Anyone hate the Federation??

[Fedora]

I haven't touched an AB yet, but I've heard that people have already had to reblock it after only a few months.

Really? Since I do the reblocks, I can not verify that at all. I have reblocked a couple, but they were bought last November and made it to last month. But, you must remember, most of these guys wear their ABs like a work hat. In the rain, etc. If treated like a dress hat, I doubt you would need a reblock in just a few monthis. Saturate your Federation to the core, and it will taper quickly. Trust me, I have owned probaly a dozen of these hats. I have gotten a couple of Abs in for a reblock that did not need it. Just a restyle. Fedora

 

[Mycroft]

How "floppy" are they, I mean I like my hats to be stiff and keep their form?

 

[besdor]

IF THIS HAT IS SO POPULAR , WHY DOSEN'T ANYONE SELL IT HERE IN THE USA? IT MUST COST 35 TO 40 BUCKS JUST TO SEND IT HERE . THERE HAS TO BE A SIMILAR HAT FROM ANOTHER COMPANY THAT WILL LAST AS LONG .

 

[Matt Deckard]

IF THIS HAT IS SO POPULAR , WHY DOSEN'T ANYONE SELL IT HERE IN THE USA? IT MUST COST 35 TO 40 BUCKS JUST TO SEND IT HERE . THERE HAS TO BE A SIMILAR HAT FROM ANOTHER COMPANY THAT WILL LAST AS LONG .

There are similar hats from other companies that last as long, though they are usually more costly. Beaver Brand is one, Stetson, Dobbs, Baily, those are pretty much the hats close to the class of Akubra. What Akubra has on it's side is the high crown.

Akubra is a good starter hat because it is the closest to the 1930's 40's shape at a low cost. You can get more expensive factory hats though they are usually very short crowned and tapered unless you chop down a western hat.

 

[Feraud]

My hat is the Fed Deluxe and it was quite stiff out of the box!
It has taken just under a year for it to soften up.

 

[Biltmore Bob]

Am I understanding this correctly?

Different models of Akubra Hats have different grades of felt that account for the differing stiffness.

 

[Bebop]

Hemmingway, thanks for the tip on posting photos. I noticed the photos of your new grey AB on the COW forum and it does look like a great hat that fits your face to perfection. If I could be guaranteed to look that "balanced" with a hat, I would buy several of them. I will be ordering an Ad.built next week and I look forward to posting some photos.
My Federation is a standard and compared to my Banjo Paterson and my Lightning Ridge, it is almost as soft. It is not as stiff as the Bushman that I tried on while at David Morgan and not as heavy or thick as the Banjo Patersons' heritage quality but it is soft and quite shapeable (if that word exists) . I used steam only on the brim. I had to wait for a new batch to be made since they did not have my size when I ordered it, so maybe the new batch is softer and less cardboard like?

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Shipping the Fed

IF THIS HAT IS SO POPULAR , WHY DOSEN'T ANYONE SELL IT HERE IN THE USA? IT MUST COST 35 TO 40 BUCKS JUST TO SEND IT HERE . THERE HAS TO BE A SIMILAR HAT FROM ANOTHER COMPANY THAT WILL LAST AS LONG .

Honestly, even with the shipping, the deal is probably better than what you'll find in the US anyway (mail order, that is). Hatsdirect shipping for a single hat is just under $30 (depends on the current conversion from Australian bucks and shipping method chosen). In addition, the cost of ANY Akubra from an Australian dealer will be about $20 LESS than buying the same model from a US vendor. (I looked... hard!)

My math went like this; I could pay $90 or more for most reputable hats (Stetson, Akubra, Bailey) online from a US company, plus 7-10 dollars for their slowest shipping method. I can buy a highly recommended Akubra from Austalia for less than $80, plus $30 shipping. The pay-out adds up to almost the same. Less depending on what your buying! I figured out that I could actually SAVE a dollar by ordering from Hatsdirect as compared to the same model from Noggintops in the US! Go figure!

 

[Feraud]

Different models of Akubra Hats have different grades of felt that account for the differing stiffness.

Hmmm, I have no idea if that is the case. Someone please correct me if I am wrong but I recall reading the stiffener they use is shellac based. Is it possible these hats are receiving different amounts depending on who does the applying?