I love the Fed IV!!

[CRH]

Tell me about it brother...

"The Wind shall collect our bones"
Crazy Horse

 

[Chuck Bobuck]

"The Wind shall collect our bones"
Crazy Horse

"Everyone knows it's windy"
The Association

There goes my Fed IV...which I love...

 

[jpbales]

my Fed's shrinkage and softness...

Well, my Fed IV Standard in Carbon Gray is a size 60 (and I'm 59.5 cm and LO) and when I first got it, it was humongous on me. I did a shrinkage operation using water and a blow dryer around the sweat, and it helped some- but I ended up still using foam, two pieces in the front and two in the sides. I got mine in August 2008 and after a while (probably a half year) I took out the front pieces. Just recently I took out the side ones. The hat fits perfect now. It went from being at least one size too big to fitting perfect in less than a year. Just use the foam until it starts feeling snug, then remove.
As for softness, it takes the cake out of the hats I have (and I have one vintage, a Campdraft, and a couple of lower-end moderns) When I first got it, I only used steam to put in the front pinches, but the rest of the bash was dry. The hat flops down when held at the brim.
As for my new Tawny Fawn Campdraft, I can't say the same. It's MUCH, MUCH stiffer. It stays level when held at the brim and I had to use steam to bash every part of it. I hope it softens up!
I wonder why there's such variations among the same hats like this. Maybe they've been tinkering with the stiffener down at the Akubra factory, or maybe different Akubra styles undergo different processes. I've been thinking about the Heritage vs. Imperial felt. Maybe the nicer felt is just handled and pounced a little more to make it softer. I would like to compare my standard Fed IV's felt, after wearing it and sanding it smooth, to that of a new Imperial Fed.

 

[Chuck Bobuck]

Well, my Fed IV Standard in Carbon Gray is a size 60 (and I'm 59.5 cm and LO) and when I first got it, it was humongous on me. I did a shrinkage operation using water and a blow dryer around the sweat, and it helped some- but I ended up still using foam, two pieces in the front and two in the sides. I got mine in August 2008 and after a while (probably a half year) I took out the front pieces. Just recently I took out the side ones. The hat fits perfect now. It went from being at least one size too big to fitting perfect in less than a year. Just use the foam until it starts feeling snug, then remove.
As for softness, it takes the cake out of the hats I have (and I have one vintage, a Campdraft, and a couple of lower-end moderns) When I first got it, I only used steam to put in the front pinches, but the rest of the bash was dry. The hat flops down when held at the brim.
As for my new Tawny Fawn Campdraft, I can't say the same. It's MUCH, MUCH stiffer. It stays level when held at the brim and I had to use steam to bash every part of it. I hope it softens up!
I wonder why there's such variations among the same hats like this. Maybe they've been tinkering with the stiffener down at the Akubra factory, or maybe different Akubra styles undergo different processes. I've been thinking about the Heritage vs. Imperial felt. Maybe the nicer felt is just handled and pounced a little more to make it softer. I would like to compare my standard Fed IV's felt, after wearing it and sanding it smooth, to that of a new Imperial Fed.

Funny (or is it fawny...lol...), but my tawny fawn Campdraft is the softest and lightest Akubra I own. The glen grey CD, I just purchased, is still stiff and it feels thicker to me. My Fed IV still feels a little stiff too, but I haven't worn either of those as much as the tawny CD. The tawny CD has been exposed to more steam, water spritzing, rain and snow than the others. Last night I noticed the grey Campdraft has shrunk to fit about perfectly. The Fed is closing in too. My Squatter, which seems to have a rounder shaped crown than the others, fits well and is pretty soft also. I've had to stretch the Squatter over my knee to get a more oval shape. Ron at Hats Direct recommended that and it helped out tremendously.

 

[Chuck Bobuck]

Brown Standard Fed IV.

 

[Gilgamark]

This fall, I believe I'll get a Fed IV deluxe in tawny fawn. My moonstone Fed IV deluxe is my favorite hats. It get a load of compliments, too.

 

[warmentrout]

Well, my lovely wife decided to look in on the forum. Probably due to the fact she was helping me with the photos last night and got curious. Anyways, she read the post discussing convincing her about a Tawny and Dark Brown Fed IV. I received an e-mail from her saying, "... order the hat(s)," which I promptly did.:whip:

Thank you lovely wife!

Where did you order that wife from ? Do customs add a tax to them also or are they duty free ?

 

[Goose.]

Chuck...that is a great pic of you in that Brown Fed

This fall, I believe I'll get a Fed IV deluxe in tawny fawn. My moonstone Fed IV deluxe is my favorite hats. It get a load of compliments, too.

Gilgamark...don't "believe"; "do" it. Get that Tawny Fawn. I think that Tawny is available in the Standard though.

But I know what you mean about getting it in "fall". Today was a decision day...Fawn Capricorn, Carbon Sydney, or Fed Tawny Fawn. It was warm out, but I really wanted to wear the Fed.

It now has sweat stains in the liner (a poor reason to call something "character")...oh well. Some would call it nuts to wear a felt out when it was hot.
But I love that hat (thanks again "Jazz Man" for the recommendation ).

 

[awest84532]

Order your own!

Where did you order that wife from ? Do customs add a tax to them also or are they duty free ?

