Club Obi Wan

As many of you know I have a rabbit AB that I love. I wear it when ever I'm in the outdoors. However, during the summer months I'm always afraid of getting caught in one of those pop up storms we get here in WV. I certainly don't want to have my perfect Raiders AB taper.

So, I've been playing with the idea of getting an Akubra to use on those rainy days. I haven't considered the regular Fed because of its tendency to turn green. So this leaves the Fed Deluxe. I did a search, but I couldn't really find any answers. I'm not concerned with the block shape at the moment. I just want to know how the Fed Deluxe holds up. Particularly how well does it resist taper? How's the color?

Thanks!

I live in Oregon where thats all it does is rain and I wear one to work everyday. The color is a solid brown, no green overtones. It has a mild taper but not exaggerated, but then I've had 4 Akubra's and they have all tapered a bit. For the price you could probably get a 50/50 beaver blend from Jersy Jones that would hold up better, since the Akubra is 100% hare. But the Akubra is a decent hat that will do fine if that is what you want.

fedoralover

Yeah, I've got one too. I don't ware it out much though. The color is lighter brown that the HJ that I have, I don't have an AB to compair it to, but I'm guessing that they are about as dark or maybe a bit lighter than my HJ from the pictures I've seen. My Fed Delux is also "dirt distressed" in these pictures.

Pic1
Pic2
Pic3

Thats a great distressing job there Doc!

fedoralover, thanks for mentioning JerseyJones. I had forgotten about his hats!

Thanks guys!

My Fed Deluxe's color is as good now (1 yr. old) as it was when new. I see no major taper, tho' we do not get a lot of rain in New York. A great hat for the dough.

I didn't have the deluxe, but I used to own a standard Federation that saw a lot of rain. It tapered quite nicely over time, but it was still a great hat. Here's a question (unless you just need an excuse to buy another hat ) Instead of spending the money on a nother "rain" hat, why not spend a lot less for some good water repellant for your AB? I think Fedora used stuff from a company called B&L if I remember correctly... Any hat will taper some over time. Eventually your rabbit AB will even need a reblock if you wear it alot. But if you're still concerned, I might take fedoralover's advice and look into a 50/50 blend Camptown.

bink

Bink, aren't we all looking for an excue to buy another hat? I've treated my AB several times with Scotchguard. In fact its probably about time for another treatment.

Of course I undertand that any hat will taper over time, but I figure no need to hurry it up. I've been playing with the idea of a "purely" outdoor hat for a while, a hat that I wouldn't have to worry about. I was looking at the Akubra Overlander. I then realized that it was made out of the same felt as the Fed Deluxe. So I though I'd get some opinion here on COW.

Keep'em coming guys!

J_Weaver wrote: I'm not concerned with the block shape at the moment. I just want to know how the Fed Deluxe holds up. Particularly how well does it resist taper? How's the color?

Thanks!

I'm on the Northern coast of California with a similar climate to what fedoralover describes; we've had near daily rain for the last month here, and the temperature and humidity change rapidly here. My Fed Deluxe which I've worn near daily for several months now has no taper on the sides whatsoever despite getting soaked in numerous downpours.

The color is good, no greening or anything like that; to get really picky, I would say that it's a touch darker brown than I would want for a Raiders look, but overall I'm very happy with it. If I had my druthers I'd also like the crown to be a little less domed so the sides would stay straight for another 3/4 inch or so, but that's why I've got a beaver AB on order now. (I think it was mentioned elsewhere that Fedora is trying to get them to copy his block shape; if that happens I'll have no criticisms on that front!)

I think the Fed Deluxe is an excellect hat for the price, so if beaver is out of your price range for a while I'd say go for it, then get a beaver AB next year.

Antone

PS-Anyone have a pics of a Jersey Jones? Never heard of it...

Antone, here is a thread that shows several pics of JerseyJones' Camptown 'Fieldmaster'.

Thanks Antone!:)

I agree about the block shape. Its really not quite right for a Raiders hat. However, since I already have an AB I'm not to worried about it. If I get a Fed Deluxe it will be getting a LC bash!

I think the Rabbit AB's are all over and done with, but I could be wrong.

Weaver, you know the Fed and Fed Deluxe only come open crowned, right?

Strider wrote:Weaver, you know the Fed and Fed Deluxe only come open crowned, right?

Yup, and I wouldn't have it anyother way. Bashing your own hat is half the fun!

Tone, like Strider said I think the rabbits are all gone, but I don't know for sure.

I guess another option would be to get my own block. But thats not as much fun as a new hat.

