Club Obi Wan

Hi everyone I'm new to the board so hello how are ya its nice to be here. This seems like a very friendly and nice place, not many of those left on the net.

Anyway down to buisness, I'm lookin for a new hat. I was thinking the Akubra Federation as I have honestly always been a Indy fan and like the style. From what I have seen and read these are very good hats but I just wanted to kinda confirm that with those that actually have them. I need somthing that will take some fairly rough treatment at times. My last hat (a canvas bush hat) met an untimly demise recently when I had a miss step and went off a cliff . To be honest it probobly survived alright but I wasn't able to find it afterwards. I was also looking at the Adventurebilt hats after reading some of the stuff on here but I don't know if I really can cough up the $175+ shipping. Hopefully I can find somthing new soon, I have a few jobs lined up for this summer and I hate going out without a hat .

rebelgtp wrote:Hi everyone I'm new to the board so hello how are ya its nice to be here. This seems like a very friendly and nice place, not many of those left on the net.

Anyway down to buisness, I'm lookin for a new hat. I was thinking the Akubra Federation as I have honestly always been a Indy fan and like the style. From what I have seen and read these are very good hats but I just wanted to kinda confirm that with those that actually have them. I need somthing that will take some fairly rough treatment at times. My last hat (a canvas bush hat) met an untimly demise recently when I had a miss step and went off a cliff . To be honest it probobly survived alright but I wasn't able to find it afterwards. I was also looking at the Adventurebilt hats after reading some of the stuff on here but I don't know if I really can cough up the $175+ shipping. Hopefully I can find somthing new soon, I have a few jobs lined up for this summer and I hate going out without a hat .

Hello and welcome!
Just so you know, there is a discount for forum members on the Adventurebilt, so keep that in mind when you are deciding. With the discount, which I don't remember how much it is. Perhaps my pal, J-Weaver will chime in and let us know; but with that discount the gap between the two is narrower.

As for the Akubra, I have one. It is a very good hat. It is tough and stylish, though within the first year it tapered quite a bit and acquired this sort of greenish color. Still, I wear it on occasion, when it rains hard. I have two Adventurebilts that I love dearly, so I am not exactly impartial.

So, if you're looking for something very inexpensive and something that can take a beating, it may be the hat for you. If you want something much nicer, much tougher and much more accurate to what we see onscreen, then inquire about the Adventurebilt.
Either way, wear a fedora proudly and often; I don't want to be the only guy out there.

rebelgtp wrote:I was also looking at the Adventurebilt hats after reading some of the stuff on here but I don't know if I really can cough up the $175+ shipping

Fedora, gives a discount to COW members.

The rabbit is $135.00 for COW members.
The beaver is $225.00 for COW members.

http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?t ... ebilt+info

Welcome aboard rebelgtp!

Now, down to business. The Akubra is a tough hat, but like Hemingway said, it has some taper in it. Personally, I think the Akubra misses the mark when it comes to the Raiders look.

Now, about the Adventurebilt. I'm not really sure what Fedora charges right now, discount and all. However, I paid $145 for my rabbit Adventurebilt shipping and all. But I think that Fedora may have raised the price of the rabbit since I got mine.

With all of that said I would reccomend the Adventurebilt. The Akubra Federation is gonna cost you around $135 total. (At least thats what my dad paid last November) For $10 or $20 more you can get a rabbit AB. I find both hats to be fairly comparable, but the big difference for me is the block shape of the AB. If you really want the Raiders look then Fedora is the man to see.

oh wow there is a discount on the adventurebilts? well that kinda puts things more into reason...

how well do these hats old up to rain and rather humid climates? since i live in the northwest i do have to deal with rain quite a bit and also alot of area i go to are rainy or humid.

does anyone happen to have a pic of the 2 hats next to each other so i can see how they look compared to each other?

Honestly rebel, the jury is still out on the rabbit Adventurebilts. I know for me the test will be this summer. Adventurebilt hats are pretty new. Fedora didn't open his hat shop until last fall. However, I can tell you that the Adventurebilt is made out of top quality materials, so I'm sure they will stand the test.

