Club Obi Wan

First, let me say that I'm not a huge Indy fan. I liked the movies, but haven't seen one in years. Then a couple months ago I discovered Alden shoes and got some for work. I love that they're well made and have narrow sizes. They're the most comfortable dress shoes I've ever had, so when I started looking for new hiking boots their Indy boot was near the top of the list. I've done a lot of hiking and have gotten a lot of blisters, I think now because all the boots only come in a D width. So anyway I have a pair of the boots on order. I also like that they're like the work boots I wore when I was young, not the big clunky things I see today.

I've also been looking for a leather jacket for quite awhile. I wanted something like an A-2, only slightly longer without the elastic waist and cuffs. I'm also a tall size, so its hard to find a leather jacket that fits well. While searching online I found this sight and ended up ordering a flightsuits expedition jacket, which I'm anxiously awaiting.

I also frequently wear hats and I'd like to get a good fedora. I have a cheap wool hat I wear in the winter now, but I'd like something with lighter weight wool I could wear in the warmer weather. Not a dress hat but something I could wear hiking or canoing but that wouldn't look out of place around town. Again my research brings me to this sight. So I'm looking for recommendations. I want something of lighter weight high quality wool that will stand up to weather well and won't be too warm. I'd also like a snap brim and it doesn't have to look like Indy's but its o.k. if it does.

The other question I have about the hat is size. I've never bought a cowboy hat because I'm a long oval size and the cowboy hats are too stiff to fit well. Are the fedoras easier to shape to the head or do they come in long oval sizes?

So, for someone who's not a big Indy fan I'm certainly ending up with a lot of the kit. Did I mention the S&W model 22?

Welcome to the Indy Gearheads club

First I will say that the Expedition will be your prize piece. I LOVE that jacket and I can't recommend it any more except BUY IT. You will be very happy with it, even if you're not a huge Indy Fan.

As for the Fedora, I DON'T recommend Dorfman Pacific. They're not even CLOSE to Indy hats. I'm not all that crazy about Screen Acuracy but that hat just isn't worth it. If you're a regular hat wearer, I'd recommend an Akubra to start, and if you want to avoid getting many hats, I STRONGLY recommend the Camptown hats or you can go with Adventurebilt. Those three companies WILL NOT disappoint you. It all depends on your budget, how frequently you wear them, and what your lifestyle is. I also recommend a Lee Keppler hat if you want quality on a budget as well, and Lee will pamper you till your hat starts driving and paying the mortage.

Welcome to the club.

I am more of just a general hat wearer who stumbled into the COW, but the moment I saw that the Alden Boots come in B width? I was hooked.

And the people here are great!!

I would recommend against wool, especially since you might be getting it wet. Fur felt, generally rabbit, will serve you well. I recommend Akubra Federations because the price is great and durability time-tested-reliable. Also, Camptown, Peter Brothers and Keppler are good. AB's are long waits and high prices (worth it, but that might not be what you want right now).

For warmer wear, you can remove the liners of felt hats so it breathes better. Some are glued in, but if your careful, you can keep the liner and just tuck it in when winter returns.

Rabbit, huh? Everyone at COW seems to prefer beaver (it's more durable, I gather?), but wasn't the actual Raiders hat made from rabbit? Anyone know for certain?

I'm asking because I'm also buying a first hat and although I don't care so much about SA, I also don't feel the need to spend too much for something I won't be wearing on a daily basis (ABs sound great but....).

Aloha.

yeah the raiders hat was made out of rabbit felt...I really think it personal preference when it comes down to a preferred felt imao...both rabbit and beaver have there benefits...I would personally go for beaver as it would hold up better in wetter conditions and go for the rabbit as a lighter dressy hat...but as i say its personal preference...and the fed is tough as nails and its rabbit....emm i think ive contradicted myself lol....but dont get a wool hat

norton wrote:...but I'd like something with lighter weight wool I could wear in the warmer weather.

