Summer Hat Advice

[Panamabob]

Shantung is paper.

Grade 8 is an arbitrary grade given to Cuenca Panama Hats. They go from Grade 2 to 20. Though, the hats above 16 that I have seen are simply bleached Montecristi finos.

 

[Panamabob]

We'll have to have Sharpetoys jump in here and tell us how long his hats last, since he has all grades.

 

[Dinerman]

hats in the belfry.lol
I've had fun going in there in a vintage hat (not necessarily even all that nice of one) and watching the shopkeepers (at least some of them) be amazed at how much better it is than anything they stock.

 

[Ed13]

I purchased two hats from PanamaBob last winter. An English Optimo for myself and a C Crown for my father. Both are around 500 wpsi. I have worn my Panama on a couple of 30 degree celsius days already this year and have not had problems with ventilation yet.

I purchased the hat for my father to wear while playing golf but he thinks it is too nice to wear. I will probably have to buy him a cheaper hat he won't worry about damaging.

As you can probably guess I will recommend PanamaBob.

 

[Dinerman]

It is best to look for Panama hats that have a crown guard to protect the top of the hat from cracking.

what exactly is a crown guard? This mention on their website is the only place I could find that this term used.

 

[Dinerman]

hm... it looks like the ones which they sell under their house name have a stiff, hard molded plastic liner. Maybe that's it.