What is the best fedora available?

IllinoisJones · Post by **IllinoisJones** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:11 pm

Hi everyone, I am new to being able to post to the forums. I have been visiting indygear for a long time, and have been reading many of the topics and chains. I need some help from all of you if possible. I was wondering what you guys, the pros, consider to be the best available Raiders fedora. I have already obtained the wested jacket, a David Morgan 8 ft whip, the boots, pants and shirt, and an MK VII. Money for me is not an object, as I am going for durability and shape. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Illinois Jones.

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:16 pm

OOOOOoooK. Here we go.

Indiana Williams · Post by **Indiana Williams** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:18 pm

Welcome freind,
The best Raiders fedora would be a beaver Adventurebilt .that is the peak as far as Indy fedoras go, period.
Best Regards,
Joe

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:22 pm

Welcome, Illinois! If you've been reading these threads for a while, you'll see a recurring theme to this question. Dig a little, it's barely below the surface!

bink

IllinoisJones · Post by **IllinoisJones** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:23 pm

Thanks Joe, I had been looking at the adventurebilt just wanted to know if there were any others that were better. Thanks for the reinforcement. I think I am going to order one tomorrow. Dan

Bufflehead Jones · Post by **Bufflehead Jones** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:25 pm

Yeah, it's just ABout an inch or so below the surface.

IllinoisJones · Post by **IllinoisJones** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:25 pm

What do you all think of Fedora's fedora?

Indiana Williams · Post by **Indiana Williams** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:31 pm

IllinoisJones wrote:I have already obtained the wested jacket, a David Morgan 8 ft whip, the boots, pants and shirt, and an MK VII.

are you going to post pics of your gear? BTW- you wont be disappointed, my AB is due pretty soon, a rabbit one but still an Adventurebilt.

- Joe

zeus36 · Post by **zeus36** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:34 pm

If money is no object, I'd get an Optimo Indy and a pure beaver Adventure Built (AB).

Then compare the two and let us know what you think.

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:37 pm

Welcome aboard Illinois. Not poking any fun at you above, just an inside joke. I'd have to support Binks statements. There are alot of fedoras to choose from and I always think it's up to you to pick whatever you think is best to suit your personal needs. Just do the homework and check out the past posts. All the info you'll need is there to let you decide what it is you'd like best.
I guess what I'm trying to say is nobody here can answer the question for you. It's all a matter of personal (in some cases, very personal) opinion. I'd like to think that it's good to talk to someone who's handled all the hats that are currently available for an accurate, more balanced opinion.

Whereabouts you at in Illinois? I'm right outside Chicago.

If money is no object, I'd get an Optimo Indy and a pure beaver Adventure Built (AB).

Then compare the two and let us know what you think.

Yeah, and how many minutes would THAT thread last?

IllinoisJones · Post by **IllinoisJones** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:38 pm

I will be posting pics of all my gear as soon as I can. As for buying both, while money is not an object I face, my wife who already has no understanding as to why I have spent so much money would kill me if two fedoras came to the house.

IllinoisJones · Post by **IllinoisJones** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:40 pm

I am located about fifteen minutes north of the city in Skokie

IllinoisJones · Post by **IllinoisJones** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:45 pm

I am definately going to go with the AB. I bought one of the "official" versions on ebay before I discoverd COW. What a crock.

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:48 pm

Cool. I'm only about 20 minutes south of the city.

Ya know, a very important part of gear/prop collecting, or any collecting for that matter, is getting the wife in check.

Better take care of that (jk). She doesn't have to understand it, just has to accept it.

I was lucky to have a wife who encouraged it, God bless her soul.

Check the whip section. Some of us are getting together next month for some whip practice here in Chicago. We're going to be graced by the presence of some real master whip artists. I'd be your loss to miss it, so come on by. Just let us know if you're gunna make it.

Renderking Fisk · Post by **Renderking Fisk** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:53 am

IllinoisJones wrote:Hi everyone, I am new to being able to post to the forums. I have been visiting indygear for a long time, and have been reading many of the topics and chains...

Then you already know the answer. If you want to bash your own, get an Akubra Federation Fedora (It was the best fedora I owned in over 20 years...)