Just some FYI:
The Akubra Federation is also made of rabbit felt.
Any hat will taper if it really gets soaked.

I think hemingway and j-weaever gave some good info for you. So I will just say welcome aboard and don't forget to post pics when you do get one.

Welcome to The Madness... You've come for the Gear, now stay for the people.

I've dedicated a portion of The Fedora Chronicles to endorsing The Adventurebilt fedora. As Time Goes By I'll have other pages dedicated to other worth-while and excelent fedora vendors, but since The Adventurebilt has a special place in my heart because I've watched them develope from the very start.

I also love The Akubra Federations I've owned, but don't wear them anymore since I've put them away for my boys when they get old enought to wear them, they get first dibs on the ones I wore to the hospital the day they were born.

The Akubra Fedora's arn't perfect Raiders hats, they're best for Do-it-yourself'ers who like to bash their own. They're rugged, might taper a bit in the back but are ment to be worn in all types of weather.

The Adventurebilt is made to look just like the ones worn by Harrison Ford in Raiders of The Lost Ark but also like most other fedora's worn by men in the late 1930's. I love these because they're also made by hand just like the ones of that era.

Cut to the chaise, save up and buy the fedora that you actually want, insteed of settling for something cheap just to have it. Save your self the time and fustration and buy what you actually want. In the short run you'll go a few months with out having a fedora, but in the long run you'll have one that you'll actually enjoy and get on with your life.

Hi and welcome, too!

I think if you like the Raiders-style most you shouldn't buy Federation(I have got one and I really despaired by getting that bash!), but It's great for the ToD-look and not bad for the LC-look.

To round things out, JerseyJones of this site is also offering his Camptown Fieldmaster, Model 1936, 50/50 beaver/rabbit blend, for $135 to COW members. Also comes with a ventilated roan sweatband. Beats the Akubra all the heck, in my opinion, and currently the same price for a better hat. Regards! Michaelson

Yeah!!

I'm really thinking about getting one.

Do you have any pics?

aragh so many choices!! i think i may go crazy! wait i'm already there strike that...

does anyone have pics of the camptown? i'm not really leaning twords a specific style however i do like the raiders look i suppose. so many choices...

http://public.fotki.com/KenKenobi/micha ... _camptown/

But If I were you I'd save my money for an AB rabbit!!!!!

yeah i was kinda leaning twords the ab but i'm really looking for a hat that is going to be very durable and so far that is deffinately in the realm of the federation. the ab is still kinda new so it doesn't have as many stories abuse and it still living.

rebelgtp wrote:the ab is still kinda new so it doesn't have as many stories abuse and it still living.

I don't know of any stories of abuse and it dying either.

J_Weaver wrote:

rebelgtp wrote:the ab is still kinda new so it doesn't have as many stories abuse and it still living.

I don't know of any stories of abuse and it dying either.

lol well this is true. i just tend to be tough on my stuff when i'm in the feild. heck before i went out last i bought brand new boots (not cheap ones either) and they now look like they have had several years of very hard use lol...

I have a rabbit AB that I have sat on it and it looks like it is brand new! It is a lot softer since I have received it. If you are looking for a hat that can take abuse, then get an Adventurebilt!

ok i think you guys have me convinced...one question though i'm thinking about ordering a grey for a friend aswell can i get a ab in grey? does it cost the same price? i have a feeling he will be getting a call from me on friday lol

Yes, you can; and yes, they are the same price.

ok yeah its basicly sealed i'[ll be ordering the ab rabbits then...what kind of turn around is normal?

Anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks from the time of order til it's on your head. That was about my wait time. Very reasonable.

Regards,

If you're talking about true/hard 'field use', you need to factor in that the higher the beaver content, the harder use the hat can take. The Keppler, Camptown and, of course, the AB have that content, listed from lowest to highest, the AB being the highest. THEN consider price....the Camptown is the same price as the AB rabbit, then the Keppler, then the AB beaver.
Like you say, LOTS to consider, and with the crossing of prices from content and maker, it's doubly difficult now than ever before. Ain't it great?! Used to be we had one or two hats to choose from...off the shelf...felt content unknown...and 'take it or leave it' prices. Man, we've gone off the charts now in choices and quality!!!! Anything you do now is right!

