Hat sizes

[Hondo]

How do many of you feel about getting the correct or right size of hat when you mail order hat? Australia is a long ways from the States.
Akubra has suggested I take a 58 for 7 3/8 (I measure 23" at the crown) due to many past orders asking for exchanges especially those who order the fed. On Akubra’s website they have measurements but seem a bit off take 59 for 7 3/8? Have you had exchanges? I’ll take the 58 so the hat won’t sit too low. Akubar took great care (feed back) before sending order which I think is great.

 

[MattJH]

When in doubt, I stick to my true measurement; 24 inches or 61 centimeters or 7 5/8. A good vendor will inform you if certain hats run smaller or larger. The carbon grey Akubra Federation I just received in the mail is a 61cm and it fits me perfectly, even though it is said that the Federation model runs a bit large. My 7 5/8 Borsalino Traveler fits me a bit more snug, but it also has an elastic sweatband. My 7 5/8 Jackson Bailey fits me very loosely. A friend of mine gave me the Scala Dickens Top Hat around Christmas as a gift at 7 5/8 and it was far too small. My Tilley T3, TM11, and TW2 are all actually 7 7/8 because Tilleys run small -- a 7 5/8 Tilley does not fit me at all. Vintage hats are unpredictable because leather sweatbands can shrink over time; how much they shrink depends on the conditions the hats have been kept in.

In the end, hats aren't any different than any other piece of clothing. Certain brands of pants and shirts fit me better than others, too.

 

[Hondo]

Akubra as been very helpful with questions before shipping out my hat, do you folks like snug, or loose fitting hat, you wear in all conditions? I'd would wear it rain or shine, they give you enough inside foam. Thats fine with me, I'm not out riding a horse.

 

[EricH]

I'm a 7 3/8 myself. My first akubra was a 60 and needed a bit of foam for a proper fit. My second was a 59 and a good fit for me. I generally go a bit big as it is easy to snug them a bit and also to account for the shrink that will occur over time. What muddles things is the shape of your head. I have a nice shaped oval that is a bit longish. If the hat shape doesn't match your head and the felt is a bit stiff, you may find that you need to choose a size that lets you tailor it to your head shape. Eric

 

[Hondo]

At 7 3/8, I sometimes go lower but that’s rare, it happens with baseball style caps. I measured the crown at 23”, thought the 59 would do but Akubra suggested I consider a 58 that they have that can be added with more inside foam, won’t fit too snug or tight, a perfect fit.
Eric: I’m crossing my fingers that I made the right choice in regards to shrinkage.

 

[fedoralover]

Hondo, I've had 5 Akubra's, I'd suggest going with the 59. The first one I ordered seemed a bit big, so then next one I ordered down a size. What I found out is that they do shrink, and the one I sized down ended up being too tight. It's easier to use the foam until you sweat in it some and it shrinks, then you can pull the foam out. Having a hat too tight is worse than too loose. Too loose is an easy fix, especially when they send you the foam to tighten it up with.

fedoralover

 

[Rick Blaine]

Lampshade "trick"

Do a search for "lampshade trick", worked for me w/ my 1st Akubra & intensified the coveted reverse taper, too.

 

[fedoralover]

Rick, the lampshade treatment to shrink a hat does indeed work, just a note of caution though, it has to be watched closely or you might over do and burn the liner or sweat. A safer way is to turn the sweatband down and wet the inside with a sponge and then use a blow dryer on it. It will also shrink it up and you have a little more control over it, but again if you use any of these heat type of treatments to shrink a hat, be advised that doing it on a vintage hat can be deadly to the sweatband as they can look okay but actually be quite brittle.

fedoralover

 

[Hondo]

Hondo, I've had 5 Akubra's, I'd suggest going with the 59. Having a hat too tight is worse than too loose. Too loose is an easy fix, especially when they send you the foam to tighten it up with.

fedoralover

With a 23" crown? I am crossing my fingers, order already went out, I would hate 2 send back for exchange, we'll see, Thanks guys!