Panama Hat Help, Please...

[kiltie]

I'll be taking a road trip in about three weeks and I need a hat ( yes, I said NEED, not want...). I'd like it in my dirty paws by the first week of June, so I need something that a shop would have in stock.
Specifically, I'm looking for:

Panama
Optimo/Colonial crown
2 1/2" brim or less
Natural Color, though I'll take white in a pinch
7 1/4
$100 or less, but will go a bit higher for something REALLY solid

I've scoped out the usual suspects ( Village Hat Shop, ebay, etc... ), and I do have a couple of standbys that'll do as a last resort, but I'd like some input over the next day or two before I commit ( lest someone whip out the old "I Googled 'panama-hat-optimo' and got eleventy billion hits..." post ). I'm looking for either personal experience or a shop that someone particularly likes to support that I can get behind.
I'm really keen on getting an order in within the next coupla days, so I thank you in advance for whatever you've got.

 

[Atticus Finch]

Many here on FL have purchased from this guy. He's a member and is usually easy to contact. Two of my panamas were purchased from him and I am very happy with both.

http://shop.ebay.com/panamahatsecuador/m.html

http://www.panamas.biz/

AF

 

[fluteplayer07]

Don't have one from Panamabob yet, but from what I've heard, he's one of the best out there, and his overheads are low. I'd second that recommendation. Or you could always go vintage. And the classifieds here are a great resource. ScottF has an amazing one up right now (albeit over your budget).

 

[Razzman]

I'll second Panama Bob. I've purchased two hats from him, and I'm satisfied with them.

 

[ScottF]

I'll be taking a road trip in about three weeks and I need a hat ( yes, I said NEED, not want...). I'd like it in my dirty paws by the first week of June, so I need something that a shop would have in stock.
Specifically, I'm looking for:

Panama
Optimo/Colonial crown
2 1/2" brim or less
Natural Color, though I'll take white in a pinch
7 1/4
$100 or less, but will go a bit higher for something REALLY solid

I've scoped out the usual suspects ( Village Hat Shop, ebay, etc... ), and I do have a couple of standbys that'll do as a last resort, but I'd like some input over the next day or two before I commit ( lest someone whip out the old "I Googled 'panama-hat-optimo' and got eleventy billion hits..." post ). I'm looking for either personal experience or a shop that someone particularly likes to support that I can get behind.
I'm really keen on getting an order in within the next coupla days, so I thank you in advance for whatever you've got.

I have one in the Classifieds that would do as a last resort, but it's over $100.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Panama Bob

I'll second Panama Bob. I've purchased two hats from him, and I'm satisfied with them.

:arated: No doubt. Have a few & have given a few as gifts. All purchased on eBay. Always has come through f/ me... my .o2

 

[kiltie]

Just had an email exchange with Robert: that's the route I'll be taking. He was super fast in his reply, hitting the nail right square on the head. You can't beat that attitude. Thanks for the replies to my OP everyone. Robert says he can have the hat out by the weekend, so hopefully I can post it late next week. Thanks again everyone and most especially, thank you Bob for your help in a minor bind. Great service thus far!!!!

 

[Pilgrim]

PanamaBob is first class in my book. I have three of his Panamas and they're all great values and nice hats.

 

[Maguire]

I have a panama hat question as well- i'm interested in getting the "stetson retro panama hat". It looks good and the price is decent. But they for some reason refuse to sell it in "large" size. Does anyone know why? or perhaps they simply don't carry it until later in the year? I've looked at several sites and every single one has the same issue.

http://www.delmonicohatter.com/Merc...Code=IT545&Category_Code=Stetson_Panama_Straw

 

[kiltie]

I think "large" tends generally to fall into the 7 1/4 - 7 3/8 hat size. It'd be my guess that they sell out in that size relatively quickly. Factor in the popularity of the "stingy" paper hats that are still hot right now ( God help is all...) and I'd bet there's not an especially deep stock in most shops to begin with. Just speculating, of course...

 

[Rick Blaine]

I have a panama hat question as well- i'm interested in getting the "stetson retro panama hat". It looks good and the price is decent. But they for some reason refuse to sell it in "large" size. Does anyone know why? or perhaps they simply don't carry it until later in the year? I've looked at several sites and every single one has the same issue.

http://www.delmonicohatter.com/Merc...Code=IT545&Category_Code=Stetson_Panama_Straw

In stock here.

 

[Maguire]

GREAT! I just ordered it. Thanks again!