I also own an AB rabbit, and it's a fine FINE custom hat, so if that's the direction you decide to go, you'll not be disappointed. It's not a beaver, but it's still in the game, and one that will serve you proudly!!

High regards! Michaelson

how is the sizing on the ab's compared to other hats? like i have a 7 1/2 resistal (sp?) cowboy hat. would the 7 1/2 ab be roughly the same size? whats the best way to order its size so i don't mess up and get the wrong size?

call Steve he will take care of everything.

The AB's are totally custom made, so the sizing is dead on. The others are standard sizing, but easily sized and manipulated to what you want shape and fit wise. Regards! Michaelson

Well I did it I ordered my AdventureBilt today!
I called and talked to steve for awhile (what time I could I was on break at work) and ordered my hat! I can't wait for it to get here!

Congratulations on the new fedora! Did you get rabbit or beaver? What bash did you get, or did you get it open crowned?

you will just love it when you do get it. Great choice.

I decided to go with the rabbit for now and i'm getting a regular "raiders" bash in it. i'm so excited i can't wait for it to get here hehe.

rebelgtp wrote:I decided to go with the rabbit for now and i'm getting a regular "raiders" bash in it. i'm so excited i can't wait for it to get here hehe.

The rabbit is very soft and gets even softer with regular wear or if you beat it up! Don't forget to post pictures when it comes!

I can only talk about my experiences with the Akubra Federation Deluxe, so here it is.

I have had this hat since November '04. It arrived open crowned and I bashed it myself. Not very hard to do at all. A little steam and patience will do the trick. The brim is stiff when new but softens up nicely when handled. It is a tough hat, the wind whipped it off my head this past February and slung it into NYC traffic! I was stunned but it came through o.k.
I have spent time camping in New Mexico and wore it through some humid Florida weather recently. So far so good...

rebelgtp wrote:Well I did it I ordered my AdventureBilt today!
I called and talked to steve for awhile (what time I could I was on break at work) and ordered my hat! I can't wait for it to get here!

Oops, I missed your post! Congrats on a great choice. Do post pics when it arrives!

Be sure to take plenty of pics in your favorate locations, too.

These photos shows me wearing my Akubra Fed. De Luxe.



I bashed it myself and the result is a hat I like to wear but it's not enough Raiders-style IMO. My next hat will undoubtly be the AB in a Raiders bash, but what exactly is the difference between the beaver and the rabbit?
My first Indy-hat was a Borsalino and this hat, bought in 1982, is a whole lot softer than the Fed. DeLuxe. I dont know what the Borsalino was made of but today its soft like an old pair of slippers. Unfortunately my head needs a bigger hat today and I kinda' like the softer hats, would that be a beaver or has that only something to do with durability?

Cheers
Indy-K

The advenutebilt beaver may start out with a little stiffness to but it is so soft right now. I only owned it for a couple of months. It has a great feal to the touch even when you take it out of the box. i hope this was helpfull. best bet give steve a call , he will answer all these question a whole lot better then most.

aragh i'm going nuts waiting for my hat lol...must keep from going crazy....

My first AB is so soft right now.

yeah yeah rub it in...i'll have mine soon. :evil:

jpenman wrote:My first AB is so soft right now.

Why, that's just mean!

I'm sorry guy's that not what I wanted to do. I just wanted to say that it is a very soft hat. So again I'm very sorry

Actually, I was just ribbing you, Jpenman! I thought your comment was pretty funny!

I don't know, if I had an AB right now, I might be tempted to rub it in a bit, too!

Congratulations rebelgtp! Sounds like you made a great choice. But now you must sacrifice the hat to the photo machine to keep the COW photo Gods contented.

Cheers!

Dan

hehe its ok i know its all in good fun. its probobly going to be another week before my hat is here from what steve told me. oh and don't worry i'll get pics...hmmm maybe i'll go out to the gorge to take the pics i know where there are some interesting caves and what not.