Akubra FD4 Deluxe

[makitright]

Order one size up - if it shrinks to fit you...you are good.
If the Deluxe doesn't shrink...you can shim it...you are still good.

 

[Zombie_61]

I've never had an Akubra shrink on me

they all showed up fitting well and stayed that way...

Interesting. Every one of my Akubras (six, so far) was oversized when I received them, but after wearing them (and *sweating in them) shrunk down to what I consider to be a perfect fit after a few days (though all three Campdrafts eventually required a little stretching). However, the one Heritage Quality/Deluxe Fed IV I received was much less oversized than the Imperial Quality/Regular hats and shrank only a little.

That being said, my head measures so close to 60 cm that the difference really isn't worth mentioning, and the ovality of my head is almost a perfect match to the blocks Akubra uses so I don't have any "long oval/wide oval" issues to deal with. As such, I've always ordered size 60 and, so far, have had no problems with the way they fit.


*As I understand it, it is the combination of the sodium (salt) and moisture in our perspiration that dehydrates the leather sweatbands and causes them to shrink slightly. Akubra knows this and plans accordingly when sizing/producing their hats, which is why (in my experience) they're a little large out of the box but soon "snug down" to a better fit as you/we wear them.

 

[andrew_AU]

Order 1 size up.

I did when I bought my first Fed IV Deluxe. I had reducing foam behind the sweatband for about 12 months. The hat now fits perfectly without reducing foam. I think after initial shrinkage the leather is pretty stable.

But, worst case, you order 1 size bigger that you are, insert reducing foam, it doesn't shrink and you don't remove the reducing foam.

To me, that's better than ordering the correct size and having it shrink (as all my Akubra's do) and be too tight to wear comfortably.

 

[addison]

I've never had an Akubra shrink on me

they all showed up fitting well and stayed that way

I believed the hype and ordered up on my first one ... needless to say it still has reduction tape under the sweat

I'm counting on this being the case for me. The CD I just ordered is a 59. I am a 59. I guess if it shrinks that much I'll break out the stretcher.

 

[Motorcyclist]

I have a large number of Akubras. My head is a size 60 so that is what I've always ordered. They all still fit well. Only exception was one Coober Pedy that showed up feeling a little tight out of the box. Put a stretcher on it for a bit and now it's perfect. That would be the one in my avatar.

 

[FedOregon]

I ordered a size up at 60cm on my Coober Pedy. It still felt tight front to back... until I wore it for awhile. Now it fits quite well. I think it just molded a bit to the shape of my head. Great hat. I hope your experience with the Fed IV Deluxe is a good one.

 

[Xylophile]

Interesting. Every one of my Akubras (six, so far) was oversized when I received them, but after wearing them (and *sweating in them) shrunk down to what I consider to be a perfect fit after a few days (though all three Campdrafts eventually required a little stretching). However, the one Heritage Quality/Deluxe Fed IV I received was much less oversized than the Imperial Quality/Regular hats and shrank only a little.

That being said, my head measures so close to 60 cm that the difference really isn't worth mentioning, and the ovality of my head is almost a perfect match to the blocks Akubra uses so I don't have any "long oval/wide oval" issues to deal with. As such, I've always ordered size 60 and, so far, have had no problems with the way they fit.


*As I understand it, it is the combination of the sodium (salt) and moisture in our perspiration that dehydrates the leather sweatbands and causes them to shrink slightly. Akubra knows this and plans accordingly when sizing/producing their hats, which is why (in my experience) they're a little large out of the box but soon "snug down" to a better fit as you/we wear them.

Your * makes sense to me because Akubra makes hats for Australians who I believe are generally using them for outdoor protection and use, and correct me if I'm wrong but I believe its hot in Oz is it not?

 

[Zombie_61]

Your * makes sense to me because Akubra makes hats for Australians who I believe are generally using them for outdoor protection and use, and correct me if I'm wrong but I believe its hot in Oz is it not?

The Australian summers are so hot that Akubra closes down and stops production for at least two weeks every year. I've never been to Australia myself, but a good friend who spent a couple of weeks there during their summer months once said you'd have to be a "rugged" individual to live there year after year.

 

[Motorcyclist]

I was there one June for a couple of weeks. Traveled around New South Wales. Thought their winter was pretty mild. I was wearing a denim jacket but saw many people bundled up like it was freezing out. Given that I don't think I'd want to be around in summer.

 

[RJR]

The Australian summers are so hot that Akubra closes down and stops production for at least two weeks every year. I've never been to Australia myself, but a good friend who spent a couple of weeks there during their summer months once said you'd have to be a "rugged" individual to live there year after year.

My understanding is that "rugged" is an understatement.

 

[1mach1]

"Peeps" ???

[emoji14]

 

[Frunobulax]

 

[Bob Roberts]

[emoji14]

dont wanna see those little suckers for another 6mos.

 

[shrek]

Hi it fits fine when new then you have to stretch it one size larger then you have to stuff it that what I found to be true also.

 

[JohnSarge]

Thanks for all the info guys. Still thinking if I'm gonna get one or not. Will update all you guys. I like the peeps with hats lol.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Redfokker]

[emoji14]

The yellow ones taste better...

 

[JohnSarge]

Ok. So an update. I ended up ordering a fed iv imperial quality (first real hat so passed on the deluxe). You guys were not kidding about Trudi at HD. She measured hats to find one for me. Great service.

Question about shipping. You guys notice a lack of tracking updates? Just wondering. Trying to forget it till it gets here but check every other day or so.

John


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Zombie_61]

...Question about shipping. You guys notice a lack of tracking updates? Just wondering...

Whenever that has happened with one of the hats I've ordered it was usually because it was sitting in customs waiting for them to clear it. The last hat I ordered cleared customs so fast that it was on our front porch six hours after it arrived in the U.S., but another one sat in customs for a week. *shrug* Nature of the beast.

 

[andrew_AU]

Interesting. Every one of my Akubras (six, so far) was oversized when I received them, but after wearing them (and *sweating in them) shrunk down to what I consider to be a perfect fit after a few days (though all three Campdrafts eventually required a little stretching). However, the one Heritage Quality/Deluxe Fed IV I received was much less oversized than the Imperial Quality/Regular hats and shrank only a little.

That being said, my head measures so close to 60 cm that the difference really isn't worth mentioning, and the ovality of my head is almost a perfect match to the blocks Akubra uses so I don't have any "long oval/wide oval" issues to deal with. As such, I've always ordered size 60 and, so far, have had no problems with the way they fit.


*As I understand it, it is the combination of the sodium (salt) and moisture in our perspiration that dehydrates the leather sweatbands and causes them to shrink slightly. Akubra knows this and plans accordingly when sizing/producing their hats, which is why (in my experience) they're a little large out of the box but soon "snug down" to a better fit as you/we wear them.

I had the same experience with Heritage Akubra's being less oversized than Imperial. I think that's because the Heritage sweatband is a thicker leather. It certainly feels thicker but I've never bothered to compare them side by side.

 

[LabRat 101]

Question about shipping. You guys notice a lack of tracking updates? Just wondering. Trying to forget it till it gets here but check every other day or so.

What color did you get?

Yes tracking is a nightmare, but not the fault of Hatsdirect.com, customs is the hold up and for lack of updates. I have ordered a couple of hats from them and Trudi and the gang over there are awesome to deal with. I love my Fed IV in carbon grey. Might have to get one in Moonstone.