Rand Hat Color

[Fixfire]

Probably a dumb question: How does one travel with such marvelous hats?? Surely they’re not packable (?) and wearing through days of airport travel must be a burden, right?
I better start training my head!!

 

[Woodcarver]

It's a rare day I don't have a hat of some sort on. Definitely prefer fur felt types, don't have much use for a straw (too easily broken/damaged, suck if they get wet-including sweat). Over the years I've added Stetsons, Baileys, American, Resistol and a couple I don't remember the brand on. Also worn out most of them, at least for wearing in public. But the only two brands that I will buy these days are Stetson and Rand. Can't beat Rand for quality or fit-comes out of the box feeling like I'd worn it for years. Stetson sizing just fits my head properly, their fur felt is durable (still wearing one I bought in '81) and the price is right for a working hat. But I might break down and get a Rand in that moss green. I like that color.

Probably a dumb question: How does one travel with such marvelous hats?? Surely they’re not packable (?) and wearing through days of airport travel must be a burden, right?
I better start training my head!!

One travels with it on the head, where else would a hat go? Easiest thing there is to pack....

 

[Fixfire]

It's a rare day I don't have a hat of some sort on. Definitely prefer fur felt types, don't have much use for a straw (too easily broken/damaged, suck if they get wet-including sweat). Over the years I've added Stetsons, Baileys, American, Resistol and a couple I don't remember the brand on. Also worn out most of them, at least for wearing in public. But the only two brands that I will buy these days are Stetson and Rand. Can't beat Rand for quality or fit-comes out of the box feeling like I'd worn it for years. Stetson sizing just fits my head properly, their fur felt is durable (still wearing one I bought in '81) and the price is right for a working hat. But I might break down and get a Rand in that moss green. I like that color.

One travels with it on the head, where else would a hat go? Easiest thing there is to pack....

Hahaha!! I told you it was a dumb question!! Thanks!

 

[John Telford]

I tried to copy Fredrick Courtney Selous hat and look

as per the framed pic that I say hanging in the Victoria Falls Hotel Bar in Zim.

 

[John Telford]

Had the suit made in India. Hat was bought in Northern California . Rifle by Holland and Holland.

 

[crs]

Brown leather hat picked up on first African hunt. Do not know brand , but the leather made it warm on early mornings and late evenings. The breathing holes made it bearable (avoided bill cap) during the day.

 

[crs]

Lest I forget fashion notes:
Clothes by Cabelas, Brown leather hat made in RSA, Shades by Polaroid, and .405 rifle by Winchester.

 

[jpr9954]

I look at all these hats from the various companies and I start thinking which one I'd like. While it is not too "safari", I'm partial to that Gus hat from Nathaniel's. Then I look at the prices and I think that is almost the price of a decent rifle!

I guess I'll just have to stick with the dozens of free ball caps I have.

Now for a serious question. Do you ever feel you overheat wearing a felted or wool hat?

That seems to be a problem for me. My natural "insulation" around my middle probably doesn't help.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I look at all these hats from the various companies and I start thinking which one I'd like. While it is not too "safari", I'm partial to that Gus hat from Nathaniel's. Then I look at the prices and I think that is almost the price of a decent rifle!

I guess I'll just have to stick with the dozens of free ball caps I have.

Now for a serious question. Do you ever feel you overheat wearing a felted or wool hat?

That seems to be a problem for me. My natural "insulation" around my middle probably doesn't help.

+1 on ball caps, preferably FREE! LOL I can't imagine wearing a felt or wool hat/cap unless when hunting in the 20-30F temp range. My head was sweating hunting in RSA this past June in upper 30s in the morning to 70 in the afternoon with a ball cap on. I just need the brim to help keep the sun out of my eyes. Besides, here (Colorado) you have to wear a fluorescent orange (or now pink, seriously) cap when hunting big game anyway. Maybe a fluorescent pink Stetson? Ha! Ha! Ha!

 

[Happy Myles]

For ages I have worn Rand hats in various styles and colors and enjoyed them all. Rich Rand is a good man proud of his products. Once, i was mauled by a leopard and after i killed the cat and in the excitement getting back to campi i realized my fancy hat had been left at the scene of action. The trackers went back to find it while i was waiting for emergency evacuation. My elegant chapeau was not at the scene. Some where there was a fancy local dude carrying a spear and wearing a swanky cowboy hat or……a strange looking hyena under a bloodstained sombrero .

 

[Woodcarver]

Guess there might be a conditioning thing to wearing a hat. Since I've worn one virtually all day every day for all of my adult life, I feel nekkid if I leave the house without one on. Same might go for wearing a felt or wool hat, but I wore one every day for years, regardless of temperature; probably why most of them aren't really suitable for wearing to town anymore. A good felt, that fits properly, will hold up to pretty much anything nature throws at you, even (small) hail, and is more comfortable than a ballcap (and I wear those a lot too), even a fitted one.

 

[Hunter4752001]

I frequently wear my old slouch hat. Sometimes I'll wear a cotton Tilley hat with a similar brim width. The only problem I find with the slouch hat is that the leather hat inner band causes a lot of sweat build up. The Tilley doesn't have that issue. While the slouch hat maybe a bit warmer in mid to warm weather, it tends to provide better protection from those intensely hot days. I think the compressed felt does a better job of stopping the penetrating rays than does the cotton. Probably irrelevant unless you're out in over 40 C days.

 

[jeanes]

My safari style hat is by Willis & Geiger and is a sort of gray-green in color. Not bespoke but it fits well and is comfortable. It does its job well and makes my dermatologist happy. She is not a fan of hats without brims.

 

[Rickmt]

My recommendation for warm weather hat is the Henschell Aussie Breezer . Incredibly cool and 10% of the cost of the Rand. It is crushable and has a 3” brim . They also sell a 3 1/2 inch brim . Just back from 8 days in Saskatchewan pike fishing, and the hat was exposed to constant wind from long boat trips at high speed. Hat is just like it was before I left!

 

[Robharris]

Heard a lot of good stuff about Rands, but can't really stop the addiction of getting Stetsons. At this point I've got like 5 or 6(getting one a year pretty much for last 5). Right now waiting for a new Black Buffalo. Should arrive anyday now, pretty happy that nearby store got a steady supply of Stetson hats https://gritroutdoors.com/stetson/

 

[Pheroze]

I put this here as it is the best thread I found about quality hats

 

[Ontario Hunter]

My $20 special from a grocery store in Oakhurst, CA fourteen years ago.

It doesn't hunt. I rarely wear anything but ball caps hunting.

 

[Rare Breed]

Funny you should say Ngonyama, this was a bit of a special hunt and I was given specific instructions by the outfitter. The required dress was tweeds but I decided to put an African twist on it. Nevertheless my wife bought me a stag tie to zoom it up. The oil skin jacket came in handy, it started snowing! In the inner pocket there was also a nice silver hip flask and a cigar slipper, that also helped.

Kevin you are always the well dressed hunter in Africa…although we are talking about Rand Hats gotta love the pith helmet

 

[steve white]

Anyone familiar with Zapf Oestereisch hutsenmacher hats?

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Kevin you are always the well dressed hunter in Africa…although we are talking about Rand Hats gotta love the pith helmet

The things are so comfortable RB, really s good choice for tropical and equatorial Africa.