As I recall, Fedora just doesn't like the rabbit felt. He wants to concentrate on putting out the best Indy hat he can, which means using a higher quality felt. Besides, there are so many rabbit felt options that I think he wants to be able to offer what other hatters haven't been able to deliver. On top of that, he's currently swamped with orders for beaver hats that adding requests for rabbit would snow him under!

bink

Indiana_Tone wrote:Then again, how about a Pith Helmet as a backup, J_Weaver? It's, uh.....waterproof.

I'll leave that to my dad. He's the pith helmet guy.

Well, the beaver AB is also an option(although an expensive one for me), but I'm just kinda weighing the options right now.

J_Weaver wrote:Well, the beaver AB is also an option(although an expensive one for me), but I'm just kinda weighing the options right now.

I totally understand, which is why the 50/50 Camptown blend may be a more affordable option for you.

bink

I think the Camptown runs somehwere around $135 or $145. The 50/50 blend does make it tempting, especially for the price. I wounder how well the Camptown could handle a LC bash?

That sounds like a good price for a 50/50 blend. I would think it could take a LC bash.

It does. That's what style mine is bashed in. Regards! Michaelson

I have 3 regular Akubra feds, 1 gray, 2 brown. My first brown tapered some
but I attribute that to my unrelenting quest for the proper bash and my overuse of steam.
It has been wet, some, but hasn't been affected a lot.
The other 2 haven't tapered at all. The same said brown fed is also a little lighter in shade now but no green.
Still fine hats for the money. An AB is planned and when that happens, the Feds will become the "beater"
hats for the inclement weather.

J_Weaver

My original "Regular" Akubra (seen in my avatar) spent 6 years in Portland Oregon and lived thru numerous rain season downpours. It has yet to taper.
Oregon rain season is basically Sept thru May, so it has gotten plenty wet!
I only just this year reblocked it because it started looking a bit ragged.

Akubras are work hats made for the Austrailian Outback.
They are made to be worn hard and take the abuse with no problem.
While I own a number of other hats, I still like my Akubra.

Dalexs

Look at Feraud's avatar. That is now my Fed. See the Topic " Cinched Ribbon: Cairo". That second hat is my tweaked out Fed. Best Cairo(and only way to achieve Cairo look)hat on this forum. IMO.

Thanks for all the input guys!


Any of you other Akubra owners join in. My only real concern with the regular Fed is the "greenish" tint many of them have.

My standard Federation started to go "green," but my understanding was that this wasn't the case with the deluxe. I've never owned the Fed deluxe, though, so I can't say with certainty. However, I can almost say with certainty that upon reading this thread, VP will post the picture of Hemingway's "green" Akubra again.

bink

I bought my Akubra Fed Deluxe at the initial offering. The color is a nice brown-brown. The ribbon is one of the darkest out there. Although the ribbon pinch is quite narrow in the center. The fedora has been really put through the grinder as far as qetting wet and snowed on. No taper at all since 2002.

The block. It definitely seems to vary by size. We first noticed this when some pictures were posted. I believe the 7 1/4 and 7 3/8 had a very slight taper. The 7 1/2's were spot on straight up and down. So our opinion was their block varied from size to size.

You can't beat the price. My only other complaint is the brim size comes stock. I prefer a 3 inch brim front & back - about 2 7/8's on the sides. For my face shape and body height the Fed Deluxe looks skimpy on me. But this is strictly a personal preference and fine tuning. I would have bought more due to this reason. However, with the punishment I have given it, it does taking a licking. No fading at all.

Just my .02...

-S

I concur with you 100% on that Sergei, I wear a 7 1/4 and mine has some mild taper, a friend of mine bought one and his was a 7 1/2 and it was noticably straighter on the sides.

fedoralover

I wear a 7 1/4 which must explain why mine tapered like it did. Wow, you think they'd use the same block style for all sizes. Go figure.

My dad has a Fed regular that is a 7 1/4 and it has the taper too.

All of you guys have really comfirned what I thought. It looks like I may be getting a Fed Deluxe to use as my "adventure" hat before the spring and summer monsoons start.

Thanks!

I was kinda hoping you'd give the Camptown a try, we need more feedback on it's wearability.

fedoralover

Mine's wearing like iron. Softening up too with use, as it comes about as stiff as an Akubra when it arrives, but with the beaver blend, it loosens up nicely. I use it as my 'work hat', or knock around hat.

