures outdoors at a 5-10 foot distance. Looking in a mirror or arm length shots distort what you are seeing.

I went through the same thing with my black Garrison. Loved the hat, but wasn't sure it was quite right for me. Then I got some pictures and could see the hat the way other people see it and I know it's all good.

Having said all that, the brim does seem a little wonky, but arm length pictures are hard to tell. It could be matter of the hat breaking in a bit and forming to the shape of your head.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Well, this ground is well-trod already, but I'll put my prints in it as well. My wife's first words about my first Indy fedora were also, "That's a pretty tall hat." No argument there. It's taken me some time to get used to it. I agree that yours looks fine on you, Scoot, and better than the smaller ones (which look too small IMO). But yeah, that's one wonky brim. As I posted above, I wasn't totally happy with my Garrison until I rebashed and "unturned" it. So it might take some fiddling (and possibly some strategically placed foam inside the sweatband?), but I believe the two of you will work it out.

I agree with others. It takes time to get used to wearing a tall crown fedora. The hat looks great on you and simply needs a bit of tinkering on the brim. Wear it with pride. Don't get put off by she who must be obeyed. Mine sniggered at me for a whole month. My original reason for getting into this "hobby" was a custome for a rugby tour, but it did not take long to realise that the fedora and jacket are great stylish and durable everyday items. My wife is now proud of my hats, no one else in my town ( Warsaw in Poland) wears a hat quite like this and it gets admiring looks and comments. A fedora of this quality worn with a suit is outstanding, teamed with an undistressed indy jacket, vintage style trousers, button down shirt and tie and you have a classy 1930s look going. When the autumn and winter comes you will be really pleased that you have this hat! Stay the course and don't give up on this. Enjoy being a little bit different.

Scoot...I have the exact same issue...my head is wider ear to ear and ALL my brims get distorted. Most of my hats are comepletely truned sideways to get the good brim swoop but I loose crown shape when I do that. Like some of the guys said. Slowly add alittle layer of felt to the inside until you get the shape you want. Just be careful, when I do that, on some hats you then mess up with the side profile as the hat will then look too big on you from the sides due to the stuffing.

Hey, thanks one and all for the great words of encouragement.
I've definitely been rethinking my initial rather critical post - and,
wearing the hat.

One thing I've also noticed is how much different things look in
outdoor light. I was out in our rare-in-Seattle-area sun yesterday
wearing it whilst BBQ'ing, and happened to glance at myself in the
car window, and it seemed totally different than inside in the
bath mirror - and much to the better. Pushed back a touch on my
head, slightly off to the side, and it changed the look considerably.
You really have to learn how to wear a nice lid. Well, if
I'm willing to rock classic Aloha shirts, than I've few qualms about
what others think. (In defense of She Who Must Be Obeyed, she
wasn't trying to be a downer for me - I think it's just that she was
trying to decide if she thought it works for me).

What's still got me is that warbly brim ... and the suggestions to do
some slight packing are brilliance in their simplicity. I'm going to try
that first thing when I get home today. That may just do the trick.
I hope so ...

Honestly, when I first saw what had happened to the brim, I guessed that you'd been tugging on it while putting the hat on and off...If you do, that might be the reason for the misshapen edge?

Equally, it's possible that your hat it "turned" slightly to one side, which means that when sitting on your head it won't sit "straight", and the slight angle causes the brim to contort a touch depending on the amount of turn put on the hat...You can check that by rotating the "front" crease a touch to the left or right and seeing if the brim straightens out..

Either of those two could be what you're finding with the brim..

I've found that all my brims can be straightened out easily with a little attention to it done by hand..Unless the hat is turned, in which case it's meant to distort..Essentially...(Although your does look a touch "wilder" than most I've seen..)..

Don't be afraid of using your hands to straighten the edges out and bend them softly into being more even..That'll help a lot..

As for the height of the Indy hats and how they look, I agree entirely with everyone else here, it does indeed take time to feel "ok" wearing these hats...Once you get used to them, you soon realise that it's that height that really stands them (and you) out in them, but at first it's a big jump...

