Thread: Akubra-owning Yank has a question...

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!

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

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.

Originally Posted by 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?!

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

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

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:



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?

Originally Posted by Binford

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

Originally Posted by Binford

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.