I love the Fed IV!!

[BlackMaskPulp]

I'm a 60.5. Ordered a 61 and had to put some felt strips in for a bit. After sweating in it a few times it snugged right up and fits me nicely now without stuffing the band.

 

[scottyrocks]

Actually trying them on before purchase is the best of all worlds. Get what fits best.

 

[The Fedorable]

Just so you know, a 59 is a 7 3/8.

If a 7 1/8 LO was a little tight and a 7 1/4 felt good then a 7 3/8 is going to be pretty big on you.

Actually trying them on before purchase is the best of all worlds. Get what fits best.

Well, I guess my safe bet would be just a 58 then. I'd like to try on the hat before buying it, but I don't know when the next flight to Oz is.

 

[Zombie_61]

...PS: Look back a few pages at the picture Zombie_61 posted of his new Fed IV. He could pull it down over his ears but I believe it fits him nicely now...

True, and yes. Initially both of my Fed IVs were oversized (1/2 to a full size I'd guess), but snugged down to a nice fit after shaping and wearing them a few times.

 

[The Fedorable]

True, and yes. Initially both of my Fed IVs were oversized (1/2 to a full size I'd guess), but snugged down to a nice fit after shaping and wearing them a few times.

To quote Jim Stark, but in a less dramatic and intense tone:

"You're tearing me apart! You say one thing and you say another and the you all change back again!"... Ah, loved that movie. Might watch it again.

Anyway, yea. Just swinging back and forth between getting my size 58 or getting it size 59. It's a good thing that this is still months away so I'm not pressured into making an choice. Haha.

 

[Zombie_61]

To quote Jim Stark, but in a less dramatic and intense tone:

"You're tearing me apart! You say one thing and you say another and the you all change back again!"...

Perhaps a little backstory might help. Back in 2008, before I ordered my first Fed IV I was advised by members here on The Lounge and on Club Obi Wan that my new hat would be slightly oversized when I received it and not to panic. The reason for this is, the leather that Akubra uses for the sweatbands on their hats shrinks slightly when the hat's new owner starts wearing it--more specifically, when the new owner starts wearing and sweating in his/her new hat, because (as I found out much later) the moisture and minerals in the perspiration dehydrate the leather, causing it to shrink. Akubra knows this leather will shrink, and approximately how much it will shrink, so they manufacture their hats accordingly; otherwise, their new hats would fit the wearer out-of-the-box, but be too small/snug after the leather has shrunk.

To reiterate, both of my Fed IVs were slightly too large when I received them. Shaping the crowns improved the fit slightly, but wearing them the first day or two caused the sweatbands to shrink down to what I consider a perfect fit. Just for kicks and giggles I measured the circumference of the sweatbands and they both measured 59.5 cm, which in my opinion supports the statement in the e-mail I received from Hats Direct that the Fed IV tends to run half a size small, since both hats are size 60.

My Akubra Campdraft, also size 60, was a slightly different story. Out of the box it wasn't quite as oversized as my Fed IVs, but it was a little loose. Again, shaping the crown and wearing it for a couple of days improved the fit (though it's slightly more snug than my Fed IVs), and when I measured the circumference of it's sweatband it measured 58.5 cm--a full centimeter smaller than my Fed IVs. However, it should be noted that the sizing of the Campdraft hats seems to be less consistent than that of the Fed IVs. In the Akubra Campdraft thread, Blackthorn commented, "I own a LOT of Akubras, and I have ordered 59s that were perfect, 60s that were perfect, but also 59s that were too small, and 60s that were too big."

Back in post #1479 you commented that the size 58 hat you tried on had the most comfortable fit. Relay that information to Hats Direct, and I'd bet they'll recommend you order a size 58 Fed IV.

 

[The Fedorable]

... Back in post #1479 you commented that the size 58 hat you tried on had the most comfortable fit. Relay that information to Hats Direct, and I'd bet they'll recommend you order a size 58 Fed IV.

Done and done.

So the safe bet would be to get my size then.

 

[ebonysw45]

I'd say go with your normal size. The deluxe fits a little larger then the standard but apparently they do shrink down a little with wear. Put a little felt or something in for a while then remove it. I just dropped into the the shop in Katoomba to pick up a deluxe fed 4 but tried on a standard as well. The deluxe was a smidgen bigger and the assistant did put 2 pieces of tape in so the hat would sit better. The hat was then shaped and I headed off into the sunset.

 

[ManofKent]

Done and done.

So the safe bet would be to get my size then.

My advice would be get a friend to measure your head with a tape measure (ideally one that will do mm) where you want the brim to sit. Take the measurement at least three times and use the average (it's surprisiningly difficult to get an accurate measurement!) If you're around 57.5-58 go for a 58, if you're much over 58 go for a 59.

 

[The Fedorable]

My advice would be get a friend to measure your head with a tape measure (ideally one that will do mm) where you want the brim to sit. Take the measurement at least three times and use the average (it's surprisiningly difficult to get an accurate measurement!) If you're around 57.5-58 go for a 58, if you're much over 58 go for a 59.

I did that once over the summer, but I lost and forgot my measurements... I'll be sure to do that. Not sure if I have the measuring tape made for that kind of measuring. I do have one used by construction workers, but using that for head measurements sounds silly.

 

[scottyrocks]

Yes, you need a cloth tape. A steel tape will not give accurate results on a curved head.

 

[blazerbud]

Tommy Gun,

You need to have a hat stretcher also. If you have hats, one is required. You can skillfully resize up or shrink one down and keep it just right.

 

[The Fedorable]

Yes, you need a cloth tape. A steel tape will not give accurate results on a curved head.

I asked my dad. I'm not sure where it is, but he's positive that we have one. I've seen it around the house. Ever since my mom did some rearranging, I can't quite tell where it went.

 

[The Fedorable]

Tommy Gun,

You need to have a hat stretcher also. If you have hats, one is required. You can skillfully resize up or shrink one down and keep it just right.

Much appreciated on the advice. With the FedIV especially, that sounds like a good idea. Haven't seen any shrinking with my Jaxons though.

 

[scottyrocks]

Ever since my mom did some rearranging, I can't quite tell where it went.

Ah feel yer pain. I hate rearranging.

 

[The Fedorable]

Ah feel yer pain. I hate rearranging.

It's been over a year now, still can't find some of the stuff. Haha.

 

[chum]

Here is my 4 year old Fed IV

[video]http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p780/chumface/Picturesfromcamera223_zps0be59887.jpg[/video]

 

[Hercule]

View attachment 9411 Here is my 3 year old Fed IV View attachment 9410

[video]http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p780/chumface/Picturesfromcamera223_zps0be59887.jpg[/video] View attachment 9411

Seems to have some pretty odd taper to it front and aft. How did that happen? A side effect of shrinking to actual size?

 

[chum]

Seems to have some pretty odd taper to it front and aft. How did that happen? A side effect of shrinking to actual size?

Unsure...could be weird camera angle...the bash is far from perfect(I did not want it to be).

 

[The Fedorable]

View attachment 9411 Here is my 3 year old Fed IV View attachment 9410

[video]http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p780/chumface/Picturesfromcamera223_zps0be59887.jpg[/video] View attachment 9411

That is a nice looking hat. Are these recent photos or from when you received the hat?