Akubra fed IV deluxe : nice but stiff !

[indyhan]

hey everyone

dunno whether someone round here ever had to address the issue, but i recently bought anice Fed Iv deluxe off Hats direct and i must say this is a real nice lid, but i think the hatsdirect crew didn't skimp on the stiffener : the hat is as stiff as a cow boy hat...
i like my hats a tad softer and supple.

any tip as to how to get the felt a little more pliable ? or maybe just wearing the hat on a regular basis should do the trick ?

thanx y'all !

[Tennessee Smith]

If your going for a worn Cairo bash you can wad the hat up in a ball a pretty much beat the snot out of it. I did it with my first Fed III and all it fid was loosen up the felt and didn't ruin it. That said, just because I did it doesn't mean I'm "advising" you. So if you think it ruins it I never said a word


But trust me the hat can take the abuse. A lot of guys here have done it. Just research the hat threads and you'll find out yourself.

[APL]

Yeah, my Fed IV was stiff when I got it (I actually have 2 of them, one brown, one moonstone), but with some abuse and time (and lots of rain), they've loosened up. You can basically wiggle it around quite a bit and it'll loosen, then just wear the snot out of it and it'll become very soft and feel great. Best of luck, and enjoy your new hat!

[indyhan]

hmmm... i thought some amount of wear would do it just fine. just have to be patient, it seems...

anyway, i always end up sitting on my hats and roughing them up a bit so i think i will go the same route with this one and avoid the steam/sprinkled water way

thanx for the input, gentlemen !

[Chewbacca Jones]

Get it Wet. Frequently.

[Michaelson]

Agreed. Just wear it. Rain, shine, snow, what ever. They loosen up nicely with regular NORMAL use.

Regards! Michaelson

[Indiana Bugs]

In addition to wear and wetness, smoosh it up a bit. That helped soften mine up big-time.

And yes, I'm talking about a hat.

[indyhan]

well it so happens we're having a lovely thick foggy day where i'm at today, i guess i'll be taking a long stroll with the akubra on.
that should start the process...

[Michaelson]

Yes, it will.

Regards! Michaelson

[Kim Hoffman]

Hah! Call me old fashioned, but it's difficult for me to think about aging a hat prematurely, as it were; I'm more inclined at today's prices to just worry about wearing a new hat outside. I know that western/cowboy hats - especially hats modeled after films (think Lonesome Dove's "Gus" style) - can be ordered complete with artificial sweat stains, but character appears quickly enough with wear. But that's just me. I do appreciate the love and enthusiasm with which you all embrace hattery!

[Michaelson]

Agreed. Just wear it. Rain, shine, snow, what ever. They loosen up nicely with regular NORMAL use.

Regards! Michaelson

Uh, no, you're NOT the only one.....I've preached that since 1996 on Indy related websites.



Regards! Michaelson

[Chiliana Jones]

Agreed. Just wear it. Rain, shine, snow, what ever. They loosen up nicely with regular NORMAL use.

Regards! Michaelson

Uh, no, you're NOT the only one

i'm in the same club

had my fed4D for almost 4 years now. Normal wear has made it nice and floppy


CJ

[indyhan]

Agreed. Just wear it. Rain, shine, snow, what ever. They loosen up nicely with regular NORMAL use.

Regards! Michaelson

Uh, no, you're NOT the only one

i'm in the same club

had my fed4D for almost 4 years now. Normal wear has made it nice and floppy


CJ

whhhhaaaat ? are you telling me it takes 4 years to get a nice weathered hat ?
awright, just being silly...

been wearing my brand new akubra for three days a lot, and i'm getting at something already (almost)...

i love the crown, still have to work on the brim flange...

[Michaelson]

[whhhhaaaat ? are you telling me it takes 4 years to get a nice weathered hat ?
awright, just being silly......

Yep. Just leave it in the box. It can take forever that way.

[Sammy]

Just for clarification, is this a Fed IV deluxe? Or standard? Cuz I thought a deluxe would be very soft and pliable. Am I wrong?

[Michaelson]

A Deluxe is softer than the standard, but they're still both 'stiff' in comparsion to a well worn hat.

Regards! Michaelson

[Dr. Nebraska S.]

[IndyHatGuy]

I agree with everyone just loosen up the hat. I don't have one yet (just ordered a backordered regular; end of March is SO far away ) but as soon as it arrives, I have every intention of beating the living day lights out of it. To loosen it up but to also make it look Indy worn. Not too much though, I like to put a little actual wear into it as well! I do a LOT of traveling and you can bet my Fed will be with me! (Holt made a Fed IV look almost screen accurate by beating it limp before bashing it! Although I'm almost certain reblocking was involved too!)

[Kim Hoffman]

"Uh, no, you're NOT the only one.....I've preached that since 1996 on Indy related websites.

Regards! Michaelson"

You have preached that! And it has not gone unnoticed. A hat is an essential element of the individual wearing it; an extension of character. Remember how Indy was introduced in the last adventure, by shadow: we saw the hat before we saw him, and the hat told us everything we needed to know. Treat the hat with respect it will, like all of us, earn its scars.