Akubra-owning Yank has a question...

[Binford]

Finally bought my Cattleman a couple years ago and just love the hat. But with no chin-straps on these hats, how's a guy supposed to keep it on in the wind?!

[Sprint]

you guys have chinstraps on your hats?!?!?!?!

either jam it down hard on your head or hold it on with a hand, failing that, get a chinstrap!

[harry]

and tilt your head into wind to assist keeping it on, also bend the brim down at the front and back, this lets the water run off easier also

[4bee]

Just looked at the Akubra link ^ ^ & it reminded me of the alleged lovely story when RM Williams went to London years ago & asked a Cabbie to take him to Edinburgh.

He arrived there & the Cabbie says, "What about a tip?"

RM was reported as saying, "Sure son, I'll give you a tip. Always make your boot uppers from one piece of leather".

He should have said it after removing his luggage, as the cabbie drove off with it.:D

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Finally bought my Cattleman a couple years ago and just love the hat. But with no chin-straps on these hats, how's a guy supposed to keep it on in the wind?!
Make sure you buy one of the correct size. They have fractional sizing.

The next option is to insert a cardboard or felt spacer inside under the band so that there is just a little friction between the hat and your noggin.

Diana

[sschmez]

G'Day Tim, Welcome

The following is contrary to the care instructions issued by Akubra

First thing to do with a "young" hat....

Throw it in the dirt, jump on it, kick it about a bit, then punch it back into shape. .... ahhh, thats better

Now, the hat you've got is obviously too big for you ...
If you store it in the car when it's hot, in the sun, the leather browband inside the hat will shrink. Shrink it to suit your head. This is only good if you're only 1 size out, more than that and the furfelt will get kinks in it, minor kinks can be steamed out.

I've also heard some people folding paper or cardboard and lining the inside of the browband to make a tighter fit. You should have to jam it on your head and then it won't blow off in the wind. We generally don't use chinstraps. Your hat will become softer and supple with use.

Remember too, that on this forum, It didn't happen without pics;)

Stevo

[Binford]

There's a guy in Perth who once told me to "bash" the hat, if I remember the term he used correctly.

He said soak it and pretty much abuse it, much as you said, sschmez. I just don't know what my end result is supposed to be!

I think I have a picture from a family trip we took at Zion Nation Park in Utah where I'm wearing it....

Found it:

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/1493/akubraiz8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

After I soaked it, I just sort of shaped the sides (turning them up a bit). Otherwise, it's pretty much as I got it.

So help me out here, eh?! It's still stiff and new-looking. But shaped a bit more to my liking. So am I on the right track?

[sschmez]

So am I on the right track?

You'll be there in no time, shrink it and then just keep wearing it. Soaking it may have also stretched it, steaming over boiling water is a bit more subtle.
I've now seen your intro and looks like you've got the photo thing sorted.

Nice work, and have fun around here

Stevo

[solmanic]

He said soak it and pretty much abuse it, much as you said, sschmez. I just don't know what my end result is supposed to be!

The end result is... it will be all yours, for your head alone, unique and with a shape different from every other.

[Utemad]

This is the Akubra Cattleman.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

I have one and it have the front angled down a fair bit. Keeps the sun out of your eyes and the wind won't whip it off.

Mine lives in my car and the heat will flatten nthe brim if left sitting on the seat. So I leave it sitting on the seat so the front of the brim is overhanging the seat base. Then the heat works in your favour and shapes the brim for you.
Although having seen your yard photos in the other thread you might not have the necessary heat to form the brim :)

[RonMcGr]

Does this soaking also work to make a hat a bit less tight?

Mine has shrunk (either that or my head is bigger...always a possibility :twisted:)...it got really soaked at the LR 50th in 1998 and has never been the same again. I assume the leather inner band has shrunk. I haven't worn it since as its too tight. :D

Soak it, shove it on yer head and walk around until it dries out. One of two things will happen, the hat will expand to fit you head, or it will shrink yer skull!!! :eek::eek::eek:

[RonMcGr]

This is the Akubra Cattleman.

http://www.akubra.com.au/images/hat_cattleman.jpg

I have one and it have the front angled down a fair bit. Keeps the sun out of your eyes and the wind won't whip it off.

