Panama Hat Thread

Txmason · Feb 9, 2012

@Lt. Tom,

That is a great hat! I am looking to buy my first fedora a straw since summer is coming up soon! I could really use everyone's advice about which straw to buy. Since I live in south Texas I'd like a hat I can wear to lodge and out and around town. Plus be able to wear it while working professional as a photographer. What should I look for in a straw hat? Can I wear a felt during the summer time? If so what should I look for?

I have heard both arguments for and against getting a felt hat. I apologize for sounding like a broken record since I'm new to all this.

Best,
Jerry

job · Feb 9, 2012

No felt for Texas summers. I would recommend a least two straw hats. If you sweat one up earlier in the day you can switch to the dry one. You could try panama bob. Get a cheap one and a more expensive one and you should be good.

Mark Butcher · Feb 9, 2012

^^^^That's what I did.^^^^

Dan Rodemsky · Feb 11, 2012

BrandonCarlson said:
I recently bought one of the $15 panama hats from Bob, and it is really nice. The brim is a little smaller than I like (about 2") but at $15 I can't complain. I didn't even think about asking for a specific brim width...

Mine came in the mail today! For $15 how can you go wrong? I'm happy

Mark Butcher · Feb 11, 2012

I agree Dan. I went ahead and bought a Montecristi too. They are both very nice hats.

splatt · Feb 11, 2012

Me first Panama

I picked up my first real Panama hat from City Hatters in Melbourne about two weeks ago. On the label it indicates it's "Made in USA exclusively for Boutique Imports Sydney" and "Genuine Panama Hand Woven in Ecuador.".

The weather in Melbourne has been pretty hot lately and I’ve really enjoyed wearing it

bond · Feb 13, 2012

Any one have thom Gomez phone number ?
I have panama work for him or someone who can reblock and all of the rest.
Any info would be appreciated.
Post here or send me a pm
Thanks

Rabbit · Feb 13, 2012

bond said:
Any one have thom Gomez phone number ?
I have panama work for him or someone who can reblock and all of the rest.
Any info would be appreciated.
Post here or send me a pm
Thanks

I guess you have a reason for asking specifically for Tom Gomez - still, for what it's worth: Several custom hatters would do reblocking etc. on Panamas.
Optimo Chicago of course offers this service, so does Art Fawcett, I presume. Then there's Parker at Falcon Park Hattery who also does restaurations and renovations, although I don't know whether he does Panamas, too. The list goes on...dunno about the other ones regarding Panamas.

Ordinary Guy · Feb 14, 2012

bond said:
Any one have thom Gomez phone number ?
I have panama work for him or someone who can reblock and all of the rest.
Any info would be appreciated.
Post here or send me a pm
Thanks

You have PM

Historyteach24 · Feb 15, 2012

I am looking on Panama Bob's site and have my choice for my next Panama narrowed down. Before anybody comes on here bashing my choice I can not afford a high end Panama right now so I am getting one woven in Cuenca. My question is does anybody have experience with hats from this area? Also Brisa or Llano weave? Also which grade is good for the money? It seems that a grade 6 Brisa is more than a grade 6 llano does this mean the llano is inferior?

Txmason · Feb 15, 2012

My recommendation would be to check out
www.americanhatters.com

The gentleman that redid a hat I got for free did a super job! He does all types of hats and I am sure he can accommodate you. Feel free to mention you know Jerry from Texas.

LoveMyHats2 · Feb 15, 2012

I have a few nice straws, milan, panama, one optimo. I am lucky that none of the ones I have suffered any damages along the way, however, I did just obtain a nice shaped straw hat that was sat on by someone along it's life, and have spent time steaming and smoothing it out. I am happy with how it will look when I am finished, I have to make a new ribbon for it, it actually reminds me of a Vintage Playboy with a 2 inch brim, and the over all shape of the crown! I had it given to me for free, and it fits me like it was made for me! It is very discolored but, I am going to apply a secret weapon fix and see that I can bring the white back to it. When I am done, I'll post!

monbla256 · Feb 15, 2012

Historyteach24 said:
I am looking on Panama Bob's site and have my choice for my next Panama narrowed down. Before anybody comes on here bashing my choice I can not afford a high end Panama right now so I am getting one woven in Cuenca. My question is does anybody have experience with hats from this area? Also Brisa or Llano weave? Also which grade is good for the money? It seems that a grade 6 Brisa is more than a grade 6 llano does this mean the llano is inferior?

As far as which weave is "better", it depends on what you like looks wise. The Brisa weaves are a bit more open and some say "looser", the Llano weave is a tighter herringbone pattern very similar to that used on the Montecristi's. Niether one is "inferior", just different from each other. I have both types of Cuenca's as well as several Montecristi's, all bought from Bob and ALL were really BETTER hats than would have been priced at MORE from other suppliers. You need to just decide WHICH look is what YOU like and can AFFORD and go for it!! No matter which you choose, from Bob you will get a GOOD one

Aureliano · Feb 15, 2012

monbla256 said:
ALL were really BETTER hats that would have been priced at MORE from other suppliers.

Did you actually handled similar hats from the other suppliers and came to the conclusion that they were better? Or are you basing your opinion on visual documentation posted here or other online places?

Iyor · Feb 15, 2012

Aureliano said:
Did you actually handled similar hats from the other suppliers and came to the conclusion that they were better? Or are you basing your opinion on visual documentation posted here or other online places?

I understood better to mean as in a better hat as opposed to a poor quality, but not necessarily better than other sources. He also may mean dor the money wbich in that case is debatable.

Historyteach24 · Feb 15, 2012

Ty monbla

Historyteach24 · Feb 15, 2012

Alright well I decided that I wanted to know which each hat felt like and which one I preferred so I actually bought two. This of course means that I skimped on quality for one of them but I really want to learn more about panamas and I feel the best way to do that is to handle them and know their grades etc. http://www.panamas.biz/cuenca.html
I got the Rio Plata in a grade 4 llano white in color and I added a Havana in a grade 1 brisa weave. Plata I requested a 2.5 inch brim and on the Havana I want a 2 3/8 brim. We should see how these look in 6 weeks or so

Aureliano · Feb 15, 2012

Smart move.

Duper · Feb 15, 2012

Historyteach24 said:
Alright well I decided that I wanted to know which each hat felt like and which one I preferred so I actually bought two. This of course means that I skimped on quality for one of them but I really want to learn more about panamas and I feel the best way to do that is to handle them and know their grades etc. http://www.panamas.biz/cuenca.html
I got the Rio Plata in a grade 4 llano white in color and I added a Havana in a grade 1 brisa weave. Plata I requested a 2.5 inch brim and on the Havana I want a 2 3/8 brim. We should see how these look in 6 weeks or so

Hey HT24, I have a white Cuenca Havana with a 2 5/8ths brim in a Llano weave on order as well from Robert (Panama Bob). Hopefully some warmer days, sunshine and the hat will arrive at about the same time.

Historyteach24 · Feb 15, 2012

Duper we haven't even had a winter here in WV. I actually wore Panamas for an entire week in january because of the 60 degree temps. With the way this weather goes I may need to store my felts by early March lol

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