Club Obi Wan

As I came back from an 8 mile canyoneering trip through a local river, I did the usual routine with my trusty Adventurebilt. I took a damp washcloth and wiped it all down (counterclockwise, naturally). I put in its hat stretcher and gave it a look over.

My hat has been through a lot to say the least. Its been completely soaked more times than I can count. It has been cliff diving, repelling, and whitewater rafting. I've swam in it (out of necessity), explored mines and hiked for miles and miles with it on my head. We (the hat and I) have been caught in rain, sleet and hail, and the hat has put up with all of it without complaint.

Of course, it is beginning to get a weathered appearance. It has a little taper and the liner has seen better days. The ribbon is nicked in places and it is in no means a dress hat anymore. But in my opinion, it is only looking better and better.

So I give you all this question:

What is the most extreme thing your hat has been through?

We have people from all walks of life on this forum, and I'm sure we have an abundance of fantastic stories. So whether its whitewater rafting or a rainstorm, an archaeological expedition or a family camping trip, I think we'd all love to hear some good stories of that embody the spirit of Indiana Jones.

Indiana Jimbo wrote:What is the most extreme thing your hat has been through?

Shipping

Castor Dioscuri wrote:

Indiana Jimbo wrote:What is the most extreme thing your hat has been through?

Shipping

thats funny.


Most mine has been though is beer and a stripper taking and using it in her act.

A colossal rain storm in which it was thoroughly soaked. came back, hung it up on the hat rack...was almost dry by the next day...and shrunk half a size. Oh well, it was already well-worn by that point and probably should have had some sort of water repellent put on it. :junior: -M

I live in oregon so rain is a part of life.

One of mine...my favorite has been through severe rain, sleet, snow, etc. But, the worst thing that ever happened to it is when a 260+ pound woman sat on it! By the grace from above, it poped back into place, but boy was I concerned and she didn't even say -- 'I'm sorry!' She just laughed. Oh well, that is life! W>

Drenching rain, sleet, snow, sat on, steamed and reshaped over and over, stretched every which way but loose, vegetable oil sneezed all over it on by my dog just after her gourmet dinner. For all it's been through, it still doesn't look half bad to me. It's a survivor, just like Indy.

Jack

Castor Dioscuri wrote:

Indiana Jimbo wrote:What is the most extreme thing your hat has been through?

Shipping

Wasn't the box your hat came in totaly pancaked? That happened to a few people here on COW, so shipping can be an extreme thing for a hat to go through.

I lost my entire hat collection, including my prized 22 yr old HJ, to Hurricane Charley in '04. Been wearing cheap straws ever since, but that will soon change when my new Penman's arrive.

I sat on mine several times.

I've only had my AB for about a month, but so far it's been on an excavation in Israel, to the heights of Masada on the hottest day of the year, and protected my noggin in the narrow Hezekiah tunnel underneath the City of David. I feel like I've got it off to a worthy start for an Indy fedora.

best wishes,
Nebraska Schulte

Pepsi. Diet. On the Rocks.

Chewbacca Jones wrote:Pepsi. Diet. On the Rocks.

If that's the worst that hat ever sees, you've got it made, my friend. Let's just not try to relive that one, okay?

Daily life with my sons and New England weather.

Ask me again after tomorrow.

Run over by a Volkswagen.

Magno wrote:Run over by a Volkswagen.

Thats pretty funny... in a sad way of course.

How'd that turn out?

OH! I nearly forgot. I once stomped on a hat while wearing boots in order to prove that I wasn't anal about my hats. Of course, it was a Dorfman, so I guess I didn't really prove anything...

Jumped off a bridge wearing the AB.


It wasn't the subterranean waterfall that put the most wear on it, it was backtracking down a small concrete tube that got the mud all over the liner. It was during this expedition where we popped out of a manhole in the middle of a golf course and I had to say, "Ahhhh, Venice" as golf balls whizzed oer our heads.

It's been through other rough stuff too, but these are the most dramatic pix.

You lead an interesting life Snakewhip.. you really do.

theinterchange wrote:You lead an interesting life Snakewhip.. you really do.

