Handmade Montecristi Fino Havana Panama Hat

This is a Genuine Montecristi Panama hat. Montecristi hats are prized for their exceptionally fine weave, refined appearance, lightweight feel, and the tradition of craftsmanship behind them. They represent the highest expression of the authentic Panama hat and are the preferred choice for customers who want elegance, heritage, and lasting quality.
SEE Montecristi vs. Cuenca hats

This hat can also be customized with special options.
SEE our Semi-Calado - Vented hats

Every Montecristi Panama hat we make comes standard with a high-grade leather interior sweatband. We typically use pull-up leather or oil-tan leather made locally in Ecuador. This is the same style of band we have used for over 25 years because it is comfortable, durable, and helps protect the hat over years of wear.
SEE how we cut and make our leather sweatbands

We also offer a range of useful add-ons including stiffener, roll-up preparation, liners, long oval blocking, curled brims, and expedited service.
SEE more add-ons like stiffener, roll-ups, liners, long oval blocking, curled brims, and expedited service

This is a Genuine Montecristi Panama hat. Montecristi hats are prized for their finer weave, lighter feel, elegant appearance, and the long tradition of craftsmanship behind them. If you want the classic luxury Panama hat - handmade in Ecuador and built with lasting quality in mind - Montecristi is the standard by which all others are judged.

This Montecristi Fino grade is for customers who want a noticeably tighter and more refined weave than a Sub Fino while still remaining in a practical range for regular wear. It takes more time and more careful handwork for the craftsman to weave a Fino hat, and that extra effort shows in the cleaner, finer look of the weave. This is a very popular grade for customers who want a classic fine Montecristi Panama hat without moving into the more expensive premium grades.

WPI means weaves per inch. This Montecristi Fino grade generally falls in a WPI range of about 150 - 255, with an average around 200 WPI. Please note that there is more to grading a hat than just counting weaves, but WPI is one of the important factors we consider on every hat. Each hat falls within a range rather than one exact number.

Every Montecristi Panama hat we make comes standard with a high-grade leather interior sweatband. We typically use pull-up leather or oil-tan leather made locally in Ecuador. We have used this same style of band for over 25 years because it is comfortable on the head, durable in use, and excellent for helping protect the hat over time.

This Havana Panama hat is one of our most popular models. It features the classic C crown style, also known as a Fedora C crown or teardrop crown - a timeless shape that looks good on a wide range of face shapes and has remained a customer favorite for years. This hat is blocked in a standard oval, which fits most head shapes well. If you know you need a longer front-to-back fit, we also offer a Long Oval blocking option for added comfort and a better fit.
ADD Long Oval Blocking (Special Request)

The standard crown height of this Havana model is 3.9" - 4.1", measured from the brim to the top point of the crown in the front of the hat. The back of the crown is slightly lower than the front, giving this hat a more level appearance from the side profile. The back measures between 3.7" - 3.9", and the side of the hat measures 4.3" - 4.4".

Prefer a taller crown? We also offer these special-request crown height options:
ADD 1CM Higher Crown Height (Special Request)
ADD 2CM Higher Crown Height (Special Request)

Snap brim on the front causing the brim to tip downward slightly and upward in the back just a little.

Serious Sun Protection: Larger brims tend to start looking more western, which is great for Texas! Or a Texan at heart! Snap brim on the front causing the brim to tip downward slightly. With the weight of this long brim it will want to tip down in the back as well and be just a little floppy in the wind. If you add a curl to the edge it will hold its shape much better. Even if it is just a small curled edge, it will give it much more rigidness.

Serious Sun Protection: Larger brims begin to take on more of a western look, which can be a great style - especially for Texas, or for anyone who likes that bold sun hat appearance. The snap brim in front causes the brim to tip downward slightly. Because of the length of this brim, it will also tend to tip down a bit in the back and may feel slightly floppy in the wind. If you add a curled edge, it will hold its shape much better. Even a small curled edge adds noticeable rigidity and helps the brim keep a cleaner shape.

Brim size can be difficult to recommend because many factors affect the right choice, including where you live, the local culture, how much sun protection you want, and your personal style. This brim is about as good as it gets for serious sun protection. Going even larger may not give much additional benefit, since the shade cast by this brim already provides very full coverage.

Serious Sun Protection and Serious Style - Larger Than Standard Brims: There is a small extra charge for larger than standard brims, and that price difference is already reflected in the price shown. This is because the weaver must spend additional time extending the brim and will charge a little more for that extra work.

Semi-Calado - Vented Hats

Each Panama hat comes with one hat band of your choice, but you may want to include a few extra hat bands- a quick way to change the personality of your Panama hat!

Each and every Panama hat we sell is handmade right here in Ecuador, so no two hats are exactly alike.

1. Print our measuring tape to ensure an accurate measurement.

2. Wrap the measuring tape around the widest part of your head being sure the tape falls above your ears and the ridge of your eyebrows.

3. Using your measurements, you can view our current stock of all Panama hats for your size.

Send us your question about this Montecristi Fino Havana hat, and we will respond to you as soon as possible.

You can also give us a call, toll-free at 1 800-876-6956