Replacing this Old Hat

[Woodcarver]

Way cool and way less-redneck than my youth. View attachment 757472

I can’t recall how old I am here, think somewhere around 3rd or 4th grade. I got smoked color quarter horse when I was 11, and this mean pony had moved along, so had to be before that. And don’t remember these silly chaps with matching vest, seems like something my mother would have posed me in. Certainly not cool enough to shoot horseback.

My sister likes to pull this one out every birthday. (I need to find one of these hats & wear it to her next white elephant party). Mid 60s at the ranch with the '65 Buick station wagon..

 

[Sideshow]

View attachment 758819I acquired this wonderful specimen in Tanzania at a roadside stand 4 hours into a 10 hour ride to the middle of nowhere where we had a spike camp. It pains my PH to no end whenever I send him a picture of this hat. I even made a WhatsApp sticker that I attach to all replies with him. I'm not sure if he wanted to purchase one and regretted it or maybe it was during my video call home when my wife said that I could bring anything I wanted home from Tanzania except that hat! To this day that hat remains in my closet next to a Maasai sword and will accompany me to Vic Falls on my next trip. I'm certain he will be thrilled to see it again!

Yes I have to agree they don’t pay them PH enough…..

 

[WAB]

Love the pics Will, they bring back a lot of great memories. I’m probably 20 years your senior, and likely hunted many of the same corners of Alaska 20 years ago. Keep the hat!

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I have dumped the ball caps this year after about 60 years wearing them and now have a Tilley so the sun does not keep destroying my ears. getting skin cancer burned off your ears will make you change your mind about caps. I hurts to have done

 

[AZDAVE]

Considering the number of Hyem doubles you have acquired or late that Hyem should just send you a hat.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

Considering the number of Hyem doubles you have acquired or late that Hyem should just send you a hat.

I don’t disagree. He’ll, I even gave a moments thought to a license plate that read HEYM89… it’s available in AK. Actually checked but passed.

I also stuck to what I know and just rolled with my same ol’ Kuiu icon ball cap.

 

[skydiver386]

May I respectfully suggest one of these.

 

[Wildwillalaska]

View attachment 767560
May I respectfully suggest one of these.

I didn’t end up with one at the SCI AH Dinner.

 

[skydiver386]

I didn’t end up with one at the SCI AH Dinner.

I know a guy ..

 

[coreydb]

you don't need a new hat.....there's a long history with many stories. If you buy a new hat, it's just going to look......new....

 

[jcs271]

I really want the Ruark Explorer Hat in Brown advertised on the ruarkcollection.com website. But... they don't ship to the United States.

Holy cow, if it really does all of this I think I need one too......

"Under the wide arc of African sky where heat shimmers and distant koppies rise, this wool hat stands as a quiet emblem of deliberate presence. The wool felt, dense, finely brushed, and dyed in warm, earthy tones, carries a natural depth that absorbs light softly, its surface revealing subtle grain and a muted, tactile finish that deepens with wear. The crown rises with confident structure, pinched and shaped with precision to hold form through wind and distance, while the generous brim extends in a gentle sweep, casting protective shadow across face and neck without impeding sight or stride. Balanced in proportion, it sits with natural authority, the material’s resilience ensuring shape retention and quiet warmth through shifting conditions. A foundational piece of the exploration wardrobe, it marries meticulous craftsmanship with safari-born restraint, understatedly powerful, inherently capable, ready to accompany far-reaching pursuits with timeless grace."

I can't believe I've gotten by this long with only my Rand cowboy hats in the spring and summer and my insulated Filson canvas hats in the late fall and winter. I think I need to up my game.

 

[migrabill]

Holy cow, if it really does all of this I think I need one too......

"Under the wide arc of African sky where heat shimmers and distant koppies rise, this wool hat stands as a quiet emblem of deliberate presence. The wool felt, dense, finely brushed, and dyed in warm, earthy tones, carries a natural depth that absorbs light softly, its surface revealing subtle grain and a muted, tactile finish that deepens with wear. The crown rises with confident structure, pinched and shaped with precision to hold form through wind and distance, while the generous brim extends in a gentle sweep, casting protective shadow across face and neck without impeding sight or stride. Balanced in proportion, it sits with natural authority, the material’s resilience ensuring shape retention and quiet warmth through shifting conditions. A foundational piece of the exploration wardrobe, it marries meticulous craftsmanship with safari-born restraint, understatedly powerful, inherently capable, ready to accompany far-reaching pursuits with timeless grace."

I can't believe I've gotten by this long with only my Rand cowboy hats in the spring and summer and my insulated Filson canvas hats in the late fall and winter. I think I need to up my game.

I already have a Rand. Low safari. In Pecan.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I should be getting a call from Rands soon on my 100% beaver in Natural color

 

[Goopy]

View attachment 758819I acquired this wonderful specimen in Tanzania at a roadside stand 4 hours into a 10 hour ride to the middle of nowhere where we had a spike camp. It pains my PH to no end whenever I send him a picture of this hat. I even made a WhatsApp sticker that I attach to all replies with him. I'm not sure if he wanted to purchase one and regretted it or maybe it was during my video call home when my wife said that I could bring anything I wanted home from Tanzania except that hat! To this day that hat remains in my closet next to a Maasai sword and will accompany me to Vic Falls on my next trip. I'm certain he will be thrilled to see it again!

If I owned that hat, I don’t know if it would ever come off my head!
It would certainly be the lid of the “King of mdwest fest in Dallas”…

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi,

Of course there is no universal all weather all condition hat but, to me, having used it for the last 30 years, the one that approach that is the Filson Packer!!

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

I must say that the Packer hat needs to be ordered one size bigger! That´s because it shrinks a little after some use!!!

 

[BigGame]

If I owned that hat, I don’t know if it would ever come off my head!
It would certainly be the lid of the “King of mdwest fest in Dallas”…

It didn't make the trip to Zimbabwe this year but, its still a classic!