I used to sell Stetson/Borsalino/Resistol for a time. I've been wearing Open Roads for about 35 years - it's my main lid. Your Stetson IS NOT 6x wool. Your Stetson is made from fur felt, which is not wool. The "6x" means that it's 60% beaver fur and 40% rabbit fur. The more beaver in the felt, the finer the texture, the more water repellent and more amenable to shaping ("blocking") and holding the shape. Wool felt hats are fine if you don't care much about your hat keeping shape if it gets wet... one good soaking and you'll see it sag and ripple and flop. Fur felt hats don't behave that way. It's nice that you're getting into hats, but please learn about them. The care your stetson requires is significantly different from the wool felt headwear you showed at the start, for example. Anyhow, it's good to see someone do a hat video. Thanks.
Isn't it that it used to be that way yet now it's more subjective as we have 20x and even 100x beaver hats? There can't be 200% Beaver in a 20x hat can there?
@@themagicdragon2011 Stetson (and some other USA companies) started using this X numbering system as a method of classifying their hat quality. The higher the number the better the quality. There is no commonly agreed industry standard. Now the X number indicates a price point within that companies products. More simply, X is now simply marketing BS.
i just went through the same metamorphosis. felt fedoras, panamas, flat caps - anything but a ball cap. since doing so, i have gotten both positive and a few less than positive comments. my take is to not worry about what others think. i like what i think is functional and completes the outfit. can't leave the house without a hat anymore. hats are great.
I been wearing different hats for over 30 yrs and if I don't wear one my friends will comment about it. It's part of my style, but I buy quality hats not crap.
The beginning of this video really speaks to me. I’m in my mid 30s and getting into heritage wear but after much deliberation, I don’t think brimmed hats is for me. It just looks like I’m trying too hard. Kudos to you Nick for having the confidence to rock them. I’ll stick to my beanies for now until I get to a certain age
Btw the Stetson Open Road 6x has no wool, it will be mainly rabbit fur and beaver fur. The higher number of X’s the higher percentage of beaver fur. The more beaver fur the better the water repellency. Also check out Serratelli Presidential good looking felt made in USA from an old classic brand.
Hey thanks, I appreciate your video's. I just want to say I see a possible issue with your open road. When you put it on it looked a little tight and it makes the brim bend like a western. I have a vintage Stetson Whippet that does the same thing, the brim is flat when it's off yet bends in the front and back when I pull it to "my spot". If I were you I would return it and get a size larger, If the size larger is loose just put a size pad under the back and/or front sweatband. This way your brim will stay flat and you won't get a red ring around your head.
My bad guys, the Stetson is fur felt, not wool! The regular Open Road was wool but not the 6x. Would you guys wear any of these brimmed hats, or are they a bit too out there for you? Let me know! Also, my 10 best boots video ranks better if I put it in a pinned comment, so here it is! ruclips.net/video/9kuHyyefNGE/видео.html
Yes I would, certainly the first one. Because hardly no one wears hats you are standing out from the crowd but not in a way that causes attention to make you feel self conscious.
I have a briber knockoff of the open road, it’s Ok. A couple of things I’d be interested in: 1. Flat caps of quality wool. I think this is an area of heritage fashion that is really ripe for mining in your channel due to the “working man” aesthetic and the number of crap examples. Flat caps are the gateway drug to felted, brimmed hats. 2. Felt tutorials. How do I spot a modern company with high quality felt. 3. Hat lining and sizing. Hats have different linings based on age and price. I have a vintage Stetson with a plastic liner, a vintage bowler without a liner, a new Broner without a liner. When did the liners come and go and why? I’d love to see the linings of those hats. Also, a tutorial on how to measure your hat size, hat care, and hat etiquette. I’m looking forward to more of this content. Off to buy an Aran beanie.
Nice Stetson and beanie, but the others Nope don’t waste $ on wool hat , those things will be $hit if you get caught in the rain ,,go rabbit or beaver It’s one of those if ya know you know things. If someone wore cheap boots around you , or knock off raw denim jeans etc , you’d spot it a mile away!!! And Nick , you should be ashamed for not getting an Akubra!! Honestly a Campdraft or a Bushman , top of the line , great look , built like tanks and made in Australia to boot !!! Trust me on this Nick
I would not . They are overpriced WOOL. WHAT THE HECK IS 6x wool? Just American hat co BS. Look at Akubra. David Morgan is the easiest place to find them. 100% fur felt.
Akubra best hat for the dollar 100% fur. Great quality last forever and like Labradors they love the water. Nothing, absolutely nothing competes with them!
I completely agree. I'm shocked that Nick didn't mention Akubra. I bought my first hat, an Akubra Federation IV Deluxe last month, and an Akubra Bluegrass Green Campdraft (Looks like an Open Road but better) last night. Six days transit from Australia. I got the shipping notice as I'm typing this!! I did buy a Stetson Open Road Straw in Chocolate this morning. I think I may be developing a hat problem.
I cracked and bought a hat. I got a Two Roads Old City Fedora. I am pretty happy with it so far. It looks good without making it look like I am trying to be a cowboy/Humphrey Bogart/Indiana Jones. I found a voucher for 10% off, which is also good.
i have several wool winter hats from Aran that are lined with fleece. Without a doubt the best winter hats I’ve owned for really cold weather. Plus, I like that they look Heritage or even Victorian rather than the ultra-modern North Face or Under Armour look.
