Club Obi Wan

In the future (think faaaaar future), I know I will purchase a good fedora. My question is, exactly how much 'field use" will a fur felt hat tolerate? I'd appreciate hearing about both kinds of felt too; so far my knowledge is limited to "Don't get rabbit fur felt wet."

Well, when you think of the rabbit and beaver felt hats used in the great wide open, they're made for field use. I don't baby most of my hats, no matter if they're rabbit, beaver, or a blend. I've subjected hats to all kinds of weather and conditions. I will say that beaver felt is more dense than rabbit, so it will put up with more abuse. Remember, though, that regardless of the felt type, all hats will eventually start to taper. Beaver felt will resist it longer than rabbit which is why eventually any constantly worn hat will need a reblock.

I've had an Akubra which I wore through a couple good thunderstorms and in all kinds of weather, and it started to taper after about four or five months, but the hat itself put up to a heck of a lot of field use. Akubra makes a good hat, especially made for field use. My beaver AdventureBilts have put up with equally as much adventure and weather and is holding up incredibly well after nine months of solid wear. It has shown a very very slight amount of taper, but it disappears if I pop out the bash. I haven't decided if I'm ready to send it in for a reblock or not. It still looks great.

If you're after a hat specifically for field use and you want it to hold up in all kinds of weather, I'd recommend a beaver felt, but again, the rabbit Akubra will hold up well, too, if you aren't as concerned about taper.

bink

Floribama Steve wrote:In the future (think faaaaar future), I know I will purchase a good fedora. My question is, exactly how much 'field use" will a fur felt hat tolerate? I'd appreciate hearing about both kinds of felt too; so far my knowledge is limited to "Don't get rabbit fur felt wet."

And don't feed them after midnight.

Actually, fine fur felt can take a lot. And if there is a negetive reaction, they will take to a reblock quite well. A reblock is very inexpensive and resets the hat back to its original state. If you want to keep it newer longer between reblocks, then avoid extremes of any sort. Personally, I don't wear my nicer hats in the rain, though the snow seams OK; you can just brush it off. Direct sunlight may fade a hat or, if it is left in a hot car, it may taper. So, once again, avoid extremes and enjoy your hat. Bogie looked cool getting soaked in the graveyard in the film "The Barefoot Contessa," but his hotel probably sent his hat out for a reblock the next morning. That you didn't see on screen.

Hemingway Jones wrote:

Floribama Steve wrote:In the future (think faaaaar future), I know I will purchase a good fedora. My question is, exactly how much 'field use" will a fur felt hat tolerate? I'd appreciate hearing about both kinds of felt too; so far my knowledge is limited to "Don't get rabbit fur felt wet."

And don't feed them after midnight.

I own now a rabbit and a beaver. I baby my rabbit so it's still perfect and anyway i always keep my hats in standard conditions with no high rate of humidity, i think that's the most important thing to keep our hats safe. A couple or big storm are ok for any kind of felt i think, but the important is to keep them in a safe place that's not a HOT car or a wet cellar!

As has been said, extremes are no good for any hat. Beaver fur makes the best hat, rabbits do well too.
Here is a recent picture of my Akubra(rabbit). I have had it since November '04.
It has seen rain, snow, sweat and sun.
I do not think I need a reblock yet.

I have slept in mine, swam in mine, trekked in it, lay on it, sat on it, kicked... its been in hot, cold, dry, wet, himid - its been on my head jumping of waterfalls - the works.

It has tapered and I perhaps irreprocably, but other than that its fine.

Thats a Keppler fedora for you

Here is a shot for you - its been through quite a lot here (and so have I):



Ken

Staring down the barrel of a gun is enough to make ANY hat taper!

bink

Indiana Ken wrote:I have slept in mine, swam in mine, trekked in it, lay on it, sat on it, kicked... its been in hot, cold, dry, wet, himid - its been on my head jumping of waterfalls - the works.

It has tapered and I perhaps irreprocably, but other than that its fine.

Thats a Keppler fedora for you

Here is a shot for you - its been through quite a lot here (and so have I):



Ken

Nice pistol. It's missing a few key pieces. It that because your movie was shot in the UK?

Pyroxene wrote:Nice pistol. It's missing a few key pieces. It that because your movie was shot in the UK?

Uhhh, like that great gaping hole where the slide stop should be? Judging from the markings on the side of the slide itself, it's probably one of those 8mm plugged barrel blank pistols which are the only things our UK bretheren can legally own other than "deactivated" real weapons. Also, here's a tip: that weapon isn't going to do anything until it's cocked. You have to pull the hammer back before you can fire it the first time.

And to keep this vaguely hat related, that Keppler certainly has character. Or should I say that it has a character under it?

Cheers!

Tone... can i say again that you have something Fordian?

Indiana_Tone wrote:

erri_wan wrote:Tone... can i say again that you have something Fordian?

Heh. It's probably the ear to sweatband ratio more than anything.

I can't recognize properly what it is... but surely something about ratio face, you should try posting pics without the hat.
i'm not saying you're the living copy of HF but if i spot at you HF come up in my mind for a second all the time! Weird!

I thinkit's the jaw.