Tumia Panama HatsTumia - Fedora Panama Hat - White with Black Band - Lightweight Rollable Version. 54cm

A few years ago I saw a "Panama" hat on a store hat rack. It was marked down from $25 to $10 to $5. I couldn't pass up a $5 hat so I bought it. Got dozens of compliments. It looked great. But it wasn't a real Panama hat. It wasn't made of straw but paper. And it wasn't made in Ecuador where the real ones are made, it was made in China. It eventually turned yellow at the sweat band and fell apart. I wanted to replace it with a real Panama. When I researched Panama hats I came across Tumia on Amazon. They looked great and the price was right so I purchased the rollable hat (Tumia - Fedora Panama Hat - White or Natural - Lightweight rollable version). Though Amazon said it could take a month to arrive, presumably because they were coming from the UK, when I contacted Tumia they promised me the hat would arrive in 4-8 days. It came in 6. It fit perfectly and looked great. But because it was a rollable hat (which I didn't need because I don't travel much) the brim didn't have the same look that firmer non-rollable hats do. I followed the instructions on how to modify the shape but it still didn't look the way I wanted. So I contacted the company and they didn't hesitate to replace it with the non-rollable version. They didn't charge anything for the return and, in fact, refunded me $7 because the non-rollable hat was less expensive. I got the new hat (Tumia - Fedora Panama Hat - White or Natural - Non-rollable version) in a week and it was just what I wanted. Looks great. Excellent quality. Fits just right. Bottom line: great hats and superb customer service! A few tips for buyers: 1) buy the rollable hat if you travel or want a slightly lighter weight hat; 2) buy the non-rollable if you want a slightly stiffer hat that retains it shape a little better; 3) don't go by the color photos on the Amazon page. The white hat is not pure white, it's cream, i.e. the standard Panama color.

I very much like this hat - have worn it from early July through when the weather changed in October. I was upset at first, even though the hat was delivered 2 weeks before estimated, as the hat arrived crushed. It looked like someone in customs sat on it - I hope it wasn't sent out that way. I needed it for a funeral (!) not too long after I got it, so I couldn't return it and get another in time, so I steamed it out. It re-shaped easily and without too much effort, and has held it's shape since. The seller was informed, and they offered to send me a new hat if I needed one or if damage showed up later as a result of the crushing. I guess I could have taken them up on it and gotten two for the price of one, but since the hat came back well and has lasted, and they were so responsive and helpful there was no need to take them up. The hat traveled well, and has been through a lot and still looks good. Size-wise, it runs a bit large, but the seller included some nice cork resizing strips with the order, which was not mentioned in the write-ups, and that fixed it for me. The weave of the hat is much nicer than I would have expected at this price - about 88 weaves/sq in on the brim, about 100 on the crown/sides, and about 100-180 on the top (which gets tighter as it gets closer to the inside). It seems to be a mixture of weaving styles - some cuenca weaving on the brim and top, and some brisa weave on the majority of the brim and crown. Interesting. It packs pretty well, and comes back without too much loss of shape. Anyway, I like the hat and believe it to be a very good value.

This is a nice hat, but I returned it because it's not the same hat pictured in the photo appearing in the Amazon ad. The photo shows a hat color that is slightly green, and fairly stiff-looking. The "natural" color is yellow and looks entirely different. The photo shows a high crown on the hat and a relatively narrow brim. The hat I received had a low crown and wide, floppy brim. This may be because the hat pictured is not the "rollable" version. The picture shows a relatively stiff construction, however this rollable version is made of very thin, rollable material, and is extremely lightweight. The sizing of my hat (7-3/8/Euro 59) was spot on, but the low crown and deep-set crown crease together allowed the crease to touch the top of my head, in spite of the sizing otherwise being correct. You need airspace between the top of your head and the top of the hat. It shouldn't touch. This rollable version is so light (and there is no drop-down chin strap) that the brim will flop around in the slightest wind, and will fly off in a stronger wind. Brim flopping is a problem with all flat-brimmed hats unless the brim is stiffly constructed.The version I received would be nice for a summer garden party on a windless day, but it's not an outdoorsman's or fisherman's hat. I know these are hand-made and slight variations are common, but what I received was nothing like what is pictured in the ad. Otherwise, it's a very nice hat, so I gave it four stars for that, but returned it because what I wanted was the hat pictured in the ad.

The five stars is my review of the hat, but be aware that Amazon shipped in a bag in a box that was far too small. Hat was creased in several spots, crown and brim were badly misshaped. I spend about 45 minutes steaming it with a teapot to get into acceptable wearing condition. Not sure if I should be concerned that the hat lost its shape in the short amount of time that it rode in the bad packaging or be impressed that it survived. I haven’t had Amazon package anything this poorly before so maybe this was a fluke? Pros the hat looks nice and seems well constructed. I do morn the fact that I will never have the opportunity to wear this hat as it was originally shaped.

Excellent hat that fits very well.Wanted something to keep the sun out of my eyes other than a baseball or tweed hat.This type of hat is fast becoming a 'must have' for both the young and not so young.Very happy with my purchase, if you have been thinking of purchasing a Panama this may be the one for you.

Also bought a tube to pack it in but hat is very stiff and has split a fraction at the crown when rolled and placed in suitcase for 20 hours travelling. Having spent this much it's probably worth spending a bit more but I wanted a brown band.....vanity eh!

I have been looking for a quality sun hat for some time and am delighted to have received this traditional Panama. The quality is apparent and the packaging ensured that it arrived safely.

soddisfatto da tutto tempistica qualità.. non metto 5 stele perché dovrebbero essere più corretti nella descrizione. il cappello non è un originale " panama" che viene fabbricato in Ecuador ma una buona imitazione, made in honduras

initially very pleased with my purchase. unfortunately hat has developed a small tear at the point where hat is held to place on head.