I know it’s common for people to remove the reed if the hat is too tight but with a proper fitting hat I see absolutely no reason to do it. If you’re in between sizes always go up the pad it down to fit. I feel by cutting out the reed you will change the shape of the hat. My Akubra hats are pristine and fit amazing. Just my take on the subject. Thanks for sharing the video 👍
Thanks for the comment! Yeah, I ordered my brown one up a size but used it as a rain and work hat and sweated in it profusely for years. The sweatband shrank and became too tight. After removing the wire, it’s comfortable again. The carbon grey hat’s wire was removed by the previous owner and I removed the tawny fawn’s as preventive maintenance. They all have held their shape well. But yeah, to each their own 👍
If people don’t want to do this then don’t do it. But if you have a problem with the hat and it requires stretching or steaming then it will require stretching constantly because the Reed will always eventually return to the original shape.
It’s just glued in. Take care when removing it so as not to tear the felt. But it’s not necessary to remove the liner to snip the wire. It’s not even necessary to remove the wire, you can leave it in there if you want. Thanks for watching! Kris
Hi there! Thanks for the video. I have an AdVintage Harrison Hat and it's great but it's a 59 and I'm closer to a 60. I've tried using a Hat Jack and Steam but that caused some problems in the shape and now the pinch is not centered any more and one side of the hat feels more loose than the other, making the fit weird. Do you know if I can do this to my Hat? Do these Fedoras have the reed? Thanks beforehand mate! You are awesome :D
Hey, great to hear from you! Yes, it looks like my Harrison has the reed, so I think that you can snip it. You don’t even have to remove it, just cutting it at the back will allow the sweatband to expand. Then you can reshape your crown! Thank you for the question!
If it’s a really snug fit, it might be. I don’t ever remember a burning irritation from the stitching; what I do remember is getting a headache from the tightness of the hat and when taking the hat off, it was almost like ‘peeling’ the sweatband off of my head and there would be an impression of the sweatband left on my forehead. Removing the wire definitely stopped all that. What you could try is using some Picard leather dressing on the sweatband. I rub some on both sides and keep the sweatband unfolded for a while afterwards so that it doesn’t get on the hat. I’ll do a video on that! But, some guys, the first thing they do when they get a hat is remove the wire. But if the hat isn’t too tight to begin with, then the wire probably isn’t the problem. Maybe use some Picard first. About to do a video on that. I know that wasn’t a definitive answer but hopefully we can figure this out. You know, shooting an email to The Hattery wouldn’t be a bad idea. Those folks are so nice, I’m sure that they’d be happy to help. Thanks for your question, please ask more because if I can help your hat fit more comfortably I’d sure love to! Kris
Do be aware that cutting the wire can alter the shape of the hat, especially after a bit of wear. The only time I ever needed to cut it was when the hat shrank. I think that if the hat fits properly there is no reason to remove the wire. I have never experienced discomfort from one.
Yes, I would also agree that cutting the wire should only be done to make the hat fit better after the sweatband has shrunk enough to become uncomfortable. I do know a few guys that cut it immediately, but after cutting the one on the Tawny Fawn and experiencing virtually no effect one way or the other afterwards I would have to say, don’t alter the hat until there’s a good reason. Thank you for sharing! Kris
The purpose of the reed is to bell out the sweatband so your skin isn’t contacting the zig zag stitching attaching the leather to the reeding tape. The reeding tape also holds the sweatband in the hat. Removing the reed not only ruined the sweatband it makes the hat less comfortable because your skin will then contact the stitches. If your hat is the wrong size I would suggest getting the correct size and moving the ill fitting hat on to someone it fits and who will appreciate it. Another factor impacting comfort is the correct shape, regular oval, long oval or round. This is less of a factor with light weight dress hats than stiff cowboy hats but it important in all hats for optimal comfort and maintaining proper crown and brim shape.
Thanks for watching! Really, I’ve been wearing these hats for years without the wire and honestly they have only continued to become more comfortable. Thank you sharing your insight! Again, thanks for watching!
Your video has confirmed my speculations, and it has been mighty helpful. There may come a day I’ll have to do it. Thank you!
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!
What if you snipped the wire but left it in there? Thst way it would be free to stretch into podition and the wire still offering a bit of its rigity.
Yes, that would be the way to go! Don’t take it out unless you have to.
Thanks for sharing. Does it loosen the overall fit and/or help avoid shrinkage?
Yes, I believe it loosens the fit a bit. Let’s the sweatband stretch a little and form to the head better.
Thanks for watching!
