Bobtails' Bush Hat Guide

So you fancy buying yourself a traditional Aussie bush hat. Good onya! We make some ace gear down under.  But watch out, not all the leather hats you see about in the UK are dinky-di. Bodgy imitations will cost you big bikkies and cark it soon as you step out in that weather of yours. You’ll find none of that bull dust here at Bobtails Trading Company. We stock only the highest quality leather bush hats.

At Bobtails Trading Company we have a range of styles and colours so you are bound to find the right one to suit your lifestyle and personality.  All of our bush hats are foldable and come with their own canvas bag, are water repellent and will protect you up to 50 UV but there are several differences in style and finish. Let me talk you through your options.

The Brand

We stock leather hats by Barmah and Wombat Leather. The difference between Barmah and Wombat is the price; Barmah hats normally retail at around £45, whereas Wombat hats retail at £30-£35. It is worth bearing in mind that this difference in price is due to the relative prestige of the companies, rather than the quality of the leather or the workmanship. Barmah has a long-established reputation as the manufacturer of Australia’s original bush hats, whereas Wombat, the challenger-brand was only founded relatively recently.

How important to you are prestige brands? And how much are you willing to spend?

The Leather

All bush hats at Bobtails Trading Company come in one of three kinds of leather: full grain, soft split or suede. Full grain leather has not been altered beyond hair removal. As the leather remains relatively close to its natural state, it is the toughest and most durable kind of leather. What’s more the colours, textures and markings may differ slightly giving a particularly rugged look.

At the tannery leather is often split into layers and then treated with oils. Split leather comes from those layers which are closest to the flesh and thus has a more uniform colour and texture as well as a soft and pliable finish. As it is thinner it is less durable than full-grain hide. Suede is from created from split leather by abrading the surface of the leather with an emery wheel. Due to its texture it is much more susceptible to stains from water damage than either full grain or split leather.

So what kind of wear are you expecting to get out of your bush hat? Will you be wearing it in heavy rain? Do you prefer a more rugged or refined look?

The Style

 

Apart from the Wombat Cowboy which has a shaped brim, all bush hats are a standard classic shape. The Barmah Cooler, however, has mesh sides which allow air, but not water, to pass through, keeping your head cool in warmer climes.

Will you wear your hat all year round or just in summer? Do you travel abroad?

The size …

All leather hats sold at Bobtails Trading Company are made to standard sizes. To find out what size you need, measure your head carefully with a tape measure and compare with the sizes below.

Small – 55 cm

Medium – 56-57 cm

Large – 58-59 cm

X-Large – 60-61 cm

If once you have purchased your hat, it feels a little tight, do not worry. Simply pull over your knee to stretch and the leather will give over time.

Please check out Bobtails Trading Company or visit us at one of our upcoming events to view the full range of bush hats by Barmah and Wombat Leather. The choice of which one to go for should now be a lot easier!