Club Obi Wan

I recently bought Akubra's Adventurer hat. Really nice hat, but it's hard as a rock! Any advice on how to soften it up without damaging it?

I have one of these as well and I'm a big fan of it. You just have to mess around with it. I worked a little curl into the back of the brim of mine and generally just handled it and wear it a lot. It was my front line Indy for a while, and really just a solid hat for anything. Moderate dress, working in the yard, puttering around, tourist-ing, etc, etc... A very comfortable hat.

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... IM2039.jpg

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj29 ... IM2165.jpg

You may simply want to try pushing out the creases and the squashing it a few times. Then brush it out - maybe use a sponge...
Sadly, for as great a hat as this is, it doesn't get a lot of respect from some people around here. I like it, but the detractors tend to be a bit vocal ( if you can be vocal on an internet forum ).[/url]

I like it, but the detractors tend to be a bit vocal ( if you can be vocal on an internet forum )

No more vocal than the fans of the hat.

It's not the hat that folks get vocal about, as it's a fine Akubra. It's the way it came about that upset folks. Nothing more.

You have a great hat, and though they got a bit more stiffner than usual, it can be worked out as suggested above.

Regard! Michaelson

No more vocal than the fans of the hat.

True enough, and with some of the more recent shenanigans, I suppose almost any comment would seem tame.

Ain't THAT the truth!!!



Regard! Michaelson

Well ... thanks all. But you have me wondering what is meant by "how it came about" and "shenanigans?"

Best to let sleeping dogs lie.

Do a search. It's all posted in past threads.

Regards! Michaelson

WOOF!

What's all the Rumpus?

"Take yer flunky and dangle."

what's the diff between the Adventurer and a Fed IV??..
Anyone??

darthbish wrote:what's the diff between the Adventurer and a Fed IV??..
Anyone??

Broader brim, dimensional, but it is 3" front and back and 2 7/8 on the sides.

Fed 3 was 2 7/8 front to back and 2.75

Fed 4? 2.75 and 2.5

Adventurer has a slightly different ribbon color and a slightly tapered crown

But, it is an Akubra, so it is a very nice hat.

IMHO opinion Akubra laid an egg with the 4, the 3 was superior in every way, save the ribbon. 4 felt is thinner, and rougher, the crown is to low, and the block is too domed. My 4 can't hold a candle to my two Fed 3's.

There, I said it.

darthbish wrote:what's the diff between the Adventurer and a Fed IV??..
Anyone??

Here is a Fed Iv Standard and AKAd side by side for comparisons.



Some of the Feds are low crowned, however my recent Fed Iv Deluxe is not one of those.



Cheers
Jonesy

I've read a lot here about "Federation" III, IV and V's. I did a web search and can find no vendor selling them. What's the G-2 here?

www.hatsdirect.com .

I hope you haven't read anything about a Federation V, that would mean you are seeing into the future.

Dave

Thanks. Why do I not see any prices?

alphared6 wrote:Thanks. Why do I not see any prices?

http://www.hatsdirect.com/federation/index.html

Prices are under "Order Federation IV" in left index column.

Jack

"Piker"

Broader brim, dimensional, but it is 3" front and back and 2 7/8 on the sides.

Fed 3 was 2 7/8 front to back and 2.75

Fed 4? 2.75 and 2.5

Adventurer has a slightly different ribbon color and a slightly tapered crown

But, it is an Akubra, so it is a very nice hat.

IMHO opinion Akubra laid an egg with the 4, the 3 was superior in every way, save the ribbon. 4 felt is thinner, and rougher, the crown is to low, and the block is too domed. My 4 can't hold a candle to my two Fed 3's.

There, I said it.

The felt is thinner???
Heck, how thick is the Fed III then?? coz my IV is pretty darn thick..

The felt is thinner???
Heck, how thick is the Fed III then?? coz my IV is pretty darn thick..

The III is a nice thickness, not like a cowboy hat, but a stout feel to it that says, this is a nice hat, that can take what you dish out.
The IV? almost paper thin.
The III is soft to the touch, smooth rich felt.
The IV? rough, hairy: individual hairs actually stick up. Like to get a splinter if you run your fingers over it.

I'm over it too.

Piker wrote:

The felt is thinner???
Heck, how thick is the Fed III then?? coz my IV is pretty darn thick..

The III is a nice thickness, not like a cowboy hat, but a stout feel to it that says, this is a nice hat, that can take what you dish out.
The IV? almost paper thin.
The III is soft to the touch, smooth rich felt.
The IV? rough, hairy: individual hairs actually stick up. Like to get a splinter if you run your fingers over it.

I'm over it too.

You need to get yourself a Deluxe then my good man!

Cheers
Jonesy

Makes me think that maybe my III actually might be a DLX that was miss-tagged.

the brim on my Fed IV is about 2.5mm thick...

Mannnnnnn.....How thick do you want it??

darthbish wrote:Mannnnnnn.....How thick do you want it??

Dude!

I will measure it and get back atcha

eazybox wrote:

alphared6 wrote:Thanks. Why do I not see any prices?

http://www.hatsdirect.com/federation/index.html

Prices are under "Order Federation IV" in left index column.

Jack

That does not appear on the page when I go to it. What's up?

http://www.hatsdirect.com/cgi-bin/produ ... edora+Hats

That should work for you.

OK ... The colors seem to be limited, for an Indy fedora to dark brown. Is this gonna end up a chocolate brown? Almost black?

alphared6 wrote:OK ... The colors seem to be limited, for an Indy fedora to dark brown. Is this gonna end up a chocolate brown? Almost black?

