FED IV and FED IV Deluxue

[Indiana Citroen]

what's the difference?

Will be ordering this week...is the deluxe vastly superior?

thanks

[binkmeisterRick]

The differences are listed on the Hats Direct website:

http://hatsdirect.com/federation/specifications.html

[Kokopelli]

what's the difference?

Will be ordering this week...is the deluxe vastly superior?

thanks

...about $40 bucks superior. I've had both, and in my opinion, I don't see $40 worth more in it. The sweatband feels nicer, but I don't see the vast difference in the felt. Given the choice, I would get the standard. Or in my case, i would not get the Deluxe - I wanted a Moonstone, size 57 Fed. they didn't have that size in stock, back ordered until April, but they had the Deluxe in my size. -No thanks.

[gobo]

Unless you have ordered already, you might want to consider my Fed story.
I bought a Deluxe five years ago, and wore it daily, in all kinds of weather and conditions.
It did end up tapering a bit, but nothing a reblock wouldn't fix.
I bought a regular Fed IV to wear on May 22nd , and started wearing it daily instead of the Deluxe.
After about four months, it had shrunk to such a degree that all the king's reblocks and all the king's stiffener can't bring it back again.
IMHO, the regular Fed simply can't take the heat. Or the humidity. Or the crude stashing in the bag for the flight. Or the being left in the hot car.
The crest on the liner is pretty nice, though

Here they are today, Deluxe on the left. They are both taller than they appear to be.
The Deluxe is still wet from all the snow here in Oslo. It's been reblocked twice in the past year, but still looks new(ish) and is soft to the touch.
The felt is almost worn through in places, though, so I've ordered a Henry to replace it.
The morale is, go with the Deluxe.

[Russian Raider]

gobo i think it depends from the batch of the hats. My regular came through alot of abuse and wear, i wore it from May to Feb daily. It was under +30 to - 25 c' conditions, under water, rain, snow, heat, dirt. It is like the more i use it, better it looks. It is been rebashed for about 5 times - i mean totally rebashed, up to open crown.
But maybe i am too fond of my hat? I never sat on it, never toss it in the dirt and stomp on it, toss it in the bag. No, thats not for me. We have a good friendship with my Fed, i cant see me buying another hat anytime soon.

[jkdbuck76]

Perhaps letting it sit in the car is what killed it.

Sure, it will mess up the sweatband, but I am willing to bet that leaving
a Fed (or any hat) in a hot car would mess it up.

There are laws against leaving pets and kids in a hot car. The same should
be for fedoras!

I've said it elsewhere and I'll say it again: paying the extra cashola for
a delux FedIV is worth it.

[Indiana Citroen]

...not only did I order, it took 2 days from order to delivery

pics here, first bash only, have done better now....
http://s460.photobucket.com/albums/qq322/stuartdammery/

I got the regular and it's great, on advice from the Hattery I got one size up. I'm a 60 usually.

It's still summer here so it will get some wear straight away...I'll report back when it's had some adventures

cya
IC

[Michaelson]

I'm partial to both (I'm biased, of course , but have to say over the long run, I like the Deluxe the best. Mine just seemed to break in to be a much softer felt.

Regards! Michaelson

[gobo]

The Deluxe was subjected to far worse treatment for about twelve times longer than the regular, and did not shrink at all.
Mind you, the regular did only shrink a half-size, but that was enough to render it useless for me.
The difference in felt quality is huge, though. It's like comparing petting a rabbit to petting a cardboard box.

[Dr. Cooley]

My wife bought me a Deluxe for christmas and I'm wrapped in it. Wouldn't buy anything else and hat's direct were fantastic with her and the purchase. I am going to buy a second one for work and get rid of my Dorfman .

[theinterchange]

Are the Deluxes easier to bash? I bought/sold a Fed IV Regular and that son of a gun was hard to deal with, and could do NOTHING with the brim.. I almost thought of going Amos McCoy on it..



Randy

[jkdbuck76]

The Fed IV Delux I got was really STIFF.

I grabbed the front of it and fanned the hat up and down by the brim a little bit to soften the brim up.

The crown was really stiff. Fedora would tell you it is because of the shellac. At least that's what he said in an earlier thread.

Back to the brim.... I used a little teeny tiny bit of indirect steam to help me straighten out the brim.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.