Mine lives in my car and the heat will flatten nthe brim if left sitting on the seat. So I leave it sitting on the seat so the front of the brim is overhanging the seat base. Then the heat works in your favour and shapes the brim for you.
Although having seen your yard photos in the other thread you might not have the necessary heat to form the brim :)

Justin,

Yours looks a hell of a lot better than the mess Hiddins made of an old Army Slouch Hat...
http://www.musthavefilms.com/Cover%20Pics/Bush%20Tucker%20Man%20Stories%20of%20Survival.jpg

Cheers,

[zulu Delta 534]

Find an old Aussie soldier somewhere and knock off his slouch hat. They were Akubras AND they had a chin strap.
A thing of note is the curled up sides on a hat is a fairly "American cowboy" thing as he used to hold his hat by the brim and the brim curled to fit in his hand, whereas most Aussie hats have the brim pulled down at the front and the "bash" in the front of the crown of the hat was shaped by the fingers which was how aussies usually grabbed their hats.
The American cowboy and the Australian stockmen are very similar in their trades, background, and history, with a few differences: The use of spurs, the use of hand guns (or so we are lead to believe) rather than stockwhips, and items of clothing that were mainly climatic necessities, and I suppose the hats fall into this domain.
You may also note that a lot of the real bushmen of the past ripped the leather strip out of their hats, but they were more interested in protection rather than the shape of the hat. If you were to do this you would end up with a definitely original hat shape, but I wouldnt recommend it till the hat is absolutely soaked through with sweat, body oils, and many other extraneous liquids that have to be mopped up, or wiped off (with the hat). Avoid lubrication grease as it eventually forms hard spots in the felt.
Glen

[Utemad]

Justin,

Yours looks a hell of a lot better than the mess Hiddins made of an old Army Slouch Hat...


Ron that photo is linked back to the Akubra website. It's not a photo of my actual hat.

Mine is still in good nic but not that good. Although it could do with a clean.

[blu]

Stick two small holes thru the brim join at either ear, run a length of leather cord thru the holes tieing off under your neck and looping over the back of the hat. ;)
As the guys have advised its YOUR hat do what you want with it, I'll take a photo l8r if you like..?

I use to do a fair bit of jackaroo'in and running about on horses in the wind all day/night you want your hat to stay on your person!!

[BigJon]

.

Mine is still in good nic but not that good. Although it could do with a clean.

I don't think I know anyone who has actually cleaned their hat! I usually have a "good" one and an everyday one. When the everyday one is knackered, the good one takes its place, then I buy a new one to be the new good one.

[Tango51]

I have a 'good one' and a town one.
When the 'good one' isn't servicable anymore the dress one becomes the 'good one' and I buy a new town hat. :o ;) :D

[Binford]

Stick two small holes thru the brim join at either ear, run a length of leather cord thru the holes tieing off under your neck and looping over the back of the hat. ;)
As the guys have advised its YOUR hat do what you want with it, I'll take a photo l8r if you like..?

I use to do a fair bit of jackaroo'in and running about on horses in the wind all day/night you want your hat to stay on your person!!
I'd like to wear mine in the Jeep, but not if a gust of wind can take it away. I'll consider the idea of putting a strap on it. My son has claimed my old oilskin hat as his own, so I'll probably have to do something!

By all means, post up pictures of your hats!

ZD534, not sure what you mean about "The use of spurs, the use of hand guns (or so we are lead to believe) rather than stockwhips..." Your stockmen didn't use spurs, huh? Our cowboys often carried single-action revolvers, but not in place of stockwhips! More for predators and such. And I have no idea what the general cow-hand had in the way of a handgun anyway. I don't suspect they were paid all that well, or were generally much good at saving up what they were paid, and revolvers were pretty spendy (dear), even back then.