Beats sittin' in front of a TV.

Nebraska Schulte wrote:I've only had my AB for about a month, but so far it's been on an excavation in Israel, to the heights of Masada on the hottest day of the year, and protected my noggin in the narrow Hezekiah tunnel underneath the City of David. I feel like I've got it off to a worthy start for an Indy fedora.

...and that's got me beat easy.

Snakewhip_Sable wrote:

theinterchange wrote:You lead an interesting life Snakewhip.. you really do.

Beats sittin' in front of a TV.

AHEM Brother!!!

Whats the most extreme thing your hat has been through?

The washing machine. Not recommended.

My AB has been on 33 of New Hampshires' 48 4,000 footers so far (as well as countless subpeaks). Rain, sleet, snow, wind, dirt - it has seen it and laughed at it.

Snakewhip_Sable wrote:

Nebraska Schulte wrote:I've only had my AB for about a month, but so far it's been on an excavation in Israel, to the heights of Masada on the hottest day of the year, and protected my noggin in the narrow Hezekiah tunnel underneath the City of David. I feel like I've got it off to a worthy start for an Indy fedora.

...and that's got me beat easy.

Well for actual "weathering," I'd say those water conditions you've been through have me beat.

best wishes,
Nebraska Schulte

Sounds great Snakewhip and Rick!

I've done some, how shall we say, "urban spelunking" of my own, and boy, its always an interesting adventure.

This is a one of the only pictures that was taken the other day before the camera died on us.



This was such a blast!

Castor Dioscuri wrote:

Indiana Jimbo wrote:What is the most extreme thing your hat has been through?

Shipping

I hate to admit it, but shipping from Australia to southern California is the most extreme thing my hat's been through so far. One end of the carton was partially crushed, and it pushed the front of the brim upwards towards the crown. Considering some of the horror stories I've read here, I guess I was lucky.

whiskyman wrote:

Great one whiskyman

I have to ask, Snakewhip where were you going and how did you start on that adventure, it sounds fun but why, was it part of your job or just for fun. I'd love to do something liket hat.

jacksdad wrote:I have to ask, Snakewhip where were you going and how did you start on that adventure, it sounds fun but why, was it part of your job or just for fun. I'd love to do something like that.

Those were two different adventures, just for fun. There is some risk to it, so I can't recommend it.... though the kids watched me jump off the bridge, they know the answer to "If all your friends (or both your parents) jumped off a bridge, would you too?!" The answer is 'Heck, no!'.

Off the top of my head, I can't remember the WORST it's been through, but it is worthy of note that I almost caught a foul ball hit by an LA Dodger in my AB in...what, the 8th inning this Sunday? (Anybody see me on TV??? )

I do regularly wear my hat when I SHOULD take it off, and sometimes I've had to grab it as it nearly came slipping off...Space Mountain would be one such time...that was dumb!

My only one month old AB rabbit went out the window of the Jeep and got run over, made it better. Now thats distressing.

Croft

I have to say shipping too... but my Tawny Fawn Federation just arrived today....

-KB

Treasure of the Templars. Enough said.

Here's a little montage of the life of my Keppler. Spanning 2003 to today. From the Queen Mary Summit, to Scotland, and Paris.

After shipping



And a hike straight up a mountain



my hat hasn't done that much, except sit on a shelf upside down with a handkerchief over the brim for the summer, but then again, I've only had her for a few months. And I've since fully shaped her into a beauty. I need to get some more recent pictures of her.

She's an Akubra Fed III. Whatever they call her, she's my first fedora. She makes me so proud.

Kentucky Blues wrote:I have to say shipping too... but my Tawny Fawn Federation just arrived today....

-KB

I know I'm gonna sound "Photo-Greedy" by pouncing on you like this, Kentucky Blues... but any chance we could see a photo of that hat?
I'm pretty interested in seeing another (Non HatsDirect website) picture of the Tawny Fawn Fed.
Thanks (hopefully),
Mitch

Hey Mitch, the picture of kentucky Blues' hat is on the federation display thread. I just saw it and it looks great.

Regards, Geert