The Akubra Federation has been one of the best fedora's I've ever owned. It was exactly what I was looking for all these years, not too expensive but held up wonderfully.

You have to bash it yourself, then you're on your way.

Yet, on the other hand... if you want a fedora that's made EXACTLY the way they were made during the 1930's and 1940's (by hand) and made by a member of this community who spent his own time and money in perfecting the craft, I would go with an Adventurebuilt.

I have two pages dedicated to Steve's work which you can find on the top of The Daily update on The Fedora Chronicles each day.

Or you can see them Here and There

Regardless, either one you pick will be great.

Welcome to the madness... first drink is on me!

You came for the gear, but you'll stay for the people.

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:00 am

WELCOME ON BOARD

:D:D

i wont keep on saying that AB pure beaver is the best and most durable hat you could own... obiously there are others but for a perfect Raiders look the beaver AB is what you need of

prairiejones · Post by **prairiejones** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:25 am

AB beaver. You can get an Adventurebilt open crown and bash it yourself, as well. I did. The earlier link is incorrect, it's actuall Adventurebilthats.com.

Dre · Post by **Dre** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:32 am

all this time i thought the akubra was the a
dventurebilt! heh

if i ever get a hat i think i'd get the akubra federation though. im not that rich and anything more than what they cost would be too much for me.

Feraud · Post by **Feraud** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:46 am

The best fedora?
<in my best Homer Simpson voice> DOH!!

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:34 am

....why, the one you're wearing at any given time, of course!

Regards! Michaelson

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:56 am

Oh heck, this is easy to answer.

Continually scour ebay for a 1930's to 1940's 7x or 10 x Stetson, with a tall crown and broad brim. Or, a Knox, Cavanagh or Dobbs from that era. Send it to someone for the Indy treatment if it is not already close. That would be the best, hands down. Fedora

prettybigguy · Post by **prettybigguy** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:21 am

IllinoisJones wrote:I am located about fifteen minutes north of the city in Skokie

Welcome to the monkey house! I'm only about 20 minutes west of you in Mt. Prospect. It seems that you have already made your selection of fedoras and I'm sure you'll be more then satisfied with it, but you can't can't live in the Chicago area without at least visiting Optimo! Besides once you start wearing one, you'll definately want more. Also, having a bricks-and-mortar hat shop so close by can't be beat.
PBG

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:23 am

PBG,
Now, when are you gunna make it over to these parts? I'm only 10 minutes south of Optimo. You're still welcome here anytime you can make it out.

Indiana Wayne · Post by **Indiana Wayne** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:38 am

The rabbit Adventurebilt is a great hat! I read that the beaver Adventurebilt is better! Buy an Adventurebilt! I own a rabbit Adventurebilt and I never complain about it. After wearing it everyday for about five months and it is soft and floppy, which is a good thing since the raiders hat was very floppy.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:41 am

BendingOak · Post by **BendingOak** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:43 am

Bink , I coudn't say it better than that.

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:46 am

Lois, we have entered Bizzaro World!

prairiejones · Post by **prairiejones** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:49 am

The definition of insanity?

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:58 am

Ok fellers, play nice.

Regards! Michaelson

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:00 pm

: I must've missed 60 minutes.

randystokes · Post by **randystokes** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:17 pm

I didn't see it mentioned in this thread, but I have one of the Herbert Johnson fedoras. I ordered it from Todd's Costumes, with the "Venice Pier" bash. Looks great and, although I generally don't think I look good in hats -- and my wife would agree wholeheartedly with that

-- I like the way it looks and fits on me.

Randy

Hemingway Jones · Post by **Hemingway Jones** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:28 pm

randystokes wrote:I didn't see it mentioned in this thread, but I have one of the Herbert Johnson fedoras. I ordered it from Todd's Costumes, with the "Venice Pier" bash. Looks great and, although I generally don't think I look good in hats -- and my wife would agree wholeheartedly with that -- I like the way it looks and fits on me.

