AKUBRA HAT.ONE YEAR FULL REVIEW.CUSTOMISING.COMPARISONS.TIPS & TRICKS

[@PRINCESS-zz3wq]

Im soooo grateful i found the name of this hat. Excited to get one. Thank you sir

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks for commenting. The Riverina is a real workhorse of a hat. Having the brim trimmed down really tuned it in as a great bush hat.

[@krazmokramer]

Very good review. I'm in the USA. I have 4 Akubras...2 Federation IV Deluxe, 1 Campdraft and 1 very old Ringer. All are lined. The Ringer is so old (I'm guessing 20-30 years old) that it had the macrame hat band around the outside of the crown. It was a $20 beat up, smelly, smoky, beat up pile of junk when I got it off of ebay. I cleaned it up, treated it with ozone about 15 times to get rid of the cigarette smoke odor, and steamed it into shape. It looks great now, tall crown and 83mm bound edge brim. It is shaped very similar to your Riverina. I am amazed at how stiff the Imperial grade rabbit fur felt became after steaming. I haven't added any stiffener at all. It is my daily driver. I wear it every day when walking my border collies. Rain and snow just roll off that felt. Frankly, I prefer my Akubras to my Stetsons and Borsalino fedoras. Thanks for this video!!

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I have not heard of the the Ringer but sounds like you did a great job on it. I recently found an Akubra Cattleman in a thrift store for $6. I worked on it including stiffening with hair spray. It came up great. You can't beat an Akubra I reckon.

[@krazmokramer]

@@southernlandsolo7839 The Ringer is so old, Akubra no longer had records on it when I contacted them. A great YT hat channel to watch and learn about hat shaping/steaming/care is "Hats and Guitars". Kevin has over 30 years in the business. Cheers!

[@southernlandsolo7839]

@@krazmokramer I am a subscriber to Kevin's channel lol. Great channel. I recently posted my new custom hat on his Facebook page.

[@violincredible]

Marvellous review, lots of useful information, well explained: much thanks! I often say I 'acquired' my Akubra 'The Boss' in an accidental battle of wits with a blues-man. It was just shy of ten years ago and I've worn it nearly every day since. Acquired? battle of wits? I was playing fiddle for a burlesque show, and during rehearsals the bandleader had 3 of us each pick a hat from his collection of over a dozen different splendidly customised Akubras. Most hats don't fit me, but by luck he was also a size 62 (borderline freakishly big, and nowadays mostly only by special order) and from the moment 'The Boss' met my noggin it just felt and looked right. After the first 'dress rehearsal' we went out, and I literally forgot I was still wearing it until someone complimented me on my fine hat. I kept being reminded, and honestly forgetting, to leave it backstage after the show- it just felt more and more 'right', and even though I'd never really worn a hat before, I started feeling a bit naked without it. Long story short, by the end of the first run of gigs the hat was so 'me' that the boss said "It obviously wants to live on your head, so I guess it's your hat now", and I've worn it ever since! After nearly a decade of everyday, touring and stage wear, it's still looking great (I've learnt how to care for it, mostly with respect, steam and a brush) but it has collected a few 'battle scars' (including a small hole where it had been brought to too sharp an angle when he had it shaped) so earlier this year I went about finding another 'The Boss' in size 62. Turns out neither the model or size are 'standard issue' anymore, but I was delighted to discover that everythingaustralian dot com dot au could have one custom-made by Akubra for a great price, albeit with a 3 month wait. It arrived a month ago and is a thing of rare beauty. I'm still deciding how much to 'shape' it (turns out my 'original' has the crown lowered nearly an inch as well as the teardrop shaping that eventually caused the small hole) because it looks so damn good straight out of the box! Decisions, decisions!

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks for the story. Your Boss looks great on you video Let Me Die (In Loving Arms).

[@PawPawMountain]

Great Hats, I have the Cattleman by Akubra and love it! You're absolutely correct about the brims in the forest, keeps the nasties out of the collar! Great presentation, Thank You!!

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks for viewing and sharing your experience bro. I recently found a Cattleman at a thrift store for $6. I couldn't believe it lol. I cleaned it up, stiffened the felt and a little mink oil on the head band and hat band. It has a whole new lease of life. Trouble is, it is too small for my head, but I couldn't pass it up lol.

