Balmoral purchase

[Father Bill]

Hullo all!

I'm looking to purchase a new Balmoral - navy with dicing, size 7 1/2", red toorie.

I know that Rob't Mackie is considered by many to be the standard of excellence, but I also know that there is a Canadian (I think) maker who is half the price and 9/10 the quality. I know that there were two such suppliers, one of whom is respected by the Great Rabble and the other not so much.

...but darned if I can remember the names of said suppliers.

Help please!

[Macman]

Bill, are you thinking of Ian Parenteau at https://www.glengarryhats.com/? He is in Canada. I've bought a few things from him, and I'd say his balmorals are maybe not 9/10ths of Robert Mackie, but still really good value.

[Father Bill]

Could well be. I think, seeing your post, that the 'other' one is "Glengary hat' singular.

Thanks!

Anybody else chime in before I spend my $$?

[ShaunMaxwell]

Should you opt to go with the Mackie bonnet, J. Higgins has the best prices I’ve found:

https://www.jhiggins.net/balmoral-di...ors-mix-match/

Cheers,

SM

[Father Bill]

Should you opt to go with the Mackie bonnet, J. Higgins has the best prices I’ve found:

https://www.jhiggins.net/balmoral-di...ors-mix-match/

Cheers,

SM

Thanks Shaun. I assume that those are U.S. dollars... plus shipping... plus exchange... plus I'll likely get dinged at the border.

[ShaunMaxwell]

Thanks Shaun. I assume that those are U.S. dollars... plus shipping... plus exchange... plus I'll likely get dinged at the border.

There’s always Burnett’s & Struth, I suppose:

https://www.burnetts-struth.com/dice...etCurrencyId=1

Cheers,

SM

[Tobus]

Could well be. I think, seeing your post, that the 'other' one is "Glengary hat' singular.

Thanks!

Anybody else chime in before I spend my $$?

Yes, there was an outfit several years back that went by that name (I remember the singular "hat" in the name) which was truly awful. The ones from glengarryhats.com are decent quality, though. I don't know that I could put a number to it in relation to Mackie, but still, they are good enough for the price. As a matter of fact, my favourite Balmoral is from them. For some reason, I prefer its size, shape, and fit over my Mackie bonnet. Mine is a "desert tan" version.

You were looking for navy with dicing, though, and I don't see that listed on their website.

[Father Bill]

Done!

Ordered from Burnett's. Looking forward to it!

[OC Richard]

This firm sells tunics and hats made in India and/or Pakistan.

https://www.glengarryhats.com/

I've not knowingly seen their hats in person, but a Drum Major here wears a Full Dress doublet from them that's quite nice.

Who makes the Burnett's hats?

Personally I would go with Mackie. I have a Mackie Balmoral I bought in the 1980s and it still looks new.

[thescot]

Bill, are you thinking of Ian Parenteau at https://www.glengarryhats.com/? He is in Canada. I've bought a few things from him, and I'd say his balmorals are maybe not 9/10ths of Robert Mackie, but still really good value.

I know I am very late to this party, but I've been occupied with other pursuitss for some time. LOL

However, I did think I should say that the balmoral I purchased from Glengarry Hats several years ago was short on material. By that, I mean it didn't have enough cloth to flop over the top the way my Scottish made bonnets do. I mentioned this on Xmarks several years ago, and another person (con't remember who) said that he has noticed the same thing.

Look at the difference between a Foreign Legion beret (https://www.ebay.com/itm/312598170371)

and a French Basque beret to see what I mean. (https://www.laulhere-france.com/en/for-him.html).

I won't even mention those God-awful things the U.S. Army wears. They look like flower sacks.

I can't fault the quality of the sewing or the material on the bonnet, just the shortage of material. The bonnet ended up looking more like a beret than a bonnet, so I never wore it much. The glengarry I purchased, however, was fine. And BTW, their website says they are from Malta, not Canada if that makes a difference. I suspect their products are made in Pakistan, but I can't tell from the site.

Personally, I would go with Mackie. You can't beat their bonnets, and I can guarantee it will be top notch.