Akubra sizing: I wear a 57.5... What should I order? Shrink or stretch?

[ingineer]

i just recently got my 3rd CD, a 61 and i too am between sizes at 60.3.
I found i could accelerate the shrinkage by leaving on the very hot sunporch for 2 days.
POOF! a half size smaller

 

[Bob Roberts]

This one's a CD, the last a Fedora. My experience with most hats, which is limited, is to let it stretch out a little. We'll see, I think mine will be here on Monday.

Let me kno plz. I'm curious...

 

[foamy]

Thanks for the replies every one. Bob, I'll take your advice and give it a go. ingineer, my attic is warmer than toast—I'll give that a try as well.

Thanks again, folks. I'll let you know how it all works out.

 

[Fed in a Fedora]

My 3 CampDrafts were a bit loose because I followed the advice from TFL when ordering. The Silverbelly went to the ears as well. When shaping the CDs, I used the Roy Rogers video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OisMaRcdQI method as a guide and just doused them in the warm shower. (No, his trademark crease was not used...) They got got very close to my size during this process and the first few wearings set them perfectly. In one order, Sam at EA was asked to do their long oval process and the others not. Within a week or two, there was no difference between them.

You should simply discuss the issue with your hat supplier and take their advice, but the discussion here likely has already answered the question.

Good luck with your CD.

Fed

 

[Zombie_61]

I got home last night and girlie-girl brought out a package from "down-under" that had arrived. The CD was cool until I tried it on. I'm 22 5/8" and in-between a 58 and 59 and so ordered a 59. This bugger is big on me—bigger than any other 59 I've had (granted, just a couple). I put it on and it kept going until my ears folded over to stop it.

Very impressed with the hat, but will it shrink enough to fit? It is at least one good size too large for me. If you think it possible, what's the best (and fastest) way to go about it? There's no thought of wearing it and sweating to help it shrink. I'd have to shim the ever-lov'in heck out of it.

Thoughts, anyone? Attempt to shrink it? Send it back (don't really want to, but I will if recommended)? Trade? I'm pretty disappointed about it. I had been very much looking forward to it.

This is how my Tawny Fawn Fed IV fit on the day I received it...

...and this is how it fit a few days later after I had shaped the crown and worn it:

My three Campdrafts were pretty much the same, though they were a little more snug than my Fed IVs when I received them. All five hats are size 60, all Imperial Quality felt. My head measures 23-5/8", which is so close to 60 cm that the difference isn't worth mentioning. So my suggestion is this: Unless you can slip your entire hand between the sweatband and your head, shape your hat, wear it, and let it shrink like it's supposed to--you won't know how it's actually going to fit until you do. If it's still too large after that, then you can either pad the sweatband or sell the hat.

 

[Hercule]

I think, in general, it's best to pad and let shrink rather than stretch.

 

[Frunobulax]

Let me kno plz. I'm curious...

Well, mine got to the office a little while ago. The fit isn't as spot-on as the Fedora was - that one was actually a tad snug for me when I first put it on, but now feels great. This one is actually a little large - it will fall off my head if I upend it right now. I'm going to take that as a good sign. It doesn't fit over my ears like Zombie, but I'm fairly confident that it will conform to my head fairly well over a few wearings.

I'm a little OCD about my hat sizing (among other things), always obsessing whether or not it's going to fit, shrink, stretch, does it touch my ears, is it pinching. I overthink things. I've been obsessing over a new open crown Stetson I ordered from DelMonico and am still waiting for, just because Jeff made the off-hand comment, "They're running a bit big," while I was ordering it.

I'm looking forward to making this hat mine.

 

[St.Ignatz]

I ordered a CD several years ago. Not at all disappointed with the hat. Price and quality hard to beat. A few times caught in the rain and it just gets softer. I've found the sizing to be a little generous but that's about it for criticism.

Tom D.

 

[foamy]

I haven't had a chance to mess with the hat yet—gone all weekend on a boat race. However, when we made port in Baltimore, I made a beeline for a hat shop I knew of in Fells Point. Went in and got to check out the Stratoliner, Whippet and some other hats. They weren't the premier felts (still wanting to handle one/some of those), but I have to say that they didn't feel anywhere near the CD's quality—and the prices were usurious. Had some nifty Milans, but nothing close to fitting me and so I left empty handed, but it was educational.