The Stetson Open Road is my go-to hat for most purposes. I have a few for cold weather and a few for warm weather. Being in Texas I wear cowboy hats (the Open Road is one too, but more fashion-oriented) as well for the sun and a bit of warmth in the cool weather. When the weather turns frigid I’ll opt for a knit watch cap.
I have my grandfather's old Greeley Hat Works hat that has been reshaped and crafted for me. I agree, it feels intense to wear some times, but I also feel really cool when I do.
Randy Novick hit the nail on the head and is obviously EXTREMELY knowledgeable. In my opinion the price Two Roads charges for a hat is way too much. They seem like they might be an MVMT type of company, but for hats...
@@Stridewise I'm talking material cost-wise. I have a wool felt hat and it's great, don't get me wrong, but the difference in quality between say that wool Barbour and my felt Akubra is night and day. Wool felts in bulk are much much cheaper than a rabbit or beaver or rabbit/beaver blend.
Your also paying for their Fashion Design and availability. Stetson Open Roads sell out fast. That is Stetson's most popular Hat and it is a Western Hat 100%!
You know how you shouldn't go food shopping when you're hungry? In a similar spirit, you shouldn't watch videos about hats on a cold day. I like the Will and Bear hat a lot.
Nick, I’m curious; I don’t think I’ve seen you make a video on sweaters. I’ve recently started to dip my toes into sweaters. I think many heritage-wear fanatics tend to dip their toes too. Are you a sweater guy? Do you wear them as a component to your outfits or as a stand out piece? Would love to see a video on good sweaters (I know you have a wool sensitivity, but there’s some other cool materials out there)
Hey Wesley, you know, somehow I never got that into sweaters. I'm wearing my Tanuki sweater right now which is a dream, but don't know a ton about them. I'd like to explore some them some more this year!
Great video! If you're starting to wear more hats, stop by J. J. Hat center on 5th Ave. It is the best place to purchase hats on the east coast. Also, the oldest (1911). Great staff and endless choices. Thanks for all your boot videos too. Very educational. Happy New Year!
@@Stridewise Definitely, check out J. J's. I was just there yesterday and they have plenty of new stock. Goorin is ok. Unfortunately, most of their hats are made from domestic and imported wool, priced as if they were fur felt hats. If you want a wool hat, it should be Litefelt, which is a specific type of wool made in Pennsylvania. Crushable and water resistant. Also, J.J's have an Italian wool which is pretty much the same . I'm pretty much a hat nerd and love to see people get into wearing hats! Keep the videos coming! Always great stuff.
I visited the Aran Islands a few years back and picked up on of the beanies there. While I really appreciate the brimmed hats I just can't pull them off.
As an Aussie it is criminal that you did not buy an Akubra! The Campdraft is an open crown version of the open road and is one of the best bang for buck hats out there (Akubra used to manufacture the open road under licence for Stetson in Australia). Also the Federation IV is their take on the Indiana Jones hat.
It's funny that this came up on my feed, I've just decided that I want a hat that's not a ball cap or a beanie. You should check out Nathaniel's custom hats in Georgetown TX, he's made hats for Bob Dylan! He does mostly cowboy stuff but he can make any shape you want and uses rabbit and beaver felts
I wore ball caps a lot while in college, I had like 10 plus hats. Stopped wearing them and now I have two fedoras that I wear occasionally. I was eyeing the Stetson Stratoliner Milan Fedora but it was out of stock for 8 months 🥲, I might get lucky this year and snag one.
I wear a Stetson stratoliner I bought on a whim while in Austin, it’s really the only hat I wear, but I’m still trying to look more natural in it; and if you need an extra camera man for the Stetson tour, I’d love to help out, I’m maybe an hour away from it
I own 3 stetsons 2 open roads. One in toasted straw and one in fawn. The other is the stratoliner in silver belly. Although the strat fits me a little better I like the open road the best
I am hat guy!!! Because in rocked shaved head from early 20 not because of balding but it's so practice and clean! I have many beanies, baseball caps, flat cap, fedoras, buckets and some leather custom hat
I have a couple of Orvis felt hats. They aren’t expensive but look nice, are durable and worked well in winter in Portland. I’ll be taking them up to Colorado when I return there, where winter has hit full bore. One of them is a fedora in grey that’s pretty dressy and looks great with suit or my 30 year old Filson cape coat.
I rock a 6x open road in silverbelly. The hat is fur felt rather wool felt. Always choose a fur felt over wool felt and you will be more satisfied. Fur felt is just better and last longer. Fyi Stetson now makes a 100% Beaver open road.
@@Stridewise I am not surprised the Pure Openroad is hard to find. you cant find a 100x Beaver for the price that Stetson u is selling it for. you might ebay, I saw some listed new in the box. i seem to remember they were priced the same as retail and the seller was a hat store and not an indivual. good luck in your quest.
I love hats but having a beard on the longer side, it’s hard not to look Amish. I wear a lot of flat caps in the warmer months and beanies in the colder ones. I really want to venture out but my experiences with the fedora, trilby, and even a pork pie didn’t work. I need to go to an actual hat store and get help instead of rolling the dice with online purchases.I love the Stetson open road in your video, I think I’ll try to find that in a store.
