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Lid for Alaska - Which One?

Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 2:50 pm
by IndianaSolo
Hey Gang,

So my next adventure will be to Alaska on a cruise for 8 days. I had my BCF in Hawaii so I didn't really care what happened to it. But the lids I have now are treasured dearly as you may all understand. Alaska is said to be wet and cold, so I am not sure which hat to bring with me.
The Fieldmaster is just that, a fieldmaster. 50/50 Beaver & Rabbit and it's tough, a hat I deeply enjoy wearing. However this is a custom and not easily replaceable, not to mention a bit costly.
The Fed IV, Akubra says it so Its tough and easily replaceable. While this is my dress hat and is an amazing one at that, I rather enjoy this less than the camptown and being rabbit would make it more prone to taper should I get caught in a rain storm.
The other option is to leave them both at home, but I can't imagine myself 8 days without a fedora :(

So whatta ya think??

Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 2:57 pm
by gabrielle
If the Fieldmaster is as tough as I think it is what could Alaska dish out that it couldn't take? I don't think any damage would come to either hat. They are both built to last and can take a beating...

Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 3:06 pm
by Luke Warmwater
Fed 4. I soaked mine for shaping, it did not taper a bit.

Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 3:08 pm
by genphideaux
IndianaSolo,

The one you enjoy the most, life's to short to not wear your favorite hat while you’re making memories. When I look at my hat it reminds me of Hawaii, Colorado, fishing and hunting trips, shooting competitions, social gatherings, late night bull sessions and so much more. Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of making your trip complete with your favorite hat.

Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 3:10 pm
by genphideaux
BTW I did not vote you must decide which to leave behind......thats the part that hurts.

Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 3:45 pm
by Michaelson
The Akubra isn't just a 'rabbit' hat. It is an outdoorsmans hat that is made from jackrabbit fur and rabbit blends, so it's less prone to taper, and is made specifically to hold up in inclimate weather. It was never intended to be used as 'just a dress hat'.

Of the two, which one would you rather have blow overboard, and then try to replace? I'd rather not lose my Camptown custom myself. :shock:

The Fed will do the job perfectly.

Regards! Michaelson

Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 11:47 am
by Kokopelli
I vote for the Fieldmaster. You're embarking on an adventure you'll want to remember forever, and while the Fed is an awesome hat, I think wearing a semi-custom made by another Indy fan would bring a bit of 'specialness' to your trip.

Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 11:51 am
by Michaelson
Excellent point, citRon!

Either way you go, you have good arguments supporting the reason! :lol:

Flip a coin and go with the one that wins instead of trying to justify one or the other. Seems it's a 'win-win' no matter which way you go.

Regards! Michaelson

Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 12:13 pm
by WeeMadHamish
Michaelson said it; the Akubra Federation is a bush hat that masquerades as a fine dress hat. The felt is made to withstand the rigors of outdoor work. As long as you let it air-dry naturally, taper should be minimal.

I think I'd be more prone to baby a custom made hat, even if I knew it could withstand just as much abuse.

Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 12:16 pm
by Michaelson
Well, in the case of the Camptown, it's a tough as a pine knot itself. That's what I have on in my avatar, and it's handled a LOT of rough weather over the time I've had it with no change in shape.

Yep, he has a definite problem. They're both a perfect choice, and that's the rub..... :lol:

Regards! Michaelson

Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 12:39 pm
by binkmeisterRick
(In my best Toht voice) Take them. Take them both!

Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 7:25 pm
by KJB
binkmeisterRick wrote:(In my best Toht voice) Take them. Take them both!
:rolling: :rolling:


Bink, I don't agree. I find that if I just sit down to think...the solution presents itself! :wink:


In all seriousness, though, Solo--take the one you most want to remember wearing, the one you love to wear. Otherwise every time you see a photo from the trip you'll ask yourself why you're not wearing the ____. I have just one hat (AB, baby!), but I use it for everything. A couple months ago I was invited to a Cajun Ball and it was a fancy (well, in a Cajun sort of way) affair, so I was dressed to the nines. My AB had been worn for all sorts of stuff and it smelled rather rosy, so I rinsed it out with water, dunked it, then let it dry before wearing it that night.
The gist of this is, it's nice to have a backup hat in case yours doesn't come magically rolling back after it falls off a cliff when you're on top of a tank, or if you accidentally leave it on board a ship due to having to make a fast getaway by swimming onto a nearby submarine..., but in the end I find that even if you consider your fedora a dress hat, it's up to most challenges, and it's not that hard to clean it up again for 'respectable' events. So don't worry about that aspect of it.

Pick your absolute favorite, pop it on, and don't look back!

Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 12:30 pm
by Piker
Which hat would take a dousing in citronella mosquito repellent best?