Panama Hat Thread

[Cuvier]

Sorry if this is off topic or inappropriate here. But could someone recommend a good stater Panama hat? I'm just getting started in nice hats but I can't afford to drop several hundred dollars on a hat. Is there a good value Panama hat in the $100 range or less?
I'm experimenting with different hats trying to find out what works for me.

 

[belfastboy]

Sorry if this is off topic or inappropriate here. But could someone recommend a good stater Panama hat? I'm just getting started in nice hats but I can't afford to drop several hundred dollars on a hat. Is there a good value Panama hat in the $100 range or less?
I'm experimenting with different hats trying to find out what works for me.

Check out Panama Hats Direct. He is having a sale on now. I just received mine and very happy with the product and the experience. He sells varying grades at varying price points. Shipping was quick. He bulk delivers his orders to Florida and then USPS to you.

 

[Cuvier]

Well that comment is gonna cost me another $100. But I found I like the Havana. I'm thinking of getting a few extra hat bands. I wanted to ask first. How are their hatbands attached? Are they glued, sewn, or just slipped over?

 

[JC Montecristi Hat]

Well that comment is gonna cost me another $100. But I found I like the Havana. I'm thinking of getting a few extra hat bands. I wanted to ask first. How are their hatbands attached? Are they glued, sewn, or just slipped over?

They glue on the hatbands.
These can also be interchangeable and slipped like this hat.

 

[Cuvier]

They glue on the hatbands.
These can also be interchangeable and slipped like this hat.

So it's not difficult or damaging to change them out? Good! I feel much better about it now! Probably a hot glue too.

 

[JC Montecristi Hat]

So it's not difficult or damaging to change them out? Good! I feel much better about it now! Probably a hot glue too.

You don't need to glue or sew the hatband; simply having it fit the shape crown of the hat is enough. The pressure will keep the hatband from coming loose off easily.

The pugaree hat bands are a better option.

I don't know how Panama hat direct hatbands work. But from the comments on the forum and the Youtube videos, I know they glue the hatbands.

 

[Genuine Classic Gangster]

Panama Hats Direct glue the hat bands, and the glue sucks.

It comes undone after a while, and the bow therefore becomes detached from the rest of the ribbon and makes the ribbon and hat look terrible when that happens.

However, I also bought another hat from them last Summer, and I requested that they sew the ribbon on this time instead of glue it, and they did that for me at no extra charge.

But I think the sewer at that time was the owner's wife, whom he has since separated from, therefore I don't know if they still sew ribbons on now with that situation, and especially since the owner is leaving the day to day operations of the business soon.

I don't recommend getting a glued ribbon though, unless you are willing and able to manually replace the glue yourself, with your own glue gun, once it become undone over time, which it most definitely will do.

 

[belfastboy]

Panama Hats Direct glue the hat bands, and the glue sucks.

It comes undone after a while, and the bow therefore becomes detached from the rest of the ribbon and makes the ribbon and hat look terrible when that happens.

However, I also bought another hat from them last Summer, and I requested that they sew the ribbon on this time instead of glue it, and they did that for me at no extra charge.

But I think the sewer at that time was the owner's wife, whom he has since separated from, therefore I don't know if they still sew ribbons on now with that situation, and especially since the owner is leaving the day to day operations of the business soon.

I don't recommend getting a glued ribbon though, unless you are willing and able to manually replace the glue yourself, with your own glue gun, once it become undone over time, which it most definitely will do.

The use of glue on a hat is just terrible. I asked for no ribbon on my recent purchase as I prefer to put on my own. I didn't realize they used glue so now am even more thankful to have received it 'nude'.

 

[belfastboy]

The use of glue on a hat is just terrible. I asked for no ribbon on my recent purchase as I prefer to put on my own. I didn't realize they used glue so now am even more thankful to have received it 'nude'.

But then Nik Fouquette glues in his liners and that is on a $1500 felt hat.......so there you go!

 

[AndyR]

The use of glue on a hat is just terrible. I asked for no ribbon on my recent purchase as I prefer to put on my own. I didn't realize they used glue so now am even more thankful to have received it 'nude'.

Yes, I was really disappointed when I saw they used glue on the PHD hat I bought a few years ago. I would say that and the sweatband are the two knocks on it.

 

[belfastboy]

Yes, I was really disappointed when I saw they used glue on the PHD hat I bought a few years ago. I would say that and the sweatband are the two knocks on it.

I also asked for a hat without his sweat band. I will sew a good one on myself. The weave of the hat is great...it is a fine hat and deserves a decent ribbon and sweat. I have rebuilt vintage hats and discovered that the ribbon/bow work was partially assembled with ordinary metal office staples. It is a toss up, what is worse....glue or staples!

 

[AndyR]

I also asked for a hat without his sweat band. I will sew a good one on myself. The weave of the hat is great...it is a fine hat and deserves a decent ribbon and sweat. I have rebuilt vintage hats and discovered that the ribbon/bow work was partially assembled with ordinary metal office staples. It is a toss up, what is worse....glue or staples!

You're right! I would consider the hat excellent if it had a good ribbon and sweat. Hmmm, somehow I would rather have the glue than staples, although staples might be easier to remove without causing damage.

 

[BobHufford]

A hard to find large size vintage Panama. Supernatural Tulcan Panama in a 7-5/8. A beater, but we takes what we can gets.

 

[Blare]

A hard to find large size vintage Panama. Supernatural Tulcan Panama in a 7-5/8. A beater, but we takes what we can gets.

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Cool hat, Bob.

 

[Yamahana]

A hard to find large size vintage Panama. Supernatural Tulcan Panama in a 7-5/8. A beater, but we takes what we can gets.

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Beater, heck, that’s a classy looking Panama.

 

[BobHufford]

Cool hat, Bob.

Beater, heck, that’s a classy looking Panama.

Thanks guys. It's a beater in the sense that it has a hole in the crown and a couple of brim edge breaks. But hey ... it's old.

 

[Rmccamey]

Yep, like the old saying, "I hope I look that good when I'm that old"!

Thanks guys. It's a beater in the sense that it has a hole in the crown and a couple of brim edge breaks. But hey ... it's old.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

A hard to find large size vintage Panama. Supernatural Tulcan Panama in a 7-5/8. A beater, but we takes what we can gets.

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Very nice, Bob. Old large felt hats are hard to find in large sizes and straw hats are even rarer…not that I needed to tell you.

 

[BobHufford]

Very nice, Bob. Old large felt hats are hard to find in large sizes and straw hats are even rarer…not that I need elf to tell you.

Thanks Brent, but it is always nice to hear it from an elf.

 

[deadlyhandsome]

Thanks Brent, but it is always nice to hear it from an elf.

Darn autocorrect again!
I’m going to have to start proofreading before I post.