I wear Fedoras from Fernandez y Roche from Sevilla Spain myself……glad you are getting into hats…..Obama hats in summer of course…..have one from Borsalino too
As a bald guy I always have issues with fit on hats. Without the “give” and friction of hair, hats seem either too tight (to stay put) or comfortable and moving around/falling off. I’d like to wear a flat brim but I just don’t know how to get one that will actually fit and be comfortable enough to wear.
Oh that's really interesting. I feel like there must be some sort of frictiony material hat companies sell to stick on there but I'm Googling to no avail. Maybe a business idea for you?
@@IsaacSalgado yes, I have a western palm hat with a wide leather band, but when it’s hot it sticks to the skin and forms a seal. I’ve pealed off the hat to have a puddle of sweat then roll down. It stays on, but it stops being comfortable pretty quickly.
Use this trick I learned in the Army: the brim of your hat should be two fingers above the bridge of your nose. Use your index and middle fingers together touching the bridge of your nose. The brim of your hat should touch your middle finger. Essentially, the brim of your hat will be level to the ground.
I go back and forth on the open road and the stratoliner, both solid hats and similar looks - but you can't go wrong with a Stetson... *"unbiased" Texan opinion :)
Y'all never catching me with a flat brim hat!! It just looks like you're trying too hard, but I get how people may not like the western hat with their heritage look.
It's a real shame that you missed working with John Penman at Penman Hats....He's the best custom hatter in the world...Try a look at Mike too, at Northwest Hats in oregon....Amazing work, and a lovely bloke too! These? Will blow your mind...Trust me.
hey mate I am older guy & never was hat guy well like baseball hats but hats like you wear kinda look cool I wouldn't mind trying stepping out my comfort zone but always mate love the video keep them coming :D 🤙🤙
They succeeded to avoid looking like a cowboy hat, however that tan hat screams Royal Canadian Mounted Police to me eh!? Thanks for the tip on the watch cap. Great price for a wool cap.Also called a skull cap, toboggan or beanie. A beanie is a hat with a propeller on it. Of the three you reviewed, the watch cap looks least out of place. The Australian hat is probably the best look on you. A hat like that really changes the initial impression. I would like to see another hat segment where you try out the Filson packer hat, newsboy hat like Kangol style, bowler hat, and a few styles of bucket hats. Great idea. I like a wide brim hat on a rainy day or a snowy day. Very helpful keeping the water out of the face.
Next time, add a Filson wool packer hat to your review options. Lot cheaper than the Stetson. It has a 2 inch brim , and looks very cool, especially with a mackinaw wool cruiser jacket.
Happy New Year Nick. IMO the Will and Bear is by far and away my favorite. The flat brim and crown on the Two Roads Calloway hat looks a little too "Smokey the Bear" for my taste. But everyone's taste is different.
That's funny, that's the only way I really like them! Or flat. But sloping down, I don't know it's a bit too cowboy for me! If I were cooler, though...
Great video! I was just thinking about getting a Stetson Open Road or Stetson Explorer. I am usually a flat cap or newsboy cap guy but I want to change it up a bit.
@@Stridewise The open road looks really cool but think I really need to find a Stetson Hat dealer out here in the Chicago suburbs to see how I look with the cattleman’s crown. Such a departure for me.
Anything other than a baseball cap or winter wool hat feels like a costume to me. I went through a fedora phase years ago, but it was exactly that, a phase.
Yeah I just learned about the Campdraft, it's not on Akubra's site but I think it's my favorite. Otherwise I don't love their looks, though I did wear one when I was little
I too got a fedora to wear with my halloween costume this past year and actually dug the look. I'm unsure if I can really pull this off in everyday though. To me, fedoras, especially worn in an urban setting veer too far into the cosplay direction. I don't know, maybe I can pull these off. Thanks for recommending brands that aren't bespoke $800 hats like Mr Style.
A fedora is a great hat! Urban, suburban, country wherever, a fedora says ‘I’m my own man. I have a sense of style and I am confident and sure of myself’. Akubra Stylemaster and Stetson Temple are good quality (Akubra is more robust while Stetson is arguably more original), affordable and easily available.
Stetson has horrible customer service....but the best hats. I have 9 different color/material of the Open Road. The Open Road is just an awesome looking hat to wear with workwear clothes.
Excellent hats and video. I recommend you try wearing the brim parallel to the ground, not at a thirty-degree angle. Some of the images you showed during the video have the models wearing their brims parallel to the ground, which I think is a more polished look.
What size is your two roads elliston and Stetson open road? And how do they compare in terms of fit? I have elliston but is a bit big, would love open road but nowhere close to try on
I'm 59 in Elliston but in the Open Road I'm the biggest they have, 7.75 (62), but with some fillers on the side. Turns out I have an oval shaped head which is why less stiff hats warp and bend at the sides when I put them on (like the Will and Bear you see here.) I may not have the best head for hat reviews...