Randy

Randy, you should post a picture of you in that hat. We don't see enough non-Raiders bashes around these parts. I would be very interested in seeing it.
Best,
HJ

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:32 pm

Ok, let me speak as only an Indy fan. Like I said earlier, the best hats are vintage hats. Well, certain vintage hats. There were many lower quality vintage hats made as well as the better quality ones. The trouble is finding one with the right dimensions, and that can be hard.

If you are referring to modern felted hats, here are the ones that I personally think are worth the money. And in no order. Akubra Federations, the 6x Keppler, the Camptown(for the TOD look).

While I love the hats made by Optimo, they are just a bit too pricey for me personally. If you have deep pockets, the Optimo will please you. They also made the first accurate Indy fedora that I ever bought, and still make them.

Of course, I left out my own line, but I am talking other than my own line.

Fedora

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:20 pm

What about the hat in my avatar?

agent5 · Post by **agent5** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:46 pm

Fedora pretty much hit it on the head. He's one who most likely owned or at least handled most, if not all of the offerings we've had over the years. Alot of members have only owned or handled a couple or few of the different hat offerings, yet they offer their biased opinion. While the opinion may be valid, especially if they love their hat, I still find it to be quite unbalanced.

All I'm saying is make sure you really check the past posts carefully. All the info you need for you to pick the best hat for your tastes and needs are right there. The AB is a good place to start, but after getting one you may find some of the other offerings to be substandard, especially in the way of quality felts. However, you may like a stiffer hat and absolutely love the Akruba or a PB. The latest subcontracted HJ's look great (not sure about the felt) and HJ has something in the works right now where they are supposedly tracking down the original felt manufacturer they used for Raiders and upgrading their hats as well. Something to think about. But, as I said, all of this is in the past posts. It's all about what you want in a hat.

nicmusto · Post by **nicmusto** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:25 pm

Well I own a new HJ and just love the quality. I can't really compare with any others as I only have this one. But it's a great hat and as I'm sure we all are, I'm very much looking forward to the new and improved 'old' HJ block and felt.

zeus36 · Post by **zeus36** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:55 pm

Fedora wrote:Oh heck, this is easy to answer. Continually scour ebay for a 1930's to 1940's 7x or 10 x Stetson, with a tall crown and broad brim. Or, a Knox, Cavanagh or Dobbs from that era. Send it to someone for the Indy treatment if it is not already close. That would be the best, hands down. Fedora

Gotta tell you that even though I have an Optimo Indy and Federation Standard, I find myself wearing my vintage brown Dobbs Fifth Avenure with a TOD pinch/bash more than the other two hats.

AceTachyon · Post by **AceTachyon** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:27 pm

After reading all the praise heaped on the Adventurebilt (as well as checking out the site), I think I'm going to forego the Todd's Costume HJ and go for the Adventurebilt instead.

For the moment, though, my Jaxon Iconoclast serves as interim fed.

prairiejones · Post by **prairiejones** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:11 pm

Good call. You'll love the AB.

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 3:13 pm

You wont regret it! :junior:

Kaleponi Craig · Post by **Kaleponi Craig** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:09 pm

Illinois Jones, I have three Indy hats, the Miller Brothers, Lee Keppler's 6x beaver and Fedora's Adventurebilt pure beaver. I can tell you without a doubt that the best of these three is the Adventurebilt. The minute you get it and put it in your hands you can tell this is a hat of extremely good quality. Pure beaver is the best material for a fur felt, IMHO, it will last forever (practically). The others that I have aren't anywhere near pure beaver and in the case of the Miller Brothers', probably no beaver at all.

The bash on both the Keppler and the Adventurebilt are very well done, the bash on the Miller is pathetic and when you get it, it already has the dreaded taper.

From what I've read, the HJ is pure rabbit, an inferior material compared to beaver. In fact, on the Todd Costume website, where they sell the HJ, they tell you not to wear it in the rain. Sheesh, for me it's a winter hat and in the SF Bay Area it rains a lot! The fact that HJ was the original maker of the Indy fedora (for the films) really doesn't matter to me, what I want is a hat that will last a long, long time and be screen accurate.

Bottom line, the Adventurebilt is the way to go.

What is the best fedora available?

What is the best fedora available?

Adventurebilt

Re: What is the best fedora available?

Re: What is the best fedora available?

hat