Summer Hat Advice

[David Bresch]

I am interested in a Panama style hat for the really hot days this summer (I live in Philadelphia). I know next to nothing about hats. I have gathered that Panama Bob and Brent Black make good Panama hats. I assume (and feel free to set me straight) that the quality of these specialists is going to be many times that of a Panama hat from one of the big names, for each dollar I spend (and that would make sense given their business model, with which I am familiar from other products).

Are there other sources? Given that I am not a connoisseur, how much should I spend? Black is pricey. I am not a hat person and the hat would be for beastly days (like yesterday) when everyone's eyes are too blinded by the glare to be vexed by a hat, which is not very popular in Philadelphia.

While I am sensitive to others' opinions, comfort is the most stylish accessory. My tastes are conservative and I am trying to look as "un-eccentric" as possible (I am already out of the ordinary fashion-wise and I do not need any more markers to stand out, for example I wear odd jackets without ties, my most common outfit).

Please also remark about Optimo and Art Fawcett (if the latter does straw).

 

[duggap]

David, welcome to the lounge. Brent Black sells some nice hats but they are about ten times higher than they should be. Try Panama Bob and you can get just as good a hat for a ton less. It is like anything else, you get what you pay for but for the money and life span a nice Monticriste Panama will last your lifetime if treated properly. Good luck on your search but try Bob and you will not go wrong.

 

[David Bresch]

Is that the consensus about Black or is this a partisan issue? Forgive me, and I do not know the little in-fighting that goes on, but there was some sort of back-and-forth between Panama Bob and a dissatisfied customer. Does he have delivery problems (I am assuming his integrity is un-questioned because he has not been banned)?

 

[Nigel]

I just received my first Panama, see this thread. I bought mine from Panamabob, the delivery time for me was a none issue but if you are in a hurry for your lid Bob might not be your man, mine took from ordering to delivery around 8 weeks but that was a transatlantic order. IMO it was well worth the wait I've got a very good quality hat, a Montecristi Fino, for a very reasonable price. As for Brent Black, I not fully aware of any issues but I do know his hats are very expensive. Just my .2cents. BTW I would recommend Bob for anyone looking to purchase a good quality Panama.

 

[Panamabob]

We've discovered the reason that our hats were taking so long. Feel free to email if you'd like to know. info@panamahat.biz

The "problem" has been taken care of.

 

[TaxMan1]

We've discovered the reason that our hats were taking so long. Feel free to email if you'd like to know. info@panamahat.biz

The "problem" has been taken care of.

Bob, glad to here that. You might want to address it at CigarWeekly, too, as I remember a thread about the delay there, also.

 

[NewMexExpat]

Preponderance of evidence and Grains of Salt

Is that the consensus about Black or is this a partisan issue? Forgive me, and I do not know the little in-fighting that goes on, but there was some sort of back-and-forth between Panama Bob and a dissatisfied customer. Does he have delivery problems (I am assuming his integrity is un-questioned because he has not been banned)?

David, I am a small-time, budget-buyer (especially compared to many on this board). I spent a lot of time reading here, then also individually contacted two or three members who seemed very knowledgeable before buying my Panama. They were all very helpful and generous with information, and reinforced the general impression I had gained from the board that buying from Robert Webber (panamabob) was something I would not regret.

He certainly proved out those claims. As I had noticed even in his own posts, delivery from Ecuador was not a "clockwork" proposition. His communication by email and even telephone was patient, generous and helpful. When it was apparent that the hat I wanted wouldn't be in when he and I had hoped, he offered me a much better hat that he had in stock for only $15 dollars more than the entry-level hat I had ordered. It's a lovely hat and I've really enjoyed it, and I just contacted him about possibly buying another. ("Possibly" because of MY limitations, NOT because of his quality or service.)

I recommend this post:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?p=27819#post27819

and notice especially this section:

Is Sharpey a shill for Panamabob??

No, I trust him and he has never ever lied to me and always given me the best service he could! He has no control on the mail time from Ecudor. I have found no one that can come close to his Quality or prices. Buy the hat not others hype.

Do I like Robert Weber? Yes I do he can be a pain in the arse but he has a passion to help the weavers weave and hates sellers who inflate the prices of these hats. All sellers buy from the same hat brokers. Do other sellers have there on weavers just weave for them? No just more BS.

Does sharpey get a discount? { No! } I just prompte good honest people who have treated me with Respect and are truthful and sell or make a good or even great product at a fair price .... ...

... ...Why is Panamabob hats so cheap? He helps his wifes family that live in Ecudor. His passion. Is teaching school. He is a School teacher. Not a hat mongor!!
.

Robert will admit to you that there can be problems, but he is eager for you to contact him and allow him the opportunity to make things right.

Reading here can be like reading the Bible; using isolated quotations without a "cover-to-cover context", you can prove anything. ("Judas went and hanged himself..." "...Go ye and do likewise.") Look at the preponderance of evidence and see what should be taken with a grain of salt.

Good luck to you, and Welcome. (Take care -- this place can cost you lots of time and money. )

- Mark

 

[RBH]

I 2nd the motion on PanamaBob!

 

[tinmanzzz]

Summer hats

It really depends on what you are looking for and how much you want to spend.
For a everyday hat under a $100, you can't go wrong with a Stetson center dent. I have received more compliments on it than any other Summer hat I own.

 

[Aerol]

Dobbs

I have a Dobbs that has done well for me as a city-hat. This link will show it to you: http://www.meyerthehatter.com/meyer/product.asp?s_id=0&dept_id=52&pf_id=PAOHIDIKCLIIMLMF&

I like it a lot, and it gets a lot of use.