Interesting historical contrast there. And funny that I tended to curl the sides of my hat up. Didn't know why I did that. Just looked more "natural" that way to me. Perhaps due to the American cowboy thing, eh? As for me, I generally put it on and take it off Aussie-style, grabbing the "bash" in the front.

[graceysdad]

No mate no chinstraps, only chinstrap you will see on an Akubra is an Army Akubra slouch hat there is a trick to keeping your hat on, trick for learners, do not sit your Akubra on the dash board of your car with the windows down its not that people flog them its they get sucked out when you drive, And they do take on a smell all there own, some evil some ok.

[zulu Delta 534]

Yes, Australians do wear spurs, but I was quoting from the "John Wayne handbooks of Western folklore", (Cowboy movies in other words) and we are led to believe that all American cowboys wear ornate spurs, have a minimum of 2 hand guns, use Lariats, constantly wear chaps and chew tobacco and wear white hats if their hearts and minds are true, black if not.
Are you trying to disillusion me and say that this is not correct.
Regards
Glen

[Binford]

Yes, Australians do wear spurs, but I was quoting from the "John Wayne handbooks of Western folklore", (Cowboy movies in other words) and we are led to believe that all American cowboys wear ornate spurs, have a minimum of 2 hand guns, use Lariats, constantly wear chaps and chew tobacco and wear white hats if their hearts and minds are true, black if not.
Are you trying to disillusion me and say that this is not correct.
Regards
Glen

Ahhh.... I misunderstood then.

Most of what I know of Western Folklore comes from the same handbook you've got!

I did pick up on a few tricks from the Aussies I was with when I was down there, besides the Akubra thing. A swag is one, a billy (or is it "billy-pot"?) and a quart-pot. Haven't picked up a swag yet, but really would like to (though I think a camping hammock would suit me better), have long had a billy and picked up a quart-pot since my visit to Gatton.

I'm going to be poking around your "Camping, Tucker and Bush Basics" forum in the near future. But tell me this, what's "tucker" mean?

[JamesH]

Tucker is food. Is it/ was it from an Aboriginal dialect?

As in the song "The Dog Sat On The Tuckerbox, 5 MilesFrom Gundagai"

[dobbo]

Mate for authenticity you have to soak them in Bundy rum or VB for a few drinks or get a Kelpie to pee on it whilst it's on your head, this would be post drink.;)

I bought mine in a shop in Gove NT. Had it for years, I wear it bushwalking, down the horse paddock, occationally 4wding but it gets in the way of the headrest. (never used to in my old ute though)

There are clips you can get to secure it to the collar of your shirt. Better just to soak it and let it dry to the shape of your head though IMHO.

Definition of Tucker: Pie, chips and a chiko roll with tomato sauce. If you can't get them around your local area try a Souvlaki and garlic sauce (can't get more Aussie than that)

[numpty]

Chaps!!!!!! I understand that around Brokeback Mountain, they pull their chaps on backwards.:angel:

Regarding hats. I was told many years ago a hat wasn't a hat until it had had a litter of pups in it.:p

[dobbo]

Regarding hats. I was told many years ago a hat wasn't a hat until it had had a litter of pups in it.:p


Or you'd created a few whilst wearing it;););)

[dobbo]

Chaps!!!!!! I understand that around Brokeback Mountain, they pull their chaps on backwards.:angel:


Now thats Gold

[numpty]

Reminds me of Rodney's famous song.....Oh he's a well hung ploughboy.

[dobbo]

Reminds me of Rodney's famous song.....Oh he's a well hung ploughboy.

:o
:no2:
:D

[Binford]

Chaps!!!!!! I understand that around Brokeback Mountain, they pull their chaps on backwards.
Yeah. American cowboys, those. Haven't seen the movie though. Not terribly high on my list either.

Okay, guys... Help me out here:

What's "Bundy" rum and how is it different from...well...rum?

