Akubra Overload

[ShadowXY]

6.75 + 8 = 14.75/2 = 7.375
Size 7-3/8

I wore it with my hair up to add some padding in back. Kind of nice to have one if you want to wear a hair accessory under the hat I guess unintentional but it's such a nice hat.

I found one with dimensions closer to my hat size.

Looks like 6.25 X 7.5 inch = 13.75 so a small 7/56?

 

[ShadowXY]

Using your inside width & length measurements with an ellipse calculator produces a circumference of 23.23”, which puts the hat @ size 7-3/8.


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The 6.75 X 8 was another hat I was looking at. I've remeasured this one & the actual width is closer to 6.5 as its narrower in the middle of the hat band then the opening.

6.5+8 + 14.5 so it's a 7 1/4 or 58 equiv which is quite a bit larger than a 6 7/8 - 7! Ouch!!!
If my hair was really thick like it used to be it would fit better...LOL

Really is an unusually long oval hat for an Akubra.

 

[ShadowXY]

Well after what seems to have been an eternity (order first placed with EA in December) I eventually have my first Akubra. This is the Tablelands in Brown Olive.
It's marginally big but The Hattery kindly included some foam which once inserted did the trick.
It suits me a whole lot better than the Territory which I tried on.
It took 7 days total elapsed time from their shop to my door in San Diego.

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That hat looks great on you. I love the color & think it will bring out the green in my eyes. Just ordered a brown olive Tablelands in SZ 56..l. Excited. Hope the 55 Dover I bought it not too snug.

 

[ShadowXY]

Thanks I am really happy with it. I just took this photo indoors with natural light through the window. Amazing how the color changes. Doesn't look like the same hat.

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Really fallen in love with this color. I gravitate to moon & the lighter but I find that a deep forest green brings out the green in my eyes.

 

[ShadowXY]

I think I'll need to only buy hats that provide the L X W

My first Akubra was a 55 Snowy River & it was too big.

Second is a 55 Gray Norman Shark & I consider it too small. It fits but hight up on the forehead. I like them to come down more. Can't pull it down as it's too tight & the crown is only 4 inch. I think if it was bigger I could pull it down in front & have it sit on the back of my head deeper. Maybe the Shark is not meant to come down on the forehead? My problem with akubra is the really shallow crowns. The Boss at least has a deeper crown at least on the huge one I got.

The 55 is 6 1/8 in X 7 3/8 inch so comes in about 13.75 or a 6 3/4. I need a full 55 at 6 7/8 & a slight more even is better.

I'm worried about the 55 Drover that will be here on Monday. No idea of the L X W.

The 56 Tablelands is unlined so not sure if that might be big. That was is returnable so it's good but on these No Returns it's a big gamble.

 

[Dan718]

I think I'll need to only buy hats that provide the L X W

My first Akubra was a 55 Snowy River & it was too big.

Second is a 55 Gray Norman Shark & I consider it too small. It fits but hight up on the forehead. I like them to come down more. Can't pull it down as it's too tight & the crown is only 4 inch. I think if it was bigger I could pull it down in front & have it sit on the back of my head deeper. Maybe the Shark is not meant to come down on the forehead? My problem with akubra is the really shallow crowns. The Boss at least has a deeper crown at least on the huge one I got.

The 55 is 6 1/8 in X 7 3/8 inch so comes in about 13.75 or a 6 3/4. I need a full 55 at 6 7/8 & a slight more even is better.

I'm worried about the 55 Drover that will be here on Monday. No idea of the L X W.

The 56 Tablelands is unlined so not sure if that might be big. That was is returnable so it's good but on these No Returns it's a big gamble.

Get a Campdraft and low crowns won’t be an issue. Plus you get to shape it yourself, but more colours would be nice.
As for size: I’m somewhere between a 57 and 58. With Akubra I always go with a 58 and they feel too big at first, but a couple of rain showers later they’re about perfect. I have a Borsalino that’s a 57, fits fine for a dress hat, a little higher on the head than I’d like, but technically correct. Like you o prefer a hat that sits a little lower for daily wear.

 

[ShadowXY]

Get a Campdraft and low crowns won’t be an issue. Plus you get to shape it yourself, but more colours would be nice.
As for size: I’m somewhere between a 57 and 58. With Akubra I always go with a 58 and they feel too big at first, but a couple of rain showers later they’re about perfect. I have a Borsalino that’s a 57, fits fine for a dress hat, a little higher on the head than I’d like, but technically correct. Like you o prefer a hat that sits a little lower for daily wear.

Thanks, Ibut seems the Campdraft has a narrow brim of 2 3/4 inch. Really trying to get 3 1/4 or better 3 1/2 inch brim as the sun in CA is brutal.

I have a Gray Resistol 6 7/8 Tycoon that fits so nice. It really isn't fun to struggle pulling & tugging on a hat that doesn't fit right.

Maybe I should rethink the Akubra but I like the durability & I have roots in Australia.

I'm wondering if I get the Boss in the 56 if it will also not come down far enough. The unmarked Boss I have is probably a 58 & it comes down nice & I like the way it looks but the hat is big.

I just measured the crown height in the front on the 56 Shark & probable 58 boss & they both are about the same almost 4 1/4 inch tall in front yet the boss being so big sits down further on the head.

Got an idea & desperate. Sprayed the shark wet (like rain) shape, put a towel on my head for added bulk & then my head as a stretcher... LOL Might just work. Drying pretty fast.

I'll use hot water on the big Boss!

