I love the Fed IV!!

ManofKent · Oct 1, 2013

Looks great Dave

xbeatles4x · Oct 1, 2013

Man I love my fed 4 but it is a little more brown than I thought heritage fawn would look. I tried taking a photo in sunlight today and the sun affected the photo so much it looked tan white.

Also I still feel the hat is slightly too tall. Any suggestion on how to go about fixing that? I guess I need to re bash it.

Also how many felt strips is too much? I have it in there behind the sweatband toward the back of my head and I have maybe 5-6 inches or so of it. I am slightly concerned that it might be too much. As of now the hat fits pretty good, maybe just a the ever slightest bit loose. If feel I am fretting over nothing here. Ill post back after getting a good sweat in it.

Rogera · Oct 1, 2013

Before you start crushing the crown down, post some pics so we can see it and offer some opinions. It may just be a matter of time and you will get used to the taller crown and won't want anything else! What sort of crease did you put into the top of the hat? If you did the center dent a teardrop will bring the crown down some if that's what you are looking for.

Some good sweat-ins will definitely help the fit.

xbeatles4x · Oct 1, 2013

Well I purchased the hat second hat but in worn. The previous owner did the bashing.

This is what it looks like.

Here I am with the hat again. Sometimes it looks ok others it looks too tall.

Lotsahats · Oct 1, 2013

I second Rogera's comment--the silhouette might just take some getting used to.

Rogera · Oct 1, 2013

Now seeing the pictures, I wouldn't touch a thing. I think it looks great. Try a shirt with a collar because I have noticed that different clothing will change perceptions of hat proportions on you.

xbeatles4x · Oct 1, 2013

Oh i only wear a shirt with a collar particularly long and short sleeve button downs. It just so happened when you asked for a photo at the moment I was wearing my sleeping shirt of bender.

ManofKent · Oct 1, 2013

Doesn't look too tall to me.

Zombie_61 · Oct 1, 2013

Crazy Dave said:
Back from holiday and have been wearing my brow Fed IV a lot. Haven't noticed any shrinking, but it feels better and better on my head. My grey one, which stayed at home and which was a tad bigger than the brown now for some reason feels too tight with the foam added, so I took most of it out...

That's how it happens. Little by little the hat conforms to the size and shape of your head until it feels like it was made specifically for you.

xbeatles4x said:
...Here I am with the hat again. Sometimes it looks ok others it looks too tall...

Based on the two photos you've posted of yourself wearing the hat, particularly the one you posted today, I'd say the crown height is perfect for you. I'd suggest you give yourself more time to get used to it, but it's your hat and if you're not happy with it you should do what you think is best.

tomb1013 · Oct 1, 2013

xbeatles4x looks fine to me!

Crazy Dave · Oct 1, 2013

That hat looks smashingly fine to me.

xbeatles4x · Oct 1, 2013

I forgot to mention I do have a second problem. The hat is a little close to my ears when worn comfortable. I am new to hats still so I don't know if with some wear that too will stop or what.

Someone wanted a photo outside but not in direct sunlight. Here it is. The photo is not really the to color. The color is more of a brown than bleached.

HeyMoe · Oct 1, 2013

xbeatles4x said:
I forgot to mention I do have a second problem. The hat is a little close to my ears when worn comfortable. I am new to hats still so I don't know if with some wear that too will stop or what.

Some of my lids are about a fingers widths from my ears when I wear them. Is yours similar or resting right on your ears?

carranty · Oct 1, 2013

xbeatles4x said:
I forgot to mention I do have a second problem. The hat is a little close to my ears when worn comfortable. I am new to hats still so I don't know if with some wear that too will stop or what.

The hat should be tight enough such that it rests comfortably on your head without needing the ears to stop it from moving further down. Sometimes its the top of your head making contact with the crown that prevents it from falling further down, I would say this is also a sign of a hat that is a little large. If it isn't actually touching your ears, I'd say your ok. Most people will tell you it should be around a finger's width above your ears, and while true for the average bloke, this does strongly depend on the shape and size of your ears. Everyone is different. I'd say anything between 'just not touching' your ears, and 1.5-2 finger widths is acceptable (Harrison Ford himself wore his hats pretty darn close to the tops of his ears).

xbeatles4x said:
Also I still feel the hat is slightly too tall. Any suggestion on how to go about fixing that? I guess I need to re bash it.

Looks fine to me, heck, I'd even say you could re bash it a little taller if you wanted. The general rule is that the crown height shouldn't be greater than the distance between your eyes and your chin. It also depends on other things though, facial shape, height, weight etc. To get the most informed opinions I'd upload two full body shots of yourself, with the camera about upper chest height, staring directly ahead, and then in profile. A user named Rabbit does this with most of his hats, and you get a real good sense of just how well the proportions suit him from them.

ManofKent · Oct 1, 2013

So long as the hat doesn't bend your ears down, the gap is really just a matter of preference and will vary from hat to hat

xbeatles4x · Oct 1, 2013

Ok. I feel a little better. I did order a 60 when I measured a 59.3 ish.

It is pretty damn close to my ears. Most of the time is is close but not touching. Sometimes if I am squinting and my ears move a little it will contact the hat. I think that as I wear the hat and it becomes tighter it won't be an issue.

Here is a pic for reference. It is not such a good picture but my ear is not touching the hat in that picture. It is not the case of my ear is what is holding it up.

Lotsahats · Oct 1, 2013

The best teacher you'll get is experience; the more hats you pick up in different styles and vintages, and the more you wear hats, the more you'll get a feel for what's right for you. There's a bit of a learning curve, but you'll find your feet before you know it.

xbeatles4x · Oct 1, 2013

Whe I get home ll try putting in some more felt strips. I'll see how goes.

DesertDan · Oct 1, 2013

Also, Akubra hats tend to shrink slightly with wear so it will snug up a bit over time.

As for the proportions I think it looks good on you. Tall, straight crowns take a little getting used to because it is not the typical style of modern widebrimmed hats. You will get used to it and before long modern hats will look "wrong" to you.

blazerbud · Oct 4, 2013

DesertDan said:
Also, Akubra hats tend to shrink slightly with wear so it will snug up a bit over time.

As for the proportions I think it looks good on you. Tall, straight crowns take a little getting used to because it is not the typical style of modern widebrimmed hats. You will get used to it and before long modern hats will look "wrong" to you.

Not just look wrong, Modern hats "Are" wrong. And when people see you, they will ask where they can buy a hat like yours. You can explain it to them and refer them here and to sites that they can order from, and they will stare at you confused after describing how they went to all the clothing stores and couldn't find anything.

I love the Fed IV!!

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