Panama Hat Thread

[alanfgag]

Thank you, guys.

 

[mikespens]

As unique and polished as its owner :eusa_clap

Well said Garrett. Love the patina and fabulous liner.

 

[GregNYC]

Beautiful, Alan! I'd like to think that part of the patina is from Cuban cigar smoke and the exhaust fumes from cacharros....

 

[Nyah]

I received my first panama (too late for my vacation, unfortunately). I went with a sub-fino, for now, because functionality was my primary reason for getting it. Overall I'm happy with it. Relative to other panamas I've handled, this seems to be fairly soft in the reed area. I ordered it blocked as Long Oval, which is still not enough for me but, it's soft enough to easily conform the rest of the way. The edge curl on the brim helps reduce the effect of over-snap. Of all the semi-calado weaves I've seen with decorative patterns, this is my favorite one (If they give names to the patterns, I'd love to know what this one is called).

In summary, I realize that this hat is definitely not top-shelf merchandise but, I'm fairly happy with it, for what it is.

 

[tropicalbob]

Gentlemen, thanks for the info on PB, but how do you get in touch with him? I saw the ebay site, but I need something in a larger size and would like to see if he could come up with one. Just recently I received my VS straw, and I love it so much that I'm afraid I'm wearing it to death.

 

[mikespens]

tropicalbob, here is his website contact info but if you've read the PB thread here you'll probably need some patience:

http://www.panamas.biz/contact.html

 

[Rick Blaine]

Nice semi-caldo, Nyah!

 

[RJR]

#1 on the semi colado!

 

[Nyah]

Thanks!

 

[tropicalbob]

Thanks once again for your help, Mike.

 

[HoustonVeer]

New to the forum.

I was in New Orleans last weekend and wandered in the Goorin Bros hat shop. I tried on a few, decided to do some research, and found this forum.

Thank goodness. I discovered Goorin doesn't make their own hats. Bollman Hat Company makes them for Goorin and several other lines. Not that Bollman makes bad hats -- just that the Goorin brand hats are likely overpriced.

I also learned about Panama Bob. I looked over his site, and decided to simply start with his basic $25 hat. I understand that the hat will likely be made from young weavers whom Bob tries to support and help cultivate their skills.

I e-mailed Bob my specifics. I'm a bigger guy (6-4) and I live in Houston. My hat size is 7 3/8 and my face is on the rounder side. I am looking for a wider brim hat that will be cool and provide shade to my face and neck when attending outdoor social/sporting events. I do not plan to play golf in the hat.

Bob responded within a few hours. I look forward to taking the first step on this new journey. Eventually, I would like to own an expensive panama hat. But I also look forward to getting acquainted with this first starter hat from Bob. I don't even know what kind of style it will be. I specified a natural color and requested a wider brim.

I'll post pics when it arrives. Any advice from those more experienced would be greatly appreciated.

 

[1mach1]

Welcome to the site, HV! Sometimes the wait can be a killer, but it is worth it in the end. Can't wait to see pics.

 

[RJR]

Welcome,you've begun an interesting adventure HV.

 

[hatsRme]

Well done, HV! You are on the right track to a great hat.

 

[HoustonVeer]

Well done, HV! You are on the right track to a great hat.

Thanks!

Bob doesn't have any wider brims right now, but when he finds a suitable one, I think we are going to send it to Mr. Gomez for a leather sweat band, etc.

That will add some time to the process, but I'm confident it will be worth the wait.

 

[B1ggles]

This was bought a few years ago from the English Hatter in Amsterdam. Not a cheap shop, but some nice hats; the following year I got a black Stetson fedora there.

But on a subsequent visit to Amsterdam, my Panama blew off a coffee table and landed in the Prinsengracht, where it floated for 20 minutes until I could get some guys in a small boat to rescue it for me. I really thought it was done for, but wore it all day (with water dripping off it) in the hope that might help prevent it shrinking. In the end, it didn't shrink at all, though it did lose a little shape. I guess that's the difference between a Panama and a straw hat? Or maybe it's just why it was expensive?

 

[HoustonVeer]

My Panama Bob hat arrived today! I'm very pleased. 3" brim as requested. Here are some pictures:

 

[Rick Blaine]

What say you?



Grading Panamas

Did he get it right? Half right? all wrong???
No mention of Montis? Uses words unknown to me (carerras?)
writes with great authority though, I'll say that.

 

[ingineer]

Looks very informative to a tyro such as i am.
Perhaps "carriers" as in a braider
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braiding_machine
He got the linen tester right
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linen_tester
Richard

 

[tropicalbob]

Houstonveer -- Beautiful hat. I'm just now trying to decide on my next Panama and I think that's the style I'll go with. May I ask the style's name and the price range/quality?