Unboxing the Stetson Aficionado Panama Straw Hat - A Great $125 Summertime Hat

In this video the ol’ History Nerd unboxes and reviews the Stetson Aficionado, a $125 hand-woven toquilla straw Panama hat. We’ll also compare the Aficionado to the less expensive Stetson Adventurer Shantung straw Panama hat, and, as usual, there’s a heaping dose of jokes and good natured fun throughout the video.
The History Nerd’s review of the Stetson Rushmore mentioned in this video may be found here: • Unboxing the Stetson R...
The History Nerd’s review of the Stetson Adventurer shown in the video may be found here: • Unboxing the Stetson A...
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0:00 Intro
1:27 A Brief History of Panama Hats
5:37 The Different Types of Panama Hats
11:13 The Details and Features of the Stetson Aficionado
15:30 The Stetson Aficionado vs. the Stetson Adventurer
20:35 Trying On the Stetson Aficionado
22:35 Outro

[@theKluck]

I can’t wait for the opportunity to go more about him and pay $600 for a hat!

[@briancochran8356]

You are a absoluet hero. Loved your vidoe. Very informative.

[@pedrorivera9779]

Thank you for another great and informative video. I sure appreciate you doing the research for me.

[@bigbossman3806]

Hat history and irreverent comedy..I love these videos .

[@historynerdsmancave7567]

The next time my wife tells me that my jokes are dumb or inappropriate, I can now tell her that at least one person in the world appreciates them. Thanks for watching and being a supporter, Bubba. Glad to see you're posting videos on your channel again.

[@anangryranger]

Excellent looking hat! The weave is unbelievably tight and precise. I'm very impressed. Glad you got it. 👍 And by the way, this is one of those rare occasions when you state that a hat is actually too big for you! Shocking, I know.😅😂

[@duybear4023]

Id expect far more than a motorboat and hat for $600. I'd want a hat and happy ending.

[@michaelwhite9199]

As a bald older man I value hats.

[@FredArd1954]

The community of Cuenca in Ecuador is where many if not most Panama hats are crafted, History Nerd.

[@browndawg9745]

Nice hat, good fit...looks good on you. Please don’t do a video if you get that “make over.” 😂

[@theartcoach]

I have a Mayser Panama that has a rubber “diaper” thing in the inside of pinch. Love it.

[@kevincameron8437]

That' not a bad price for a hat that sharp. thanks for sharing.

[@historynerdsmancave7567]

The Stetson Aficionado really is a great hat. I wore it to buy some steaks at the grocery store today and noticed I had a little bit of a Ric Flair strut in my stride because I was wearing it.

[@petzi7437]

Dear History Nerd, could you please share, where one could get the Supermodels weave the hat during a motorboat ride deal? That sounds really fun and well worth spending 600 bucks. I assume a lot of your viewers are interested in investing in such an experience... Thanks for your great videos and entertaining videos, Kind Regards from Germany Oliver

[@robertrichter7702]

I spent $200 on a shantung Stetson Panama the Ron Donegan . I love the hat but I may need an aficionado now 😊

[@markcesena4670]

Another great video,thank you

[@douglasschmidt2826]

I own the some hat. And I love it. I OWN SIX PANAMA 🇵🇦 HATS .IT IS THE BEST ONE OUT OF THE SIX.

[@scottedwards402]

David, thanks for the videos. As someone that lives in Baldwin county, I can attest to it being tropical heat & humidity strong in June. The "motor-boatin'" for a $600 straw hat just about got me. Keep them videos a comin'.

[@historynerdsmancave7567]

I used to attend a conference at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear in August each year, and there is no hotter or more humid place on earth than Baldwin County at that time of year. Thanks for supporting the channel.

[@jcs3451]

Well, just bought another hat!

[@frankhinkle5772]

That is a good looking hat and it does look good on you. Thanks for the commentary about the differences between the two different grades.

[@historynerdsmancave7567]

Thanks for the kind words and for watching the channel. God bless.

[@rayw187]

Great video! I have 2 Panamas and after the video went to check them,,,one is Toquilla one Shantung...always thought the Shantung was the better hat until today! Toquilla has the diaper 2! I wear mostly Cowboy hats to prevent skin cancer which I have problems with...have two felt and three straw...bought a Stetson Straw Open Road after your video but was a 2month wait for 7 5/8 to fit my big head so no X's...after your Stetson Square hat review bought a Cavenders 20x Ranch hat since once again due to my big head could not get a Stetson in my size...Love hotter than a goat in a pepper patch and can relate being in Louisiana

[@historynerdsmancave7567]

I, too, started wearing hats after a nasty melanoma cancer battle took most of my right cheek and required three facial reconstruction surgeries. Glad you find the videos helpful. God bless, and thanks for watching.