First off, let me just say that you don't want a wool hat. If you're looking for quality, the felt should be made of fur, not wool. There are several high-end fedoras available, all of which will take a beating with no problem. To get an accurate Raiders look, I reccomend one of the following:

1. An Adventurebilt - hands down the best Indy hat with the best block (piece of wood used to give the crown its shape) and the best materials (beaver fur) out there. The only down side is the price and the wait time. Price: $350.00

2. Camptown hats - not 100% beaver like the Adventurebilt, but it now has the Adventurebilt block, making its shape just as good. Despite the lack of beaver, it is by all accounts nearly as durable as an Adventurebilt. Price: $175.00

3. Akubra Federation - like the Camptown, this hat also has the Adventurebilt block. Unfortunately, the company (hatsdirect) is currently re-doing the Federation, so you'd have to wait a month or two. Price: $100.00-$150.00.

Hope this helps. :junior: -M

Mulceber wrote:
2. Camptown hats - not 100% beaver like the Adventurebilt, but it now has the Adventurebilt block, making its shape just as good. Despite the lack of beaver, it is by all accounts nearly as durable as an Adventurebilt. Price: $175.00

Whoah. So does that mean the new Camptown Legend is $175? I thought we didn't know the price yet. The Fieldmaster doesn't use the AB block, does it? If it does, then by gosh that's awesome. I ordered a Fieldmaster from Ken a while back and I'm just hoping it'll end up as Raiders-accurate as possible.

Yep. I guess I combined the details of two different camptown models

To be fair though, it seems likely to me that he'll start using Steve's raiders block on his fieldmasters sometime. :junior: -M

Mulceber wrote:Yep. I guess I combined the details of two different camptown models

To be fair though, it seems likely to me that he'll start using Steve's raiders block on his fieldmasters sometime. :junior: -M

Ah, k. I really hope he uses the AB block on the Fieldmaster I ordered. From what I've seen of it, it'll be a great hat anyway, but the AB black would make it particularly awesome.

I've been perusing some of the new Indiana Jones book titles on Amazon.com recently and decided to pick up one called "Indiana Jones: Off The Beaten Path. An Unofficial Expedition". I thought it looked interesting.

Overall it's not a bad book. But, I think the author's fedora recommendation might encapsulate my feelings of the entire book. His recommendation:

Though there are several vendors offering knockoffs (ranging from inexpensive to pricey), your best bet is to buy an officially licensed fedora that looks exactly like the movie version. In this regard, the vendor of choice is TheFedoraStore.com where a wool felt fedora is $57.95, though they sometimes have a sale price of $44.95.

I kid you not.

The author did well to use a lot of Indy Magnoli's prop photos (and gave due credit)....but he evidently didn't educate himself at Club Obi Wan on what constitutes a "good hat recommendation".

I shudder to think that anyone is going to pick up this book as an Indy resource and get the impression that a $45 wool hat is anything remotely close to what appeared in the films.

Tony Rush

Oh well. Most people tend to be happy with them for some reason. I sure wasn't, even when I didn't know there was anything better.

TonyRush wrote:I've been perusing some of the new Indiana Jones book titles on Amazon.com recently and decided to pick up one called "Indiana Jones: Off The Beaten Path. An Unofficial Expedition". I thought it looked interesting.

Overall it's not a bad book. But, I think the author's fedora recommendation might encapsulate my feelings of the entire book. His recommendation:

Though there are several vendors offering knockoffs (ranging from inexpensive to pricey), your best bet is to buy an officially licensed fedora that looks exactly like the movie version. In this regard, the vendor of choice is TheFedoraStore.com where a wool felt fedora is $57.95, though they sometimes have a sale price of $44.95.

I kid you not.

The author did well to use a lot of Indy Magnoli's prop photos (and gave due credit)....but he evidently didn't educate himself at Club Obi Wan on what constitutes a "good hat recommendation".

I shudder to think that anyone is going to pick up this book as an Indy resource and get the impression that a $45 wool hat is anything remotely close to what appeared in the films.

