I have a Churchill snap brim fedora from the early nineties. They do not make them as well any more.

BraceBack Mtn et al.,

As has been mentioned, some searching on http://www.thefedoralounge.net/ will yield a wealth of knowledgeable opinion. As for sources for Panamas, several members there have spoken highly of the Panama Hat Works, a small company co-owned by the American husband of an Ecuadoran from the town of Montecristi, where a few families still weave all the famous hats of that designation. His firm purports to be an attempt to preserve the weaving tradition by keeping the market for good Panamas broad--which means resisting the tendency to mystify the product and artificially inflate the price. While you will never go wrong with Graham at Optimo, you might consult http://www.panamas.biz/hats.html and read the "tour" section to learn how the hats are made and how quality is graded. You can find several customer reviews of PHW hats on Fedora lounge.

I've been wearing Havana-blocked Panamas since 1980 (Texas, skin cancer). I've gotten so used to the look that everybody else has too, and I usually get positive reactions if any. My current modest Cuenca-made Scala is finally starting to crack at the pinch after a long and noble life, so I've ordered a slightly finer Montecristi from PHW, yet to arrive. If you are looking for a fine, even weave for regular wear, but not necessarily a "museum quality" weave, PHW offers fine Montecristis and even finer-weave Cuencas in the $200-$300 range (and both lower and higher). One thing I like about their line is that they have several price levels from each producing area, determined by fineness of weave, evenness of weave, relative evenness of fiber color, and site of blocking and trimming.

They offer many different blockings, including two "optimo" styles (with the raised fore-and-aft center crease). I must confess to being tempted by the English optimo one of these days . . .