I also have an Optimo; it's 10 times the hat, but it's 10 times the price.

 

[HungaryTom]

Decide what you want

Buying a high end toquilla at a reasonable price – that is only possible with PanamaBob.
It is like climbing the K2 with a single guide - Bob.
Not easy.
Other guides take you to the top by helicopter – quicker but at another price.
And a superfino is not substituted by a dozen Cuencas just as conquering the K2 is not substituted by hiking a dozen 800 m hills.

That goes without ’guide’.

Just as my 70 USD Cuenca I bought recently at a local hatter- a toquilla, hand-woven in 'Sud America' protects me from the sun - my head isn't boiling any more.
Even that trivial 'Panama' got me compliments.

Since I am not a bigshot buyer, master weaver, a Montecristi resident: for the Superfino there is only one way - patience.

 

[David Bresch]

Thank you for the warm advice. What about the issue of ventilation? Is wearing a hat on beastly days cooler or warmer?

 

[Panamabob]

Don't pay $100 for a center dent. It isn't worth it. It isn't even a Montecristi, and it should be about $30.00 on a tremendous markup.

That Shantung is paper and only the finest Optimo should be 10 times the price.

 

[HungaryTom]

Ventilation

Dear David,

There is global warming, whatever the learned elders may say.
At least here in Budapest-I went out with my panama today at 32 Celsius and had twice an unwanted shower-it seems to turn here into subtropical climate.
The silhouette of the Cuenca hat stayed the same, maybe it has some stiffener-I don't know.
Ventilation: since the weave is not 'perfect' the air gets through.
It has only 130+ wpsi- I have a woven plain-toe leather shoe which surpasses it in fineness of weave-but that baby was not 70 USD either.
The hat can not cool your head- only air-conditioners and cold showers can.
But the toquilla hat can protect your head from boiling-when sun shines on it directly no matter if you are bald or not.
Do you remember, 20 years ago there was the warning about the thinning of the ozone layer over the Poles.
Emissions have only icreased ever since but right now nobody tells that any more-just the sun-lotions got 40 factors high...strange. Before that sun lotions had only 3-6 factors...
I think tourism industry would kill all who would continue telling that warning.

I think wearing hat in the summer is not only a tasteful choice-it is imperative!
And I can only agree with the common advice you get here at FL: 3 inch brim is needed if you want to have your sun protective hat.
Block is the aesthetic thing-matter of personal style.

 

[duggap]

The Paradox of the straw Panama

David, the irony of the wonderful Panama is that the better quality you get the tighter the weave and the less air flow one gets. All the lower end hats should be ok but if you start getting into the higher end hats the tighter weave can become a bit of an issue. My latest from Panama Bob was about 500 weaves per square inch and I don't believe I want one much finer than that one. But I have been wearing it in the heat wave we are having and it is very comfortable. As to Mr. Black and his prices, I don't think it is sour grapes at all, just look at his web site and he will show you his prices. If you are a lottery winner go for it. However, he has some wonderful information about Panama hats and the way they are made. Definitely worth the read. Regards.

 

[tinmanzzz]

Stetson Center Dent Panama

David, First of all a Stetson CD is a Grade 8 Panama Hat. Natural palm. NOT Shantung. About 200 wpsi.
2nd, the cost is less than $100 ($66.90). http://www.mikethehatter.com/ItemSearch.asp?StyleID=6&BrandID=
3rd it will look just like the picture.
<a href="http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=center2ru6.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/553/center2ru6.th.gif" border="0" alt="Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us" /></a>
4th you can get the hat in under a week.
Once again, it all depends on what you want the hat to do. If it is keeping the sun off your head while presenting a good image, I don't think you can go wrong.

 

[Panamabob]

Nobody said the Stetson was a shantung. The Meyer the Hatter is a shantung.

 

[David Bresch]

What is Shantung? What is grade 8?

 

[Dinerman]

What is Shantung? What is grade 8?

as I understand it, shantung is paper. grade 8? no idea.

 

[tinmanzzz]

There lies the rub.

What is Shantung? What is grade 8?

Yes Shantung is paper and can be very hot. Grade 8 is one of the many, many, many, many ways of grading the quality of Panama Hats.
The following is a quote from a major online Hat dealer.
http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/page/H/CTGY/panama_hats
There is much confusion between consumers and retailers alike as to the quality of Panama straws. Some of the more reputable hat sites will still occasionally mistakenly upgrade a Panama straw quality. This is due in large because of the finish and brand that also adds to a Panama’s cost. It is best to look for Panama hats that have a crown guard to protect the top of the hat from cracking. Even the best Panama hats will crack in time. Eventually the straw dries out and becomes brittle. To get more life out of a Panama, it is best to store out of direct sunlight, and to never pick the hat up by its top. This will cause the hat to crack in time. To avoid confusion we distinguish our grades within 3 classes:

(1) Fino Grade: Quality typical of a Grade 2 – 4 straw. 100 – 500 weaves per square inch. Expect 1-4 seasons depending on use and wear. Price is determined by finish and brand, generally the opening price point.



(2) Super Fino Grade: Quality typical of a Grade 5 – 8 straw. 500 – 800 weaves per square inch. Expect 1-7 seasons depending on use and wear. Price is determined by finish and brand, generally the middle price point.



(3) Optimo Grade: Quality typical of a Grade 9 and up straw. 900 – 2000 weaves per square inch. Expect 1-10 seasons depending on use and wear. Price is determined by finish and brand, generally the higher price point.

I hope that helps