Here’s the thing with Stetsons-you HAVE to try it on. The sizing is not 100% consistent. I have a straw Open Road in 7 1/4 that fits perfect. But in felt-both 6X and Royal Deluxe, I use a 7 3/8. I also have the Two Roads Open Road copy. Their website says they run large, but that is absolutely not true for the one I got in 7 1/4. It fits just like a 7 1/4 felt Open Road. And the Two Roads isn’t sold in 7 3/8-it jumps to 7 1/2. I kept the 7 1/4, just steamed it and wore it a bit to make it fit a bit better.
Check out JJ Hat Center in New York They got stetson Borsalino Magill and more Beaver and rabbit felt hats. Try one of those and you'll never wear a wool hat again.🖖🖖
I think the problem with heritage brimmed hats, no matter how stylish you are, is that once you start wearing them that's all anyone is going to see. As you stated a few times, you become "The Hat Guy" and that's all people pay attention to. I'd rather not call attention to myself like that.
I think you need to be cognisant of your environment. If it is 40 degrees outside and sunny, it would be foolish to not wear a wide brim hat. Conversely, it was minus 20 you would want a hat. I wouldn't wear a hat just for the aesthetic but each to their own.
I used to sell Stetson/Borsalino/Resistol for a time. I've been wearing Open Roads for about 35 years - it's my main lid. Your Stetson IS NOT 6x wool. Your Stetson is made from fur felt, which is not wool. The "6x" means that it's 60% beaver fur and 40% rabbit fur. The more beaver in the felt, the finer the texture, the more water repellent and more amenable to shaping ("blocking") and holding the shape. Wool felt hats are fine if you don't care much about your hat keeping shape if it gets wet... one good soaking and you'll see it sag and ripple and flop. Fur felt hats don't behave that way. It's nice that you're getting into hats, but please learn about them. The care your stetson requires is significantly different from the wool felt headwear you showed at the start, for example. Anyhow, it's good to see someone do a hat video. Thanks.
This. 100%. Everyone listen to Randy.
Isn't it that it used to be that way yet now it's more subjective as we have 20x and even 100x beaver hats? There can't be 200% Beaver in a 20x hat can there?
YES!
@@themagicdragon2011 Stetson (and some other USA companies) started using this X numbering system as a method of classifying their hat quality. The higher the number the better the quality. There is no commonly agreed industry standard. Now the X number indicates a price point within that companies products. More simply, X is now simply marketing BS.
The first hat is an Open Road shape but not a Stetson, is it? So it could be a wool instead of a fur felt hat.
The Open Road is by far my favorite hat I’ve ever owned. Amazing video as always!
As a person attempting to be a more informed hat buyer, I'd love to see more hat content!
You got it!
I like Akubra hats. Hope to acquire one someday.
i just went through the same metamorphosis. felt fedoras, panamas, flat caps - anything but a ball cap. since doing so, i have gotten both positive and a few less than positive comments. my take is to not worry about what others think. i like what i think is functional and completes the outfit. can't leave the house without a hat anymore. hats are great.
I've done the same. Looks a lot better than the ball cap I always wore. I've gotten compliments too, mostly from women.
I been wearing different hats for over 30 yrs and if I don't wear one my friends will comment about it. It's part of my style, but I buy quality hats not crap.
The beginning of this video really speaks to me. I’m in my mid 30s and getting into heritage wear but after much deliberation, I don’t think brimmed hats is for me. It just looks like I’m trying too hard. Kudos to you Nick for having the confidence to rock them. I’ll stick to my beanies for now until I get to a certain age
I would argue that wearing a beanie in your 30s is trying waaay too hard. 😂
Btw the Stetson Open Road 6x has no wool, it will be mainly rabbit fur and beaver fur. The higher number of X’s the higher percentage of beaver fur. The more beaver fur the better the water repellency. Also check out Serratelli Presidential good looking felt made in USA from an old classic brand.
Hey thanks, I appreciate your video's. I just want to say I see a possible issue with your open road. When you put it on it looked a little tight and it makes the brim bend like a western. I have a vintage Stetson Whippet that does the same thing, the brim is flat when it's off yet bends in the front and back when I pull it to "my spot". If I were you I would return it and get a size larger, If the size larger is loose just put a size pad under the back and/or front sweatband. This way your brim will stay flat and you won't get a red ring around your head.
Yep, it was a size small! Just got a new one in the mail, good eye :)
@@Stridewise Nice! Glad to help
My bad guys, the Stetson is fur felt, not wool! The regular Open Road was wool but not the 6x.
Would you guys wear any of these brimmed hats, or are they a bit too out there for you? Let me know!
Also, my 10 best boots video ranks better if I put it in a pinned comment, so here it is! ruclips.net/video/9kuHyyefNGE/видео.html
Yes I would, certainly the first one. Because hardly no one wears hats you are standing out from the crowd but not in a way that causes attention to make you feel self conscious.
I have a briber knockoff of the open road, it’s Ok. A couple of things I’d be interested in:
1. Flat caps of quality wool. I think this is an area of heritage fashion that is really ripe for mining in your channel due to the “working man” aesthetic and the number of crap examples. Flat caps are the gateway drug to felted, brimmed hats.
2. Felt tutorials. How do I spot a modern company with high quality felt.
3. Hat lining and sizing. Hats have different linings based on age and price. I have a vintage Stetson with a plastic liner, a vintage bowler without a liner, a new Broner without a liner. When did the liners come and go and why? I’d love to see the linings of those hats. Also, a tutorial on how to measure your hat size, hat care, and hat etiquette.
