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[Zombie_61]

No, there is lots of room for you to speak to your experience and me to speak to mine. That your Akubras shrink and mine do not does not mean either statement is false only that the situation is perhaps not as cut and dried or absolute.

All I can say is, this was my experience with all six of my Akubra hats:

But I live in the Los Angeles area of southern California where the summer temperatures are regularly near or over the 100°F mark and seem to get at least a little higher as each year passes, so it's not at all difficult for me to sweat.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

^^^^
Lol
I’m just a lucky guy i guess.
3 Akubras, 3 diff models, 2 diff quality distinctions.
All fit to size, no shrinkage and
no stretching out of shape! Gasp
There is no right or wrong just is.
B

 

[jlee562]

If we want to quibble about the 100% certainty of my initial "will shrink up..." fair enough.

But again, I don't know why this is controversial today...

If you are ordering from Hats Direct, they will gladly advise you on the right size in a given hat. For the Fed, they had me order the slightly bigger hat and siad it would shrink up to fit over the course of a few months of sweating into the band. And my experience has proved them correct.

As others have noted, it is probably less trouble to shim your sweatband with paper or foam than it is to stretch all the time. Stretching can also distort the shape of the hat (my experience when I had to stretch out a shrunken Dynafelt after being soaked in rain).

Hats Direct gave you good advice on ordering up a size. Lots of buyers report that the Fed IV runs smaller than some of the other Akubras and that was also my experience with the Fed IV compared to the Campdraft. Add to that the sweatband shrinkage and you should have a hat that fits you perfectly. Good decision on calling them and getting advice.

I think it looks great! The Akubra should shrink to fit (fit better, anyway) after you sweat in it a bit. My Akubras were a bit on the big side, but they all shrunk to fit my head, and it didnt take long. Is it a 59?

(emphasis added)

 

[dkstott]

I didn't intend to start any controversy.
My 12 year old Stetson never shrunk, so I'm curious about why Akubra shrinks. If a hat rack is the normal for them, then I'll invest in one at some point.

Look, if it's really grinding your gears, I'll amend my statement from "will shrink up" to "has a high probability of shrinking."

I don't know why mentioning the shrinking Akubra sweatband is now a controversial statement today as opposed to every other time it comes up.....

 

[jlee562]

I didn't intend to start any controversy.
My 12 year old Stetson never shrunk, so I'm curious about why Akubra shrinks. If a hat rack is the normal for them, then I'll invest in one at some point.

It's the leather sweatband. It's not a very high grade. Certainly some people's sweat is more acidic than others and that has an effect on the rate of shrinkage, as does wear, but many Akubra hats end up shrinking some.

Archived version of hatsdirect.com
https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203843/http://hatsdirect.com/pages/the-federation-iv

The Federation IV (standard) Made from Akubra Imperial Quality felt. The finish on the standard Federation is the same as it has been, we have decided to keep the hat as low priced as possible, offering what we believe is one of the best value "open crown" hats available on the market. Akubra have built their reputation on the Imperial Quality felt, by comparing it to the deluxe model, in no way should this be regarded as an inferior product. For those commencing hat wearing and open crown hats we recommend this as the ideal starting point.

The Federation Deluxe IV Made from Akubras Heritage Grade felt. (Click here for Felt Quality page.) The leather sweat band is a higher quality leather, specially processed for these hats. It is softer and less prone to drying out and shrinkage compared to the regular Federation. It makes up a proportion of the price increase over the regular Fed. The Deluxe undergoes further finishing over the normal Heritage range resulting in a much smoother finish than the previous model.

 

[Ribook]

To add to it.
I googled “Stetson Streamliner the Fedora Lounge” and found the Mallory pic and a Stetson Streamliner pic sitting on a doctor’s bag in an old thread. Some discussion. I think it’s a pretty rare hat.
Good luck searching.
Very nice hat by the way.
B

Thanks. I also saw that photo on the doctor's bag in a "Still Life with Hats" thread from 2013. Certainly rare on the web...

