Stetson Panama

[GGlep]

Was at Beans yesterday and tried on a Stetson Panama hat that I found in the outlet center.

I'm new to hats and have never had a panama hat on my head before. After putting this on I instantly understood that value of a good panama hat. Still, I refrained from buying as this particular hat looked as though it had been crushed many times. Later, I looked it up on the Bean's site and found that this looks very similar--if not identical to one that's being sold by Delmonico hatters for a lower price:
http://www.delmonicohatter.com/Stetson-Panama-Hats-Straw/IT45.htm

Anyhow, I'm now in the market for a panama hat!

 

[JackieMatra]

Near the price of this Stetson Cuenca,
http://www.delmonicohatter.com/Stetson-Panama-Hats-Straw/IT45.htm
there are these Tesi Montecristis,
http://www.bencrafthats.com/product.php?pid=113&subcname=Tesi
http://www.bencrafthats.com/product.php?pid=236&subcname=Tesi
which look to be rather a finer weave than the Stetson,
and which look rather suspiciously similar to this,
http://www.jjhatcenter.com/collections/tesi/products/the-montecristi-by-tesi?variant=1972083588
selling (or not) at a somewhat higher price.

As regards the Tesis, I have this one,
http://www.bencrafthats.com/product.php?pid=153&subcname=Tesi
which has a weaves per square inch count of 150 and that I am quite pleased with,
and so many other Panama hats, along with too small a house to keep them all in,
that I have so far managed to resist acquiring either of the two Tesi hats mentioned in the first paragraph above.

Of course, if one doesn't positively need a Panama hat with a higher wpsi count and/or a leather sweatband,
perfectly serviceable and fairly nice looking ones can be had in the $50 to $100 price range.

 

[GGlep]

Near the price of this Stetson Cuenca,
http://www.delmonicohatter.com/Stetson-Panama-Hats-Straw/IT45.htm

Yes, that's the one, or very close to it. The one at Beans is only available in a S,M or L, and the large was a little tightish on me. I thought the quality of the hat was very nice though. The retail price at Beans is $149.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Yes, that's the one, or very close to it. The one at Beans is only available in a S,M or L, and the large was a little tightish on me. I thought the quality of the hat was very nice though. The retail price at Beans is $149.

I wouldn't really fool around with any Stetson Panamas unless I could see the actual hat first.

 

[GGlep]

I wouldn't really fool around with any Stetson Panamas unless I could see the actual hat first.

I will heed your advice, Bob. You're 1 for 1, having steered me toward the Campdraft already...

 

[Bob Roberts]

I will heed your advice, Bob. You're 1 for 1, having steered me toward the Campdraft already...

Don't you just love the CD? There's lots of inconsistency in the Stetson straws. I'm not saying you can't find one you like but with that product it's really a hands on buy first.

 

[JackieMatra]

Here's a link to a Fedora Lounge thread from a year ago with my lengthy disquisition on Panama and other "summer" hats priced at less than $170.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/recommend-a-panama-for-this-need.81832/
Most of what I (and others) wrote there probably still holds true and might prove to be usefully informative.

 

[JackieMatra]

A noteworthy feature of the Tesi Panama hats is their unusually tall crown height.
The salesperson at Bencraft assured me that they all had 5" tall crowns, as creased, and this turned out to be quite true of the Tesi Optimo Panama hat that I purchased from them.

 

[Bob Roberts]

A noteworthy feature of the Tesi Panama hats is their unusually tall crown height.
The salesperson at Bencraft assured me that they all had 5" tall crowns, as creased, and this turned out to be quite true of the Tesi Optimo Panama hat that I purchased from them.

I've noticed that and do like the Tesi crowns. I heard or read somewhere that they make straws for Borsalino. Is that true?

 

[Jedwbpm]

Not anymore bob

Jeff

 

[Bob Roberts]

Not anymore bob

Jeff

"Hello Stranger!" How are you Jeff? Thx for bringing me up to date. Still waiting to see a pic of you wearing an Panama straw Stetsonian...