This particular model was manufactured in Colorado with Oklahoma parts, so there were no customs fees or taxes. However, at times the maintenance costs are on the high side!

 

[Trimen1000]

I got a fed IV and it's a nice hat, the only thing that I was unhappy about was that the bow was lamentable. It was smashed, you could clearly see some ironing marks, the tacks were pretty big as well (at first I didn't think much of it, but then when I did my own tacks I realized that theirs were much larger than they needed to be). So I removed the bow, ironed it, then put it all back on. I'll take a picture and post it up once I get the chance.

 

[avedwards]

I'm still thinking about one of these, but I have two questions to be asked first.

1. Do any British loungers have one of these and if so, how suitable are they for British summers? And does the white lining really make a difference heat-wise than a hat with a black lining?

2. Can hatsdirect make these with wind trolleys? I am sick and tired of constantly having to walk around with my hand on the brim of my hat, or having to pull it so low that it gets too warm and I can't see.

 

[scottyrocks]

Thats an interesting question about the wind trolley, and by extension, about wind, in general.

Ive had my Fed IV on in some pretty high winds, with surprise gusts. The brim is stiff enough to hold its shape, but not so stiff as to not 'break' when hit by a stiff enough gust. IOW, the hat does not leave my head because the brim breaks first. I dont worry about my F4 flying off my head.

 

[avedwards]

Does the high crown help? I find that on my hat where I am scared it will blow away (my Stetson Chatham) the crown is quite low for someone with a long head like me. Not low enough to look bad, but low enough not to sit too firmly.

 

[FurFeltFedora]

avedwards I live with constant coastal winds and the Fed IV sticks on my noggin just fine. When I walk out and the wind is blowing I just pull the brim down in front a bit more and try to keep the wind straight on to me. I've had a couple of days where I've needed to keep a few fingers on the brim, but short of adding a chin strap you're going to have to do that time to time. Overall I find it fine in the wind (within reason of course - any hat can blow off if the gust is strong enough or the angle just right).

 

[Woodfluter]

avedwards -

My three Fed IV's fit fine - actually, the best of any modern hats I've tried because I'm in-between sizes, and the deluxe at 59 fits my 59.5 head fine without any apparent shrinkage despite frequent wetting. If you get the standard, I suspect (really am quite sure) they'll shrink a bit and so others can contribute more knowledge, but with regard to heat:

(1) Felt actually seems as cool as anything else except a well-ventilated looser-woven Cuenca Panama or my hemp Tilleys.

(2) Yes, the liner seems to make it hotter. I have removed the liner (carefully cutting the hot glue bonds with a sharp knife) from several of my Akubras. I can then re-insert the liner and tuck it under the sweatband for wear during all but the warmest weather, and it stays put just fine. Honestly, I don't know why they ever bothered to sew or glue these things into the hat in the first place except for identification purposes. Which is kind of nice when buying a vintage hat, but otherwise not really useful.

(3) Yes, if your head is anything like mine, the taller crown definitely helps. On several lower and tapered crown vintage hats I have, they just won't pull down securely in a stiff wind - my head is too high or something and pushes up on the top of the crown. Part of why I really like the older style, apart from appearance.

- Bill

 

[avedwards]

So as for warm weather and wind wear the Fed IV seems fine to me.

I really like the way the Maltese Falcon bashes in the non-Indy Federation thread look like. One thing I really do not like about the Fed though is the bow on the ribbon. To me it looks too much as though someone just tacked two pieces of crossing grosgrain on. Is it possible to take the bow off and tighten it?

 

[metropd]

I'm still thinking about one of these, but I have two questions to be asked first.

1. Do any British loungers have one of these and if so, how suitable are they for British summers? And does the white lining really make a difference heat-wise than a hat with a black lining?

2. Can hatsdirect make these with wind trolleys? I am sick and tired of constantly having to walk around with my hand on the brim of my hat, or having to pull it so low that it gets too warm and I can't see.

I hereby award Avedwards with the most discriminating taste in the Fedora Lounge. This means, when you think there could be no other specific question to ask about a hats most minor details, Avedwards will be there to ask it.lol lol lol

 

[avedwards]

fftopic: I am very argumtative metropd, I even argue with people who are agreeing with me sometimes, which goes nicely with having a discriminative taste. If politics weren't banned on the FL I would probably be kicked out just for annoying loungers with my insistance on politcal matters.

 

[ScottF]

My favorite Akubra...the one I would pick if I had to pick just one for a "three hour tour" and stuck on a desert isle with Mary Ann and Ginger?
My Federation IV Deluxe Dark Brown...just awesome. Guess ya never gorget your first Federation.

Thanks for posting this comparison. I have been contemplating an Akubra, but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

I've wanted to get something similar to the hat Redford wore in "The Natural", and after reading your post, leaning toward the Fed Deluxe Heritage Fawn, with a dark chestnut ribbon. The ribbon arrived a few minutes ago, so just need to order the hat. Ribbon will be a touch thin and no welt on the brim, which is fine.

 

[Dewhurst]

And does the white lining really make a difference heat-wise than a hat with a black lining?

No, it is fairly inconsequential. The color of the body of the hat is what matters the most when contemplating the reflection or the absorption of the rays of the sun (re: avoiding heat). Otherwise, the question is really liner or no liner, in which case no liner does make a modicum of difference.