That only depends if you use a flash or not...sorry that's an inside joke.

Actually, the color for the Fed to be an Indy style is the dark brown unless you want the Indy's gray travel hat and that would be the Moonstone.

Many thanks. With shipping it looks like a total of about 140.00 bucks.
I sent them an Email to inquire if they have a size 60 in stock.

No problem, good luck and post the pics when you get it!!!

alphared6 wrote:

eazybox wrote:

alphared6 wrote:Thanks. Why do I not see any prices?

http://www.hatsdirect.com/federation/index.html

Prices are under "Order Federation IV" in left index column.

Jack

That does not appear on the page when I go to it. What's up?

You needed to actually press the "Order Federation IV" button in the left column to get to the correct page. I was just too lazy to copy the longer url for that page. Sorry to have confused you, and I'm glad you finally got where you wanted to go.

Jack

Thanks Jack, just waiting for a response to my inquirer about the availability of a size 60.
I've been all over COW looking at pix of Fed IV's. The colors seem to vary from dark dark brown to a lighter brown with a slight rust hint.
What the heck color are these hats anyway?????

60!......just kidding! I recently received a HJ, and personally, I don't think it is half the hat as the Fed IV. Sable/dark brown is standard issue.

alphared6 wrote:Thanks Jack, just waiting for a response to my inquirer about the availability of a size 60.
I've been all over COW looking at pix of Fed IV's. The colors seem to vary from dark dark brown to a lighter brown with a slight rust hint.
What the heck color are these hats anyway?????

I don't own a Fed IV, but from photos the color looks like a fairly dark shade of brown to me.

Jack

I'm start'n to think so too. Don't know if I want another Dark Brown hat. My Akubra is a very dark chocolate brown.

alphared6 wrote:I'm start'n to think so too. Don't know if I want another Dark Brown hat. My Akubra is a very dark chocolate brown.

Well, if color is an important factor, you might want to take a look at the Christys Adventurer from Hornetshats.com. It comes in a wide variety of colors. See the thread dedicated to it in this Fedora section for all the other details you should need.

Jack

I did that Jack. My impression from my various reads here is that they are backed up and it's taking months to git one after you order. I sent an Email a couple of days back, no response yet.

Now this is more what I'm looking for. Any one ever hear about these?

http://www.millerhats.com/miller_fedora/257_fedora.html

alphared6 wrote:I did that Jack. My impression from my various reads here is that they are backed up and it's taking months to git one after you order. I sent an Email a couple of days back, no response yet.

I knew the Christys was becoming very popular, but I didn't realize it was taking months to get them now. Any way, best of luck with the Miller! You may also want to check out Peters Bros., Penman, Camptown, Jimmy Pierce Designs, Keppler, etc. Lots of great options now!

Jack

alphared6 wrote:I did that Jack. My impression from my various reads here is that they are backed up and it's taking months to git one after you order. I sent an Email a couple of days back, no response yet.

Where did you read this? I've not heard that yet...

-KB

alphared6 wrote:I did that Jack. My impression from my various reads here is that they are backed up and it's taking months to git one after you order. I sent an Email a couple of days back, no response yet.

I just reread this post and it seems you may have the Christys mixed up with Adventurebilt? Anyway, I just went through the order process at hornetshats.com without actually ordering another Adventurer, and all seems fine!

Jack

alphared6 wrote:Now this is more what I'm looking for. Any one ever hear about these?

http://www.millerhats.com/miller_fedora/257_fedora.html

The Fed IV I saw in person (not a deluxe) was a dark brown. Piker might think the felt is "paper thin" but that really reveals a lack of exposure. It's very thin compared to a western hat, for sure.

The Miller in the link above has a beautiful sable color. Very rich. However, it lack the quality and durability of the Federations. So, if you want a dress hat, it's good. But if it's going to see some rough use, I'm not sure if it can take it.

If color is your issue, the Tawny Fawn or whatever by Akubra is darkish tan color. Keppler's brown is very different from the Federation dark brown as well. Ultimately, though, most Indy hats boil down to dark brown of some kind.

Chewbacca Jones wrote:[quote=" Ultimately, though, most Indy hats boil down to dark brown of some kind.

Which has always puzzled me, because the HJ's used in the first 3 films were all a medium brown.

Jack

Lighting is a factor, also. Some shots, such as the Raiders: temple, Raven bar, map room, well of souls scenes were filmed inside, and the rest, in varying exposures of sunlight. Full exposure sunlight will obviously contrast the darker, temple scene. Dirt, sand, etc., will also lighten the appearance of the felt a bit. Some, such as KT have experience with the Christi's light sable, and he has posted recently that it was too light, in his opinion. Still a matter of preference.

Texan Scott wrote:Lighting is a factor, also. Some shots, such as the Raiders: temple, Raven bar, map room, well of souls scenes were filmed inside, and the rest, in varying exposures of sunlight. Full exposure sunlight will obviously contrast the darker, temple scene. Dirt, sand, etc., will also lighten the appearance of the felt a bit. Some, such as KT have experience with the Christi's light sable, and he has posted recently that it was too light, in his opinion. Still a matter of preference.

That's all true, and I used to think of the color as dark brown myself, until I was in the process of ordering one over the phone from Swales. He asked me if I wanted the movie color and I said "dark brown?" He answered, "it's a medium brown-- we call it sable." I had to adjust my perception a little bit, but I realized the color actully was best described as medium brown. There is a lot of leeway for interpretation in that shade, though.

Jack