What's a Kelpie and why would he want to pee on my hat?

And "tucker" is food in general, or something more specific?

[Lotz-A-Landies]

...What's a Kelpie and why would he want to pee on my hat?...?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e6/AustrKelpieLiver2_wb.jpg/250px-AustrKelpieLiver2_wb.jpg

Australian Kelpie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Kelpie)

[BigJon]

Bundy is Bundaberg Rum, a once great Australian company now owned by the Poms :eek:. Still a nice drop though, just be careful because it goes down like battery acid... :D

For Kelpie, see above.

Tucker is a slang term for food.

[dobbo]

Yeah. American cowboys, those. Haven't seen the movie though. Not terribly high on my list either.

Okay, guys... Help me out here:

What's "Bundy" rum and how is it different from...well...rum?

It's magical stuff, it helps ugly people get laid, stops divorces, keeps police in jobs, it will make your Jeep run when you run out of fuel, it gives you the power of invincibilty for a prescribed period of time

What's a Kelpie?

A real dog

why would he want to pee on my hat?

Because he can.



And "tucker" is food in general, or something more specific?

Food is food, tucker is better than food, it's almost orgasmic, the nicest food you have ever tasted in your life x 10

It even beats a lamb shank, a pint of german brew and followed by a beef Vindaloo.

or

A friday night Kebab could be classified as tucker



:D:D:D

[JamesH]

And kelpies will happily pee on anything. Hats are probably their second favourite target. The favourite is each wheel on visitors' cars.

They'll never pee on your Blundies, however. They save those for chewing.

[dobbo]

And kelpies will happily pee on anything. Hats are probably their second favourite target. The favourite is each wheel on visitors' cars.

They'll never pee on your Blundies, however. They save those for chewing.

They do protect you from Drop bears though

[JamesH]

They do protect you from Drop bears though

That reminds me of probably the best Bundy advertisement ever when the two blokes were camping next to some Swedish backpackers. The Bundy bear dropped out of the tree onto the backpakers tents. They backpackers ran screaming into the boys tent.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

They do protect you from Drop bears though:Rolling::Rolling::Rolling::Rolling::Rolling :

That's why I don't like tall trees around my place, no trees = No drop bears :D:D:D

[Binford]

Blundies...?

Drop bears...?

[BigJon]

Blundies...?

Drop bears...?

Welcome to an Australian forum...heh heh :D:p

[JamesH]

Blundies...?

Drop bears...?

I knew you were going to ask that!

Blundstone Footwear (http://www.blundstone.com.au/)

[dobbo]

Blundies...?

Drop bears...?

As I said previously a Kelpie is the best form of protection against a Dropbear a pair of steel Blundies are the second, you just kick him in the Jatz Crackers while you wear them. Do not go into the bush without a kelpie or a pair of Blundies. Serious injuries have been accounted for persons venturing out alone with only a pair of Jengles for personal protection. I never leave home without a pair of Blundies, you don't know what you'll encounter.

A Dropbear is a larger version of a Koala, albino in appearance and savage, very savage.

Like James stated on the TV a year or two ago a group of female Swedish backpackers got scared into a tent of a group of young drunken males, what happened next should not be posted on this forum.

[Binford]

Welcome to an Australian forum...heh heh
No kidding! I love it, though! Aussie slang is hysterical.

[defenderkev]

Dont worry about the hat Cobber she'll be right.:p

I've found wearing mine on the Thunderbox helps:D

[Binford]

Blundie-type boots are getting quite popular here too lately.

Australia has to have more nasty beasts and reptiles than any other spot on earth....

[zulu Delta 534]

If you are really interested in learning a few "Australianisms", drop down to your nearest decent bookstore and ask for: "The Dinkum Dictionary" by Lenie (Midge) Johansen. ISBN 0 670 90051 6 (Viking O'Neil Penguin Books Aust.)
You will have to order it but if you are interested, it will definitely be worth the wait! If you study it, you will be able to outslang the average Aussie, and that's no mean feat.
Glen

[Binford]

Well, not to be rude, but I'm going to be disappearing for a while. I'm about to board a flight to Thailand. Got a meeting to attend for our international staff. Not enough low-cost Internet time for me there, so I can't goof around much.

