Panama Hat Thread

[deadlyhandsome]

Hi Brent! Yes. That's a nice touch. I've received quality service from PHD with every purchase. They have a nice sale indeed.

It’s been years since I’ve bought from PHD. I’m weirdly hard on straw hats and have accepted that most don’t last long with how I use them. These will be reserved for nicer wear. As I recall, their leather sweatbands were rubbery and generally unappealing…I hope they’ve gotten better over the intervening years.

 

[Lukacs]

It’s been years since I’ve bought from PHD. I’m weirdly hard on straw hats and have accepted that most don’t last long with how I use them. These will be reserved for nicer wear. As I recall, their leather sweatbands were rubbery and generally unappealing…I hope they’ve gotten better over the intervening years.

My first purchase from PHD was their one of their Super Fino grades in May 2021, and I wore that hat for the past 2 summers. Last February, I purchased a Cuenca from PHD on sale. Big difference between them, but both met expectations for the price paid. The leather sweatband on the Super Fino has held up well, but last summer, it was used less, because it was worn in rotation with the Cuenca and a Style 392 Sinatra Straw Hat from Miller Hats., which was a great value. I try to wipe off any perspiration from the sweatband when removing my hat. You have ventilation on the model you selected, which should help keep your head cool. I hope you are pleased with your purchase and glad you took advantage of their sale.

 

[Rmccamey]

I need to check with Mike at Northwest for his version of something like this. Maybe not PHD prices but I know exactly what I'm getting!

Panama Hats Direct is having a sale. I’m not a huge Panama hat guy, but I got a couple; this is the nicer of the two:

View attachment 467512 View attachment 467513

I’ll switch out the ribbons when they arrive.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I need to check with Mike at Northwest for his version of something like this. Maybe not PHD prices but I know exactly what I'm getting!

I too would have went that route, but Mike doesn’t have Panama blocks in my size. I’ve even thought of buying a set of blocks for Mike just so I could have that option. Mike was even the one who suggested I go with PHD and they just happened to have a couple of hats I liked that were on sale.

 

[MichaelSeed]

That's good to know. I just found them google searching panamas in australia. Their pics looked nice to me but their prices were a bit high and it was weird their prices were in USD despite being an aussie website and located he

That's good to know. I just found them google searching panamas in australia. Their pics looked nice to me but their prices were a bit high and it was weird their prices were in USD despite being an aussie website and located here.

A few years ago I mentioned that I saw an Aussie hat seller called Truffaux and I thought they didn't look good, yadda yadda yadda.

I have changed my opinion. About a year ago I was in the Danenong mountain ranges visiting my second favourite pie place (Pie in the Sky in Olinda). And a few doors down Truffaux had a brick and morter location. Stopped in before getting a pie and picked up a hat. It's their Casablanca Wide Brim. Had it for a year now and I'm very happy with it. Light weight and breathes well. Feels like nothing on my head. After 5-ish months of constant wear it still looks pretty new. I'm not a Panama expert but I'm very glad I bought it. Cost me around $200-ish AUD which is maybe $175 in USD at the time.

If you are ever in Victoria and want a good pie then drive up to Olinda and visit Pie in the Sky, I highly recommend the beef burgandy pie. Aussie pies are not deserts, they're full of meat. And while you're there it's definitely worth an extra ten minutes to checkout Truffaux.

Also, merry Christmas. It's bloody sunny 31C or 87F here today. Panama weather.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

My two PHD hats arrived before Christmas, but the weather hasn’t been very compatible with Panama hats.

First: semi colada with large repeating diamond vents. The brim is 3” wide and the crown is 4 ⅛” at the front dip. The ribbon is 1 3/8” wide. The sweatbands on both hats are nicer than what I received on my last PHD hat a few years back that were rubbery and chemical saturated. The crown is shaped in the Havana style.

The second:
Also a semi colada in the Havana style. The weave is finer and the venting is more subtle. The ribbon is mid-brown. The dimensions are the same: 3” wide brim and 4 ⅛” crown at the front dip.

Both fit true to size and I’m pleased with them both.

 

[MichaelSeed]

Do people generally have a preference for the type of weave in their hats? Brisa vs Quenca? I think the zig zag look of the Quenca looks cooler, but every website I read seems to praise Montecristis and they are more expensive.

Are there benefits of one over the other?

 

[belfastboy]

I have known the master Domingo Carranza and his family for more than ten years, his work is very special, I would almost say outside the commercial circuit. Great execution and highly recommended. Nothing to do with the large multinationals that bring hats from Cuenca to the USA and sell them as unique pieces of art. This guy has hats on display at MoMA, Smithsonian, and top-tier private collections. I have these. www.pilehats.com www.domingocarranza.com

The links you provided to the websites are dead links.

 

[Paola Caicedo]

Some other vendor options:

https://modestohats.com/

https://montecuadorhats.com/panama-hats/panama-hats-montecristi/


Interesting vid from Hatitude hats here:

Cheers, Eric-

I have bought several wonderful hats for my father, my grandfather, my brother and myself, always with a recommendable service. www.pilehats.com

 

[Paola Caicedo]

Some other vendor options:

https://modestohats.com/

https://montecuadorhats.com/panama-hats/panama-hats-montecristi/


Interesting vid from Hatitude hats here:

Cheers, Eric-

I have bought several wonderful hats for my father, my grandfather, my brother and myself, always with a recommendable service. Carranza Hats from Pile

 

[MichaelSeed]

I have a long distance friend I play online games with. He wears a cheap Target hat. I'm trying to convince him to upgrade to a real Panama. Anyone know the best place to get a bargain price Panama in Orlando Florida?

