Club Obi Wan

We all know young Indy met Teddy when they were in Africa.


OK, there's my Indy tie-in for showing this hat off.


This Kettle Hill hat from Orvis caught my eye a while back.

http://www.orvis.com/p/kettle-hill-fur-felt-hat/29e1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;




My two points of hesitation were with the cloth sweatband and the sizing was generic S-M-L. It is listed as made in the USA using rabbit fur felt and had positive reviews so I decided to give it a shot.

Quick word on Orvis, ordering and delivery were seamless and the box it came in is by far the best packing job I've ever seen for a hat.

A card that comes with the hat reads, "You have chosen a hand crafted hat made from 100% rabbit fur imported from the Czech Republic then blocked and finished in Fall River, MA, USA. Fur felt is the most durable and natural of materials. It is naturally water-repellent with a unique soft texture, both comfortable and stylish. Nothing beats the quality of genuine fur felt."

Out of the box the hat does not have the pencil roll seen on the website picture and looks more like a drooping moonshiner hat than something Teddy would have worn.

The felt is soft and floppy, holds a nice bash and I was able to get a good curl going on the brim with minimal fussing.

The fit is decent enough (I wear a 23" hat and ordered the large) and was comfortable to wear for an evening out of country-western eating and dancing.



I think it hits a pretty good likeness to this picture.






I most likely will send it off to have a leather sweatband put in for the upgrade in materials and to dial in the fit.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

It suits you very well!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

One thing I noticed and always loved about TR's pictures.

His hats ALWAYS seemed to be VERY well worn. They were always creased and curled and crumbled. The man used his hats and USED his hats.

My wife and I recently watched Ken Burn's "The Roosevelt's" and we noticed that in all the pics and videos his hats were very very well used.

Even his more fedora like hats when he was a politician, they usually had the front brim curled up and a crumbled crown.

I loved these pics because it was just proof of what we always say here, that these hats were made to be USED.

Bully!!

DUUDE! I have been eyeing this hat for a long time but could just not being myself to getting it as I really love that Teddy leather jacket on there, too. It looks good on you. I was wondering how thick it was for summertime. But in Halloween, I went as an African hunter and everyone thought I was trying to be Roosevelt.
And then I stumbled on the or is website and saw their collection and really liked it.
Good job, you really pull off these different hats well.....still love your "man with no name" hat.

Thanks all.

I do like the hat. I think it would be too warm for summer wear, though I don't wear any of my fur hats during the summer months.

It'll take more breaking in, but I do like it and I think for the price the craftsmanship and quality is a good value. And it gives me something other than my MWNN hat for western wear.

Funny you mention being an African hunter and people thinking your were TR. I was thinking I may use this hat for a safari/hunter costume for Halloween this year.


Regards,

Indiana Jeff

Nice shot here! I'm like Hector here, I have toyed with this 'hat offering' for some time too, but never pulled the trigger, because of (lack of better words) 'cold feet.' Plus, after all of my custom made and fit hats, I cannot (most of the time) just buy 'over-the-rack-sizing-hats.' But, this does look great on you Jeff -- but all of your hats look great on you! And, like Hector, I too like the jacket offering from Orvis -- really close to Teddy's jacket -- but out of my league in pricing, at the moment. Back to the hat! Looking good buddy! Very nice ! W>

You might find this youtube of interest. Roosevelt favored the Stetson brand, a love of brand developed during his cowboy days in Montana in the 1870's and 80's. In this film, you can see the hat he wore during the Spanish American War.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfvNZC8qW-A" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Regards! Michaelson