Respite from Doom & Gloom...how about Hats??

Seems like we're batting 1000 on doom & gloom here on ATS. Current events are indeed depressing. I thought I might just throw out a fun topic to see if there is any interest.

Does anyone here like hats? Do you regularly wear a hat? If so, what kind?

I actually love hats, and am a habitual hat guy. Most of my hats are western style hats, but I started collecting hats as a teen. Back then I just 0collected ball caps mainly, but now I'm into larger more functional hats. Hats which serve a purpose.

My main hats are beaver fur hats, and I have some 60x to 100x hats (Resistol's, etc), even some customs. I have some 50/50 rabbit hats from Australia (Akubra's and the like). I definitely like the Outback styled hats for their amazing function in my environment. I'm always wearing a hat of some kind.

Get lots of compliments on the hats. It's kind of ironic I like hats so much because I'm not short on hair. I actually have to keep my hair cut really short so I can wear hats and not look dumb.

It took me a long time to get used to wearing a hat all the time. For a while I was kind of timid about it (being as tall as I am), but now I love my hats.

Are you a hat person?

Want to talk about something different here? Something a little less depressing? How about a hat discussion!

What kind of a hat person are you?

P.S. - Plus, a hat takes away from my ugly! LOL!

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

No body gives a # about hats unless they are of the raccoon type 😃

I’m thinking I need one of those old Soviet ones with a sickle and hammer as well

a reply to: Brotherman

I cut the tail off of a dead racoon once when I was a kid. I wanted a Daniel Boone look. I stuck that tail in our garage and forgot about it.

About two years later my Dad wondered aloud what the hell stunk so bad in the garage. I found my flea infested racoon tail, and was ordered to remove it from the premises post haste.

So much for a Dan'l Boone hat!

Did you know that a person who makes, forms and sells hats is known as a "Milliner"? Although in modern times some just call them 'hatmakers'. Like custom boots, the making of hats is actually a very interesting trade.

Having a custom hat cut, "smashed" or "punched", and formed is actually a pretty elaborate process. A quality custom hat can cost upwards of $1-2,000 dollars. I have several hats in the several hundred dollar range. A quality hat is something to behold, especially if you understand the purpose and function of the hat.

To this end, I've seen guys put a rain cover on 100x beaver hats! You don't need to do this, as 100x beaver is waterproof being made from pure beaver fur. This is why the "X" value on many western hats is so important; it speaks to their durability over time. A 100x hat will last a lifetime. A 8x hat might last a couple years (and even an 8x hat is not cheap).

A person who can 'block' an "open" hat masterfully is an exceptionally rare person. They are similar to wine stewards and cheese guys (I forget their technical names). To have a high quality hat blocked properly can cost as much or more than most cheaper hats, just for the blocking (and yes, tips are top dollar). To watch someone do it is a real treat, and a true art.

Most good hats will come as "open" hats, meaning they are just a brim and a round top. A Milliner will then put the creases in the hat according to the owner's specifications, as well as shape the brim.

Anyone who has ever had a custom fedora made for them will know what I'm talking about.

Is it just a crummy hat to keep the sun off your noggin, or is it a statement about you?

Hats are cool

A fez.
Fez's are cool.

A fez.
Fez's are cool.

a reply to: glen200376

A fez is very cool. A lot of history behind fez hats. For such a simple looking hat, one would never expect the thousands of years of history behind them. Very cool hats indeed.

I can't really wear one because of my "pumpkin" head, but they are cool hats.

originally posted by: glen200376
A fez.
Fez's are cool.

Heres my Great Grandmas uncle wearing one. He was (Pasha) Ruler in the Ottoman Empire



I wear a Military style cap, steel toe Engineer boots

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk
I dig the thread
I am a hat guy. My go to is the trucker cap. No brand in particular. Both have a trout, one is signed by Ryan Montbleau.
Winter time, watch cap or a bomber/trapper cap.