I’m looking forward to more of this content. Off to buy an Aran beanie.
Nice Stetson and beanie, but the others
Nope don’t waste $ on wool hat , those things will be $hit if you get caught in the rain ,,go rabbit or beaver
It’s one of those if ya know you know things. If someone wore cheap boots around you , or knock off raw denim jeans etc , you’d spot it a mile away!!!
And Nick , you should be ashamed for not getting an Akubra!! Honestly a Campdraft or a Bushman , top of the line , great look , built like tanks and made in Australia to boot !!!
Trust me on this Nick
I think you would benefit from a slight tip when you wear your hats to the front or to the back, it'll make all the difference trust me.
I would not . They are overpriced WOOL. WHAT THE HECK IS 6x wool? Just American hat co BS. Look at Akubra. David Morgan is the easiest place to find them. 100% fur felt.
We must bring hats back to common use!
I know, the sun is bad for you! I hate it!!!
Akubra best hat for the dollar 100% fur. Great quality last forever and like Labradors they love the water. Nothing, absolutely nothing competes with them!
Surprised he didn’t include one
I love my Akubra Stylemaster. I ordered it directly from Australia. It will outlive me to be passed on.
I completely agree. I'm shocked that Nick didn't mention Akubra. I bought my first hat, an Akubra Federation IV Deluxe last month, and an Akubra Bluegrass Green Campdraft (Looks like an Open Road but better) last night. Six days transit from Australia. I got the shipping notice as I'm typing this!! I did buy a Stetson Open Road Straw in Chocolate this morning. I think I may be developing a hat problem.
As an Australian, not mentioning an Akubra in this video is a disservice. /s.
@@utubekebs It is a head scratcher. We must take into account that he is also a New Yorker. Which however different is a good thing🥃
I cracked and bought a hat. I got a Two Roads Old City Fedora. I am pretty happy with it so far. It looks good without making it look like I am trying to be a cowboy/Humphrey Bogart/Indiana Jones.
I found a voucher for 10% off, which is also good.
Great stuff my man! Glad the video helped you find some style
i have several wool winter hats from Aran that are lined with fleece. Without a doubt the best winter hats I’ve owned for really cold weather. Plus, I like that they look Heritage or even Victorian rather than the ultra-modern North Face or Under Armour look.
Hats are great, caps as well. If you choose a felt hat remember that steam your own crown shape. You aren't stuck with a cattleman crease
The Stetson Open Road is my go-to hat for most purposes. I have a few for cold weather and a few for warm weather.
Being in Texas I wear cowboy hats (the Open Road is one too, but more fashion-oriented) as well for the sun and a bit of warmth in the cool weather.
When the weather turns frigid I’ll opt for a knit watch cap.
Nice one, Charles. If I lived in Texas I'd wear hats all the damn time
I have my grandfather's old Greeley Hat Works hat that has been reshaped and crafted for me. I agree, it feels intense to wear some times, but I also feel really cool when I do.
Randy Novick hit the nail on the head and is obviously EXTREMELY knowledgeable. In my opinion the price Two Roads charges for a hat is way too much. They seem like they might be an MVMT type of company, but for hats...
I mean they're half the price of the Stetsons, it feels not too bad
@@Stridewise I'm talking material cost-wise. I have a wool felt hat and it's great, don't get me wrong, but the difference in quality between say that wool Barbour and my felt Akubra is night and day. Wool felts in bulk are much much cheaper than a rabbit or beaver or rabbit/beaver blend.
Your also paying for their Fashion Design and availability. Stetson Open Roads sell out fast. That is Stetson's most popular Hat and it is a Western Hat 100%!
You know how you shouldn't go food shopping when you're hungry? In a similar spirit, you shouldn't watch videos about hats on a cold day.
I like the Will and Bear hat a lot.
Nick, I’m curious; I don’t think I’ve seen you make a video on sweaters. I’ve recently started to dip my toes into sweaters. I think many heritage-wear fanatics tend to dip their toes too. Are you a sweater guy? Do you wear them as a component to your outfits or as a stand out piece? Would love to see a video on good sweaters (I know you have a wool sensitivity, but there’s some other cool materials out there)
Hey Wesley, you know, somehow I never got that into sweaters. I'm wearing my Tanuki sweater right now which is a dream, but don't know a ton about them. I'd like to explore some them some more this year!
Great video! If you're starting to wear more hats, stop by
J. J. Hat center on 5th Ave. It is the best place to purchase hats on the east coast. Also, the oldest (1911). Great staff and endless choices. Thanks for all your boot videos too. Very educational. Happy New Year!
Yeah I've been meaning to check him out! I wanna go to Goorin Bros too
@@Stridewise Definitely, check out J. J's. I was just there yesterday and they have plenty of new stock. Goorin is ok. Unfortunately, most of their hats are made from domestic and imported wool, priced as if they were fur felt hats. If you want a wool hat, it should be Litefelt, which is a specific type of wool made in Pennsylvania. Crushable and water resistant. Also, J.J's have an Italian wool which is pretty much the same . I'm pretty much a hat nerd and love to see people get into wearing hats! Keep the videos coming! Always great stuff.
