Since Tom was asking about gear, here's an old post I wrote about selecting a Stetson hat. I found it because, by coincidence, someone dropped by yesterday to comment on what is now a seven-year-old post!
I don't know that it's still true that bricks-and-mortar stores sell them cheaper. Seven years ago, it was. Some of the other advice is probably outdated too. But there's still a lot of use.
4 comments:
I wish I'd seen this before I bought my Stetson, although it's likely I'll buy another in a different style later in the year.
I'll confirm that in-store can still be much cheaper, but no one advertises that fact. I bought online, and had to return the hat. I decided to return it to a bricks-and-mortar store, and when the store manager scanned it back into the system she discovered she had it listed for about half the online price. She was kind enough to replace the hat at the in-store price.
I wear Akubras, so there's no bargain to be had. But they last at least 10 years, so I think I get my money out of them. Although I can report that they will not survive an industrial leaf shredder. The Stetson that got sprayed with liquid pig manure may still be in the field it blew into. Yes, now I have chinstraps on all my hats.
LittleRed1
I have an Akubra Territory that I bought almost 20 years ago, when we lived in Savannah. I wanted the super-broad brim against the subtropical sun. It's still around, and in reasonably good shape -- although I've only used it for pedestrian purposes, it's been in some very hot weather.
I prefer low crown, broad brim black hats. (I was Stan/Eval in the USAF, too....)
I wear Akubras...they last at least 10 years....
I had a felt broad brim Brand X that I bought in graduate school (the birds in Des Moines had no shame) and then ran around the world with. It lasted 20 years before it gave up the ghost. Now I have a leather one (still low crown and broad brim) that I hope has some longevity to it.
Eric Hines
Post a Comment