According to legend the Panama hat got its name when Teddy Roosevelt returned from a visit to the Panama Canal.  America loved the finely crafted straw hat he wore home and dubbed it the “Panama Hat”.  Today we know that Panama’s are made in Ecuador.  This hat making tradition is usually passed on from one generation to the next.  A Panama hat is considered one of the most desirable straws because of the hand made finish and the tightness of weave.  Generally Panama’s that have a tighter weave are considered the best and can be extremely expensive.  There is much confusion between consumers and retailers alike as to the quality of Panama straws.  Some of the more reputable hat sites will still occasionally mistakenly upgrade a Panama straw quality.  This is due in large because of the finish and brand that also adds to a Panama’s cost.   It is best to look for Panama hats that have a crown guard to protect the top of the hat from cracking.  Even the best Panama hats will crack in time.  Eventually the straw dries out and becomes brittle.  To get more life out of a Panama, it is best to store out of direct sunlight, and to never pick the hat up by its top.  This will cause the hat to crack in time.  To avoid confusion we distinguish our grades within 3 classes: 

(1)  Fino Grade:   Quality typical of a Grade 2 – 4 straw.  100 – 500 weaves per square inch.  Expect 1-4 seasons depending on use and wear.  Price is determined by finish and brand, generally the opening price point.

(2)  Super Fino Grade:   Quality typical of a Grade 5 – 8 straw.  500 – 800 weaves per square inch.  Expect 1-7 seasons depending on use and wear.  Price is determined by finish and brand, generally the middle price point. 

(3)  Optimo Grade:   Quality typical of a Grade 9 and up straw.  900 – 2000 weaves per square inch.  Expect 1-10 seasons depending on use and wear.  Price is determined by finish and brand, generally the higher price point.