Panama Hat Thread

[jonbuilder]

Modesto hat ready to ship; picture sent for my approval prior to shipping. To date Modesto hats representative Andrea has been sending communications to prevent my disappointment

 

[Garrett]

 

[Steinbockhase]

Very nice. Does it fit you?

 

[Garrett]

Very nice. Does it fit you?

I'm a size 7 but the occasional haircut will accommodate a 6 7/8

 

[Air Wing Marine]

Where Can I Find a Decent Panama At a Budget Price?

I'm looking for a natural Cuenca, teardrop crown with 2 1/4 brim or less. This will be a "working" hat for Africa, so i'm not overly concerned with weave count. What I don't want is a overly stiffened cardboard hat, or coarse feel. I have a couple of Panama Direct hats and the blocking is dreadful.

I would like a flexible, breathable hat with a sharp teardrop block from a U.S. vendor that won't break the bank.

 

[Tukwila]

Where Can I Find a Decent Panama At a Budget Price?

I'm looking for a natural Cuenca, teardrop crown with 2 1/4 brim or less. This will be a "working" hat for Africa, so i'm not overly concerned with weave count. What I don't want is a overly stiffened cardboard hat, or coarse feel. I have a couple of Panama Direct hats and the blocking is dreadful.

I would like a flexible, breathable hat with a sharp teardrop block from a U.S. vendor that won't break the bank.

I could have picked you up something a couple days ago in Cuenca.

I would call Art Fawcett at VS, or Mike Miller at Northwest Hat Company and tell them what you want. They both have great blocks for Panama hats, and last I checked they had Cuenca hat bodies.

By Mike


By Art

 

[Air Wing Marine]

Mike, I had heard the same so was a little hesitant. Cuenca Grade 6 Havana Panama Hat size 61 with a Dark Brown ribbon under $100.
They are still having a sale https://www.panamahatsdirect.com/. The sale covered the shipping order to delivery in CA was 3 weeks 6 days. I did get it for next year but its supposed to be in the 80's this weekend.

I had bad luck with Panama Hats Direct. I purchased a Fino and Montecristi and grade 10 Cuenca. The weave was okay but the blocking was abysmal. The attached hat pic was supposed to be a "Havana". The hat looks like a Gambler mated with a Havana and had an ugly baby. My wife says it looks like i'm wearing a spitoon on my head.

 

[Tukwila]

I had bad luck with Panama Hats Direct. I purchased a Fino and View attachment 151908 Montecristi and grade 10 Cuenca. The weave was okay but the blocking was abysmal. The attached hat pic was supposed to be a "Havana". The hat looks like a Gambler mated with a Havana and had an ugly baby. My wife says it looks like i'm wearing a spitoon on my head.

I would complain. Looks like it was hand creased. Without seeing a tape measure I can tell you that is not a grade 10 Cuenca, or a MC of any sort.

My guess is llano weave Cuenca, grade 3 to 4 at best.

 

[Air Wing Marine]

I had a lot of personal issues going on when I got the hat. Too much time has lapsed

 

[William G.]

Where Can I Find a Decent Panama At a Budget Price?

I'm looking for a natural Cuenca, teardrop crown with 2 1/4 brim or less. This will be a "working" hat for Africa, so i'm not overly concerned with weave count. What I don't want is a overly stiffened cardboard hat, or coarse feel. I have a couple of Panama Direct hats and the blocking is dreadful.

I would like a flexible, breathable hat with a sharp teardrop block from a U.S. vendor that won't break the bank.

Between us, Val and I have three hats from Ultrafino.com, and I've been very happy with all of them. What you get looks like what's pictured, for the most part, and the sizing on all three is perfect. The brim measurements on their website don't always reflect reality, though.

 

[Air Wing Marine]

I’ll have to check it out. how is there blocking? What grades did you get?

 

[William G.]

I’ll have to check it out. how is there blocking? What grades did you get?

I'm not sure what grade any of these hats are. I bought the Havana Sorento in 2015, it was my first ever straw. At the time, I felt like it compared to a grade 12 Stetson. The weave is so tight that you can hold it up to the sun and maybe see a half-dozen pinpricks of light in the whole hat. I've worn it to car shows on 110 degree days and spent 8+ hours in that heat without any problem. Sweating through it didn't seem to affect it. The brim is 2-1/2", the overall size is 7 5/8 (61), despite the website listing it as a 2-1/4" or 2-3/8" brim.

The blocking on the Havana Sorento is a teardrop, but it isn't sharp in front, the dents are kind of shallow and subtle and spaced wide apart. The straw is natural, there's no coating or coloring on it. It's stiff because of the structure. It has a cloth sweatband inside.

