Panama Hat Brim Width

[David Hill]

I have a question about choosing the brim width for a panama hat. I am 5'5" and fairly skinny. What would be a recommended brim width for my body shape? Thank you.

 

[rogueclimber]

I have a question about choosing the brim width for a panama hat. I am 5'5" and fairly skinny. What would be a recommended brim width for my body shape? Thank you.

What hats do you wear now? But generally I'd think a smaller brim will work though face/head shape can play a role.

Also consider how much sun protection you are after.

 

[David Hill]

What hats do you wear now? But generally I'd think a smaller brim will work though face/head shape can play a role.

Also consider how much sun protection you are after.

I actually have two Panama hats. One has a 2 1/8 inch brim and one has a 3 1/2 inch brim. The larger brim looks crazy on me and the smaller one just looks too small. I am tying to decide between a 2.5 inch brim or 2.75 inch brim.

 

[rogueclimber]

I actually have two Panama hats. One has a 2 1/8 inch brim and one has a 3 1/2 inch brim. The larger brim looks crazy on me and the smaller one just looks too small. I am tying to decide between a 2.5 inch brim or 2.75 inch brim.

Around these parts, once you've narrowed your choices down to two, the correct answer is always: Buy both!

 

[Rmccamey]

I actually have two Panama hats. One has a 2 1/8 inch brim and one has a 3 1/2 inch brim. The larger brim looks crazy on me and the smaller one just looks too small. I am tying to decide between a 2.5 inch brim or 2.75 inch brim.

When the decision gets to granular level, it is more personal preference and how it looks on you. Personally, I'd have to assess how I'm going to use the hat. If it is more of a dress hat or for doing errands around town, I'd opt for the shorter brim. If it is going to be a daily wear hat with many hours per week in the sun, I'd go with the wider brim.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[jlee562]

Go 2 3/4". You get a teeny tiny bit more sun protection.

 

[CRH]

Go big with a pencil curl

 

[Zombie_61]

I actually have two Panama hats. One has a 2 1/8 inch brim and one has a 3 1/2 inch brim. The larger brim looks crazy on me and the smaller one just looks too small. I am tying to decide between a 2.5 inch brim or 2.75 inch brim.

Around these parts, once you've narrowed your choices down to two, the correct answer is always: Buy both!

I have to agree with rogueclimber here. Most, if not all, of us here would probably buy both (assuming money is not an issue, of course). And, in my experience, you could wear the hat with the 2.5" brim daily for three months, then one day put it on and think, "Wow, that brim is tiny. What happened?" Or vice versa with the 2.75" brim. "What the... Did the brim grow overnight? It didn't look that wide yesterday..." The truth is, 1/4" won't make much of a difference on any hat brim, but your perception of that brim width once the hat is on your head can change from moment to moment. If you can afford to do so, buy one of each and wear whichever brim width happens to suit you on any given day. If not...well, I tend to think more conservatively when making a decision like this, so I'd start with the 2.5" brim and see how that goes. But, y'know, it's your hat, so... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