 

[RHY]

Panama Bob - Quality hats

Many here on FL have purchased from this guy. He's a member and is usually easy to contact. Two of my panamas were purchased from him and I am very happy with both.

http://shop.ebay.com/panamahatsecuador/m.html

http://www.panamas.biz/

AF

I purchased one of his hats on Ebay a couple of years ago and it really nice for the money. Recently, I made a serious mistake and bid on an Ultrafino on Ebay. When it came, I was very disappointed in the quality of the hat.

I paid more for the Ultrafino, but really think I would not wear it in public. The quality is that poor. The weave size was the same, but the Ultrafino material was not even finished in any manner. The material was rounded and shiny compared with Panama Bob's. The brim was finished with sewing machine in a rough manner. You cannot even tell how Bob's is finished unless you get within a couple of inches of the edge.

 

[kiltie]

GOT THE HAT -

I got the hat today and...WOW! First off, I wasn't expecting it so quickly, and secondly: GREAT HAT! Thanks, Robert. I really appreciate all the help from you and thanks for being so accomodating. I'll be back - definately.

I'll put some pics up in today's "new hats" thread. Thanks for suggestions everyone.

 

[Panamabob]

GREAT! I just ordered it. Thanks again!

Como fue? Kiltie's went great...how was the stetson? (shamefully asked)

 

[kiltie]

I have no bones with "modern" Stetsons. I have one felt I'm very fond of ( a Firenze in sort of a green color... ) that's held up well with regular wear over the last few years. That one is a "Soveriegn". I had a "Royal" ( forget the model ) that was...okay. But those are the last two modern ( post 70's ) mass production hats I'll likely ever buy, save for Akubra. The quality is...inconsistant.

The point is, I'm not a modern Stetson hater, so I'm not running down the straw that I have for the sake of it. Ten years ago, I think it was around $60 - $65. At the time, I figured it was just fine. Unfortunately, for me, a crack devoloped in the rather brittle straw within a couple of years of VERY light wear. Secondly, the pattern of the weave is, shall we say, a bit eccentric and it has an awful machine sewn underwelt. Finally, the ribbon is - and there's no other way to put this - a joke, both in construction and application.

Over the years of coming to recognize what's a good hat and what's okay and what's just plain bad, I have to honestly say that the Stetson straw fit's into the low end of "okay", particularly when factoring in the price. I realize now that I've got a five dollar hat with a fifty-five dollar label. That's okay: lesson learned.

I know the hat that I got from PanamaBob is not top of the line; not the end-all in straw hats. Right now, I can't afford the end-all in straw hats, nor would I care to make that kind of investment in a straw hat. I just wouldn't wear it enough to justify the investment: I tend wear felt all year. So this hat from Bob is supposed to be entry ( re-entry? ) level for me. My first straw in a decade.

But what an entry level hat! It leads me to only imagine how nice these hats could get as you move up the product line. For the price, I am 100% satisfied. At twice the price, it'd still beat the pants off Stetson and I would be VERY satisfied. It got it's first extended wear last weekend and performed like a champ.
Here's a pic from the Pacific Combat Zone ( better outlined in my thread in the WWII section ) -

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj290/safdkiltie/PIC_0026.jpg

And here are some side-by-sides with the Stetson -

Stetson:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj290/safdkiltie/IMG_1361.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj290/safdkiltie/IMG_1363.jpg

PanamaBob:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj290/safdkiltie/IMG_1362.jpg
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj290/safdkiltie/IMG_1364.jpg

I think the pics say what needs to be said. Thanks again!

 

[bradford]

Just curious and maybe Panama Bob or someone can answer. Why are the prices so different on the direct website vs. Ebay?

 

[Mr E Train]

Kiltie, your PB looks much the same as mine, although I added a pleated puggaree, which I think improves it. It's a fine hat.

 

[Panamabob]

Why are the prices so different on the direct website vs. Ebay?

Website hats are different than ebay hats. Some of the website hats may appear on ebay, but the prices are a direct reflection of what I have to pay for the hats. If you are worried about quality, don't be too alarmed. Most of our lower dollar hats command big prices from name companies. Most ebay hats are better quality than the Cuenca $15.00 website hat, but not as good as most of the $39.00 Cuenca website hats. Some Montecristis are the same, just might have to get rid of some stock.

I've sent a Cuenca to both Kiltie and Maguire and they were as good or better than the Stetsons in their opinions.

 

[HatRak]

PB,

I ordered an extra-fino Cuenca in the Caballero style last week and am excitedly waiting its arrival! Hope it gets here before I head off to Florida for a couple weeks in mid-July. Will post pics when it lands on my head.