Club Obi Wan

Well, the dorfman didn't work out so well, and now I want a different hat. I know about the fed.. but I don't like the idea of spending 30% of the hat price on shipping, so I was wondering about the akubra explorer on davidmorgan.com. anyone know anything about it? is it worth the 104? hopefully I can pick up one of the two fed deluxes I'm looking into right now..

If you want a good Akubra Indy, I'd recommend getting a Federation or Fed Deluxe through www.hatsdirect.com. http://www.hatsdirect.com/cgi/products. ... edora+Hats Even with shipping, the cost ends up being the same and you end up getting a hat designed with a lot of input from members of COW, so you know you'll be getting an Indy-styled fedora.

Take Bink's advice. Don't look at the shipping price on it's own. Look at the total price you'll pay. In most cases, it works out better to order from hatsdirect.

ok.. then seeing as how it's from australia, any idea how long the shipping is? I need it in hand by about the 18th.

I don't understand.. no one knows the exact out of the box dimensions? and the hat quality differs from hat to hat? so what are members doing.. cutting them themselves?

yes

We are currently unable to obtain more stock of the 1631 Explorer. Unfortunately, after filling our initial order, Akubra found there was a name conflict with another hat company. We are working with Akubra to resolve this conflict, and hope to have a new fedora available to the US market in the near future. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

the only size they have left is 63, which is way too big for my head.. even with growing my hair in for the costume. oh well.. it looked like a nice hat. hopefully I'll get lucky with one of the fed's.

Aeris_Canon wrote:*Don't quote me on the Fed Deluxe's dimensions, though. I've seen good and "eh" versions of it. It'd be great to get an accurate open crown measurement from these to solidify a recommendation.

Sorry AC, but I am gonna quote you on that one. I have a size 57 Fed Deluxe and it is a 6" tall open crown. Except for the felt, the Fed Regular and Fed Deluxe should be the same.

As long as you don't beat the messenger with that stick

Sorry old friend, but it's true. They're all made on the same blocks at the Akubra factory.

Regards! Michaelson

Hey, you could get your own tv show too!

Regard! Michaelson

So what specifically would have to be done to a Fed deluxe to make it look right? I'm not exactly keen on cutting up the brim.

How right a hat looks depends on the person wearing it. I chose a 4 1/2 inch front pinch.
Just like you I'm hesitant to cut the brim, but I don't think it's really necessary anyway. What I did is really abuse the hat, sit on it, make a little ball out of it, you name it. The felt really softened up. I also did not steam it, but actually folded it into the shape I like. I still like to play with the hat and try new things.

The Akubra's are funny. Different crown heights seem to pop up from time time, and same with brim widths.

Occasionally I see a crown that's a little shorter, and not always on a smaller size hat. Also, out of four regular feds, only one of mine has had a non-Indy size brim.

Akubra's are, even at best, never exact Indy hats, but they do a great job. They will beat any other hat at their price point. I just think, personally, that the Fed looks better and costs less in the end, compared to the Explorer.

Having seen one of the Explorers from a head-on view( it was being auctioned on ebay), the front pich would appear to make it difficult to look like a good Indy hat....way too deep........IMO.

Heh, heh, Sorry Tone. Looks like my first impressions of this Fed Deluxe a friend of mine bought were slightly wrong.

It is a size 60, and it does, on measuring, seem to have a 6" unbashed crown. It is very nice though and a definate step up from the Fed Reg I used to have.

Anyways, here a coupla pics for you.