You need to try Akubra hats.
I visited the Aran Islands a few years back and picked up on of the beanies there.
While I really appreciate the brimmed hats I just can't pull them off.
Very fair, zero judgment on hat reluctance Allan
You can’t go wrong with a Stetson open road. Unfortunately they’ve become quite popular with hipsters.
The open road is my favorite for when i dress more formally and the Stetson Skyline is my cowboy hat of choice. I have every color in both models.
You gotta check out akubra hats from " down under " (You look like dudley in those straight brim hats )
As an Aussie it is criminal that you did not buy an Akubra! The Campdraft is an open crown version of the open road and is one of the best bang for buck hats out there (Akubra used to manufacture the open road under licence for Stetson in Australia). Also the Federation IV is their take on the Indiana Jones hat.
I have an Akubra now! Can't remember if it's the campdraft or the bushman but it looks great in NYC
It's funny that this came up on my feed, I've just decided that I want a hat that's not a ball cap or a beanie. You should check out Nathaniel's custom hats in Georgetown TX, he's made hats for Bob Dylan! He does mostly cowboy stuff but he can make any shape you want and uses rabbit and beaver felts
Really making me want that's an open road.
Yeah if you're getting a hat it's got to be Stetson
I wore ball caps a lot while in college, I had like 10 plus hats. Stopped wearing them and now I have two fedoras that I wear occasionally. I was eyeing the Stetson Stratoliner Milan Fedora but it was out of stock for 8 months 🥲, I might get lucky this year and snag one.
Akubra is the king of hats
i normally hate open roads but it looks killer with that suit and ray bans.
i was surprised the open road tilts up at the sides a bit, i thought it was a flat brim
The Ellison = a want to be Open Road. Also, the Calloway is just a Stratoliner knock-off. Just buy the Stratoliner.
You need a nice heritage knife to open your boxes
I wear a Stetson stratoliner I bought on a whim while in Austin, it’s really the only hat I wear, but I’m still trying to look more natural in it; and if you need an extra camera man for the Stetson tour, I’d love to help out, I’m maybe an hour away from it
That would be awesome! I have four Stetsons.
I own 3 stetsons 2 open roads. One in toasted straw and one in fawn. The other is the stratoliner in silver belly. Although the strat fits me a little better I like the open road the best
Yeah that's massively popular! You might like this review on my site: stridewise.com/stetson-open-road-hat-review/?
@@Stridewise I'll check it out 👍
I am hat guy!!! Because in rocked shaved head from early 20 not because of balding but it's so practice and clean! I have many beanies, baseball caps, flat cap, fedoras, buckets and some leather custom hat
Leather hat is next level!
I like the Calloway most
I have a couple of Orvis felt hats. They aren’t expensive but look nice, are durable and worked well in winter in Portland. I’ll be taking them up to Colorado when I return there, where winter has hit full bore. One of them is a fedora in grey that’s pretty dressy and looks great with suit or my 30 year old Filson cape coat.
I have three Stetson Chatham(Fedoras)which are not being produced anymore. I believe the Temple model is the Indy hat.
Bro I have 2 Australian BC leather hats. Brown and black. The Bac Pac Traveler!
HOWDY ! Ron these some cool hats 👒 fella jeep the fire videos coming !
I rock a 6x open road in silverbelly. The hat is fur felt rather wool felt. Always choose a fur felt over wool felt and you will be more satisfied. Fur felt is just better and last longer. Fyi Stetson now makes a 100% Beaver open road.
The Pure Open Road! I've been trying to get one for ages but they're impossible to get!
@@Stridewise I am not surprised the Pure Openroad is hard to find. you cant find a 100x Beaver for the price that Stetson u is selling it for. you might ebay, I saw some listed new in the box. i seem to remember they were priced the same as retail and the seller was a hat store and not an indivual. good luck in your quest.
Love a good hat, but all my old hats have really narrow brims, so this came at JUST the right time!
2.75-3 inches is my threshold I think! Yello108 is one I'm looking at
I just got my dad the Tom Beckbe Field Hat and honestly I want one now!
I love hats but having a beard on the longer side, it’s hard not to look Amish. I wear a lot of flat caps in the warmer months and beanies in the colder ones. I really want to venture out but my experiences with the fedora, trilby, and even a pork pie didn’t work. I need to go to an actual hat store and get help instead of rolling the dice with online purchases.I love the Stetson open road in your video, I think I’ll try to find that in a store.
good idea! hampui and recapitate make some pretty wild things if you want to spend the money, they go all custom
I wear Fedoras from Fernandez y Roche from Sevilla Spain myself……glad you are getting into hats…..Obama hats in summer of course…..have one from Borsalino too
nothing goes together more than a stetson & a revolver>
Next purchase I guess!
@@Stridewise just more things to review🤠
True
As a bald guy I always have issues with fit on hats. Without the “give” and friction of hair, hats seem either too tight (to stay put) or comfortable and moving around/falling off. I’d like to wear a flat brim but I just don’t know how to get one that will actually fit and be comfortable enough to wear.
Oh that's really interesting. I feel like there must be some sort of frictiony material hat companies sell to stick on there but I'm Googling to no avail. Maybe a business idea for you?
