Do I need a size smaller?

blade runner · Post by **blade runner** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:43 am

I just got a new federation and I think I may have goofed on the size. By itself, it is clearly too big. If I use the adjustment padding they give you, it seems to fit alright, although it comes down to the tops of my ears. Will the padding flatten out with time so it gets too big again? They say it will shrink some, but will it shrink a full size? When I measure my head, I come up with just barely under 59 cm (their sizing), which is what I got, but that's clearly not what I wanted. On their sizing chart, a 58 equates to a 7 1/4, and a hat I have now in that size is too snug. I'd hate to go down to a 58 and have it be too small. I think my inexperience with fitted hats is affecting my judgment. Any advice would be appreciated.

Paul

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:08 am

My experience with the Federations is they run a bit large for the size. But, this may be done intentionally because the roan leather will shrink up once you sweat in it. I wear a 58, and the Feds were always large on me, but just for a short time. They seem to magically shrink up to a great fit, once you wear them for awhile.

In general hat sizing is not consistent across the board. Just look online at various hat sites and you will see the variations. One hatter's 7 1/4 is 22 5/8 inches, another one may list a 7 1/4 as 22 3/4, and I have even seen some that list a 7 1/4 as 23!! Mad hatters disease. The US sizing should work like this. You take a head measurement and divide it by pi. That should give you the 7 1/4, or 7 3/8, etc. So it is apparent that hatters are not mathmaticians.

If they were, you would not see the inconsistencies in sizing. ANd that is why I work strictly off of head measurements. You can do that when you don't have to supply off the shelf sizing. Fedora

Fatdutchman · Post by **Fatdutchman** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 11:25 am

I've had my last Akubra sizing problem. First, I bought a size 59. A size too large. I wore the tape in it, and it fit, but just looked too big. Then, I ordered two size 58's. They actually fit. THEN, I ordered a 58 Deluxe. It was larger than the 59 I ordered before. Even with all the foam tape behind the band, it still sunk down to my ears. A little large is one thing, this... I was assured that it was the size it was supposed to be. I just got a refund, as their sizing seemed to be very inconsistent, and I did not want to "try" a size 57....and then have to return it too...

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 12:03 pm

as hatsdirect is very customer oriented, you're best bet is to send them your head measurement and then have them measure that hat for you prior to sending it out to confirm the fit. my akubra came perfect using that method.

Post by **Michaelson** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 12:03 pm

I'll post this one more time

.....then give up....

My practice has ALWAYS been to measure my head (twice), then send THAT measurement directly to the attention of Ron rather than a chart size. Ask him to measure the hat you're interested in to make sure the hat sent is the size YOU sent him rather than pulling a size off their chart and hoping for the best.

To date I have never had a Fed or Fed Deluxe that didn't fit, as Ron and his crew WILL take a tape measure and check a hat for you so they don't have to deal with returns.

Ok, back under the Plymouth. You're on your own......

Ah, I see IG and I were pretty much posting the same thing at the same time. GOod show!!

Regards! Michaelson

blade runner · Post by **blade runner** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 3:51 pm

Thanks for the input, guys. I think maybe my head is shaped too much like this

and it throws off my measuring

. I need to get the hang of that before I get around to ordering something like an AB. I hope getting the fed figured out will help. If Akubra sizes are consistent, the best option right now would probably be to get one size smaller.

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:21 pm

I've noticed that the Fed's run slightly large, too, but once they break in, they are great. I order 59's even though I'm normally a low-end 60 by measurement. When they are new, they touch my ears. I don't pad them, I just wear them, and within a month they are comfy old friends. My advice. Wear it a while. If you still don't like the fit, sell it somebody here and get the smaller size. But I'd say give it a chance first.
Chewie

Fatdutchman · Post by **Fatdutchman** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:59 pm

I most certainly gave them my measurement (22 3/4")...I was told that that is what the size 58 corresponds to...well it worked out that way once, but not the second time.

FGD · Post by **FGD** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:22 am

I have the same basic story as everyone else. My head measures 56.5 so I ordered my Fed in a 57. When I got it, it was huge. It was just snug enough to wear, but still loose when I put both peices of foam tape in. I e-mailed hatsdirect and explained this and they told me to stick with the 57. Now I have been wearing it since christmas, and was rained on (A lot) once, and the next day I took out one piece of foam. Last night I was out in the snow with my son for about an hour, and this morning the hat was fairly tight again and I may remove the other piece of foam. I must say that even with all this shrinking the hat still looks great and I don't see any signs of taper. My question is though, will it continue to shrink? I am going to run out of foam tape and I would hate for it to get too small and then need to stretch it.

Fedora · Post by **Fedora** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:44 am

You guys can always use the old lampshape trick. It works on the Federations quite well. Fedora

FGD · Post by **FGD** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:10 pm

I considered the lampshade trick, but I though I would try the natural way first. Its only been a month and it fits nicely now, but my concern is, will it shrink too far? Or does it only go so far and then sort of stablize?

Kaleponi Craig · Post by **Kaleponi Craig** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:16 pm

Bladerunner, I wear a 61, but when I contacted Akubra, they suggested I order a 60. The 60 fits perfectly, so it seems they run big...KC

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:40 pm

Those who are concerned that it will keep on shrinking, you don't have too much to worry about. It might feel a little snug when you first put it on if you don't wear it for a while, but will quickly re-conform. If it gets really wet, you can put a Hat Jack in it until it dries. Plenty of people carry them, but I got mine at Noggintops.com

Chewie