[@robertrichter7702]

Nice hat but I prefer leather sweatband . Feel those dri lex bands will hold bacteria 🦠 after a while of sweating in it

[@instruksjoner]

Love these videos!

[@stylishoversixty9459]

First, I want to express my appreciation for the information you provide on the Panama hat and its history, secondly, I'm a new subscriber to your channel and like yourself have a huge passion for hats, in fact, I currently own several vintage fedoras such as Derbys, Homburgs, and straw hats purchased from eBay thanks for sharing and bring this knowledge to your subscribers! "Hotter than a goat's ass in a pepper patch" Imagine that's pretty damn hot!

[@historynerdsmancave7567]

Sounds like we’re kindred spirits. I’d buy more vintage hats if I could find them in the giant head size I need. And, yes, goat’s ass hot is pretty dang hot. Thanks for watching!

[@charliefoxtrot7219]

#1 I love the folksy sayings. LOL #2 Good looking hat and it suits you. #3 I'm 53 and its amazing how advertising and things have changed in 40-50 years.

[@historynerdsmancave7567]

Appreciate the kind words, Chief. Honestly, that's pretty much how I talk all of the time. Glad you agree on how the world has changed...and it ain't all for the better. We old guys have to stick together.

[@terryszczudlik6466]

Lol! I have a Borsalino Panama, which I paid $600.00 for. No, I'm not a doctor. I just love hats.

[@historynerdsmancave7567]

Hope you got the motorboatin' option, Pardner. I'm certain it's a helluva hat and likely makes my Stetson Aficionado look like a beater. Appreciate you for watching.

[@terryszczudlik6466]

@historynerdsmancave7567 I have hats from $35.00 to $600.00. My new favorite hat is the Stetson 10x straw vented Open Road in natural, which I saw in one of your videos. I love the way it looks and wears, I've been wearing it every day since I received it 06/13/2024. I was not, nor would I compare my hat to yours or anyone else's hat, I just thought it was funny when you said you would not spend $600.00 dollars on a hat. 👍

[@alspencer2794]

Love your videos bud and your humor. Do hat sizes and the way they fit vary depending on material and manufacture?

[@historynerdsmancave7567]

They do. Some Panama hats actually shrink over time, and Hemp hats tend to run large, for example. You’re correct about manufacturers having size differences, as well. With a little research and reading reviews, you can usually figure out what will work best. I stuck one sizer pad in the band of this Panama hat and LOVE it. I’ve worn it every day since the unboxing. Thanks for watching and the kind words, Chief.

[@alspencer2794]

@@historynerdsmancave7567 Thanks for the reply🤠

[@scottmackenzie62]

While I love your hat reviews, I'm a big fan of the three Ws, whisky, watches, and women, so I have to ask, what's the watch that you are wearing on that James Bond NATO strap?

[@historynerdsmancave7567]

I do collect watches and have several nice ones, especially vintage models...but this ain't one of them. It's just an Omega Moonswatch on a NATO strap. Thanks for watching!

[@randy4768]

Should you put feathers on a Panama or only felt hats.

[@historynerdsmancave7567]

There ain't any rules, Bubba, so let your hat reflect who you are. If you want to put a feather in the hatband of a Panama hat, put a cottonpickin' feather in it. Wear your hat the way you want to wear it, and if anybody says anything about it, tell them to smooch your hindquarters. Thanks for watching!

[@undreahankins8194]

History Nerd how close is the Retro to the Afficianado?

[@historynerdsmancave7567]

The only obvious differences I see are that the Retro has a crown that is 1/2" higher, the Retro comes in a whitish Natural color as opposed to the darker Wheat and Putty colors of the Aficionado, and the weave on the Aficionado is a bit more intricate judging solely from pictures, which might also be why it is priced just a bit higher. I am also a big fan of the Stetson Rushmore, which is a palm straw Panama hat that I own and retails for about $75.00.

[@undreahankins8194]

@@historynerdsmancave7567 Thanks. I remember seeing that video. I'll watch it again tonight before I decide.