The other one I have is a Havana Retro Classic. It has a breezy weave and it's got some crinkle to it from whatever they used to shape and/or color it. I just got it for Christmas, so I have no idea what it will be like in the heat, but when I wore it outside to take these pictures, I could definitely feel the breeze coming through it. And again, on the brim, they have this listed as a 2-1/4" brim, but the pictures on their site accurately show the dimensions that I got on the hat I received.

Val's hat is a bonnet I bought for her last year, I believe it's the Vivianne Scoop. It's blocked so well you'd think it was a felt hat, and like my Sorento, there's almost no places where light gets through it. They even have a bow on the back of it made out of the straw. I'm impressed with how well they pulled the bow off.

I don't know if this answers your questions. I can get different pictures for you if that would help.

 

[Bamaboots]

Where Can I Find a Decent Panama At a Budget Price?

You might check out Tom Gomez as I think he makes a great Panama hat that won't break the bank. I have a Cuenca semi-calado from him that I've had for 4 years.

https://gomezhatcompany.com/

 

[DanO]

Air Wing
On both of the recent orders from Panama Hats Direct I was pleased. Regardless of the time passed that hat is not acceptable IMO.
William Ramirez (manager)
602-412-3520 Panamahatsdirect.com
I spoke with William about the second one which I ordered in a wrong size and he was very helpful, might be worth a call.

I have had issues with Ultrafino, but the hat in my avatar is from them and I believe it is the Havana Sorrento mine is very lite and pliable, I do not like the leather band so changed it later. I thought the price was a little high.

 

[Air Wing Marine]

I'm not sure what grade any of these hats are. I bought the Havana Sorento in 2015, it was my first ever straw. At the time, I felt like it compared to a grade 12 Stetson. The weave is so tight that you can hold it up to the sun and maybe see a half-dozen pinpricks of light in the whole hat. I've worn it to car shows on 110 degree days and spent 8+ hours in that heat without any problem. Sweating through it didn't seem to affect it. The brim is 2-1/2", the overall size is 7 5/8 (61), despite the website listing it as a 2-1/4" or 2-3/8" brim.

The blocking on the Havana Sorento is a teardrop, but it isn't sharp in front, the dents are kind of shallow and subtle and spaced wide apart. The straw is natural, there's no coating or coloring on it. It's stiff because of the structure. It has a cloth sweatband inside.

The other one I have is a Havana Retro Classic. It has a breezy weave and it's got some crinkle to it from whatever they used to shape and/or color it. I just got it for Christmas, so I have no idea what it will be like in the heat, but when I wore it outside to take these pictures, I could definitely feel the breeze coming through it. And again, on the brim, they have this listed as a 2-1/4" brim, but the pictures on their site accurately show the dimensions that I got on the hat I received.

Val's hat is a bonnet I bought for her last year, I believe it's the Vivianne Scoop. It's blocked so well you'd think it was a felt hat, and like my Sorento, there's almost no places where light gets through it. They even have a bow on the back of it made out of the straw. I'm impressed with how well they pulled the bow off.

I don't know if this answers your questions. I can get different pictures for you if that would help.

 

[Air Wing Marine]

Thanks for all the info and pics. I'm gonna call PHD this week

 

[Air Wing Marine]

SISAL HAT CHARACTERISTICS

I have some questions regarding sisal straw hat, especially in comparison to a Panama:

1. Coarse or smooth texture?
2. Malleable or stiff?
3. Can it be shaped by steam?
4. Light or heavy?
5. Breathable and cool or hot?

 

[Steinbockhase]

SISAL HAT CHARACTERISTICS

I have some questions regarding sisal straw hat, especially in comparison to a Panama:

1. Coarse or smooth texture?
2. Malleable or stiff?
3. Can it be shaped by steam?
4. Light or heavy?
5. Breathable and cool or hot?

I have one Sissal and several Panama straw hats in differnt qualities.
The Sissal fibers are very thin and fine-woven; feel, stiffness, weight and breathability are comparable with my best Panama hat. I do not no if all Sissal hats are of that quality.
Because I didn't like the original center-dent, I modified the crown to a tear drop using some steam; which worked out fairly good.

This is the vintage "Reich Exoten" Sissal

 

[drmaxtejeda]

I have one Sissal and several Panama straw hats in differnt qualities.
The Sissal fibers are very thin and fine-woven; feel, stiffness, weight and breathability are comparable with my best Panama hat. I do not no if all Sissal hats are of that quality.
Because I didn't like the original center-dent, I modified the crown to a tear drop using some steam; which worked out fairly good.

This is the vintage "Reich Exoten" Sissal
View attachment 152472 View attachment 152473

Hey, could you please post a pic from the inside?

Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk

 

[BobHufford]

1. Depends on the weave.
2. Stiff when dry.
3. Yes, but can get wonky. I need to re-flange the brim on mine after messing with it.
4. Light.
5. Breathable and cool.