Miller Feds

coronado3 · Post by **coronado3** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:11 am

Who out there has a miller?

What is your take on the shape, color, and longevity?

Coronado3

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:41 am

Shape, nice out of the box. Color, a bit on the reddish side of the spectrum. Longevity, one of the worse for taper I've ever owned, but for a rabbit fedora, it's a nice dress hat if kept out of bad weather.

Regard! Michaelson

slowdevil · Post by **slowdevil** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 4:29 pm

I was curious about these too, but it doesn't sound like they're that good. What I do like about them is the wider ribbon.

Post by **Michaelson** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 4:59 pm

Don't get me wrong...they're really nice dress hats, and I really enjoyed mine when I had them....but as with all my hats, I use them. That report was what I experienced. Others may vary.

Regards! Michaelson

GCR · Post by **GCR** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:15 pm

On my scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best), I'd give the Miller an overall score of 4. When it was brand new, it rated up around 6 or so to me, but after a few years of wear it tapered up pretty bad. The open crown shape is good out of the box, but, as Michaleson said, the color is a bit reddish. This becomes more exaggerated as the hat ages and fades, with the red undertones becoming more prominent. If you're a stickler for screen accuracy, the reddish felt color and the wider (1 3/4 inch) ribbon might be a turn-off. The ribbon color also faded on my hat, and it became a strange ashy-smokey, grayish brown that just didn't look right on a reddish hat. Overall, I'd say if you want a good open crown hat in that price range, go for an Akubra or JP Design. They both come with the correct ribbon size and a more true brown color (at least the Fed Deluxe is a more true brown, the regular Federation can look sort of green or gray in some light, I have been told).

And I don't want anyone to think I'm knocking the Miller, either. I had two of them, one of which I wore as my regular hat for a couple of years before it tapered up and I got my Akubra Fed Deluxe. Like Michaelson, I am merely sharing my experiences with this particular hat. In short, I would not get another Miller, but I WOULD buy another Akubra.

-GCR

Fatdutchman · Post by **Fatdutchman** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:44 pm

I had a Miller reblocked (and resized) by Jimmy Pierce. When I got it, it looked great, but the more I fooled with it (giving it "the turn"), the worse it got. It seemed to be shrinking right before my very eyes!

On the plus side, the felt is quite pliable, and can be moulded like clay.

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 10:24 pm

I liked the Millers too. Bought 3 of them. They did not measure up to my nature of wear, so I moved on. For a strict dress hat, they sure are pretty. Fedora

Chiliana Jones · Post by **Chiliana Jones** » Tue Dec 26, 2006 10:34 am

i have two Miller's. i first got the one with shaped crown but it stunk so then i got the one with open crown and man what a great hat! I've even been wearing it in really bad weather and it still holds! It's easy to shape but be careful with it if the hat is wet! as fatdutchman said it: "it moulds like clay", especally when it's wet so be careful if you already like the shape of your miller.

i love the color of it. it does a dandy YIJ and LC and even harrison's Mystery of the blues fedora(notice the color of Harrison's hat when he stumbles out of the car. reddish.

)

regards

Rio