I agree, it can be hard to avoid looking like a wannabe. That's why I use my Tilley Hat for all my outdoor excapades and will probably only wear the fedora once or twice a year.

Too bad to hear that the quality on most of the replica bags is lacking. The guy who makes them gives a pretty good guarantee though, and I've heard good things about him, so I'll probably give it a try and return it if it doesn't look like it's going to hold up. Thanks again for the input.