Buying an Indy fedora
Moderators: Indiana Jeff, Dalexs
Buying an Indy fedora
hey all.. just want to say that I HAVE been trolling and reading, but still need some custom advice.
I recently bought a disney fedora because they looked good in the picture and didn't start my serious research until now. and.. even though I'm not a hat person... this thing is @#$%. it's not THAT bad, but it's obviously nothing more than a costume piece. it's kind of hard to take seriously. here are my questions:
1. If I was to steam it and redo the front pinch to more of a raiders spec (I managed to pull it off dry and it looks a LOT better), would it hold for a full day without hairspray? also, when I do this pinch, I notice that at a roughly 3/4 turn, the dent in the side of the hat that's facing away is VERY prominent. as if half the hat has caved in (which it has, of course). it looks kind of stupid, actually. however, I haven't seen any other indy hat pics at this particular angle. do ALL raider style hats show the concave so blatantly? or is it just because the disney wasn't made with enough material to properly provide for a raiders pinch (seems unlikely, but thought I'd ask). oh, it's the cheap wool version, btw.
2. since I already paid $45 for this hat, and I STILL lose $20 if I ship it back for a return, I'm keeping it, but considering a cheaper alternative. I was thinking of the akubra fed.. (yes, I know and LOVE the AB and Lee's version, but I can't spend over $100 on a hat at this point) but I notice in the picture that the front of the fed's brim drops off dramatically. like.. straight down. is this how they all end up? because if so, I'll stick with the disney and save the $80.
thanks for any advice in advance!
I recently bought a disney fedora because they looked good in the picture and didn't start my serious research until now. and.. even though I'm not a hat person... this thing is @#$%. it's not THAT bad, but it's obviously nothing more than a costume piece. it's kind of hard to take seriously. here are my questions:
1. If I was to steam it and redo the front pinch to more of a raiders spec (I managed to pull it off dry and it looks a LOT better), would it hold for a full day without hairspray? also, when I do this pinch, I notice that at a roughly 3/4 turn, the dent in the side of the hat that's facing away is VERY prominent. as if half the hat has caved in (which it has, of course). it looks kind of stupid, actually. however, I haven't seen any other indy hat pics at this particular angle. do ALL raider style hats show the concave so blatantly? or is it just because the disney wasn't made with enough material to properly provide for a raiders pinch (seems unlikely, but thought I'd ask). oh, it's the cheap wool version, btw.
2. since I already paid $45 for this hat, and I STILL lose $20 if I ship it back for a return, I'm keeping it, but considering a cheaper alternative. I was thinking of the akubra fed.. (yes, I know and LOVE the AB and Lee's version, but I can't spend over $100 on a hat at this point) but I notice in the picture that the front of the fed's brim drops off dramatically. like.. straight down. is this how they all end up? because if so, I'll stick with the disney and save the $80.
thanks for any advice in advance!
- Pitfall Harry
- Expeditionary Hero
- Posts: 2114
- Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:43 pm
Both the Akubra Fed and Fed Deluxe are solid hats. The brim in the pics you saw was most likely styled that way. I know when I got mine it was as stiff as a board. The only way the brim is going to droop like that is if you keeping messing with it and want it styled like that.
Trust me. These hats are the best bang for your buck if your not wanting to spend a lot. They're waaaaaaay better than that Disney hat you bought.
By the way.....don't feel bad. I've owned a Disney Indy hat. The only thing they're good for really is sitting on a shelf.
Trust me. These hats are the best bang for your buck if your not wanting to spend a lot. They're waaaaaaay better than that Disney hat you bought.
By the way.....don't feel bad. I've owned a Disney Indy hat. The only thing they're good for really is sitting on a shelf.
Go with the Akubra. When I got mine the brim was not stiff as a board, but wasn't like a piece of tissue paper either. It was firm enough to style the way I wanted it. The Akubra Federation (and consequently the Deluxe) is a tank. The Fed that I have, I bought about 3 years ago. It's been through countless rain storms, been to Mexico, an absolute downpour in South Africa, frozen in London, and even been lost in San Francisco for weeks (I didn't think I'd ever get it back!) and it still kicks butt. The thing has gone through heat and rain and just keeps on pushing, with very little taper other than what came with the Raiders styling I gave it. For a beginning hat, I couldn't recommend any better hat.
I do also own an AB Rabbit and have another AB (Beaver) on the way. I still say the Akubra is a fantastic hat. It'll last you forever!!
Here's an older picture of mine, showing how a styled Akubra should really look (with Fuller's earth added).
And here's one taken this summer of me (on the left) wearing it:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/ ... 010019.jpg
In Christ,
Shane
I do also own an AB Rabbit and have another AB (Beaver) on the way. I still say the Akubra is a fantastic hat. It'll last you forever!!
Here's an older picture of mine, showing how a styled Akubra should really look (with Fuller's earth added).
And here's one taken this summer of me (on the left) wearing it:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/ ... 010019.jpg
In Christ,
Shane
- Michaelson
- Knower of Things
- Posts: 44484
- Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
- Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando
The Deluxe is made from the highest end/quality felt that Akubra produces their hats from. It's softer, but denser than the standard Federation.
Just a better grade material, even though the Fed is top drawer, the Deluxe is just a bit better in terms of material quality.
Of the two, it's my personal favorite.
Regards! Michaelson
Just a better grade material, even though the Fed is top drawer, the Deluxe is just a bit better in terms of material quality.
Of the two, it's my personal favorite.
Regards! Michaelson
- Tennessee Smith
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10582
- Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:47 pm
- Location: Everything we need is right here.
I have the Fed Regular and I love it. I know the Delux is a better grade but I'm more than happy with the one I got. It's not like its a bottom of the barrel hat, far from it. The local Cracker Barrel restaurant in my town has the WOOL Indy for sale for $20. So I've seen and felt it. The WOOL Indy well,.... to be cordial there is no comparison betweeen the two. Also, part of the experience is bashing the hat yourself.
Fatwoul and I go our Fed's about the same time. He got the Delux, we both posted our pics and compared the colors of each. Mine was a bit darker than his and I'm sure it all depends on which batch the felt comes from.
The prices on each hat has also dropped quite a bit since I got mine 2 months ago, so order it before the exchange rage changes goes back up!!!!
Fatwoul and I go our Fed's about the same time. He got the Delux, we both posted our pics and compared the colors of each. Mine was a bit darker than his and I'm sure it all depends on which batch the felt comes from.
The prices on each hat has also dropped quite a bit since I got mine 2 months ago, so order it before the exchange rage changes goes back up!!!!
Last edited by Tennessee Smith on Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Michaelson
- Knower of Things
- Posts: 44484
- Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
- Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando
- Tennessee Smith
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10582
- Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:47 pm
- Location: Everything we need is right here.
- Michaelson
- Knower of Things
- Posts: 44484
- Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
- Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando
- Tennessee Smith
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10582
- Joined: Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:47 pm
- Location: Everything we need is right here.
- Michaelson
- Knower of Things
- Posts: 44484
- Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
- Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando
- Michaelson
- Knower of Things
- Posts: 44484
- Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
- Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando
-
- Scoundrel
- Posts: 1264
- Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 3:35 pm
- Location: Tracking down Farnham54
- Michaelson
- Knower of Things
- Posts: 44484
- Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 12:55 pm
- Location: Out here knowing stuff and things and wishing I were with the family at Universal Studios Orlando