Federation IV Tawny Fawn review

[NorthmostAustralia]

Some background I live in Australia and have worn Akubra hats since I was a child. I am also a field Archaeologist and have worn a Akubra Riverina in Sand for 14 years but the band has finally become to tight and I am retiring it after hundreds of storms and sun and dust. I have purchased a Akubra Sombrero to replace it and a Federation IV as well which is the hat being reviewed.

First of the colour is beautiful almost khaki with hits of green and mustard in full sun coming through. I have shaped it like raiders of the lost ark. The felt is top quality and is stuff out of the box. The sweet band is quality supple leather. It is lined with satin and has a plastic protector. I am very impressed with this hat and may get the deluxe in dark brown soon.

Finally I purchased it from The Hattery Katoomba and Trudi and Naomi were very helpful.

 

[NorthmostAustralia]

Some background I live in Australia and have worn Akubra hats since I was a child. I am also a field Archaeologist and have worn a Akubra Riverina in Sand for 14 years but the band has finally become to tight and I am retiring it after hundreds of storms and sun and dust. I have purchased a Akubra Sombrero to replace it and a Federation IV as well which is the hat being reviewed.

First of the colour is beautiful almost khaki with hits of green and mustard in full sun coming through. I have shaped it like raiders of the lost ark. The felt is top quality and is stuff out of the box. The sweet band is quality supple leather. It is lined with satin and has a plastic protector. I am very impressed with this hat and may get the deluxe in dark brown soon.

Finally I purchased it from The Hattery Katoomba and Trudi and Naomi were very helpful.

Here is the Riverina out past Chillagoe in North Queensland using a WW2 marching compass.

 

[HatsBySam]

Here is the Riverina out past Chillagoe in North Queensland using a WW2 marching compass.

Great looking hats! I’ve bought two from The Hattery and love them both and am planning my next purchases!

 

[jlee562]

Unless they've changed the incredible shrinking sweatbands™ recently, color me skeptical on the quality of Akubra sweatbands.

 

[NorthmostAustralia]

Unless they've changed the incredible shrinking sweatbands™ recently, color me skeptical on the quality of Akubra sweatbands.

I always buy a half to one size bigger and pad in case of shrinkage. That being said I have a Akubra from 1986 and its sweat band is still perfect. If you leave a hat in the car on hot days that will shrink it over time. Do you think this is particular to Akubra or will most hat band sweatbands shrink? Is there a difference between modern and vintage?

 

[HatsBySam]

I usually buy a size up on Akubra, though I’ve come across several older Akubra’s in my usual size that fit true. Their sweatbands seem to hold up pretty well, I rarely have to replace them on older hats that I’ve restored.

 

[Edward]

I've always bought my own size in an Akubra. They definitely all started a little loose then snugged up with some wear, but none of them shrunk further than a comfortable, TTS 57 on me.

 

[jlee562]

I always buy a half to one size bigger and pad in case of shrinkage. That being said I have a Akubra from 1986 and its sweat band is still perfect. If you leave a hat in the car on hot days that will shrink it over time. Do you think this is particular to Akubra or will most hat band sweatbands shrink? Is there a difference between modern and vintage?

It is specific to Akubra. Of course, leather can shrink under certain conditions, so it's not like it never happens to other brands. But the assumption of buying a size up because of shrinkage? That's an Akubra thing.

It's not there anymore, but if you lookup an archived version of The Hattery's site, they used to have an page for the Fed IV explaining the difference between the standard and deluxe. They explained that the deluxe undergoes further finishing for a smoother finish, as well as that they use a higher grade of leather that is less prone to shrinkage.

Well, let's extrapolate backwards from that. The standard Akubra is less finely finished and uses a less expensive grade of leather that is more prone to shrinking. Not just relative to themselves, but to other brands.

 

[jlee562]

I've always bought my own size in an Akubra. They definitely all started a little loose then snugged up with some wear, but none of them shrunk further than a comfortable, TTS 57 on me.

I had a Fed IV that I used as a rain hat that eventually just became too uncomfortable to wear. My current rain hat is my 10x Resistol Cogburn, and that hat had the opposite trajectory. It was more uncomfortable to begin with, given the stiff western felt. It took a few good rains, but it now fits like a glove.

 

[NorthmostAustralia]

It is specific to Akubra. Of course, leather can shrink under certain conditions, so it's not like it never happens to other brands. But the assumption of buying a size up because of shrinkage? That's an Akubra thing.

It's not there anymore, but if you lookup an archived version of The Hattery's site, they used to have an page for the Fed IV explaining the difference between the standard and deluxe. They explained that the deluxe undergoes further finishing for a smoother finish, as well as that they use a higher grade of leather that is less prone to shrinkage.

Well, let's extrapolate backwards from that. The standard Akubra is less finely finished and uses a less expensive grade of leather that is more prone to shrinking. Not just relative to themselves, but to other brands.