And yeah, girlfriends don't always understand....When I got my first hat the reaction I got hit just as hard as it sounds yours did...However, with a suit, and once I'd learnt how I should hold myself with a hat on, she was proud as #### to be seen out with me dressed like that...

So it's a "familiarity" thing, more than a "never-ever going to look cool in THAT" thing...In my opinion..

Regards, and good luck with that brim!

You know it (hats) can be an odd thing, if we allow them to be so! Tall crowns seemed odd to and on me, in the beginning, then after wearing said, I became comfortable with them and all was 'good,' until I tried some of my other hats, after -- and then I was really confused -- because they looked, felt and seemed strange. After some time, I was able to re-group and recoginize that each has 'it's' own 'look' and purpose! Enjoy! There is a thread (somewhere on this site) regarding 'What is your favorite hat to wear,' or something to that nature and I responded with a simple, but true statement of; 'Whatever I choose to wear 'that day.') It is all relative to one's state of mind and how we perceive ourselves. Relax and enjoy! The hat does not make the man. The man truly makes the hat! I you can be comfortable in it, it will become comfortable to you, as well ! Seriously! W>

I think why most people find indy fedora's to be too tall is the fact that we live in a ball cap era. We're used to seeing a hat that conforms to the exact shape of our cranium. As soon as we see a hat that has some height to it we think it's too much. It does take some time to getting use to.

jedichase wrote:I think why most people find indy fedora's to be too tall is the fact that we live in a ball cap era. We're used to seeing a hat that conforms to the exact shape of our cranium. As soon as we see a hat that has some height to it we think it's too much. It does take some time to getting use to.

Yeah, what he said! Adjustment does take a bit of time and truly when you 'fully' adjust, this hat will become just as comfortable as all of your hats ! W>

My Garrison Raiders Rabbit
This hat is really taking on a character of it's own. Never have an Indy hat with the "turn" before and it takes some getting use to in finding that sweet spot to wearing it. The right side brim has started to lift more and I've been working on the pinch to keep it tight.




Album larger pics
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35223822@N ... 427221796/

I'm a little late to the party here, could someone help me out? I've never heard of this hat company, where did it come from and what's the story behind the liners? I know AB received a C&D order from Lucasfilm for the liners, so did Steve sell off all his unused liners to other hatters, or what? They are fantastic hats, BTW.

David Garrison is a member here (Local Land Surveyor). He lives and works in Georgia and has been selling hats since at least 2009. This very thread will give you a great idea of what people think of his hats, which is to say, they are great (I own two non-Indy Garrison hats and love them both). David spent time in Mississippi working side by side with Steve Delk to perfect his skills and Steve himself has complimented David's work. I can't recommend David enough for an excellent product with great customer service. Don't know anything about the liners, though.


And, lantzn, your lid looks great!


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Everyone ~

Just a quick touch-base. David PM'ed me and we are going to get a call
together, he may have some ideas on my brim situation. I'll bring everyone
up to speed when I get a chance.

Scoot

Just got back from Eastern WA doing a bunch of fireworks shows for the 4th--had to make do w/ the too-small AkAd, but it kept the worst of the sun off when I was wiring the finale for Pullman.

The ad agency I think is not going to use us for the actual commercial (haven't heard a thing & it's been nearly 2 months), but they did pay for the storyboards & I'm getting a small amount I think for the themes. Means I still don't have hat money, but I'm going to sell a few things on ebay to come up with it.

Just a little "field report:"

So I've had my Garrison for about two weeks or so, and I've been wearing it quite a lot. It admittedly took some getting used to. I wear fedoras all the time, but while those are hats, the Garrison is a HAT!

The weekend following the 4th of July I went on a camping trip. It was a flow arts festival (poi, staves, juggling/contact juggling, etc.) on a private camp ground in Kansas. Literally, the hottest weekend of the year -- average temps were 105.

I was wary about wearing a rabbit fur fedora in that heat. But I've never let common sense stop me.