 

[ShadowXY]

Much better after wet stretch with towel under to dry/ add bulk to stretch more.

Think it worked really well. Hat comes down more on my forehead & doesn't feel like a vice.

Now vs before...

I see why an Akubra is a hat that's useful for real life like rain which luckily we don't have much of in S Cal so for me it's about sun protection.

 

[Dan718]

Much better after wet stretch with towel under to dry/ add bulk to stretch more.

Think it worked really well. Hat comes down more on my forehead & doesn't feel like a vice.

Now vs before...

I see why an Akubra is a hat that's useful for real life like rain which luckily we don't have much of in S Cal so for me it's about sun protection.

That does make a noticeable difference. Since it’s an Akubra and predisposed to shrink, I’d advise getting a decent hat stretcher to keep it on when it’s not on your head. A little leather softener on the backside of the headband might also help it stay soft and shrink less than it would as it dries out over time.

I’d be interested to know if you’re still wearing it six months from now or if this is a temporary fix. In any case the impression I’m getting this that you might really be after something with a more classic western style; high crown and wide brim. I think Akubra do a few of those too but to me they definitely read ‘cowboy’ more than ‘bush hat’.

 

[jeffgarf]

Went with an Akubra today, a Bushman. Whether rain or shine (I think both expected today), I'm covered.

 

[ShadowXY]

That does make a noticeable difference. Since it’s an Akubra and predisposed to shrink, I’d advise getting a decent hat stretcher to keep it on when it’s not on your head. A little leather softener on the backside of the headband might also help it stay soft and shrink less than it would as it dries out over time.

I’d be interested to know if you’re still wearing it six months from now or if this is a temporary fix. In any case the impression I’m getting this that you might really be after something with a more classic western style; high crown and wide brim. I think Akubra do a few of those too but to me they definitely read ‘cowboy’ more than ‘bush hat’.

I just rubbed some Saphir nappa leather conditioner on the back of the leather band. The water made it a little stiff.

I really didn''t intend to wet the leather band but I sprayed the entire top & the underside of the brim & some settled on the band.

It's dry & it's much better & wearable although a bit tighter than yesterday. I wore the hat for a couple pf hours with the towel under it & it mostly dried but not all the way. Hard to stay all day with a towel & hat on your head. This is not a quick process but it worked well to make the hat more usable.

I really should get 56 as I'm a full 55 & these hats or bands shrink but I bought a 55 used Snowy River & it would not set on my head. I didn't know then it might have worked out after a few wears or some foam but I was new to hats.

I'm learning styles & what looks good. I thought I never looked good in hats but one really needs a hat that fits & is shaped for the face. I'm a very petite lady but have a strong jawline & squarish face. A high pointy western tends to make my face look wider. I'm fond of the teardrop pinched look more than the traditional cattleman.

It wants to go higher than this but can pull it down to here where it's fine. Couldn't do this before.

I bought a Hat Jack in Med. It would be good to keep the shape when it's wet & have it a little big so it will be able to shrink to size.
$16 shipped from the bay. I guess they run $25 to $30 new? Looks like an older one & be nice if it was a good wood.

 

[ShadowXY]

Went with an Akubra today, a Bushman. Whether rain or shine (I think both expected today), I'm covered.

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Nice hat, I like that color but the style is not for me. What color is that? Color in the tan & taupe/fawn range sometimes looks very different on the screen. I'm not into warm tans or browns. That's almost like a very dark Silverbelly.

 

[ShadowXY]

Range Sz 55 Perfect fit!!!! Love this hat!!!!
Will get a ton of use out of it!

Wore the shark two days.

Shark is OK for winter but not for hot summer LA! Still it's a go all where hat.

This fit & look I love!!!! IT's a 55 & was supposedly new. Don't think Gray is really my color but the Shark was really cheap & it's a good rain hat.

 

[jeffgarf]

Nice hat, I like that color but the style is not for me. What color is that? Color in the tan & taupe/fawn range sometimes looks very different on the screen. I'm not into warm tans or browns. That's almost like a very dark Silverbelly.

I think I have to go with it close to Taupe. Akubra called it Nullarbor Tan (dark beige/olive mixture). Apparently names after the Nullarbor Plain in Western Australia.

 

[One Drop]

I think I'll need to only buy hats that provide the L X W

My first Akubra was a 55 Snowy River & it was too big.

Second is a 55 Gray Norman Shark & I consider it too small. It fits but hight up on the forehead. I like them to come down more. Can't pull it down as it's too tight & the crown is only 4 inch. I think if it was bigger I could pull it down in front & have it sit on the back of my head deeper. Maybe the Shark is not meant to come down on the forehead? My problem with akubra is the really shallow crowns. The Boss at least has a deeper crown at least on the huge one I got.

The 55 is 6 1/8 in X 7 3/8 inch so comes in about 13.75 or a 6 3/4. I need a full 55 at 6 7/8 & a slight more even is better.

I'm worried about the 55 Drover that will be here on Monday. No idea of the L X W.

The 56 Tablelands is unlined so not sure if that might be big. That was is returnable so it's good but on these No Returns it's a big gamble.

I have two Smoky Mountains that I raised the crown on, got about an inch and the depth of the crease is still enough to look good. I just waited until it was soaked from a heavy rain and pushed it up while working my fingers around the fold to tighten it up.

 

[ShadowXY]

Went with an Akubra today, a Bushman. Whether rain or shine (I think both expected today), I'm covered.

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Hoping my Drover is that color. It looks similar but it's hard to tell some tan hats look taupe in photos but they called my Drover Gray.