Thanks for the warm welcome and laughs, guys! I'll be checking in a bit later....

[dobbo]

Blundie-type boots are getting quite popular here too lately.

Australia has to have more nasty beasts and reptiles than any other spot on earth....

Too right, you've met our prime ministers have you.

[Slunnie]

I sometimes need that book to understand what Ive just said.

By the way, sidestep the Blundstones, RMWilliams boots are where it's at!

[dobbo]

If you are really interested in learning a few "Australianisms", drop down to your nearest decent bookstore and ask for: "The Dinkum Dictionary" by Lenie (Midge) Johansen. ISBN 0 670 90051 6 (Viking O'Neil Penguin Books Aust.)
You will have to order it but if you are interested, it will definitely be worth the wait! If you study it, you will be able to outslang the average Aussie, and that's no mean feat.
Glen



Cmon mate, fair suck of the Sav. Were just trying to help out a cobber who's got a head problem. Next you'll sell the Manly ferry on us.

[Bushwanderer]

Blundie-type boots are getting quite popular here too lately.

Australia has to have more nasty beasts and reptiles than any other spot on earth....

& I think that they all frequent AULRO! :D:D

[numpty]

Regarding Blundstone Boots, I have always known them as Blunnies. Never seen the "d" before.:)

[dobbo]

Jengles? are they anything like jandles? or flip flops...or maybe even thongs? :D:D

Not the way the bloke down the road spells it. Mind you with his haircut I think he's half kiwi, half sheep.

He's got a choice afro though eh.

Think his mum must have had a root in the back of the ute with a Ram whilst drunk on bundy at the B&S

[dobbo]

Regarding Blundstone Boots, I have always known them as Blunnies. Never seen the "d" before.:)

actually me too, I thought I must be wrong when I read JamesH's post

[JDNSW]

This thread reminds me of about 45 years ago on my first field crew in the area north of Aramac (Qld). We had a freshly arrived American in charge of the crew. He was an enthusiastic hunter, and having become skilled at shooting and skinning roos, the boys thought he should have a go at the area's most elusive and most dangerous animal, the bunyip. He was given good advice and suggestions as to how and where to find it, and set off heavily armed after dark one evening for the indicated patch of (rather dry) swamp.

Next morning he arrived back at camp empty handed as breakfast was being served, tired, dirty and disappointed. Unfortunately, nobody could keep a straight face - and he looked round the dining tent, and realised he had been had. Fortunately, he had a sense of humour!

John

[George130]

:Rolling::Rolling::Rolling:
Haven't had to deal with drop bears in years.
I just have to wrestle the possum burgers.

[JamesH]

Just did a google search....

You get more hits for Blundstone boots with "blunnies" than with "blundies"....

maybe its a regional/age related thing coz I've never heard them referred to as Blundies either

I've heard that before. I can only say that in WA they are "blundies" but you're not the first people to comment. A mate from Queensland corrected me once and I think someone else has, too.

[Binford]

This thread reminds me of about 45 years ago on my first field crew in the area north of Aramac (Qld). We had a freshly arrived American in charge of the crew. He was an enthusiastic hunter, and having become skilled at shooting and skinning roos, the boys thought he should have a go at the area's most elusive and most dangerous animal, the bunyip. He was given good advice and suggestions as to how and where to find it, and set off heavily armed after dark one evening for the indicated patch of (rather dry) swamp.

Next morning he arrived back at camp empty handed as breakfast was being served, tired, dirty and disappointed. Unfortunately, nobody could keep a straight face - and he looked round the dining tent, and realised he had been had. Fortunately, he had a sense of humour!

John
Sounds like a good ol' "snipe hunt."