I have found that using hat with a leather sweatband does the trick
@@IsaacSalgado yes, I have a western palm hat with a wide leather band, but when it’s hot it sticks to the skin and forms a seal. I’ve pealed off the hat to have a puddle of sweat then roll down. It stays on, but it stops being comfortable pretty quickly.
@@peterdowning2525 yeah, I understand what you mean, been there too.
Use this trick I learned in the Army: the brim of your hat should be two fingers above the bridge of your nose. Use your index and middle fingers together touching the bridge of your nose. The brim of your hat should touch your middle finger. Essentially, the brim of your hat will be level to the ground.
Ah ha, got it
I go back and forth on the open road and the stratoliner, both solid hats and similar looks - but you can't go wrong with a Stetson... *"unbiased" Texan opinion :)
Y'all never catching me with a flat brim hat!! It just looks like you're trying too hard, but I get how people may not like the western hat with their heritage look.
Just because you don’t have the confidence in wearing a flat brim hat doesn’t mean others are “trying too hard.” 😂
It's a real shame that you missed working with John Penman at Penman Hats....He's the best custom hatter in the world...Try a look at Mike too, at Northwest Hats in oregon....Amazing work, and a lovely bloke too! These? Will blow your mind...Trust me.
Good fedora hats are made of beaver or rabbit. Wool is the lower quality and loses shape easily.
hey mate I am older guy & never was hat guy well like baseball hats but hats like you wear kinda look cool I wouldn't mind trying stepping out my comfort zone but always mate love the video keep them coming :D 🤙🤙
Hey, thanks Rolly glad you liked it. It's a scary part of fashion, but I do think the older you are the easier they are to pull off :)
I have many cowboy hats stetson,resistor but akubra hats are the best hats that I own by far
For a cowboy look Akubra is great, for city friendly I'm not so sure though I like the campdraft
@@StridewiseThe Campdraft comes open crowned, so you can shape it how you want. The Hattery also offers the Federation IV which is open crowned.
Try true west hats they make a pure beaver hat called the natural ask for April
They succeeded to avoid looking like a cowboy hat, however that tan hat screams Royal Canadian Mounted Police to me eh!?
Thanks for the tip on the watch cap. Great price for a wool cap.Also called a skull cap, toboggan or beanie. A beanie is a hat with a propeller on it.
Of the three you reviewed, the watch cap looks least out of place. The Australian hat is probably the best look on you.
A hat like that really changes the initial impression.
I would like to see another hat segment where you try out the Filson packer hat, newsboy hat like Kangol style, bowler hat, and a few styles of bucket hats.
Great idea. I like a wide brim hat on a rainy day or a snowy day. Very helpful keeping the water out of the face.
Next time, add a Filson wool packer hat to your review options. Lot cheaper than the Stetson. It has a 2 inch brim , and looks very cool, especially with a mackinaw wool cruiser jacket.
I thought about it but I just don't love the ventilation holes on it
Have you been to Worth and Worth? They are local and an awesome spot.
Happy New Year Nick. IMO the Will and Bear is by far and away my favorite. The flat brim and crown on the Two Roads Calloway hat looks a little too "Smokey the Bear" for my taste. But everyone's taste is different.
haha! fair enough, fair enough
I like hats a lot, but when the front of the brim is tilted up, I don't think it looks good.
That's funny, that's the only way I really like them! Or flat. But sloping down, I don't know it's a bit too cowboy for me! If I were cooler, though...
@@Stridewise I appreciate your style. Great channel. Thanks.
Great video! I was just thinking about getting a Stetson Open Road or Stetson Explorer. I am usually a flat cap or newsboy cap guy but I want to change it up a bit.
The crushability is a massive draw of the Explorer! I like that the Open Road is just a bit wider in the brim, plus that cattleman's crown...
@@Stridewise The open road looks really cool but think I really need to find a Stetson Hat dealer out here in the Chicago suburbs to see how I look with the cattleman’s crown. Such a departure for me.
Anything other than a baseball cap or winter wool hat feels like a costume to me. I went through a fedora phase years ago, but it was exactly that, a phase.
Very fair take
We in Wales have been wearing flat caps in the winter for a few years.
@@stephenlegg262 I'm a big fan of flat caps. I have a couple from Ireland.
Mate, you need to get yourself an Akubra. Check out the Stylemaster or Campdraft.
Yeah I just learned about the Campdraft, it's not on Akubra's site but I think it's my favorite. Otherwise I don't love their looks, though I did wear one when I was little
Thank you for showing Aran sweaters. My grandfather is super into our Graham clan heritage from Ireland and I think he will love something from there
Wonderful, Nick!
I too got a fedora to wear with my halloween costume this past year and actually dug the look. I'm unsure if I can really pull this off in everyday though. To me, fedoras, especially worn in an urban setting veer too far into the cosplay direction. I don't know, maybe I can pull these off. Thanks for recommending brands that aren't bespoke $800 hats like Mr Style.
A fedora is a great hat! Urban, suburban, country wherever, a fedora says ‘I’m my own man. I have a sense of style and I am confident and sure of myself’. Akubra Stylemaster and Stetson Temple are good quality (Akubra is more robust while Stetson is arguably more original), affordable and easily available.
just a question, where do you put all your stuff? I'd like to see a video of your total wardrobe lol
A lot of the boots are in storage, I want to do a photo shoot one day of me in a bathtub full of boots
Fun fact, that sweater anecdote is actually a myth that originated from the play Riders to the Sea.