Tony Rush

Much less recommend anything from that place. Jeesh, that guy is surly and has a terrible return policy.

Argonaut wrote: Ah, k. I really hope he uses the AB block on the Fieldmaster I ordered. From what I've seen of it, it'll be a great hat anyway, but the AB black would make it particularly awesome.

I don't wanna be the buzz kill but only the 1957 "Legend" has the AB block. The Fieldmaster will still be the Fieldmaster Block. Ken isn't replacing the Fieldmaster, he's just adding a new hat to the lineup and it WON'T be $175 that I can assure you from the man himself, but It won't be $350 either. It won't be that much higher than the fieldmaster, but if you ordered the 1936 then you'll get Ken's Fieldmaster block.

IndianaSolo wrote:

Argonaut wrote: Ah, k. I really hope he uses the AB block on the Fieldmaster I ordered. From what I've seen of it, it'll be a great hat anyway, but the AB black would make it particularly awesome.

I don't wanna be the buzz kill but only the 1957 "Legend" has the AB block. The Fieldmaster will still be the Fieldmaster Block. Ken isn't replacing the Fieldmaster, he's just adding a new hat to the lineup and it WON'T be $175 that I can assure you from the man himself, but It won't be $350 either. It won't be that much higher than the fieldmaster, but if you ordered the 1936 then you'll get Ken's Fieldmaster block.

That's what I figured, but I wasn't sure. For the price, I'm sure the Fieldmaster will still be the best I can get.

As all know me here I will be the first to tout the merits of the Camptown hats. Quality at a fair price that can take the mishandling. Great color, soft to the touch & it can go on hikes and do double duty for an evening out. So I'm with Solo on the hat choices, those three will be your best bet for sure. And like Solo also pointed out the new "1957 Legend" is around the corner with Adventurebilt's block. It's a good time to be an Indy fan for sure.

Cheers!

Dan

Well you convinced me. I just entered my order for a Fieldmaster.

I know for sure my next Indy Fedora will be a Camptown!

The way I see it, until the Factory AB's are in steady production, the "Legend" IS the factory AB, well Semi-Factory and just not in pure beaver, but hey 50/50 is good enough for me
Ken works really quick with his hats. It doesn't take long to get them. If you want the hat just below an AB, the "Legend" is my pic, Although I LOVE my fieldmaster.

Mulceber wrote:

norton wrote:...but I'd like something with lighter weight wool I could wear in the warmer weather.

2. Camptown hats - not 100% beaver like the Adventurebilt, but it now has the Adventurebilt block, making its shape just as good. Despite the lack of beaver, it is by all accounts nearly as durable as an Adventurebilt. Price: $175.00

Hope this helps. :junior: -M

Just a quick note that my Camptown bodies are a beaver blend approximately 50% the balance is hare. Thanks !

Ken

the balance is hare.

Hare-um Scare 'em!

So any word on the price of the Legend, Ken?

Don't forget the JPD fedora. Very screen accurate and priced at $160 shipped for rabbit.

Also the Keppler, $150.00 shipped. Beaver/Rabbit blend.

webhead73 wrote:I do not own any hats outside of my new Camptown. Tough, manly, and made by one great hatter! Ken is great to deal with and is very reasonable in his pricing...you can't go wrong!

Fantastic Avatar, where ever did you get that?

Norton, like a a lot of advice here, the 3 choices put up by Mulceber really summarise it best. In short you cannot go wrong with an Akubra and I haven't had any more than a one week wait for the new Federation IV (but that is in Oz sorry 'bout that guys).

If you are not looking for screen accurate - then dare I say it (apologies in advance COW) the Adventurer (Akubra) may be a cheaper option for you, if you reside in the US.

Cheers
Jonesy

Actually, the price of the Keppler fedora just went up to $175, I think. Lee's hats now have more beaver and are more SA, with better ribbon and sweatband. The new hats should be in in about three weeks.

Dave