The proof of the hat came one of the days when I was sitting there plaiting a nylon bullwhip. My girlfriend looks over at me and asks, "aren't you hot???" I look at her confused. She says, "you're sitting directly in the sun!" I look up. Sure enough, the sun had moved beyond our pop-up and was now directly overhead. I hadn't even noticed! I had never worn a hat before that was that efficient at deflecting the heat. I took it off and instantly felt 20 degrees hotter. Put it back on and couldn't feel the sun at all.

Some people were looking at me odd for wearing a hat in that heat, yet there they were with sweat pouring off their faces and I was barely feeling the heat at all.

It's a fantastic hat!

Just an observation....I wore a 100% beaver felt fedora in the Arizona/Nevada sun a few years back and had the same experience....but there's no humidity involved there...or not very much. Temps were 112! No problems at all!

See how things go when humidity is around 80-90%. No matter what the felt is, you'll feel the heat.

Anyway, sounds like you're a happy camper and are USING your hat! GOOD MAN!!!

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote:See how things go when humidity is around 80-90%. No matter what the felt is, you'll feel the heat.

You'll note I said the campground was in Kansas. There may have been some humidity involved...

But actually, since you brought it up, one of the days was *very* humid and the others not so much. In the humidity, wearing the hat in the shade didn't make much sense, but I still found it cooler to wear it once I ventured out into the nuclear furnace--er, I mean sunshine.

Zuiun wrote:Just a little "field report:"

I was wary about wearing a rabbit fur fedora in that heat. I had never worn a hat before that was that efficient at deflecting the heat. I took it off and instantly felt 20 degrees hotter. Put it back on and couldn't feel the sun at all.

It's a fantastic hat!

I've heard the same comments before. People just don't realize how good these felt hat are for keeping the heat off. They also keep the sun out of my eyes when driving. I rarely wear my sunglasses since I started wearing these fedoras.
My first hat was one of the cheap wool "Indy" licensed hats and from what I remember my head did get hot in that hat. Maybe it was the wool or shorter crown.

Last Friday my hat arrived!!!

I've been waiting to write my review because this is an all new experience for me. I've had a Fed III & IV, those hats just never felt right to me. The crown was too high and the bash never looked like what I wanted. Plus the brim never bent correctly. I felt like Goldie Locks eating porridge every time I mess with it.

Now comes my Garrison Rabbit Cairo. When I got it Friday it was a mixed emotion day. I knew it looked perfect (predistressed). It looked dirty, worn, used, floppy, tight pinch and all but I wasn't sold.

First off there was the turn, I just couldn't make my brain accept that when I was wearing the hat the turn was what was making the brim do everything I had been wanting it to do. Secondly, there was the distressing. I mean it looks like he beat the Hades out of it.

So, I met up with Michaelson and showed it to him. He was wearing his Peter brothers lid that was made from the same felt but they looked nothing alike. Nothing.
M's was all refined and dress like. Mine, like a worn out and abused... Best friend.

It took all weekend but after wearing it Sunday and today in the yard I've realized this beat up hat is just incredible. The bash, the turn, the floppy felt (not near as stiff as a Fed or Peter bros) they are all perfect.

The only thing I'd change is the amount of Fullers Earth on it and I will by letting the next summer shower get me. Don't get me wrong, it is perfectly distressed. He captured Cairo like no other I've ever seen but it's too much for everyday wear to me. I'm just going to tone it down but as I said its perfect.

David did an incredible job and made a great hat.

Thanks David!!!


-The Dude

The Dude wrote:Last Friday my hat arrived!!!

He captured Cairo like no other I've ever seen...David did an incredible job and made a great hat.

Thanks David!!!


-The Dude

That was my experience as well. David has a good eye for the SoC fedora. Good job!

Sweet!!!! Can't wait to see some pics!

Kemosabe wrote:Sweet!!!! Can't wait to see some pics!

Indeed!

I'll get some of it, the shirt, pants, and my soon to arrive back pack...


It's been a good week to be a gearhead

The Dude wrote:I'll get some of it, the shirt, pants, and my soon to arrive back pack...


It's been a good week to be a gearhead

Lookin' forward to seeing the ensemble!