Stetson has horrible customer service....but the best hats. I have 9 different color/material of the Open Road. The Open Road is just an awesome looking hat to wear with workwear clothes.
They DO have crummy service, Todd! So many of their hats are always sold out! But the Open Road is so great
I disagree. I’ve purchased several Stetsons directly from them and they’ve always had great customer service.
ARAN is pronounced like the name "Aaron" or "Erin" for the ladies.
Every open road I’ve seen are actually fur-felt not wool
Just spend the money a get a Stetson “open road” Royal deluxe.
I thought about it but the 6x is stiffer, which I prefer. Why do you think the royal deluxe is worth it?
Hey mate great video. Shame you didn’t get an akubra in.
I had one when I was little! I just didn't love the crown or the ventilation on the side, couldn't find one I liked
Excellent hats and video. I recommend you try wearing the brim parallel to the ground, not at a thirty-degree angle. Some of the images you showed during the video have the models wearing their brims parallel to the ground, which I think is a more polished look.
good point!
Yes, this. Wearing a hat tipped back is common to women and children.
I feel like CJ Cook is rubbing off on you lol
What size is your two roads elliston and Stetson open road? And how do they compare in terms of fit? I have elliston but is a bit big, would love open road but nowhere close to try on
I'm 59 in Elliston but in the Open Road I'm the biggest they have, 7.75 (62), but with some fillers on the side. Turns out I have an oval shaped head which is why less stiff hats warp and bend at the sides when I put them on (like the Will and Bear you see here.) I may not have the best head for hat reviews...
@@Stridewise thanks, that is actually helpful
Here’s the thing with Stetsons-you HAVE to try it on. The sizing is not 100% consistent. I have a straw Open Road in 7 1/4 that fits perfect. But in felt-both 6X and Royal Deluxe, I use a 7 3/8. I also have the Two Roads Open Road copy. Their website says they run large, but that is absolutely not true for the one I got in 7 1/4. It fits just like a 7 1/4 felt Open Road. And the Two Roads isn’t sold in 7 3/8-it jumps to 7 1/2. I kept the 7 1/4, just steamed it and wore it a bit to make it fit a bit better.
shouldn't you try an iconic Akubra too?
I just can't find one I like, I'm afraid!
❤
Check out JJ Hat Center in New York
They got stetson Borsalino Magill and more
Beaver and rabbit felt hats.
Try one of those and you'll never wear a wool hat again.🖖🖖
Dude I've been hunting everywhere for an Open Road in beaver fur ("Pure Open Road") but no luck
I'm a selvedge denim and boots kind of guy. But these hats are waaay too western cowboy costume for my taste.
You need to get a pocket knife. Stop opening up your boxes with your keys. I suggest Kershaw Leek.
Also hats... What about a rain hat?
Hats rule
my man
@@Stridewise hahaha perfect 👌
i wasn't a hat guy, but i am now :-D
Start with an Open Road
weird that your open road is curved upwards on the sides and dips down in the front like a cowboy hat straight out of the box.
I know right? It looks like that on the site but it's the only color that does...
Not weird, actually. I’ve seen many that do the same. Many factors come into play in that.
ill stick with stetson, these other two brimmed hats are from china
Will and Bear is made in Mongolia lol
My wife is a hat guy. Hats just make me lose more hair, unfortunately.
Akubra is the only hat to get Campdraft bash it yourself
Hey, that's the best hat I've seen from them! Thanks Vinnie
Finally I can tell you….the big hats don’t work on you mate 😭
Hah! Which ones aren't big?
I think the problem with heritage brimmed hats, no matter how stylish you are, is that once you start wearing them that's all anyone is going to see. As you stated a few times, you become "The Hat Guy" and that's all people pay attention to. I'd rather not call attention to myself like that.
That's a great point, Ben. Food for thought...
And yes Nick, unfortunately you are mispronouncing it. Aran is pronounced like the word "Barren" (soft a and emphasis on the second syllable). 🙂
Oh like aREN? Can't win em all haha thanks for the note
@@Stridewise Happy to help....and slightly ashamed by my pedantry.
As an addendum, my Aran Beanie arrived today...It is really soft and warm. It has started snowing here today, so the timing is pretty good.
I think you need to be cognisant of your environment.
If it is 40 degrees outside and sunny, it would be foolish to not wear a wide brim hat.
Conversely, it was minus 20 you would want a hat.
I wouldn't wear a hat just for the aesthetic but each to their own.
I have this hat but it is not suitable or ideal for winter. Your ears r exposed to the harsh cold.
Hats are dangerous territory for fashion. I don't think I've ever pulled it off.
Yeah, they're... very stressful
If they tried it could be western, just turn it down.
Trust me, you are not a hat guy.
Ouch
Hats are great until they mess up your hair.
Yes, unavoidable. Unless... ruclips.net/video/R0rGoWtF-hs/видео.html
Don't care for hats. Sending you a thumbs up though,!
Thanks Dominic!
@@Stridewise BTW. You're my favourite channel for boots hands down. Shane you're at 50K .