Stetson Nostalgia vs. Akubra Federation IV

[Torpedo]

Hello,

Anyone has had the chance of handling or, better still, wearing both the Stetson Nostalgia and the Federation IV Deluxe hats?
How do they compare?
I have read the generally positive comments about both of them here at the Lounge; they cost about the same too.
Any informed opinions?
Regards!

 

[BobC]

I haven't had my hands on a Nostalgia, but I'd like to. I'm hoping that Stetson will decide to add a nice wide brim binding to that one. It looks like a really nice hat, and it's definitely on my watch list. If they don't add the binding I may still get one and send it somewhere to have the brim bound.

I do have a Fed Deluxe IV, and I can tell you that it's one of my favorites. The deluxe is made from a nicer felt that the regular one though I'm sure either of them would make a fine addition to your collection. The one I have is heritage fawn and I plan to get another in moonstone gray at some point.

 

[lc1484]

I just recieved my Nostalgia from Quality Hats.com...$149.00 free shipping....in comparison to the Fed IV..it is a far better hat ..I have the Fed IV moonstone standard....

The sweatband, liner, and felt is butter soft....it is the sovereign felt...if feels just like my pinnacle beaver...

Nice hat, easy to bash...the only gripe I have with the new stetsons is the dye in the felt gets your fingers covered in the color of the hat...the same happened with my Pinnacle...both were grey and both while working the bash left my hands gray like I was holding charcoal....

Larry

 

[indycop]

I only have a federation and not a deluxe so I am not much help, I would like a nostalgia with a wide brim binding but otherwise I am not interested in them.

 

[BobC]

Sorry to hear about the die issue. The Nostalgia is a nice looking hat and would be even nicer with a wide brim binding, but I don't want dye running down my neck if I get caught in the rain. I'm glad you made that point, Larry. I probably won't buy one now.

By the way, welcome to the lounge. You will feel at home here in no time.

 

[lc1484]

Thanks Bob,

The dye goes after a while...I wet my pinnacle down and after a couple of sprays..it doesn't run anymore, but I shouldn't have to deal with that...

Only vintage stetsons for me now...I was just curious on the Nostalgia....

It is still a nice hat, but the Feds don't have that problem and I noticed I can rebash the feds to different styles without a glitch...

Larry

 

[BobC]

I'm a big fan of the Feds and Akubra in general. I have one Fed Deluxe IV and a Campdraft and love them both. I also have another Fed Deluxe IV ordered...I couldn't resist the great prices now.

 

[indycop]

I also have another Fed Deluxe IV ordered...I couldn't resist the great prices now.

Just one on order?

 

[Fletch]

The Nostalgia is exactly that: a soft-focus, exaggerated remembrance of the real thing. It's so big and dramatic it makes me, with my 7 5/8 knob and jowly face, look like a 14yo kid trying on his dad's duds. I wish it came in something besides grey/black. I think I'll have the brim trimmed back 1/8" or so, and a self colored band put on.

What Stetson really ought to do, and doesn't want to, is to copy themselves and reintroduce the Whippet. And can you blame them? They couldn't keep up with the orders, and would have to keep their core Western market waiting.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

Where is the Hatco guy? Is he still around? Curious to hear his thoughts on this.

 

[indycop]

What Stetson really ought to do, and doesn't want to, is to copy themselves and reintroduce the Whippet. And can you blame them? They couldn't keep up with the orders, and would have to keep their core Western market waiting.

That's what I was hoping for!!

 

[BobC]

Just one on order?

Just one Akubra...

 

[HATCO]

I'm here.

I'll look into the powder issue. Basically I'll take some hats out of stock and shape them. I'll document how much color I get on my hands.... I agree with you that it should be very little. I would prefer none myself but we shall see..

 

[Al Niente]

Powder on Stetsons

Hello! I am new to the Lounge and happy to be here. I have looked at a lot of Stetsons at my local hat store and many of them shed powder. So much so that I didn't buy one. I do like the styles and bought a straw Stetson for the summer weather. Is all this powder normal?

 

[Mr. Paladin]

I've read this thread over and felt like I needed to say something. I have a lot of modern Stetsons, eight to be exact, which I purchased from the Outlet down here, and I have never had any of them brush out powder or leave any staining on my hands while creasing or handling them. Neither have I had any of them run dye in rain, though I don't generally roam around in a downpour either. Their colors are grey, graphite, black, tawny, bark, and mink. Two of them are Open Roads but the other six are their dress hat styles. I just don't see that is all that common...and I don't work for Stetson either, I just like their hats.

 

[mayserwegener]

I've read this thread over and felt like I needed to say something. I have a lot of modern Stetsons, eight to be exact, which I purchased from the Outlet down here, and I have never had any of them brush out powder or leave any staining on my hands while creasing or handling them. Neither have I had any of them run dye in rain, though I don't generally roam around in a downpour either. Their colors are grey, graphite, black, tawny, bark, and mink. Two of them are Open Roads but the other six are their dress hat styles. I just don't see that is all that common...and I don't work for Stetson either, I just like their hats.

I have a brown Nostalgia and I haven't seen any dye issues under normal conditions. I haven't worn it in a down pour but normal shaping with steam didn't cause any problems.

 

[Jauntyone]

I bought a Nostalgia a few weeks ago and wore it all through my vacation. It's a very nice hat, smooth felt and no dye issues. It is a bit more hat than I really wanted, I think a slightly narrower brim would be better, but that's not a quality problem.
I don't have a Fed IV but I do have a few Campdrafts and an Akubra Fedora and I think the Nostalgia feels just as substantial and tough. The sweat is real leather, thicker and stiffer than the Akubras' but comfortable. It's easy to shape and didn't need water or steam. The felt is much smoother than the Akubras' is.
One thing I noticed was the smell of the new Nostalgia: it was exactly the smell of the carpet stores we used to visit when I was a little boy. It wore off right away, but it did indeed give me a feeling of nostalgia!

 

[avedwards]

I can't speak for the Nostalgia, but I can for the Chatham which is also sovereign quality. It's my favourite and best hat by far. I've never had the dye run or ended up with coloured hands (though admittedly I didn't have to bash it as it's preshaped).

As for rain, it survived its fourth downpour yesterday. Not a mark on it. To show what I mean with a downpour: my trench coat was letting water through while this hat was fine.

The only issue that I have had is the quality of the ribbon attatchment. It's sewn on with some sort of plastic thread which I've had to replace on the bow with my own dodgy sewing. But the felt quality is fine.

I have no Akubras to compare with, but I'm looking at getting one just because of how good they are made to sound here.

If I can suggest one simple improvement on Stetson hats, I'd say that they should be done without a black lining but a white one. IMO it looks better and more vintage, and a fact is that it would make the hat more suitable for warmer weather as less radiation would be absorbed.

 

[mayserwegener]

One thing I noticed was the smell of the new Nostalgia: it was exactly the smell of the carpet stores we used to visit when I was a little boy. It wore off right away, but it did indeed give me a feeling of nostalgia!

Mine has that same smell.

Anyone know the root cause?