Beaver fur? Sounds dapper mate.

a reply to: SwampFox999

Definitely have to have some watch, bombrer and trapper hats!! I have several for when it gets really cold and/or windy out during the dead of winter.

Those arctic bomber hats with the rabbit fur saved my bacon more than a few times growing up in Wyoming!!

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

So I've got a few Goorin Brothers flatcaps that I enjoy, tried to find the specific ones but it looks like they've changed their lineup. Really fine hats though, if you're into that sort of thing.

Big-time hat guy here. Wear them every day even though I have a full head of hair.

There is a company here in AZ called Branded Bills and that is what I wear almost exclusively other than my Arizona Cardinals hats. They got hats for all 50 states and tons of others. I'm a member of their hat club where I get a new hat every month. Its gotten so crowded on my hat rack ive been giving them away for birthdays and such. The hats are dope. Check them out. Good customer service as well.

www.brandedbills.com...

I like hats too but my life doesn't allow for much variety anymore though still have many of my old ones boxed up.

Summer I wear an ancient beat up straw western hat that I painted teal and cream because rain had made it mouldy. Really need to get a new one. It's twenty odd years are showing but I'm impressed for straw and daily summer wear.

Winter I wear a knitted toque with a hole cut in the end so my dreads can fit. For more fancy I have a russian style, rabbit fur with ear flaps, but it's really never cold enough here so I wear it and suffer.

One of my old favourites was a black velvet top hat with a fake bottom on the inside and a little stuffed rabbit hidden inside made by a local miliner. Fun.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I absolutely wear a baseball hat from the scorching central Texas sun. My current hat is a fire dancer from Dave Matthews Band. I know most of y’all hate him; his songs not played on the radio are so much better.

Went to a fancy dress as Indiana Jones, have a cheap Indiana Jones hat, worn it a bit thin
Have an Australian style Akubra butits not functional in hot weather, rabbit fur is hot, ok in winter and the rain.
Havnt found a hat suitable, broad brim, lite material, and cool hat outside of straw and they don’t last long. Baseball caps only protect the face, maybe a Nazi desert style might work

Fez, won’t keep the sun out

Hehe what can I say... I have recently found out that I like hats quite alot but you already know that...
I have a nice stetson hat for now. it's not the most expensive but the quality/cost is quite ok. It's wool felt, so he is heavy and warm compared to the same hat made of fur felt. Next hat I'll invest more and buy a fur felt because I like hats alot, but when I'm new to something I try to go with good quality for the price first, as I don't know if I stick to it...but hats are promising...



Mad milliner sounds better than mad hatter

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

I have a hat like this bomber hat. Man is this thing warm. When I am out blowing snow in sometimes below zero weather this bugger does the job no problem. Plus it's cool to wear when out and about.

HATS!!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤ I have considerable hattage, but my collection and my life will not be complete until I acquire a Campaign hat ala USMC
style. reply to: Flyingclaydisk

There always used to be a class structure in hats. Observe closely.

a reply to: PraetorianAZ

When I was younger I used to collect baseball style caps, but they were mostly oilfield and heavy construction company hats. I had (and still have) quite a few. One of the key things was learning how to fold the hat to shape the bill perfectly. It was quite the fad in Wyoming. I worked in the sector so I had better access to some of the rarer hats which were harder to get.

The holy grail of hats at the time was an authentic Red Adair Well Fire Control hat. There were lots of knock offs because they were so popular, and some of them were pretty good, but there was always one sure way to tell a fake (the derrick was not vertical on the real ones). I eventually wound up with (3) of the real ones. Over the years I've managed to lose all three of them. I wish I still had a couple of those.

A couple of the other rarer ones I have are an authentic FDNY hat from 2001, and an Alaska Bush Pilots hat (but that one got stolen). I still have an Alaska Bush Company hat (not related to flying! LOL!), but a lot of people have those.