Fed IV vs AB Henry

Viktor · Jan 21, 2011

Which of the two has softer felt? I plan to order a temp while I wait for the AB Deluxe.

djd · Jan 21, 2011

The AB Henry by far. It also has a lovely soft sweat band- at least mine did, out of the AB Deluxe.

The fed IV is great value for money but the Henry is the nicer, softer hat - but then it's much more expensive too

Viktor · Jan 21, 2011

djd - thanks for the confirmation

djd · Jan 21, 2011

My pleasure. The Henry dosent look or feel like a factory made hat. I no longer have mine as I wasn't happy with the fit but I couldn't fault the materials or construction

Wolfwood · Jan 22, 2011

Better comparison could be made between Fed IV Deluxe and AB Henry, as the prices get a bit closer together. Is there anyone out there who can make a comparison between those two?

m0nk · May 26, 2011

I have a Fed4 with a Raiders bash and love it, but I'm also considering an AB Henry for a Last Crusade bash. I would also like to see a side by side comparison, with pics, but after trading emails with John Penman recently, I'm pretty much sold on either the AB Henry or the Penman Crusader.... still undecided which, though.

jlee562 · May 26, 2011

IIRC the Henry does NOT have the kangaroo leather sweat that the AB Dlx has.

bendingoak · May 26, 2011

The sweatband DJD most likely had a misprint on it not a ABD Kangaroo sweatband.

Woodfluter · May 26, 2011

Don't have an Adventurebilt, but can speak a bit about the Fed Deluxe.

I'm quite sure the above posters are right and the AB Henry is softer, but I have deliberately manhandled and tortured my four Feds which were invariably all the better for that. They are stiff as received, yet get much more pliable with handling, don't shrink (so far, despite some severe treatment), have a very decent finish, but remain considerably short of the qualities of a vintage Cavanagh, Dobbs, etc. Where AB fits in there, can't say.

I wouldn't hesitate to get the Fed as a fill-in myself. I also like the fact that they're replaceable, so I wear mine at times and places when I wouldn't wear a hard to replace vintage hat - or an AB for that matter. So I think you might find it useful after the order comes through. BTW, I've trimmed three of them (so far) down to 2.5" all around. Suits me better, but that's a personal taste. Contact me if you ever want details about how to do that.

= Bill

djd · May 26, 2011

I don't know what my sweatband was made of. It said AB Deluxe and it was incredibly soft. Totally different to any other sweatband I have. Was it roo? I don't know.

HamletJSD · May 26, 2011

I'm not sure if I have a Fed IV Deluxe or FIII D, but I've had it for several years now so I can say a few things about it. It's a super quality hat for the price and, as Woodfluter said, it's more replaceable so I don't mind wearing it in places I know are rough (work at Home Depot, for instance). For some reason, though, it's never quite suited me. The dimensions of crown-to-brim-to-me have always seemed off. It seems so huge to me. I've cut the brim down close to 2.5" and am afraid to go any lower. IT COULD VERY WELL BE that the proportions just done fit me well, so I don't want to say that's a problem with the hat unless a lot of other people chime in. If it looked better on me I'd get another one Fed based on the quality vs. price point.

In a related note: every other Akubra I've ever had has been great, too. For a modern hat, they are awesome.

Sam Craig · May 26, 2011

bendingoak said:
The sweatband DJD most likely had a misprint on it not a ABD Kangaroo sweatband.

Not to get off the subject, John, but what is the hat you wear in your Avatar? I mean I know it's one of yours, but is it a long finish.
It looks great!

Sam

jlee562 · May 26, 2011

Sam Craig said:
Not to get off the subject, John, but what is the hat you wear in your Avatar? I mean I know it's one of yours, but is it a long finish.
It looks great!

Sam

I'm not John, but I can shed a bit of light on that hat:
http://penmanhats.blogspot.com/2011/03/satin-finish.html

bendingoak · May 26, 2011

The Henry sweatband is very unique very much like a couple of vintage hats I have. The ABD sweatband is the very top of the line sweatband (kangaroo). Now , not every kangaroo sweatband is great. I took a look at some kangaroo sweatband that were made here in the US and wasn't very good at all. Marc's on the other hand is hands down the very best.

bendingoak · May 26, 2011

Sorry I missed your question.

Yes, its a sahara long hair with a a ribbon called vintage copper.

Its becoming one of my favorite hats.

scottyrocks · Apr 2, 2012

bendingoak said:
The Henry sweatband is very unique very much like a couple of vintage hats I have. The ABD sweatband is the very top of the line sweatband (kangaroo). Now , not every kangaroo sweatband is great. I took a look at some kangaroo sweatband that were made here in the US and wasn't very good at all. Marc's on the other hand is hands down the very best.

Will the Henry sweatband respond to the spray and dry on a lampshade method so often discussed?

bendingoak · Apr 2, 2012

I will say no on the old lamp shade trick.

zetwal · Apr 2, 2012

bendingoak said:
I will say no on the old lamp shade trick.

Sounds like a bad idea to me too.

bendingoak · Apr 2, 2012

bendingoak said:
I will say no on the old lamp shade trick.

The way the henry sweatband is made I don't think it would work.

scottyrocks · Apr 2, 2012

Okay, then so it's tear it down or trade it for a smaller one.

Fed IV vs AB Henry

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