[@JohnnyWrongo-b9l]

I have three Akubra Style Masters. Love them.

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Great hats. I have one in my collection

[@northernembersoutdoors1045]

Alright mate. Brilliant chat. You really get a lot of use out of that and it's looking good as new. Pretty sure dad has one, I'll ask him. Weird crap in the world, I hear you, I'm feeling the wild calling more and more for sanity while I scratch my head. What I like about what you do here is you really know the product inside out, talk about things is never considered. Great to see a video, I hear the cicadas already, tui on song to. Cheers Dave.

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks Chris. Akubra make awesome products. I like that they can be customised to suit the individual. I would be interested to hear or see what your Dad is wearing.

[@gobigrey9352]

I've got probably 10 or so Akubras. Been wearing a Bushman for about 4 years now as my main hat. It's got some character now but fantastic hat. Nice and light. Cool in the summer, nice shade, takes rain well. I bought two at the time so still have one that's brand new.

[@southernlandsolo7839]

I've heard the Bushman is very popular. Thanks for the info on it's performance, I have thought about getting one.

[@caseyhansen4567]

I heard they discontinued ​the bushman.i bought a new one before they sold out.still wearing my old woreout bushman.cheers@@southernlandsolo7839

[@peteheisinger4603]

Good review mate. I just bought one of these Riverina Hats. I live in Sedona, Arizona, US and decided it was time to cover the neck and shoulders more, so I'll see how I like the larger brim. But it is good to know it can be cut down and look so good. I have an Akubra "lightning ridge" that I bought around 20 years ago (I don't think they even make it now) with a brim about the size of yours. It has been the only hat I wear between October and April and it still looks and fits fine; totally indestructible. I sort of feel like I was cheating on it by buying another Akubra. One kind of grows attached to these things.

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Good to hear about the Lightning Ridge still going strong. You're right about the attachment. I have my eye on some other brands but I love my Akubras

[@rttoonist4275]

It's interesting that you selected one of their bigger brimmed models and then trimmed it down that much. My initial gut reaction was dismay ("That's not a Riverina!") but I can't argue with results, your unique customization looks great! I've got a similar chin strap on some of mine, but I really like how the paracord on yours is a single piece in a continuous loop, it just looks more "squared away" than mine with it's loose ends. Can't go wrong with Akubras!

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks for viewing and commenting bro. Good point about the amount of trimming on the brim. It was indeed a lot of fabric to remove. A different hat with a narrower brim costs about the same as the Riverina and the trimming at the shop is free. So cost is not a factor. After trying out and learning with a few other Akubra's I decided on a Riverina as my work/bush hat. I tried a Table Lands, a Leisure Time, even a city hat the Style Master. I finally settled on the thick, stiff felt and Loden colour of the Riverina. It is great for hard wearing and stains. Can't go wrong with Akubra's, like you say. I bought a hat made to handle the tough and arid Australian outback and was able to customise it to be an awesome bush hat for New Zealand's forests.

[@daemonllama78]

@@southernlandsolo7839 Is the Riverina thicker than other Akubra styles? I have a Coober Pedy (same crown shape as the Riverina, a crown shape I really love) but find it a bit squishy when I grab the peak. I also have a Cattlemen which is quite stiff (which I like) but I'm not sure if this is because of the crown shape with tight curvatures. Might consider a Riverina and trim the brim down to the 83mm of the Cattlemen maybe

[@southernlandsolo7839]

@@daemonllama78 I have a Coober Pedy as well. Great hat. My Coober Pedy and Riverina have about the same thickness felt. The Riverina is stiffer than my Coober Pedy.

[@daemonllama78]

@@southernlandsolo7839 Thanks for the response

[@Southernlandbushcraft]

Great hat mate, looks great and practical too. Im looking at getting a different hat. I'll keep that one in mind. Cheers.

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks Scott. Like @rttoonist4275 says, you can't go wrong with Akubra's.

[@randy4768]

I have 2 traveler hats from Akubra. Regency fawn and sand.