 

[addison]

Hello friends,
I'm considering buying a MODERN Stratoliner. I have a few vintage lids, but my only modern made ones are Akubras.
My question is, how does the felt compare to Akubras? Is it similar quality and softness or is it perhaps a bit better?
Other than materials, how would the quality of manufacture compare to Akubras? Are modern Stratoliners American made?
Thanks.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Hello friends,
I'm considering buying a MODERN Stratoliner. I have a few vintage lids, but my only modern made ones are Akubras.
My question is, how does the felt compare to Akubras? Is it similar quality and softness or is it perhaps a bit better?
Other than materials, how would the quality of manufacture compare to Akubras? Are modern Stratoliners American made?
Thanks.

My experience is only with the Premier Royal De Luxe Stratoliners. The felt is, in my opinion, a big step up from Akubra. They are made in the USA. If you look around you’ll find the Modern Stratoliner thread and the Premiere Stratoliner thread. Lots of good information with just a bit of work.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-stratoliner-appreciation-club-modern.58325/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/stetson-stratoliner-premier-open-crown.93347/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Ribook]

Hello friends,
I'm considering buying a MODERN Stratoliner. I have a few vintage lids, but my only modern made ones are Akubras.
My question is, how does the felt compare to Akubras? Is it similar quality and softness or is it perhaps a bit better?
Other than materials, how would the quality of manufacture compare to Akubras? Are modern Stratoliners American made?
Thanks.

I have a modern Stratoliner. I don't know if they are made in the USA, but I can tell you that the felt is not as heavy as the Akubra I own, and whereas Akubras are 100% rabbit fur, exact composition of the Stratoliners is a mystery as far as I know. My expectation is that the Stratoliner is not as durable/weather resistant as Akubras are known for. The Stratoliner also feels more flimsy. I was a bit shocked when I took it out of the box. Initially, it felt like a cardboard hat covered with a thin layer of felt. I've since taken more of a liking to it because it's a nice hat with a nice shape. Of final note, I ordered my size (7 1/4) and the Stratoliner in that size was a bit small for me. I had to stretch it.

 

[addison]

I have a modern Stratoliner. I don't know if they are made in the USA, but I can tell you that the felt is not as heavy as the Akubra I own, and whereas Akubras are 100% rabbit fur, exact composition of the Stratoliners is a mystery as far as I know. My expectation is that the Stratoliner is not as durable/weather resistant as Akubras are known for. The Stratoliner also feels more flimsy. I was a bit shocked when I took it out of the box. Initially, it felt like a cardboard hat covered with a thin layer of felt. I've since taken more of a liking to it because it's a nice hat with a nice shape. Of final note, I ordered my size (7 1/4) and the Stratoliner in that size was a bit small for me. I had to stretch it.

Thank you!

 

[addison]

My experience is only with the Premier Royal De Luxe Stratoliners. The felt is, in my opinion, a big step up from Akubra. They are made in the USA. If you look around you’ll find the Modern Stratoliner thread and the Premiere Stratoliner thread. Lots of good information with just a bit of work.

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/the-stratoliner-appreciation-club-modern.58325/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/stetson-stratoliner-premier-open-crown.93347/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thank you!

 

[jlee562]

Hello friends,
I'm considering buying a MODERN Stratoliner. I have a few vintage lids, but my only modern made ones are Akubras.
My question is, how does the felt compare to Akubras? Is it similar quality and softness or is it perhaps a bit better?
Other than materials, how would the quality of manufacture compare to Akubras? Are modern Stratoliners American made?
Thanks.

I would recommend the Royal Deluxe premier strat. Stetsons are generally more finely pounced than Akubras, leading to a softer hand. My experience has been that Stetsons have less stiffener, but this varies in both Akubra and Stetson production runs. The Stetson Japan instagram account did post once that it was a 90% rabbit, 10% beaver mix, but that's never been confirmed.

They're very nice modern hats, and an improvement for Hatco over previous efforts. The open crown model was a bit of a passion project for their former lead designer Matt Deckard, who pops in here every so often. He wears his modern Stetsons in the rain.

