Club Obi Wan

Greetings! This is my first ever time starting a post, hope I put it in the right place and that this question hasn't been asked before. I didn't see it.

Here's my question: have you ever felt uncomfortable wearing your fedora out and about, perhaps even when traveling? Uncomfortable meaning you were worried someone may want to swipe your lid? I love traveling, including overseas, with my Raiders fedora, and I always get stopped by someone admiring it. My wife thinks this is one step away from getting it stolen and that I should leave it home. But, this is a reason I bought it; yes it's spendy but it makes me feel a bit like Indy.

Just curious about anyone else's experience. I know I could buy a cheaper hat, but again, that's why I got this one in the first place.

Thanks for the hours of enjoyment I've had reading the collective wisdom on this site. Who knew there could be so many details about stuff I never noticed before!

IJ

Hi Justin, I moved this to the fedora section. It’ll get more visibility here.

Personally, I don’t worry about having mine stolen. But I always make sure it’s either on my head, or in sight if in a public place.

And there’s alway coatcheck when available.

If you constantly worry about it, you’ll never wear and enjoy it.

Dalexs

I usually wear mine when traveling and it's never been an issue in cars, planes & trains. People do sometime have positive comments and ask questions about it. On a rare occasion someone will want to hold it or feel the felt and I've always allowed that with no issue so far.

Thanks Dalexs and IndyJedi. I don't really worry too much because yes that would take away from the enjoyment of wearing the hat. I stick out like a sore thumb when wearing it and people ask about it all the time. Just wasn't sure if I was perhaps missing something. My wife is just concerned because she knows how much I love the hat and doesn't want anything bad to happen.

Thanks again,
IJ

I am no hat expert, but I would suggest you plan what you are going to do in the event someone does try to take it from you.

It's a hat. It can be replaced. Let it go. It's not worth getting you and/or your family hurt.

Just my 2 cents.

Maybe I should be more cautious but I just don't worry about that stuff too much. Back in January I was with my kids at Legoland in Florida. A few of the rides required hats and personal belongings to be put in the cubbies during the ride. I put it in there and never thought much about it. Was always there when I got off the ride. It was my Penman Raiders in Beaver. Guess when its purloined one day, then I will get wise.

I have often worn fedora style hats in the past before I got into Indy gear. As not many people wear them these days, they do draw looks, but I've never had a problem when out and about.
Only when I've gone down the pubs has somebody just grabbed it off my head only to simply put it on their own head. It's always been a bit of a drink fueled joke though and not malicious.
I don't wear my Indy hat in pubs at weekends, so no problems. I've never had somebody try to steal a hat off me. Wear yours with confidence. I'm sure it'll be fine.

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I would liken having your fedora out when traveling, either locally or more exotically, to having a nice jacket or piece of luggage. It's meant to be used and whereas you may draw extra attention for being a bit 'out of the ordinary' normal caution on keeping an eye on your property should suffice.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff

I mainly wear my lids at Disneyland. We are annual pass holders and have a two-year-old so we go once a week and I've sometimes had to set my hat on the stroller to get on rides. To date, I've never had a hat stolen. I used to only take my FedIV for that very reason but then I realized we have these hats to wear them not lock them away for special occasions.

As far as getting looks and glances when you're in Disney and dress in any sort of casual Indy gear, you hear the word ”Indiana Jones” or the theme song being hummed allot from passing guests. I've had guests even think I'm a cast member from time to time. It's all in good fun though.

On another note, my wife is a costume designer and make up artist for film and she has a few rules she enforces for my everyday casual adventurer look:

Never wear more than two pieces of gear (I don't count boots)

Always disrupt the look. Wearing your fed and jacket? Wear a dark shirt instead of light and/or jeans instead of khakis/cargoes.

Try not to wear an Indy T-Shirt or any Tee really with your fed, It draws even more attention. Of course, this is the rule I break the most.


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I have been wearing fedoras and other hats for many years, with Indy hats being in the minority of my collection. I understand the worry about people wanting to steal it. Maybe they do want to, but they don't. For me, the solutions are simple.

1. Never leave it in the car, unattended, in easy view. If you must leave it in the car, put it where it can't be seen. This is my number one rule, even if the hat is a cheapie I don't care about. I have known so many people who have had their car broken into to steal the hat. Often, it's the only thing they take. Even if the hat doesn't matter to me, my car window does.

