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

[tropicalbob]

Thunk?

 

[bluesmandan]

Thunk?

Yes, and if you haven't thunk things through, your wife might thunk you on the head with a skillet.

 

[Zombie_61]

Thunk?

According to Merriam-Webster, "thunk" is defined as follows:

1. Dialect past and past participle of "think".

2. Verbal description of a dull, hollow sound made especially when a heavy object hits something, such as a wife striking her husband on his head with a skillet.

It's on the Internet, so it must be true.

 

[Brother cavefish]

defintely shrink. I always soak the outside of the hat and form it to my head

 

[Doc Glockster]

Akubras are well known for their "shrink to fit" sizing. Yes, they arrive slightly oversized, but that's because the material they use for their sweatbands shrinks as you wear (and more specifically sweat in) the hat the first few times; Akubra knows this, and they manufacture/size their hats accordingly. I own two Fed IVs and two Campdrafts (all size 60), the sweatbands on all of which shrunk approximately 1 centimeter after only two or three wearings.

As has already been stated, the general rule-of-thumb is to order the larger size when you're between sizes simply because it's much easier to put padding behind a sweatband than it is to stretch one. If you're a 57.5, a size 58 will probably shrink down to a nice snug fit very quickly.

TRUTH! My experience with Akubra is that it should fit a little loose when brand new and the first couple of times you get it a little sweaty it will shrink to fit.

I ordered a 7 3/8 (59 cm) and thought it was a tad too big, but got it to fit with felt shims on the sides. Within one or two wearings it had snugged itself to my skull just fine.

 

[swd]

Something else to consider...shape of your head. For example, mine is a rather long oval, and I have found that I get a better result with slightly stretching a hat to that shape, than I do trying to get a larger "round" shape to shrink to that shape. The larger hat seems to have too much sideways "wobble," or it has to be stuffed with more material that I like to add inside the sides of the band. That said, you do have to keep a eye on the brim and crown when stretching. Too much and it will "warp" the basic hat shape. In any case, for my in-between egghead, I get my best results with a slight amount of fore and aft stretching, rather than hoping a slightly large round hat will both "shrink" (actually re-shape) side-to-side and expand front-to-back. Just my peculiar head, I suppose.

 

[PHIL1959]

I'd go for a 58. better to shrink than stretch! after a few wears it will shrink to fit

 

[Hercule]

I'd go for a 58. better to shrink than stretch! after a few wears it will shrink to fit

Yes indeed, if not possibly even a 59. If I recall correctly Akubra says the actual measurement of the Fed IV runs 1/2 cm smaller than the indicated size, so depending on shrinkage would definitely be the way to go. Exactly how much shrinkage is the question. Everybody's mileage seems to have varied on that. Definitely worth a call or email to Akubra for their take. I've seen many a vintage hat that had rolled up newspaper behind its sweat band.

I don't think there's anything good at all to be had from stretching, though I suppose there's the remote possibility you might get lucky and not warp the brim or introduce taper to the crown. Even still, given how they are widely known for shrinking, you'd be fighting shrinkage for as long as you own the hat. Not worth the risk or the trouble on something you're dropping good money on and want to look nice.

 

[gtdean48]

Always let an Akubra come down to your size & shape. I have all 61's plus a 62. They fit the same now. Band block used to keep them trained

 

[tropicalbob]

It pays to listen to our brothers in the FL. My recent purchase of a CD really bears out what everyone has been saying: I have a 24 1/2 in. head, so I ordered the size 63. It came in a little bit big, so I stuffed some folded paper towel pieces down the back. After a couple of days and a little sweat, the hat fits as well as my VS straw. It's perfect.

 

[foamy]

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.

 

[RJR]

Most find that it will shrink one size.Pad the sweat and give it a chance.

 

[photogravity]

Most find that it will shrink one size.Pad the sweat and give it a chance.

Alternately, if you're not follicly challenged you could just grow more hair. I have there are many here that fall into that category so that may not be an option.

 

[foamy]

Most find that it will shrink one size.Pad the sweat and give it a chance.

That's what I'd like to do, and I guess I'll give it a shot, but dang it's big on me. Should/could I spray this thing to help it along?

Alternately, if you're not follicly challenged you could just grow more hair. I have there are many here that fall into that category so that may not be an option.

Oh, I've got plenty of hair (grows everywhere now), just had four inches cut-off and nobody notices.

 

[Frunobulax]

This thread gives me the heebee-jeebees. I'm sitting here waiting on a CD in 58, and I'm a 58 (probably a 58.2, but hey). The first Akubra I purchased, a Fedora, fit me perfectly out of the box - it's a 58 - and continues to fit great after quite a few wearings. If anything, it's "breathed out" a little, and fits me very well. I certainly hope that my CD acts more like my previous purchase, and doesn't shrink to be too small.

I fret too much...

 

[Bob Roberts]

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.

Heres the quickest and fattest way. I'm a 58 and I've been ordering 59. I have 3 Akubras. 2 Camp Drafts and one Fed. The ones that are way big such as yours I simply invert the leather sweatband inside out and saturate the INSIDE with a cotton ball and distilled water, let it dry for abt 24hrs. Be careful not to saturate so much it leeches through to the ribbon (the water may stain a lighter ribbon.) Works like a charm! If I want it smaller I do it again.

 

[ScaryWoody]

Heres the quickest and fattest way. I'm a 58 and I've been ordering 59. I have 3 Akubras. 2 Camp Drafts and one Fed. The ones that are way big such as yours I simply invert the leather sweatband inside out and saturate the INSIDE with a cotton ball and distilled water, let it dry for abt 24hrs. Be careful not to saturate so much it leeches through to the ribbon (the water may stain a lighter ribbon.) Works like a charm! If I want it smaller I do it again.

Excellent tip!

 

[Bob Roberts]

Excellent tip!

TY.

 

[Bob Roberts]

This thread gives me the heebee-jeebees. I'm sitting here waiting on a CD in 58, and I'm a 58 (probably a 58.2, but hey). The first Akubra I purchased, a Fedora, fit me perfectly out of the box - it's a 58 - and continues to fit great after quite a few wearings. If anything, it's "breathed out" a little, and fits me very well. I certainly hope that my CD acts more like my previous purchase, and doesn't shrink to be too small.

I fret too much...

Dont worry my friend. If its the same hat in a diff color it should b pretty close. If not it sounds like a minor occasional stretching will do the trick.

 

[Frunobulax]

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.