I know it’s common for people to remove the reed if the hat is too tight but with a proper fitting hat I see absolutely no reason to do it. If you’re in between sizes always go up the pad it down to fit. I feel by cutting out the reed you will change the shape of the hat. My Akubra hats are pristine and fit amazing. Just my take on the subject. Thanks for sharing the video 👍
Thanks for the comment!
Yeah, I ordered my brown one up a size but used it as a rain and work hat and sweated in it profusely for years. The sweatband shrank and became too tight. After removing the wire, it’s comfortable again.
The carbon grey hat’s wire was removed by the previous owner and I removed the tawny fawn’s as preventive maintenance. They all have held their shape well. But yeah, to each their own 👍
That is my thinking, as well.
If people don’t want to do this then don’t do it. But if you have a problem with the hat and it requires stretching or steaming then it will require stretching constantly because the Reed will always eventually return to the original shape.
Yes, my thoughts exactly! Thank you for watching!
Kris
Is the lining hard to remove ?? Is it glued...??
It’s just glued in. Take care when removing it so as not to tear the felt.
But it’s not necessary to remove the liner to snip the wire. It’s not even necessary to remove the wire, you can leave it in there if you want.
Thanks for watching!
Kris
Hi there! Thanks for the video. I have an AdVintage Harrison Hat and it's great but it's a 59 and I'm closer to a 60. I've tried using a Hat Jack and Steam but that caused some problems in the shape and now the pinch is not centered any more and one side of the hat feels more loose than the other, making the fit weird. Do you know if I can do this to my Hat? Do these Fedoras have the reed? Thanks beforehand mate! You are awesome :D
Hey, great to hear from you!
Yes, it looks like my Harrison has the reed, so I think that you can snip it. You don’t even have to remove it, just cutting it at the back will allow the sweatband to expand.
Then you can reshape your crown!
Thank you for the question!
@@HatLifeAdventures Wow great, thank you so much!
On my Fed IV, the stitching on the sweatband caused a burning irritation in my forehead- would removing this wire somehow help out with that?
If it’s a really snug fit, it might be. I don’t ever remember a burning irritation from the stitching; what I do remember is getting a headache from the tightness of the hat and when taking the hat off, it was almost like ‘peeling’ the sweatband off of my head and there would be an impression of the sweatband left on my forehead. Removing the wire definitely stopped all that.
What you could try is using some Picard leather dressing on the sweatband. I rub some on both sides and keep the sweatband unfolded for a while afterwards so that it doesn’t get on the hat. I’ll do a video on that!
But, some guys, the first thing they do when they get a hat is remove the wire. But if the hat isn’t too tight to begin with, then the wire probably isn’t the problem. Maybe use some Picard first. About to do a video on that.
I know that wasn’t a definitive answer but hopefully we can figure this out.
You know, shooting an email to The Hattery wouldn’t be a bad idea. Those folks are so nice, I’m sure that they’d be happy to help.
Thanks for your question, please ask more because if I can help your hat fit more comfortably I’d sure love to!
Kris
Do be aware that cutting the wire can alter the shape of the hat, especially after a bit of wear. The only time I ever needed to cut it was when the hat shrank. I think that if the hat fits properly there is no reason to remove the wire. I have never experienced discomfort from one.
Yes, I would also agree that cutting the wire should only be done to make the hat fit better after the sweatband has shrunk enough to become uncomfortable.
I do know a few guys that cut it immediately, but after cutting the one on the Tawny Fawn and experiencing virtually no effect one way or the other afterwards I would have to say, don’t alter the hat until there’s a good reason.
Thank you for sharing!
Kris
Great video thank you
Thank you!
The purpose of the reed is to bell out the sweatband so your skin isn’t contacting the zig zag stitching attaching the leather to the reeding tape. The reeding tape also holds the sweatband in the hat. Removing the reed not only ruined the sweatband it makes the hat less comfortable because your skin will then contact the stitches. If your hat is the wrong size I would suggest getting the correct size and moving the ill fitting hat on to someone it fits and who will appreciate it. Another factor impacting comfort is the correct shape, regular oval, long oval or round. This is less of a factor with light weight dress hats than stiff cowboy hats but it important in all hats for optimal comfort and maintaining proper crown and brim shape.
Thanks for watching!
Really, I’ve been wearing these hats for years without the wire and honestly they have only continued to become more comfortable.
Thank you sharing your insight!
Again, thanks for watching!
I can confirm this :(
My Akubra Fed IV has no wire at all. I don't know what you're talking about.
It’s inside the rim of the sweatband. You can’t see it. If yours fits comfortably, I wouldn’t worry about it.
Hope this helps!
Pretty useless as a how-to video. Safe to assume people know how to use a pair of cutters “Snip, snip”. Really?
Thanks for watching!
the purpose of the video is to show the location of the reed (wire) dude, not about how to use some cutters.