Federation or The Deluxe ???

[akaBruno]

My ol bud Reddog needs a real hat. He's real fond of his Official Indiana Jones POS.

I got him to look at the Akubra Federation, and he's impressed.

Is the Deluxe worth the money, and what are the differences?

Thanks in advance.

BRUNO

 

[MattJH]

Some previous threads on this topic that may help you:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=630
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=3247
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=14898

The third listed thread probably has the most relevant information for you, but reading the first two should help you out as well.

I'd help, but I have a carbon grey Federation standard. The reason I didn't get the deluxe version is because I wanted to see if the dimensions would work for me before investing additional money. They work well enough for a standard, but I wouldn't get a deluxe. They don't look that good on me. Nonetheless, I do intend to get a Federation in tawny fawn at some point. The dimensions / style of the Federation is very unique.

 

[Nigel]

Thanks for asking this question and thanks for the links. I am looking at buying a fed or deluxe for this coming autumn/winter.

 

[akaBruno]

Thanks for the links Dumbjaw. I did try a preliminary search earlier but had problems gettin on today.

I'm still wondering what the real differences are between the regular Fed and the Deluxe. Is it just the felt quality?

BRUNO

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Bruno, simply put, here are the main differences;
1. Felt quality - the Deluxe has slightly (in my opinion) better felt. Some say it's softer, but the standard softens nicely with use.
2. Finish - the felt of the Deluxe has a longer hair finish to the surface, which makes it look a tiny bit shaggy up close. Some people don't like it, and the brave have sanded it to their liking. I don't like the finish, and I'm not brave.
3. Color - This is the big one. The color of the Deluxe is a much truer brown, while the standard has a strange darkness to it, and is often described as having a green undertone.
4. Indy-ness - Finally, the Deluxe has the most Indy-like combination of felt color and ribbon color.

Bottom line, both are awesome hats. That said, the only reasons that makes sense to me for getting the Deluxe would be a preferance for it's brown color over the standards dark-brown-green unique color, or that you want a more accurate Indy hat. When dealing with Akubras, personal taste matters more than felt quality because you'll get a good hat either way.
NB

 

[Jerekson]

To tell you the truth, I would vote for the regular Federation.

Alot of people think that I'm crazy because of this, but here goes: I've owned a Reg. Fed. for nearly a year now and I simply can't imagine owning anything else.

I think that the felt is nicer on the reg. than the Deluxe version.

Yes, the color was a bit green at first, but leave the thing in the sun for a few hours and it will turn a perfect shade of brown.

So, overall, I like the Regular better than the Deluxe.

Call me crazy.

 

[akaBruno]

Sounds like the Regular is the one to go for.

Now how do you size the damn things?

 

[Jerekson]

Nice choice. Which color or you gunning for? I always thought the tawny fawn would be spectacular.

To size an Akubra, you'll need a measuring tailor's tape. You know, one of those floppy, rubbery-plastic things with the metal ends and the tick marks? Throw it around your head above the ears, and whatever your diamater is in cm. is your size. I.E., a 55 cm. diamater would be a size 55.

You could always take a string around your head, makr it, then line it up on a yardstick to find the cm. But I would think ti would be less accurate.

Good luck.

Jerekson

 

[akaBruno]

Actually it's not for me. I figured they were metric.

I like the tawny but, my old bud Reddog likes the darker brown

 

[Not-Bogart13]

It's always good to measure, but if you know the american hat size, that'll work. Hatsdirect has a size conversion table on the website, so you can be sneaky if it's a gift.
NB

 

[Naphtali]

I own a Standard Federation US size 7-1/8.

Hat's chocolate brown 2.75-inch brim with high straight crown and wide ribbon are very good.

I do not care for its stiffness. I bought the Federation after having several Borsalinos.

After I wore the hat for a few days, I disinfected the interior with Lysol and put it on the shelf. I bought a Borsalino fedora whose shape is essentially identical with the Federations. I strongly prefer it.

Anyone who wants my Federation, let me know.

 

[Prof Branestawm]

Now there's a tempting offer. What kind of price would you be after?

I was thinking about getting an akubra, but the British Revenue and Customs service are notorious for slapping tarrifs on such imports, and it is difficult to work out what the tarrif would be.

 

[warbird]

I am looking for a used fed, and that is my size. So if he isnt interested I would be.

 

[Jerekson]

Maybe Bruno would like to think this offer over...?

 

[akaBruno]

I own a Standard Federation US size 7-1/8.

Hat's chocolate brown 2.75-inch brim with high straight crown and wide ribbon are very good.

I do not care for its stiffness. I bought the Federation after having several Borsalinos.

After I wore the hat for a few days, I disinfected the interior with Lysol and put it on the shelf. I bought a Borsalino fedora whose shape is essentially identical with the Federations. I strongly prefer it.

Anyone who wants my Federation, let me know.

Too late, We just ordered a new Mid Brown size 58cm. Mighta been too much of a stretch.

My bud Reddog is a long story. He loves hats. James Coburn played him in the movie " A Thousand Heroes (crash landing:the rescue of flight 232)"

linkage if you're interested--> http://www.airodyssey.net/articles/movie-flt232.html

Anyways, Reddog just recently lost his wife. So, he needs something to look forward to. And I've been telling him that he needs a real hat. And when he saw that FED!!! He fell in love.

Can't wait till it gets here.

BRUNO

ps:

there is a story beneath every hat, eh?

 

[Prof Branestawm]

Well, I'm still definately interested.

I've got used to assuming that my head is smaller than almost anyone I know, which is why I assumed a UK 7 wouldn't be much use to Bruno's friend. I hope he likes his new hat all the same.