stargate
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BSc Arch Sci, Dip PAS
Posts: 484
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Post by stargate on Jan 7, 2011 12:11:45 GMT -5
Afternoon people If you'd be so kind, I'd very much like some advice and wisdom from you more learned and experienced fedora owners, as I'm hoping to be in the market for my first ever one soon Having read quite a lot of the previous threads in this part of the forum, I know that AB's and Penman's are pretty much held up as THE hats to buy, if you can afford them. Now I'd love to own either (or even both!) of those two's offerings, but that's just not foreseable in even the long term at the moment. So, having looked at the more feesable options, I seem to have narrowed it down to either the Akubra FedIV, or the Christy's Adventurer. With that in mind, what can folks relay about these models, or anything else in the sub-£100 (US$150) shipped price bracket? Thanks in advance, Si
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Post by Pennsylvania Jones on Jan 7, 2011 12:20:32 GMT -5
Like I said in the OR game, Akubra, unless you're desperate for a hat that's EXACTLY like an HJ.
Steven
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stargate
Treasure Seeker
BSc Arch Sci, Dip PAS
Posts: 484
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Post by stargate on Jan 7, 2011 12:28:24 GMT -5
Cheers Steven The Fed IV does sound like it should be a bit more durable, but that's only based on the lack of info on the website selling the Christy's Adventurer. The benefit of the latter is that it's available directly here in the UK, so there'd be little waiting time. However, I wouldn't want to sacrifice quality of hat for speed of receipt, so any advice/help/opinions are greatly appreciated And please all feel free to recommend other hats than the 2 I've mentioned - they just seemed to be the obvious ones whilst searching the net.
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Post by jnicktem on Jan 7, 2011 12:52:33 GMT -5
For everything I hear, the quality of an Akubra Fed IV is better than a Christies. I have a Fed IV Deluxe, and although it doesn't match up to the quality of a custom hat (nothing does!) it is still a high quality hat.
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stargate
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BSc Arch Sci, Dip PAS
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Post by stargate on Jan 7, 2011 13:24:26 GMT -5
Cool, cheers for your input Jnicktem
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Post by jedimastered on Jan 7, 2011 14:38:38 GMT -5
I am rather picky... my Akubra Fed IV should be here soon... although when is soon? today? tomorrow? next week... I will let you know my input then!
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Post by Buck on Jan 7, 2011 16:04:13 GMT -5
I've heard The Christy's adventurer is not as durable as the Akubra, I would try and get the strongest hat especially if you plan on doing some adventures. I would go for the Akubra.
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Post by jedimastered on Jan 7, 2011 17:45:27 GMT -5
being it is nearly 5pm it is safe to say my hat will not be coming today major bummer... I wish I would have waited to order it till after New Years as well since the exchange rate is back where it should be and USD is higher than AUS... needless to say I paid more in USD than AUS but now its less as it normally is.
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fifthchamber
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"Damn....I thought that was closer..."
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Post by fifthchamber on Jan 7, 2011 17:58:40 GMT -5
Cristies or Akubra? I'd go with the Akubra...I have a regular and a deluxe, and they are both great hats..Easy to shape, and resilient to whatever weather Tokyo throws at me..As for time, well, if you use the Express shipping on the Akubra it'll take less than a week to arrive...So it's not such a heavy issue, unless you meant you were going to pop into the Christies shop to buy the hat? I'd go with the hat that Steve Delk helped design and choose the Akubra...Nothing bad to say about them at all...Great hats, and fast shipping...Friendly staff too (I keep emailing the ladies running the store and offering new Chevy Chase movies to watch...They have a good sense of humour...LOL).. Akubra.....No doubt.
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stargate
Treasure Seeker
BSc Arch Sci, Dip PAS
Posts: 484
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Post by stargate on Jan 7, 2011 19:09:29 GMT -5
Wow, cheers for the info/opinions guys Seems like the Akubra is coming up trumps then! It's not that much more expensive than the Christy's either, so perhaps for that little bit extra I can get a pretty sturdy/SA hat... nice! Well, my folks have offered to take me through to York (lovely city!) soon to have a look at a few places that sell Fedora hats, so if I don't find anything suitable there I may just have to go for the Akubra Fed IV
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Post by Kt. Templar on Jan 7, 2011 20:26:36 GMT -5
Well the last Akubra I had was about 5 years ago the Fed III regular. It was a good enough hat, a little short in the crown and pretty stiff and a bit too thick, a bit cowboy hat like. Colour was a bit green. I currently have a Christys' it's thinner and softer than the Akubra (A Good Thing, in my book), is slightly taller and also slightly tapered, as such it makes a pretty good LC hat. I find the brim is perhaps a little wide. I also have an AB Rabbit, though I really like this, I find I wish I had got it without the turn, the swoop looks cool on Indy but looks a little dopey on me. Or maybe that's just me!
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Post by Noah on Jan 7, 2011 21:09:11 GMT -5
I would go with the Akubra Fed. It's more durable than the Christies. And I hear it's similar to the CS block shape.
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stargate
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BSc Arch Sci, Dip PAS
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Post by stargate on Jan 7, 2011 21:16:56 GMT -5
Cheers for the photos and info Kt, it's greatly appreciated You've now gone and got the whole "Vs." thing going again now ;D I can see what you mean about the differences in build between the Akubra and Christies, and actually the Christies does look more like Indy's fedora in your pic (IMHO)! That being said, everyone says that Akubra's can take a real bashing, whereas Christies are said to be fairly lightweight in that respect. Grrr.... decisions decisions Keep the info coming please folks, cos the more the better!
