The Shoe
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,818
- Location
- Wakayama, Japan
I believe the Campdraft only comes in deluxe and no longer in imperial.
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Akubra Federation IV Standard or Deluxe?
- Thread starter The Red Prince
- Start date
- Messages
- 18,937
- Location
- Central California
The Shoe
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,818
- Location
- Wakayama, Japan
I stand corrected. You are correct.
The Shoe
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,818
- Location
- Wakayama, Japan
From the Oxford Dictionary:
Imperial: majestic or magnificent
Deluxe: luxurious or sumptuous; of a superior kind
How am I supposed to remember which is the better one!?
- Messages
- 11,912
- Location
- Southern California
The "better" one is more expensive.
glider
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 389
^ We all know that isn't always right.
- Messages
- 11,912
- Location
- Southern California
True, but Akubra does charge more for their deluxe/Heritage Grade felt hats than they charge for their regular/Imperial Quality felt hats, so...
glider
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 389
One reply said they couldn't tell the difference in the two grades. Well what that tells us is that it is a pretty subtle difference. I suppose it depends on how picky you are. I wouldn't purchase a Rolex for instance [ couldn't afford it anyway ] but I would purchase a Seiko or even a top of the line Timex. I just purchased a Bulova . I do prefer a fur felt but there wont be any thousand dollar hats in my collection of lids. Off subject but I recently learned that it is possible to spend a couple hundred on a Timex. I don't know what to think about that
- Messages
- 11,912
- Location
- Southern California
If you have one of each side-by-side there are some visual cues that inform you which is which, but without that direct comparison... Well, let me put it this way--one of these things is not like the others:
My Akubra Fed IVs. Two are the standard/Imperial Quality felt, one is the deluxe/Heritage Grade felt. As you can see, they look a LOT alike. Except for the liner stating "Heritage" on that hat, the only other visual hint is that the sweatband is a little wider. But pick them up and handle them a bit, and if you know hats you'll notice the Heritage Grade felt is a little softer to the touch, but more rigid/substantial at the same time. All things being equal, I'd bet the Heritage felt would last longer than the Imperial.
By the way, the Heritage Grade is the Moonstone Gray on the right.
It seems most manufacturers want to give their customers a broader selection and a number of options not only to make them feel as though they're spending their money wisely, but also to keep them from looking at another manufacturer's products. I've been wearing Timex watches off and on since I was a kid, and I like 'em. My most recent one cost me (if I'm remembering correctly) about $45, and it does exactly what I want it to do--it keeps track of time fairly accurately. I'm sure there are people out there who somehow feel they need to spend hundreds (perhaps thousands) on a wristwatch, but I'm not one of 'em.
The Shoe
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,818
- Location
- Wakayama, Japan
I have three hats on the way. The silverbelly Campdraft standard felt, the Deluxe Fed IV in dark brown and the polypropylene Capricorn.
I’m a little nervous about my first open crowns. I’m thinking teardrop for the Fed IV and diamond for the CD. The telescopes I saw on @Sexy Rexy and others also appeal, but I don’t think I want to go brim up all round. Hope I can do a decent job.
I’m a little nervous about my first open crowns. I’m thinking teardrop for the Fed IV and diamond for the CD. The telescopes I saw on @Sexy Rexy and others also appeal, but I don’t think I want to go brim up all round. Hope I can do a decent job.
Mm25
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,004
I love open crowns. I usually end up re-creasing hats with a manufactured crease for something more organic. Whatever you end up with is uniquely yours. I look forward to seeing how they turn out for you.
Edward
Bartender
- Messages
- 24,789
- Location
- London, UK
I've owned Feds in both standard and deluxe. The different is the std is fully rabbit; if memory serves the deluxe is somewhere around 70:30 Rabbit:Hare. I wouldn't like to put money on being able to tell which is which in a blind test. I bought one Fed III of each felt back in 2008; the only difference I ever found is that one was initially stiffer when new, but I can't for the life of me remember which. Both excellent hats in practical use. I'd be more inclined to buy by the exact shade of felt if that's the difference between the two. Otherwise.... all I got is buy both and shape 'em different!
- Messages
- 11,912
- Location
- Southern California
I don't know why, but the Diamond crease eluded me for a while. The first time I got it "right" was on my Taupe Fawn Campdraft, and I liked it initially but after a short while decided it didn't look quite right. So the Campdraft reverted to a Teardrop crease, and I tried the Diamond on my Dark Brown Fed IV; I liked it so much that I re-creased my other two Feds as well.
Akubra felt tolerates re-creasing well, but I HIGHLY recommend taking the time to return the hat to open crown and remove as many signs of it's most recent crease first, and let it dry completely regardless of whether you use water or steam to crease your hats. THEN re-crease as desired.
Edward
Bartender
- Messages
- 24,789
- Location
- London, UK
I don't know why, but the Diamond crease eluded me for a while. The first time I got it "right" was on my Taupe Fawn Campdraft, and I liked it initially but after a short while decided it didn't look quite right. So the Campdraft reverted to a Teardrop crease, and I tried the Diamond on my Dark Brown Fed IV; I liked it so much that I re-creased my other two Feds as well.
Akubra felt tolerates re-creasing well, but I HIGHLY recommend taking the time to return the hat to open crown and remove as many signs of it's most recent crease first, and let it dry completely regardless of whether you use water or steam to crease your hats. THEN re-crease as desired.
Sage advice. I have an Akubra Rap (their pork pie model) which I picked up some years ago. Wire it for a while then for some reason put a pinch in it - regret that now. At some point I'm going to go this method to try and steam it out.
Interesting how some colours look better in some bashes than others.... Been thinking about this recently. as I'm actually quite keen on a Capone style coffee-bean bask on something. Just recently picked up a great deal on a used Christies fedora in a mid-tan, so might try it on that....