@Zombie: That first photo is just what I encountered. Your post makes me feel a lot better about things.

 

[Zombie_61]

...@Zombie: That first photo is just what I encountered. Your post makes me feel a lot better about things.

And that's why I posted it. I currently have six fur felt fedoras, five of which are Akubras. All of my Akubras shrunk approximately 1 cm after I started wearing them, while the non-Akubra fits exactly the same today as it did when I received it a little over a year ago. Akubra's "shrink to fit" quality seems to be unique to them and I'm beginning to believe people who don't have a lot of experience with Akubra hats can be somewhat put off by that or, at the very least, are uncertain about which size to order, especially when they try on their new Akubra for the first time and it's nearly a full size too large. That's why I continually reinforce the point that people have to wear their new Akubra and let it shrink as it's supposed to before they determine whether or not it's the right size for them.

 

[Frunobulax]

Sorta like Levi's in the old days.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Well, mine got to the office a little while ago. The fit isn't as spot-on as the Fedora was - that one was actually a tad snug for me when I first put it on, but now feels great. This one is actually a little large - it will fall off my head if I upend it right now. I'm going to take that as a good sign. It doesn't fit over my ears like Zombie, but I'm fairly confident that it will conform to my head fairly well over a few wearings.

I'm a little OCD about my hat sizing (among other things), always obsessing whether or not it's going to fit, shrink, stretch, does it touch my ears, is it pinching. I overthink things. I've been obsessing over a new open crown Stetson I ordered from DelMonico and am still waiting for, just because Jeff made the off-hand comment, "They're running a bit big," while I was ordering it.

I'm looking forward to making this hat mine.

Hope it works out Fruno. I think it will. Given a choice I always prefer a little "roomy" to a little snug...

 

[Bob Roberts]

Sorta like Levi's in the old days.

And still like the Levis I wear today!

 

[Fed in a Fedora]

Akubra's "shrink to fit" quality seems to be unique to them and I'm beginning to believe people who don't have a lot of experience with Akubra hats can be somewhat put off by that or, at the very least, are uncertain about which size to order, especially when they try on their new Akubra for the first time and it's nearly a full size too large. That's why I continually reinforce the point that people have to wear their new Akubra and let it shrink as it's supposed to before they determine whether or not it's the right size for them.

Yes, but that whole phrase to the effect that it cannot be returned once worn is a source of concern to the first time buyer. It does leave the buyer with worries until the hat finally does fit - and stays that way.

Fed

 

[APP Adrian]

I recently purchased a FED IV Deluxe in size 59. However, I measure as a 57. With the help of foam inserts, should my hat fit?

Also, what comes in the box? I ordered from HatsDirect.

Is a lapel cord included?

 

[javadave61]

I recently purchased a FED IV Deluxe in size 59. However, I measure as a 57. With the help of foam inserts, should my hat fit?

Also, what comes in the box? I ordered from HatsDirect.

Is a lapel cord included?

I wear a 59.5 and the 59 fit me perfectly. I haven't noticed mine shrinking much. If it's way too big, you might sell it in the classifieds before creasing it. You'd get good money because you'll be saving buyers the long wait. What color did you get?

I don't recall anything else in the box. No wind cord on the Fed IV.

 

[APP Adrian]

Thanks Zombie.

 

[APP Adrian]

I wear a 59.5 and the 59 fit me perfectly. I haven't noticed mine shrinking much. If it's way too big, you might sell it in the classifieds before creasing it. You'd get good money because you'll be saving buyers the long wait. What color did you get?

I don't recall anything else in the box. No wind cord on the Fed IV.

Moonstone. I wear a size 60 ushanka and it barely touches the tip of my ear. 57 size ushanka is to tight, it sits on the middle of my forehead.

 

[ingineer]

APP;
A ushanka amd a Aukuba are completly different
But measure three times with a tape , do not go by what other hat fits
One size up is OK om the Fed, seems to run half size smaller
Can you change the order? othetherwise u have made a mistake
There is no wind trolley

 

[APP Adrian]

I'll try my luck. Would felt inserts be enough for 2 sizes up?

I might be a 58. I measured as a 57 when I shaved my head.

1cm larger won't make a big difference on how it will shirnk, won't it?