Regards! Michaelson

I agree. A rabbit/beaver blend is going to take more "abuse" than straight rabbit, so I was kind of hoping you'd go that route, too. That said, the deluxe has a good reputation. However, it's YOUR money and your hat, so you should be confident in whatever hat you buy! Good luck!

bink

My fedora is the Federation Deluxe. It is the only good one that I own. It was given to me by a friend so it has a special quality to it.
I tried to shape mine using the tutorial on this site. The shape seems fine, what bothers me some is that it is so stiff.
My usual hat is a kahaki/green fur felt with a leather hat band. Soft as can be. You can sit on it and pick it up, shape it and it is fine. I've worn iot over 10 years through all types of weather. Playground duty, Patrol duty, you name it, the hat has been through it.
In my ignorance I expected all fur felt hats to be this soft. I love the Fed Delux. I just need to get used to the "hard hat" feeling.

Best regards,

Prof. Ed

Thats my biggest concern with the Camptown. There is so little info about it. The color also seems more of a "fawn." A bit too light for an Indy fedora. If I were looking for a fedora in general though, it would indeed be a good option.

Prof. Ed wrote:In my ignorance I expected all fur felt hats to be this soft. I love the Fed Delux. I just need to get used to the "hard hat" feeling.

Best regards,

Prof. Ed

Don't worry, it will soften up with use and time.

J_Weaver wrote:

Prof. Ed wrote:In my ignorance I expected all fur felt hats to be this soft. I love the Fed Delux. I just need to get used to the "hard hat" feeling.

Best regards,

Prof. Ed

Don't worry, it will soften up with use and time.

That is good to hear. Will it be in my lifetime? I'm 57 and have had a heart attack.

Regards,

Ol' Prof. Ed

The Camptown is a dark brown...not fawn at all! As a matter of fact, it's what I'm wearing in my avatar, if you can judge anything from that photo.

Ed, trust us..first rain or so, and with regular wear, it will soften up just fine....and in short order. You just have to use it.

Regards! Michaelson

M,

I'm a very trusting soul. My hat will be so soft that I'll look like I was on the set of "He Haw"!
Seriously, it is a great hat. I just have a poor head. I've had to use a lot of foam tape to make up for my short hair cut. If I'm caught in a flood, I will float.

Best,

Prof. Ed

Michaelson wrote:The Camptown is a dark brown...not fawn at all! As a matter of fact, it's what I'm wearing in my avatar, if you can judge anything from that photo.

Ah, thats good news! The pics in ths thread akes it look quite light.

viewtopic.php?t=13003

Yes, it really isn't that light. Just a lot of light bounce back in those photos.

Regards! Michaelson

Looks like the hat in your avatar is about the same color as my Fed Delux (minus dirt) Michaelson.

That's a good comparion, Doc!

Regards! Michaelson

Michaelson wrote: ... if you can judge anything from that photo ...

I thought we weren't suppose to judge?

As far as the Fed Dx goes. Mine held up under all kinds of Seattle weather and never tapered. Of course now that I have my AB, well ... the Fed doesn't get out much anymore. Unless it's raining hard.

Of course, Jess has a pointy head, and therefore has no CLUE if his hat is really tapered or not...but that's besides the 'point'...

Regards! Michaelson

Hey!! My head is pointy because I keep my brains in my ... wait, this is not coming out right. Dang!

AH...no....I WON'T go through that door....to easy...

Regards! Michaelson

My original Reg Akubra (The Best Fedora I've owned in 20 Years) which was the one I wore to the hospital when Coppertop was born, aged really well. Didn't taper too much, and is still in excelent shape. Only in rare lighting conditions does it have the green tint. It's on display here in the museum wing of The Fedora Chronicles HG... (other wise known as my wife's desk.)

The Deluxe I got before Harrison was born came with a slight taper but was fixed with a reblock. Hasn't tapered back yet.

With that said, they're great fedoras. If you're looking for something that's going to last long, you're a home-gamer when it comes to shaping and bashing, they're the best.

The best fedora to date is the Adventurebilt. I'm still waiting for it to discolor and taper... but it just won't do it. I've worn it out in the rain, the snow, the humid and hot days of summer... and it just WON'T DO IT!

Ren, I'm shocked it took you this long to chime in on this thread. Thanks!

Indiana Jess wrote:

Michaelson wrote: ... if you can judge anything from that photo ...

I thought we weren't suppose to judge?

As far as the Fed Dx goes. Mine held up under all kinds of Seattle weather and never tapered. Of course now that I have my AB, well ... the Fed doesn't get out much anymore. Unless it's raining hard.

Ok, somebody explain this "taper" thing to me :

The best 'pictorial' demonstration is this one.

Regular hat crown/sides..... l l

Tapered hat...... / \

The hat is made originally from a cone of felt. It's blocked into the shape you wear, but if wetted many times, and the felt is not coarse enough, it trys to return to that cone shape.

Did that make any sense?

Regards! Michaelson

Abraham Lincoln's stovepipe top hat = straight
Jerry's dunce cap = tapered

Very fine analogies, gentleman