Here he is talking about modern hats in the rain:
Pt 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtGMkF3AdWm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Pt 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtGN1gxAUP7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Pt 3: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtGOHzOAFLr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

[addison]

I would recommend the Royal Deluxe premier strat. Stetsons are generally more finely pounced than Akubras, leading to a softer hand. My experience has been that Stetsons have less stiffener, but this varies in both Akubra and Stetson production runs. The Stetson Japan instagram account did post once that it was a 90% rabbit, 10% beaver mix, but that's never been confirmed.

They're very nice modern hats, and an improvement for Hatco over previous efforts. The open crown model was a bit of a passion project for their former lead designer Matt Deckard, who pops in here every so often. He wears his modern Stetsons in the rain.

Here he is talking about modern hats in the rain:
Pt 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtGMkF3AdWm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Pt 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtGN1gxAUP7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Pt 3: https://www.instagram.com/p/BtGOHzOAFLr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Thank you!

 

[CaptainFach]

So im new here and had a question. If I block and shape my hat purely with steam, and mess it up, can i start over? Or will i be stuck with a messed up hat and need to buy another felt?

 

[BobHufford]

So im new here and had a question. If I block and shape my hat purely with steam, and mess it up, can i start over? Or will i be stuck with a messed up hat and need to buy another felt?

A good quality fur felt hat can been reshaped multiple times. Tight creases might leave a bit of ghosting that your might have to work a bit more to remove. There are many threads on hat shaping / creasing if you look around. I typically used a good misting of cold distilled water (almost to the point of soaking) to get the shape I want and use steam to set (activating any stiffeners used) or for tweaks. Avoid getting steam too near a leather sweatband.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

I'm considering buying a MODERN Stratoliner.

Unless you are looking for something brand new you might look for something from the Matt Deckard era. I have one of his 150th Anniversary Strats in Caribou & it is a very nice & soft hat. This is his recent post discussing these hats:

"But if you have one of the anniversary hats I designed, know I inspected them, and that they are more than superior, they are EXCELLENT!"

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsuszCmgQBd/

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Unless you are looking for something brand new you might look for something from the Matt Deckard era. I have one of his 150th Anniversary Strats in Caribou & it is a very nice & soft hat. This is his recent post discussing these hats:

"But if you have one of the anniversary hats I designed, know I inspected them, and that they are more than superior, they are EXCELLENT!"

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsuszCmgQBd/

I will second what Jack said times 2.
I have two both from Matt and they are Excellent!
B

 

[Cornshucker77]

A good quality fur felt hat can been reshaped multiple times. Tight creases might leave a bit of ghosting that your might have to work a bit more to remove. There are many threads on hat shaping / creasing if you look around. I typically used a good misting of cold distilled water (almost to the point of soaking) to get the shape I want and use steam to set (activating any stiffeners used) or for tweaks. Avoid getting steam too near a leather sweatband.

+1

 

[Cornshucker77]

All I can say is, this was my experience with all six of my Akubra hats:

But I live in the Los Angeles area of southern California where the summer temperatures are regularly near or over the 100°F mark and seem to get at least a little higher as each year passes, so it's not at all difficult for me to sweat.

Most excellent improvement Al.

 

[Cornshucker77]

I'm shopping for a hat rack. Anyone have any experience with this one, or can recommend another?

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Frees...101&pf_rd_i=11601910011&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I got mine today and it took me about 30 minutes to set up. Room for 35 hats and with my wide brimmed Westerns I managed to get 32 on it. Maybe with some organization I can fill out the remaining three spots. It appears to be leaning in the photo but it's not that much. Maybe a little with too many heavy hats on one side. It's not perfect but it works good enough.

ttps://www.amazon.com/Display-Freestanding-Customizable-Baseball-Circular/dp/B07M5B9N5T/ref=pd_cart_sspa_dk_ct_pt_sub_2_2/131-9461931-5968134?_encoding=UTF8&p