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Indiana Jones style hat

mikeg

New in Town
Messages
24
Location
california
I almost feel bad for posting a question about this hat name....but I like the way it looks!
I have done a lot of searches in the forum to get info, and it seems the quality of the official IJ hats comes into question from time to time. I have been looking at one from the village hat store:

http://www.villagehatshop.com/dorfman-pacific_indiana-jones_furfelt_fedora.html

made by Dorfman Pacific. There is another listing at the fedora store website where the color seems to be different. Do the colors differ that much, or is it just the lighting in the photo?
http://www.thefedorastore.com/Indiana-Jones-Officially-Licensed-Fur-Felt-Fedora-p/ij554.htm?on=Brown

Finally, can all of you experienced people direct me to a better quality very similar looking hat? Or is the official IJ hat good quality these days?

Thanks!

Mike
 

fedoralover

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,006
Location
Great Northwest
The so called "Official IJ hat" is made cheap to sell to a bunch of tourists going through Disneyland who wouldn't know the difference between an Indiana Jones fedora or a Crocodile Dundee hat. Save your money and get a decent one. http://www.hatsdirect.com/federation/ makes an Indiana Jones hat called the "Federation". You have to shape it yourself but it's not that hard to do.

fedoralover
 

jlee562

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,104
Location
San Francisco, CA
Check out club obi wan...there are any number of good off the rack hats. The Akubra Fed IV is one of the better options. Also consider the Christy's Adventurer. Custom hatters aplenty, notably Penman, Garrison, Adventurebilt...
 

mikeg

New in Town
Messages
24
Location
california
Thanks for the tips everyone.
Does the Fed IV have a taller crown than the cheeper official IJ hat?
Also, I do not know, and I am not sure I want to know how, to crease a new hat. Will the crease the Fed IV prior to shipping?

Just my 2 cents worth, but the Fed IV is hard to beat for quality and price. BTW welcome to the lounge.

Kirk H.
 

zetwal

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,343
Location
Texas
I do not know, and I am not sure I want to know how, to crease a new hat.

Creasing a good quality soft felt fedora is a very simple matter. If you don't want to do it yourself, I respect that. I just want to let you know that you should not fear the idea. It's not difficult, and doing it yourself gives you the ability to shape the crown to your own taste.
 

DJH

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,355
Location
Ft Worth, TX
Yep, creasing a hat is not a big deal. Hats like the Fed IV are tough - you won't break anything!

See this video from John Penman on creasing Indy hats:

[video=youtube;T6hq2sNrU4g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6hq2sNrU4g[/video]
 

Kirk H.

One Too Many
Messages
1,196
Location
Charlotte NC
No they will not crease the hat prior to shipping from Hats Direct. David Morgan has the Akubra Adventuer that they will crease for an additional 20.00. But creasing is not that hard to do and as others have stated the Akubra is a tough hat so you will not break it.
photo2.jpg
[/IMG]
Indybash3.jpg
[/IMG]

This is one of my Fed IVs

Kirk
 
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jlee562

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,104
Location
San Francisco, CA
Thanks for the tips everyone.
Does the Fed IV have a taller crown than the cheeper official IJ hat?
Also, I do not know, and I am not sure I want to know how, to crease a new hat. Will the crease the Fed IV prior to shipping?

Yes, the Fed IV is about 5 5/8" open crown, IIRC.

Creasing a hat is NOT HARD! I swear to you! Check out the video that DJH posted of John Penman doing an Indy crease.
 

mikeg

New in Town
Messages
24
Location
california
Wow. He creased that hat in about 2 min! That does not look very hard at all.
Hmmmm. No that the fear is gone, I need to decide on which hat!

There are so many beautiful hats out there, it really is hard to decide!

Many thanks once again.
Mike
 

DJH

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,355
Location
Ft Worth, TX
Mike, you want an Indy hat for not too high a price?

I'd say there are two to look at:

Fed IV as already mentioned.

Garrison Hatters - this is a custom made hat and David Garrison is selling them right now for $175; really good deal.

Here's my Garrison

D329588a-L.jpg


Want something better? Look at the Adventurebilt Henry or one of the all beaver customs from Penman Hats.

To be honest, I really love the Garrison. Mine is my go-to outdoor, crappy weather hat - it takes a lot of abuse and looks as nice as the day it arrived.
 
Last edited:

mikeg

New in Town
Messages
24
Location
california
Wow. I like the look of the Garrison! Any idea what the delivery time frame is? It looks like he makes each hat as you order it?
How about sizing of this hat? True to size or ....?
I like that hat!!

Mike, you want an Indy hat for not too high a price?

I'd say there are two to look at:

Fed IV as already mentioned.

Garrison Hatters - this is a custom made hat and David Garrison is selling them right now for $175; really good deal.

Here's my Garrison

D329588a-L.jpg


Want something better? Look at the Adventurebilt Henry or one of the all beaver customs from Penman Hats.

To be honest, I really love the Garrison. Mine is my go-to outdoor, crappy weather hat - it takes a lot of abuse and looks as nice as the day it arrived.
 

DJH

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,355
Location
Ft Worth, TX
Yep, you give him your actual measurement and David will make the hat to suit.

At the time I got mine the wait was about 7 or 8 weeks. This included him taking a break to move the office for his day job (the custom hat guys often do this as a part time gig) so the wait might be shorter now. I'd give him a shout and ask him.
 

scottyrocks

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,178
Location
Isle of Langerhan, NY
I have three Federations - two IVs, and a III. They are fantastic hats. There is no comparison to a Dorfman-Pacific, especially the wool variety.

Feds are full-bodied, great looking, tough hats. My brown IV is my go-to hat that I wear 90% of the time. Creasing is simple, as shown in the video. If you like the crease, then set it with steam, or with water from a spray bottle, my preferred method. And then if you decide later that you want to change the crease, just wet or steam it again and re-do or adjust it.
 

bendingoak

Vendor
Messages
613
Location
www.Penmanhats.com
If you youtube you can find my other vids for the Raiders if you want. There out there for the viewing. Its not that hard to crease a hat just take your time with it and try not to put anything harsh. Watch the vid a couple of times and you will notice I don't put anything firm right away.
 

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