[@southernlandsolo7839]

The Regency Fawn is a great colour. I have a Leisure Time in that colour. How do you find the Sand? Is it prone to marks and stains?

[@hauki9286]

beautiful hat and functional. Felt brimmed hats are great for outdoors. I have a leather and oilskin hats, but i prefer felt. Greater temperature range.

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Agreed. I find a good felt hat kept me dryer than the oilskin. Thanks for visiting again bro.

[@Bigsky1886]

I was shocked at first at noticing that you trimmed the brim, and believe me I noticed but by the end of the video I was quite liking that it was,does seem more practical

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks for commenting. It has been doing a great job. It was a six-hat journey of testing and learning before finalising my ideas for my ultimate bush/work hat. In the end the Riverina ticked most of the boxes for what I needed. Trimming the brim was the final touch. Are you an Akubra owner?

[@Bigsky1886]

@@southernlandsolo7839 many actually, a restless hat owner I reckon, several coober pedy, a Riverina it was beaut but just too big for the airline , just today I got a cattleman, need an everyday that I won’t worry about getting trashed. It’ll get awesome after some weather and vehicle trips lol

[@Bigsky1886]

@@southernlandsolo7839 an arena , a golden spur, I bought one for my brothers which I never saw again, I was quite disappointed

[@southernlandsolo7839]

@@Bigsky1886 lol. Adding the awesomeness is always the fun part. Are you a Hats And Guitars subscriber also?

[@Bigsky1886]

@@southernlandsolo7839 sorry,no

[@justmeeagainn]

I trimmed the brim on my Akubra Sombrero to about that size, and then bashed it like Les Hiddins. Then i missed the look of the old brim, so I bought another one and left the brim alone.

[@southernlandsolo7839]

lol. I know how you feel. I have played with a couple of my hats and had to replace them afterwards. Thanks for watching and sharing your experience

[@supertrickyrickyandtheslip1473]

Nice one mate 👍

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks for watching and commenting bro.

[@sjazzp]

When I heard about the trimming and reshape of your hat, I thought that it sounded like something Tess would do and surprise, she did it 😂. Now, I’ll take mine and ask Tess to reshape the crown as I played with it and looks weird.

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Lol. I know how you feel. I played around with my Leisure Time too much, messed it up, gave it away to a friend, and ordered another from Tess.

[@jaytouvelle2359]

nice hat love it

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks Jay. It's become my favourite

[@Bigsky1886]

Nice work

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks. It has worked out well.

[@JDGage]

Can you dunk them into the water to keep your head cold? Do they hold up to that okay?

[@southernlandsolo7839]

I have not tried dunking this felt hat but I have done it many times with a cotton J-hat (boonie hat). The felt on these Akubra Riverina's is thick and robust, I think it would hold up well. This same hat has handled many rainy days with no problem. It is possible the leather headband could potentially shrink but I think it would be fine.

[@caseyhansen4567]

Good on ya hat review was well done

[@southernlandsolo7839]

Thanks very much for the feedback.

[@caseyhansen4567]

You got it i own a handful of akubra hats best hats Esp for us with no hair I wear mine everyday

[@southernlandsolo7839]

@@caseyhansen4567 lol. Same here. lol

[@southernlandsolo7839]

@@caseyhansen4567 I just removed the "bro's" from my comments, lol. I just realized Casey could be a guy or girl 🙂Hope I didn't offend 🙂

[@caseyhansen4567]

@@southernlandsolo7839 Casey is my wife in Rick 🤠

[@Bigsky1886]

Ball caps are useless for sun and rain protection, and then on top of that they wear them backwards 🤪

[@southernlandsolo7839]

lol, agreed

[@gregholt]

Mate, that’s not an Akubra Riverina.

[@southernlandsolo7839]

lol, it is.

[@Zebrazone99]

Where can I buy one ?

[@southernlandsolo7839]

I get my Akubra's from Brisbane Hatters. They ship internationally. The brim on these Riverina's is wider so I ask Tess to trim it to 65mm before sending it to me. They do a great job.

[@Zebrazone99]

@southernlandsolo7839 Thanks mate for the info.

[@southernlandsolo7839]

@@Zebrazone99 All good bro.