Barmah HatsVintage Kangaroo Leather Hat - Item 1018

I have previously owned two Barma hats of a different style. The last hat fit well and was a size "Large". When I ordered this one I measured my head a number of times and the chart showed I needed XL.I decided to go with the chart since the other was so old perhaps they changed the sizing. I thought I could always add the hat sizing strips.When I received the hat it was much too large. The hat sizers could not make it fit.I returned the hat and ordered a Large. That hat came sooner than estimated and fits perfectly. Plus I received the refund as soon as I returned the other hat.This is not a complaint. I love the hat, it's light and soft. and fits perfectly. The problem was I didn't rely on past experience and buy the size i previously had. Either that or the sizing chart is off. But I have what I want now and will buy from them again when this one wears out.For some complainers: Yes Kangaroo is soft and light, not like leather. Yes they do come with a bag, which is what makes them unique. For those giving a one star because it's too soft and comes with a Bag, well, that is stated in the description. That is what it's supposed to be.

I do volunteer Search and Rescue work in the American west, and in my region it gets brutally hot and humid in the summers, reaching over 110 degrees regularly with humidity at 60-80%. I am fair skinned and burn easily even in far less intense sun, and needed a hat that was durable, tough, and portable for SAR work.My husband fell in love with his Barmah hat when he found one in a hat shop in New Mexico, and I bought him one as a gift. I later ended up so impressed with his hat that I wanted one of my own for the conditions that I was in. Straw cowboy hats are good for summer as well, but are far broader and stiffer, not packable in a day pack, and would get knocked off my head fairly often with the amount of vines, briars, and thick brush we are having to shove through with our K9s during a search or training. I went with this hat and have been extremely glad I did.It is far cooler than a normal leather hat would be, because of the thin but strong kangaroo leather. It keeps the sun off of my head. It can still feel like it builds up heat, but if I take my hat off and the put it back on immediately, the heat goes away, and is far less than the extreme heat of having the sun beat down directly on my head.I ordered the chin strap for this hat and will be needing it as the wind has gotten more intense as autumn comes in, but it stays on well and fits well. I originally got myself a small hat, which was far too small, and returned the hat to exchange for a medium, which did fit. Amazon and Barmah are both good on that to ensure you get the right size.I customized this hat by going to a hatter who sewed in the high visability band to make me easier to see in the woods. If you waterproof this hat with leather wax, the water runs right off of it and it’s great in storms and rain. This hat looks better than the day I bought it, and I am extremely happy with it and would recommend to anyone who is looking for a hat for similar usage or travel.

I customized my hat with a hat band I made from the teeth and claws of an alligator I knifed. The original Barmah hat band comes glued onto the hat. This is a good thing if you intend to wear the hat as it comes, but I wanted to add my own hat band, and I had a very difficult and frustrating time removing the Barmah hat band because it’s glued on there. I accidentally ripped a small tear in the hat, just a little one, while trying to remove the original hat band. The hat is also shaped in such a fashion that my hat band - which works great on other hats - keeps trying to ride upwards a little and refuses to sit flush against the brim. When I switched the bands there was sticky glue left where the original band had been, and my hat band became glued just slightly north of the correct spot. Close enough though.Otherwise, the hat is awesome. The leather is visually very high quality, the vintage look is exactly correct, but the leather may rip if you try to take the Barmah hat band off. Extremely comfortable, the inside feels amazing, and my head doesn’t get nearly as hot as I expected. Hat was a little too big when I first tried it on, but it comes with these awesome sizing strips that make it fit snugly, now it’s perfect, I could jump on a trampoline without this thing coming off.I get compliments on my hat every day.

I really like this hat. I did have to exchange the first one I ordered because it was way too large. I'm not a hat expert but it looks like this hat is well made. The only thing I think seems like it's poorly done is the headband. It's attached with hot glue and I think a few stitches. Hot glue just doesn't seem like it belongs on a hat this nice. The hat is very light and comfortable. The color is slightly lighter than the product pictures (but slightly darker than my picture). The leather (suede?) under the brim of the hat is tan - not brown. The metal Barmah tag on the headband can be removed easily (2 tabs bent over) and doesn't leave any holes. The tag isn't covering anything other than more headband. I was glad to see it wasn't covering a visible seam, stitching or glob of glue.I like the natural leather look. It adds character. Buyers need to be prepared for blemishes in the leather though. The original hat I ordered had virtually flawless leather. The leather almost looked "man made". The replacement hat on the other hand must have been made from a mean kangaroo. I won't have trouble figuring out which hat is mine. I love it.

Ordered this product and the sizing was bang on, fits real nice.Only problem I had was the shipping was much longer than expected, it took two weeks longer or more. But in the end I was happy it arrived and have finally got what I’ve been waiting to get for a long time. Happy I found this!

Hermoso