2. Use the same judgement concerning headwear as with any other part of how you dress. Dress according to where you arre going and what you are intending to do. In other words, you wouldn't wear your favorite hand-knitted sweater to pick up supplies at the hardware store, or you nicest, newest shoes to slog around a big flea market after recent rain, would you? We make these judgements every time we get dressed. Take a moment to think about how a hat fits into those plans. (I am never without headwear, but my choice is always based on what I expect from day, or my trip).

3. Everything Dalexs said.

4. Never wear a fedora in Pizza Hut... unless it's an Adventurebilt! (That one's for the old-timers.)

I usually wear a hat when traveling. The only issue I have had is where to put it on a long flight. I've never been able to make the "pulled down over the eyes" thing work.

The overhead is obviously not a good choice, and you never know what's on the floor. Sometime I roll it up and pack it an a carry on, other times I carry a lightweight cotton bag that I can put the hat in and put it under the seat.

As far as worrying about it getting stolen, it's unlikely unless you leave it somewhere and walk away. I either wear it, or keep it in sight.

I fly more frequently than I care to...

I wear an Akubra WWI style slouch hat for fieldwork, It was a remnant from my reenacting days that quickly became my most practical piece of kit working as an archaeologist. Over the years it has weathered, lost its badge, and the brim stays down for now on... after thousands of rain storms the bash has been re-done and it has evolved into my own custom "Streets of Cairo" style hat, and its an old friend for sure. I usually wear it on takeoff and landing, but in the middle of the flight I'll take it of and set in on my left knee for a while. In that position it stays out of the way and isn't getting who knows what all over it from the floor or overhead bin. It has sweat, dirt and debris from six continents smeared all over it and in it but I'll draw the line at whatever biomass is living on the floor of mass transit!

An added benefit of wearing it on your knee is if you are one of the types who is overly anal about the form of your bash or brim, it isn't getting mashed or flattened in the process.

As far as theft goes, I had a colleague who wore a stetson cowboy hat that had it stolen from his hotel room in South Australia, but that was partially his fault because he had checked out and left it behind. When he returned to the hotel to reclaim his hat it had already gone on walkabout.

If you follow the general rule of keep it on your head or within arms reach, you shouldn't have a problem. It is one of the unspoken rules of the road "You do not **** with another man's hat!"

Flying, I put it under the seat or overhead. If those spaces are cramped, I leave it on my lap unless eating....

Other than that, I only travel in the car or truck. Can wear it in the truck but have to leave in off in the car due to the headrests.....

Interesting question. I sat here looking at it for a few minutes, as honestly I just don't have any recommendations for you.

I've worn Fedoras for so long, it's like asking me 'do you have trouble traveling with your trousers on?'

"Well, no, actually....."

Regards! Michaelson

I dunno.... who steals a hat?

Also, who steals a fedora?

If I broke into your car, etc I'd steal lots more stuff than a hat. Especially because by wearing it, I'd be identifying myself to the cops.

I can see some idiot kid thinking it's funny but at the end of the day, most people steal something they can sell. If it's not a prank or just someone wanting to be a complete jerk..... I don't see anyone stealing your fedora. It's a type of headgear that is largely seen as out of date by several decades.

People aren't going to know if it's a $50 JC Penny buy versus a $700 Penman. They don't know the market value and really? Who has a blackmarket Fedora ring?

I've worn cowboy hats my whole life and never had anyone try and steal those. Most people think my Indy hat IS a cowboy hat (idiots).

Again, anyone that would steal your fedora is doing it solely to be mean. Other than that I don't see it being an issue. I say be aware of your environment.

Well, whether it's to be mean, just wanting the hat, or being an idiot at the time, a missing fedora is a missing fedora, regardless of reason.

Heck, Indy Magnoli had his stolen from the hat rack at the back of his church sanctuary when he was attending church a while back, never to be seen again, so there's no rhyme or reason for it.

Regards! Michaelson

Thanks for all the input.
What I was initially wondering about was if people had any negative experience wearing their hat while traveling. I hadn't and still haven't, since the initial post I've been across the country and through Mexico for 4 months, no issues wearing it. It is conspicuous however and expensive so who knows what people's thinking about taking it may be. I do remember about Indy Magnoli's hat being swiped and doesn't S and J website mention something about a cheaper hat for travel? So as to not worry about your good one? In any case, I am not concerned overly, just wanted other's experiences.
Thanks
IJ

I travel with it all the time but it never leaves me - either on head or in hand.

Maybe it might sit in hotel room but that's about it.

It only when I leave it in a hotel that I worry.

IJ

I hope whoever stole Indy Magnoli's hat also steals the wrong Grail.