Thank you for the reply. I wonder if it is the type of leather maybe they use calf leather not roan leather? In Australia Akubra are the most likely quality hat you are likely to see. I am always interested in learning more.

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

It is specific to Akubra. Of course, leather can shrink under certain conditions, so it's not like it never happens to other brands. But the assumption of buying a size up because of shrinkage? That's an Akubra thing.

It's not there anymore, but if you lookup an archived version of The Hattery's site, they used to have an page for the Fed IV explaining the difference between the standard and deluxe. They explained that the deluxe undergoes further finishing for a smoother finish, as well as that they use a higher grade of leather that is less prone to shrinkage.

Well, let's extrapolate backwards from that. The standard Akubra is less finely finished and uses a less expensive grade of leather that is more prone to shrinking. Not just relative to themselves, but to other brands.

It's still there, they say it when comparing the felts: https://hatsdirect.com/pages/felt-quality

 

[Edward]

It's still there, they say it when comparing the felts: https://hatsdirect.com/pages/felt-quality

IIRC, at least when I bought my first DLX in 2008, the DLX is (or was, back then) a rabbit / hare mix, while the standard was pure rabbit. Nice sweatband in the DLX, softer, felt less 'glossy', though they've both held up well for me. The only Akubra sweatbands I had a real issued with were the pleather ones in my Capricorns, which over time flaked and soaked up dampness in an unpleasant way (possibly more of an issue for me than those who retain hair; I balded prematurely and have been shaving my head for twenty years). Those hats work nicely with them stripped out subsequently, though definitely convinced me of the value of a decent leather sweatband or a cloth one as an alternative, rather than pleather.

 

[jeffgarf]

It is specific to Akubra. Of course, leather can shrink under certain conditions, so it's not like it never happens to other brands. But the assumption of buying a size up because of shrinkage? That's an Akubra thing.

This is also true for many Borsalino hats.

 

[Judgmentalist]

I’m thinking about ordering one of these Fed IVs. Was planning on 59 but based on this conversation it looks like 60 may be the way to go. I hate wearing a loose-fitting hat though….

 

[jeffgarf]

I’m thinking about ordering one of these Fed IVs. Was planning on 59 but based on this conversation it looks like 60 may be the way to go. I hat wearing a loose-fitting hat though….

Put in foam sizers until the shrinking starts.

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

So all of you with Akubras experience what do you suggest for sizing? I generally wear a 58/ 7 1/4. As a LO, i usually have space on the sides, but fit front to back. My head actually measures at 22 5/8 or 57.47cm. Is a 58 still a good choice or size up?

 

[jeffgarf]

So all of you with Akubras experience what do you suggest for sizing? I generally wear a 58/ 7 1/4. As a LO, i usually have space on the sides, but fit front to back. My head actually measures at 22 5/8 or 57.47cm. Is a 58 still a good choice or size up?

That's hard to say for me. I'm 57.2 or so. I mostly have 58's, but I even have some in 57 in my Akubras that all work well.

 

[HatsBySam]

So all of you with Akubras experience what do you suggest for sizing? I generally wear a 58/ 7 1/4. As a LO, i usually have space on the sides, but fit front to back. My head actually measures at 22 5/8 or 57.47cm. Is a 58 still a good choice or size up?

A 58 should work great for you, if it does shrink a little, it should conform to your head and start to fit better on the sides. Keeping a 2 way hat stretcher (front to back) in it when you’re not wearing would help to change it to a long oval a little quicker. Custom hat band blocks are also pretty easy to make it you have a jigsaw or access to a band saw.

 

[EL-Jimenez74]

A 58 should work great for you, if it does shrink a little, it should conform to your head and start to fit better on the sides. Keeping a 2 way hat stretcher (front to back) in it when you’re not wearing would help to change it to a long oval a little quicker. Custom hat band blocks are also pretty easy to make it you have a jigsaw or access to a band saw.

i do have a hat stretcher, so letting it rest there periodically isn't a bad idea. Thanks gents.

 

[Edward]

This is also true for many Borsalino hats.

Ho do Borsos respond to a bit of a stretch? I have a beautiful one I picked up used a while back; looks like new, but though labelled a 57 it feels more like a 56. Could probably sell it on easy enough, but it's so mice I'd rather it fit well....

So all of you with Akubras experience what do you suggest for sizing? I generally wear a 58/ 7 1/4. As a LO, i usually have space on the sides, but fit front to back. My head actually measures at 22 5/8 or 57.47cm. Is a 58 still a good choice or size up?

Can't speak for others' experiences, but I've bought seven Akubras of varying models new over the years. All 57s (my regular size in a felt hat), all of them started a little loose but snugged up to a good fit quickly, never had a problem with any of them feeling too small. I still order my regular size in any new Akubra.