Panama Hats direct?

Neil · Sep 16, 2008

Anyone have any thoughts on these guys? The prices look good . . .about $300 for "fino fino," whatever that is, and $580 for "special reserve," which they say is like cloth. And they say the hats are from Montecristi.
Is this all for real? Anyone have any experience with them?

BobC · Sep 17, 2008

Welcome to the lounge, Neil. You will like it here.

I recommend that you check with Panama Bob for your hat. I haven't bought from Panama Hats Direct, but they don't seem to have the reputation here that Robert Weber does. Robert will get you the hat you want and at a fair price.

http://www.panamas.biz/

Robert's website isn't as pretty as Casey's, but Robert is a great guy to deal with. I have three of his hats.

RBH · Sep 17, 2008

Welcome Neil!!!

I 2nd Robert, a great guy and really fine panamas!

Good luck and please show us whatever hat you might get.

Al_Ojeda · Sep 17, 2008

Panama Hats Direct...

Hello everybody
First I have to say that this is my first post, I really like to be in this forum with other fellows members that share their passion for hats.
I Have bought from Casey ( PHD ) 2 hats the first one was a Cuenca ( $48 ), after a couples of weeks I decided to buy a Montecristi that he sells as a fino ($148), I'm not an expert in hats niether Panama Hats, but the only think I can say is that the order in both were smooth a fast ( normally they arrived 12 days after they shipping and they shipped 9 days after the order) the only thing that I can mention is that you use the Measuring tape from their website, in my case I'm normally 7 3/8 (59 cm ), but with my experience with the first hat ( the cuenca ) that I order 7 3/8 59 was a little small so I order the montecristi 59,5 ( because they can do half size increments but also this hat was not like perfect fit only after streching for a couple of time it fix perfect.
For your ilustrations here you have a few pictures of the Montecristi

Al Ojeda
( sorry my english, is not my first language )

Panamabob · Sep 17, 2008

I count 10 or 11 weaves on the inch. Is that correct? That would be 100 to 121 weaves per square inch. Now, on the website, I see that the subfino for $95 is listed as 200-300 weaves per square inch and the fino for $145 is listed as 300-400 weaves per square inch. Buyer beware, indeed!

BobC · Sep 17, 2008

Welcome to the lounge, Al Ojeda. You will like it here.

I counted the same as Robert did. That's why I buy my Panamas from Robert and not Casey.

Neil · Sep 18, 2008

So, what price to pay?

I've looked at Panama Bob's website, and at Brent Black's.
I've read Black's disquisition on how most grading systems are useless and uninformative.
I want to buy a good Panama.
So any thoughts on what I should pay?

neil

Lefty · Sep 18, 2008

There are lots of posts about types of panamas, pricing, grading, durability, sweatbands, brim size, crown height, blocking, etc. Don't buy anything right away. Stick around, read some posts, and then make a decision.

duggap · Sep 18, 2008

I will give you my take on buying a Panama hat. I have one that is about 450 WPSI and one that is about 600 WPSI. Both are nice hats but the 600 is a hotter hat than the 450 as the weave is tighter and the hat cannot breath as well. A 450 hat is a very nice Panama hat and a good grade.

Colby Jack · Sep 18, 2008

Welcome to the lounge Al!:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

Lon Goval · Sep 18, 2008

Finer Weave Hotter?

This is something I've been thinking about recently. I've heard of weaves so tight as to hold water and figured they would be hotter on the head. Is this the general consensus on wearing comfort? All of my Panamas (3 from PB) are in the low count weave wise (100-125 or so) and are fairly comfortable. But even then I have to "mop the brow" at times to keep the sweat at a minimum.

I'm thinking that if I were to go to a higher weave count, I would need to have an open weave area to help ventilate my head. At least the lower weaves are cheaper. Just yesterday I tried to replace a Jaxon Bao Safari from Village Hat Shop that I've trashed with sweat after 3 or 4 months, only to find them sold out of my size.

I'm really looking forward to cooler weather so I can wear my felts comfortably.

Ralph

ken100 · Oct 17, 2008

panama hat

I bought a monticristi from casey, damm fine, stunning hat, I had it custom brim width, great fit, stunning craftmanship, he's the real deal.

duggap · Oct 17, 2008

ken100 said:
I bought a monticristi from casey, damm fine, stunning hat, I had it custom brim width, great fit, stunning craftmanship, he's the real deal.

Well, then you were one of the lucky ones. I was one of the unlucky ones. I would go without a hat before I would deal with Casey again. Good luck getting what you ordered.:rage:

indycop · Oct 17, 2008

duggap said:
Well, then you were one of the lucky ones. I was one of the unlucky ones. I would go without a hat before I would deal with Casey again. Good luck getting what you ordered.:rage:

Same here!

Dave McCone · Oct 18, 2008

I've dealt with Casey before -- and would advise caution. I have no plans to deal with him again. Caveat Emptor.

indycop · Oct 18, 2008

I ordered a size 61 from him and received a hat so small I sent it to Bolthead and it fit him. He told me I was crazy and it was definitely a 61.:rage:

cookie · Oct 18, 2008

Lon Goval said:
This is something I've been thinking about recently. I've heard of weaves so tight as to hold water and figured they would be hotter on the head. Is this the general consensus on wearing comfort? All of my Panamas (3 from PB) are in the low count weave wise (100-125 or so) and are fairly comfortable. But even then I have to "mop the brow" at times to keep the sweat at a minimum.

I'm thinking that if I were to go to a higher weave count, I would need to have an open weave area to help ventilate my head. At least the lower weaves are cheaper. Just yesterday I tried to replace a Jaxon Bao Safari from Village Hat Shop that I've trashed with sweat after 3 or 4 months, only to find them sold out of my size.

I'm really looking forward to cooler weather so I can wear my felts comfortably.

Ralph

Just get PBob to make you a ventilated semi-calado or Panama with open straw fretwork.

BobC · Oct 18, 2008

Lon Goval said:
This is something I've been thinking about recently. I've heard of weaves so tight as to hold water and figured they would be hotter on the head. Is this the general consensus on wearing comfort? All of my Panamas (3 from PB) are in the low count weave wise (100-125 or so) and are fairly comfortable. But even then I have to "mop the brow" at times to keep the sweat at a minimum.

I'm thinking that if I were to go to a higher weave count, I would need to have an open weave area to help ventilate my head. At least the lower weaves are cheaper. Just yesterday I tried to replace a Jaxon Bao Safari from Village Hat Shop that I've trashed with sweat after 3 or 4 months, only to find them sold out of my size.

I'm really looking forward to cooler weather so I can wear my felts comfortably.

Ralph

Ralph, I bought this semi-colado from Panama Bob, and we sent it to Gus Miller to block. I don't know what the weave count would be if it were closed, perhaps Robert can elaborate on that. I think it makes a fine looking panama, and it's a pleasure to wear. Gus even included two ribbons with it.

Colby Jack · Oct 18, 2008

Bob...that semi-colado is great!...I'm lovin' that blue ribbon!:eusa_clap

tinmanzzz · Oct 18, 2008

The Hat Looks Great

Al Ojeda
The Hat looks Great !! The inside is very well done.

Don't worry about the weave count, we sometimes forget it is suppose to be a hat and not a work of art(No intent to our "ART"). The main question is do you think it looks good on you? If so, then you did good.
Once again, Nice looking Hat :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

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