Being in Australia, I'm not sure where to send him.

 

[Jon Crow]

Can't beat a good Panama hat, my wife bought me one here in Madrid from a traditional store that has been around since the forties, all quality made

 

[Just Daniel]

Michael, welcome to the Lounge. You might want to direct your friend to Panama Hats Direct. It’s a great start point with varying prices based on quality. I have not used them, but you’ll see a lot of folks here order from there.

https://www.panamahatsdirect.com/


If money is no object (eventually), Brent Black has some super nice hats. The reason to check it out now is that the website is also super informative. Everything you want to know about pricing, quality, sizing, etc is on this site.

https://www.brentblack.com/

If you poke through the Lounge you’ll find a thread comparing both sites and hats. …and if you get that far maybe you’ll buy one yourself!

Here it is:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/brent-blacks-panamas-panama-hats-directs-panamas.108067/

I have a long distance friend I play online games with. He wears a cheap Target hat. I'm trying to convince him to upgrade to a real Panama. Anyone know the best place to get a bargain price Panama in Orlando Florida?

Being in Australia, I'm not sure where to send him.

 

[Lukacs]

Michael, welcome to the Lounge. You might want to direct your friend to Panama Hats Direct. It’s a great start point with varying prices based on quality. I have not used them, but you’ll see a lot of folks here order from there.

https://www.panamahatsdirect.com/


If money is no object (eventually), Brent Black has some super nice hats. The reason to check it out now is that the website is also super informative. Everything you want to know about pricing, quality, sizing, etc is on this site.

https://www.brentblack.com/

If you poke through the Lounge you’ll find a thread comparing both sites and hats. …and if you get that far maybe you’ll buy one yourself!

Here it is:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/brent-blacks-panamas-panama-hats-directs-panamas.108067/

Daniel, I couldn’t agree more. I have direct experience with Panama Hats Dieect (PHD), and I recommend the wholeheartedly. I can’t afford Brent Black (maybe some day), and his website is very informative.

Michael, please PM me for information about PHD.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

I have a long distance friend I play online games with. He wears a cheap Target hat. I'm trying to convince him to upgrade to a real Panama. Anyone know the best place to get a bargain price Panama in Orlando Florida?

Being in Australia, I'm not sure where to send him.

There have been some great recommendations provided. PHD got my business for the last two Panama hats I purchased. However, I think Mike at The Northwest Hat Co. makes a fantastic Panama hat at a fair price. I really prefer his sweatbands over PHD and the blocking on the Northwest hats are crisper and more to my tastes. I would love to order a Panama hat from Northwest, but they don’t offer them in my size.

https://www.northwesthats.com/new-page-34

 

[MichaelSeed]

Does PHD have a brick and mortar store in Florida?

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Does PHD have a brick and mortar store in Florida?

Not that I know of. I think they are exclusively an online retailer.

 

[Lukacs]

There have been some great recommendations provided. PHD got my business for the last two Panama hats I purchased. However, I think Mike at The Northwest Hat Co. makes a fantastic Panama hat at a fair price. I really prefer his sweatbands over PHD and the blocking on the Northwest hats are crisper and more to my tastes. I would love to order a Panama hat from Northwest, but they don’t offer them in my size.

https://www.northwesthats.com/new-page-34

Thanks, Brent! How could I forget about Mike at The Northwest Hat Co.? Sorry, Mike. I have not ordered from Mike, but his hats look handsome, and I would absolutely do business with him based on the glowing endorsements he receives here. His hats are custom made specifically made for you, unlike PHD, and Brent already attested to the upgrades in the headband and blocking.

Last, PHD is online only, and is run out of Ecuador, according to the information on their website. I've spoken with Samuel and William Ramirez at 800-876-6956. When I purchased my hats, I selected ones that I liked from their inventory and called. They pulled them and sent me pictures of them. We talked about hatbands and shipping. They'll recommend upgrading shipping, so it can be traced. Their hats are blocked in Ecuador, which can't compare to The Northwest Hat Co. or Brent Black, based on what I've read here. PHD will email you with updates throughout their process. I hope this helps.

 

[belfastboy]

There have been some great recommendations provided. PHD got my business for the last two Panama hats I purchased. However, I think Mike at The Northwest Hat Co. makes a fantastic Panama hat at a fair price. I really prefer his sweatbands over PHD and the blocking on the Northwest hats are crisper and more to my tastes. I would love to order a Panama hat from Northwest, but they don’t offer them in my size.

https://www.northwesthats.com/new-page-34

I have 2 from NorthWest....they are brilliant. The only downside is they are so nice I 'save' them for good and wear my cheaper Homero Ortega instead......much cheaper and they look it but very servicable on a hot sweaty day.

 

[Lukacs]

I have 2 from NorthWest....they are brilliant. The only downside is they are so nice I 'save' them for good and wear my cheaper Homero Ortega instead......much cheaper and they look it but very servicable on a hot sweaty day.

This is an important point, and one that William Ramirez mentioned to me, when I purchased my first hat from PHD. It was what they call a Super Fino. (Reading Brent Black's information will teach you that terminology about hat grades varies between retailers and is subjective, rather than objective.) I wanted to get the highest grade that I could afford. However, William asked me how I was going to use it, because often, wearers will find their hat is so nice, they don't want to wear it. Also, weather is a factor, because you don't want to get it wet. When dark clouds appear on the horizon, my Super Fino comes off. William told me that he knew of a customer who ordered one of their FIno Fino hats (top of their line) and took it on a cruise. He watched it sail off his head and into the ocean on that cruise. It's sound advice to consider how you want to use your hat when thinking about your purchase.