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Post by Noah on Jan 7, 2011 21:22:19 GMT -5
Quality wise, you'd be better off with a Fed. I've seen some terrific Fed hats. Seriously, they can look really good. Christies are accurate as well, but they won't last as long. And besides one of the Fed's are similar to the CS block shape. Not quite sure if it was the Regular or the Deluxe, or both. But you should get your money's worth with them.
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Post by Pennsylvania Jones on Jan 7, 2011 21:22:42 GMT -5
Christy's can come in Sable, which is the authentic color, whereas the Akubra, from what I've gathered, is a little too dark. Swapping the ribbon to a pure black one would probably help compensate for that. Fuzzjunk did this to his Fed, and it looks great. Steven
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Post by jedimastered on Jan 7, 2011 22:46:18 GMT -5
well stargate hopefully I have my Akubra by Sat. (tomorrow here).. if not hopefully Monday.. will post a pic just for u ASAP
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fifthchamber
Treasure Seeker
"Damn....I thought that was closer..."
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Post by fifthchamber on Jan 8, 2011 2:15:32 GMT -5
It may also be something that got worked out when the newer Fed's got made? (The IV's)... My current two are great, the Regular is slightly thinner and less easily shape-able than the Deluxe, but they both look good on, and both have tall crowns that measure up to the specs from Raiders at least.. That, plus Mr. Delks help working out the kinks on the Fed's would put it slightly higher than the Christy's in my mind...Steve is a fanatic about these hats, and what he doesn't know about the shape, design and making of a good hat would take about two words I'd imagine...If you're unable to afford an original Adventurebilt, I'd still say that the Akubra (or a Henry) is the best factory made alternative (and for the price, only Akubra hits that).. The ribbon on my dark brown Deluxe is good enough, ideally perhaps it could be a touch darker? But it's not bad at all....And the shape is spot on for me....I agree if you're worried about looking like Indy, replacing the band with a darker one might be best? But the one it comes with is pretty close in my opinion.. (I'll have more to compare it with when Steve sends my Adventurebilt over....But until then, the Akubra Deluxe is my "go-to-hat"....)
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fifthchamber
Treasure Seeker
"Damn....I thought that was closer..."
Posts: 454
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Post by fifthchamber on Jan 8, 2011 2:20:09 GMT -5
Oh....For photos of mine, I'm on Facebook, and have uploaded photos there....My name is Benjamin Sharples, do a search and if you send me an email saying you're from Indylounge I'd be more than happy to accept the requests! Always looking for more Indy mates on Facebook!
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stargate
Treasure Seeker
BSc Arch Sci, Dip PAS
Posts: 484
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Post by stargate on Jan 8, 2011 7:51:44 GMT -5
Cheers for the input Jedimastered and Fifthchamber I'll look forward to seeing your hats! Taking your comments into account, the Fed IV just got back in against the Christy's, and it really is a difficult decision. But given that you're saying it's pretty damn accurate, as well as 'tough as nails', it's probably the overall favourite. Thanks again, Si
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Post by jedimastered on Jan 8, 2011 12:56:05 GMT -5
It's noon here and still no sign of my Akubra... I really really hope it's today so I can get you pics (actually so I can have it but will do pics as well haha)
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Post by jedimastered on Jan 8, 2011 12:58:19 GMT -5
Hey Ben, I mean this in the least of gay ways, but you look like you could model off suits and fedoras... great style bro! (saw your FB page.)
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Post by Noah on Jan 8, 2011 12:58:58 GMT -5
So thats your name fifthchamber? You added me on Facebook I see! Thanks for the request! I didn't know that was you haha. Stargate, I'd say go for the Akubra. You'll get the most out of your money.
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Post by Kt. Templar on Jan 8, 2011 18:54:41 GMT -5
So SG what have you decided?
I had a bit of a look the Fed 4 will be about £95 shipped and the Christys' £62.50 shipped. Christys' will customise the crown height and brim dimensions if you want. From past experience order a cm bigger then your head measures for the Christys' they seem to run a bit small. IIRC the Feds run to size or a little bit big but don't take my advice on that. ask them directly.
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stargate
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BSc Arch Sci, Dip PAS
Posts: 484
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Post by stargate on Jan 8, 2011 20:43:08 GMT -5
I'm still undecided at the moment, but that's partly due to not having any funds at the moment, and partly because as I said, my folks are taking me through to York soon to see what a few hat shops there have on offer But based on the comments/opinions/experiences posted here, and at other Indy gear websites, the Akubra Fed IV seems to be coming out on tops for 'quality over cost' Everyone keeps saying that the Christy's offering is 'OK' as a first hat, but that the Akubra wins hands-down on the build quality for a surprisingly low price... although it's still nigh-on a ton to buy ;D I'd love to just get something cheap and cheerful, but as my mum said earlier, what's the point? Our Barmah hats were extremely well priced for the build quality, and are still rocking hard some 7+ years after purchase, and they've really been through the wars So really I'm after something that is cheap/accurate, but can also take some schtick! And it seems the Fed IV is winning on those points.
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Post by jedimastered on Jan 8, 2011 20:56:02 GMT -5
Still no hat :-( wasted week. Hope it comes Monday. I'm getting rather annoyed theres a 10 day gap I have to be ready to sign for it but class starts. Should have done Express, would have if I had known airmail didn't have tracking!!! Whoever told me to do airmail and expect it in 3 days I'm mad at you Hahahhaha. Been almost 9 days now. Oh well saved $20 lol. Not mad at the company at all. Just wish I had more info than "it will be dispatched soon expect it within 5-10 business days but if not within 14 contact us. That's a long time. Might It be here till 14 and if not then I have to wait until Jan 19th to contact
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