Club Obi Wan

Hi there! I just wanted to introduce myself and also say what an incredible forum this is. I'm glad to be a member. I am fairly new to Indy gear collecting but my obsession grows each day, much to the chagrin of my wife. Lol! So far, I have a pair of Alden 405's (they are my favorite footwear and I find myself making excuses to wear them all the time), Todd's pants (incredible) and WPG shirt. Next I want to order a standard Raiders from Mr. Garrison in GA (I'm in Florida). I've never purchased a custom fitted hat and am having trouble determining what size to order. I've had my wife measure my head at least five times and it averages out to be right at 60 cm or around 23.75 inches. Unfortunately, in Tallahassee there are no retailers that sell hats that are sized in any way other than S,M,L,XL, etc. that I know of except for one, Carroll's Boot Country. So, I stopped by there during lunch yesterday and tried on about 3-4 different cowboy hats (which I hate) and what seemed to fit the best was a 59 cm or 7 3/8 US. It was snug but not too tight and didn't feel like it would blow away in a strong wind. The 60 cm was too big. Should I go with a 59 then even though my head measures a 60? Does it matter that these cowboy hats were much stiffer than any felt fedora would be or not? I will be ordering the rabbit version from Garrison. Also, my hair is longish and thick at the moment but I switch it up a few times each year and will most certainly cut it pretty short by Spring. How much should that factor into my decision? Sorry for the long post but I want to get the sizing right from the start. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and thanks for having me!

Hi Nightgoat.
Welcome to the forum!
The best thing to do would be to give your measurements (the ones your wife took of your head size) to Mr Garrison himself and let him decide which is the best size for you.
Not all hatters 'hat sizes' are the same, and can differ, so giving the measurements to the hatter in question would be the best bet to get a hat that fits you perfectly.

Regards
Joe

Welcome to COW and the madness!

You will be surprised at how much a difference your hair length/thickness will make on how the hat fits. I would try to factor that into the decision making process too. My hat is always noticebly looser right after a cut and then slowly tightens up again as my hair grows out. If you have questions or concerns regarding sizing I'd also recommend calling the hat maker and discussing it with him. He'll be able to best answer your questions and assuage any doubts you have. Good luck, and post back with pics of your lid when you get it.

Do not go by the cowboy hats sizing! Every hat maker has their own way of sizing a hat. Since Garrison is a custom hat maker, he will go with your head measurements, and not hat sizing. It would actually be best to give Garrison all 5 of the measurements your wife took. He can determine then what size to make your hat.

Let me tell you a story. My head measures 24 1/4". That is roughly 62 CM or a 7 3/4" hat. Every time I go to a Western store and try on hats, the 7 3/4 hats sit VERY high on my head, not even close to fitting me. Judging by their sizing I would have to use a size 8 1/2 hat to fit me. Which of course probably doesn't even exist. So you cannot rely on other hat makers sizes... and just use the measurements your wife took and go with those.

Were all the cowboy hats you tried on the same brand? If so, then absolutley take the size with a grain of salt. A custom hatter works from your own head measurements. You also might want to cut your hair to the length you think you'll be wearing it.

Nightgoat wrote: I've had my wife measure my head at least five times and it averages out to be right at 60 cm or around 23.75 inches.

You are on the right track with this approach. This is what hatters recommend, in the first place. Give him this measurement and he can build in, say 1/8" extra to the sweatband for extra hair, if that is what you prefer? OtR/standardized hat sizes vary, so no need to do this.

Your hair will definitely have an effect. In my experience, long hair v. short hair tends to change your hat size by a half to a full hat size. So if you're 7 1/2 now, you'll be somewhere close to a 7 3/8 when you get your haircut. -M

Thank you all for the great advice. I have contacted Mr. Garrison via e-mail and he basically said the same thing, send your measurments. I placed my order with him for a rabbit Raiders late yesterday. Now comes the long wait to get it.

You are making this to complicated. Just contact David and give him your measurements not the hat size. Let him do the rest.

Heh John...question for you. Why is it that so many hat manufacturers differ so much in their sizings? This has always baffed me. W>

Firstly, all advice so far is on the nose.

Second, I don't think anyone has said this yet - better it's a little loose than a little tight. A loose hat can be padded a little to fit better. Stretching a tight hat is possible, but more involved. In your case, if it it fits well with the longer hair, you can pad it when you cut the hair short, and pull it out when the hair is long.

Happy Hat Wearing!

WConly wrote:Heh John...question for you. Why is it that so many hat manufacturers differ so much in their sizings? This has always baffed me. W>

Good question and I wish I had an answer for you. Im guessing here but I think people are either lazy or forgot how to do math.

BendingOak wrote:

WConly wrote:Heh John...question for you. Why is it that so many hat manufacturers differ so much in their sizings? This has always baffed me. W>

Good question and I wish I had an answer for you. Im guessing here but I think people are either lazy or forgot how to do math.

Ok! I'll buy that. I was of the belief the answer might come down to this. You know the thing that gripes me the most is it can happen with the same hatter. Example: I buy a hat from company A and get a good fit and think -- heh, this is great...the guys are alright and then turn around and buy another (either similar or complete different hat from them) and ZAP -- fit is way off! And, this has even happened to me a couple of times with custom orders where I give complete and accurate measurements. Not often in that scenario, but on occasion - yes. Very strange! Thanks John! W>

BendingOak wrote:

WConly wrote:Heh John...question for you. Why is it that so many hat manufacturers differ so much in their sizings? This has always baffed me. W>

Good question and I wish I had an answer for you. Im guessing here but I think people are either lazy or forgot how to do math.

What is this "math" you speak of?

Chewbacca Jones wrote:

BendingOak wrote:

WConly wrote:Heh John...question for you. Why is it that so many hat manufacturers differ so much in their sizings? This has always baffed me. W>

Good question and I wish I had an answer for you. Im guessing here but I think people are either lazy or forgot how to do math.

What is this "math" you speak of?

Isn't a "math" someplace to put your food on while on the dining table?

Hey, another Floridian! There's a few around here....Welcome!

I'd err on the side of caution with the sizing as well; in the a/v industry, we have a joke about a device called a 'wire stretcher'. That is, the one you wish existed when you realize the 300' cable you just pulled in through a building was 18" longer, so that it'll actually make it to the equipment you're trying to connect (and nothing in the universe will make the wire any longer)!

If the size is 'just a little loose', it's no matter to add some sizing strips to the inside of the hat band...But trying to size up a hat that's too small? Well, it's not as impossible as 'stretching a wire'...But difficult, at best...

While I agree that it is far easier to pad a hat than to stretch one, it's really not all that difficult to stretch one, especially if you have a hat store around.

That having been said, I would err on the side of large and not small.

Late here, but wanted to welcome you. Have you ordered the hat yet? I'm not sure what David's wait time is but there is usually a wait time associated with these things. Please post plenty of photos once it arrives.

Dave

DR Ulloa wrote:Late here, but wanted to welcome you. Have you ordered the hat yet? I'm not sure what David's wait time is but there is usually a wait time associated with these things. Please post plenty of photos once it arrives.

Dave

You're in luck--he just posted photos of his excellent new lid over here:
viewtopic.php?p=783620#p783620

Best wishes,
Nebraska Schulte

Ah! Thanks, man. I'm still working my way backwards on the fedora threads. I like to do these things chronologically especially after a long time away.

Dave

Welcome aboard!
You just found THE best forum on the Internet. Grab a cold one, sit back, and prepare to read a bunch!

I have personally found most hat makers have similar sizing. The biggest difference that I have found is due to the weight and stiffness of the hat. A western weight hat, with the stiffness of a modern Stetson, is less giving and usually feels tighter than a fedora weight hat.