How to travel with hats

jlee562 · Sep 11, 2018

Well, if you want to use this as your "small personal item," this style of case is quite useful.

https://www.amazon.com/Shoe-Box-Travel-Fedora-Similar/dp/B00GI0WT4Q

Bencraft also sells them, but not online.

bobkeenan · Sep 17, 2018

psklenar said:
Yeah, I'm going to be wearing/taking my VC Custom/All Fawcett in November, hence my search for an option now.

I've got an idea for a travel hat hook, but don't have the skills to build it myself. <blush> I'm looking forward to seeing your future offering!

pat----

I figured out how to do it. I am selling them as well now but I am not supposed to post an ad here. This is what they look like. PM me if you want to know more.

psklenar said:
Yeah, I'm going to be wearing/taking my VC Custom/All Fawcett in November, hence my search for an option now.

I've got an idea for a travel hat hook, but don't have the skills to build it myself. <blush> I'm looking forward to seeing your future offering!

pat----

I ended up designing one. Had a 3D printer so I went thought a bunch of prototypes. Got one I liked and mastered the printing (printing with nylon is not easy) I like it so much I gave it a name "PortaFedora" and I opened an Etsy shop around it. I am not supposed to place a classified ad on the site but if you want to check it out. Got to etsy or ebay and search for Portafedora. They come in two sizes for different brims. Here are a couple pics. Let me know if you have any questions.

Med Portafedora-5

bobkeenan
Sep 17, 2018

Med Portafedora-4

bobkeenan
Sep 17, 2018

Rmccamey · Oct 19, 2018

After reading many, many posts, generally speaking (and I know that makes this a loaded question), it seems Akubra is usually high on the list of hat brands for air travel that are durable and will retain their shape even under less-than optimum conditions. Is my summary correct or should I do some more research? Thanks in advance.

Short Balding Guy · Oct 19, 2018

Rmccamey said:
After reading many, many posts, generally speaking (and I know that makes this a loaded question), it seems Akubra is usually high on the list of hat brands for air travel that are durable and will retain their shape even under less-than optimum conditions. Is my summary correct or should I do some more research? Thanks in advance.

I summarize it differently. I come away with some does. (1) Be careful of smudges and grim by bagging hat in clear plastic when needed (example: TSA and sitting in cabin). (2) Wear/bring a hat that can be re-creased easily. (3) Have a label/card under leather sweat identifying you as owner. I have traveled in and out of the US with modern beaver (Gannon/Art Fawcett VS hats) hats easily.

I refrain from taking precious vintage hats as they generally are less durable and in most cases they are irreplaceable. The only changes to my hat after traveling was the crease. They would be distorted and banged after TSA. What to do? I popped the crown open, swift crease to the crown, put my shoes on and slipped assundries in my pockets and went on my way to the gate to wait my ride.

Different summary as I do not put weight on the maker of the hat.

Best, Eric -

Frunobulax · Oct 19, 2018

Rmccamey said:
After reading many, many posts, generally speaking (and I know that makes this a loaded question), it seems Akubra is usually high on the list of hat brands for air travel that are durable and will retain their shape even under less-than optimum conditions. Is my summary correct or should I do some more research? Thanks in advance.

Well, not only are Akubras tough, but they're affordable and replaceable. All of those factors weigh in.

Sent directly from my mind to yours.

jlee562 · Oct 19, 2018

Some Indy fans have noted that the wire reed (which also may have set off a sensitive scanner, according to a recent post) in Akubras can sometimes become irreparably distorted (like trying to straighten a paper clip), although nobody over here seems to have run into the issue.

psklenar · Oct 20, 2018

bobkeenan said:
I ended up designing one. ... I like it so much I gave it a name "PortaFedora" and I opened an Etsy shop around it. ...

My November trip to Seattle has been canceled (even tho it was completely non-refundable).

But I took my dad to see Lily Tomlin at The Bushnell last night and used my PortaFedora during the show. Quite pleased with it!! No photography allowed during the show, but I'll attach a couple of the venue, one of my dad & I and a couple of the PortaFedora in use.

Thank you for your inventiveness Bob!!

pat----

IsaacRN · Oct 22, 2018

So I am travelling to a Caribean Island in a few weeks. I cant take a hat box as a carry on, but I want to take my straw hat with me. Im 6'3" so stowing it on the floor of my foot area isnt an option either. Do you know if I could give it to one of the flight attendants for safe keeping, or might have some other option? The flight will be about 10 hrs long.

Roadopen · Oct 22, 2018

Some carrier if not most will have a cabin closet available for instruments you can stand up as well by the front area close to the cockpit or by the kitchen mess area, as soon as you enter the cabin just ask one of the nice stewards if they can secure and place the hat you will be bringing. Make sure you remind yourself to pick up before you get off from the cabin or else.

Unless of course they are foldable fedoras felt/wool material and or the more expensive Montecristi panama hats.

Best to call/email as well ahead of time....am sure they can accommodate your small request.

Sometime you can get away of storing it up on top overhead if there is any room and not being used so that you don't damage/crumple the goods. Again remind yourself which/where you have placed it above or else!

Good Luck!

Ro

Zombie_61 · Oct 23, 2018

Or, y'know, just wear it.

Knotten · Oct 23, 2018

I wore a straw on an 11-hour flight to China last year. It wasn’t uncomfortable at all. Well...no more so than any other part of sitting in place for 11 hours.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

scottyrocks · Oct 23, 2018

Or rotate it between you head, lap, and the fold down tray on the seat in front of you.

DanK76 · Feb 22, 2019

I have a George Strait edition Resistol hat. I will be traveling by airplane and wanted to know if anyone has ever used a plastic hat carrier for their cowboy hats. If you have, could you tell me what you think of the carrier. I want to bring my hat with me, but worry about it being damaged. Thinking a carrier might be the way to go. Thanks!

jlee562 · Feb 22, 2019

Well...here's what I can say.

I have a 10x Resistol Cogburn. I've worn this hat in the rain a lot and it's still a pretty stiff hat. Just speaking for myself, I wouldn't worry about it getting damaged. It's a tough hat.

But if you just want to stow it and forget about it, yeah, get a hat can. I've not traveled with a western hat can, but I do have a fedora hat can that I got from Bencraft several years ago. It's about as convenient as one would imagine carrying another piece of luggage would be, but if you are super worried about it, it should do fine in the overhead.

Hurricane Jack · Feb 22, 2019

DanK76 said:
I have a George Strait edition Resistol hat. I will be traveling by airplane and wanted to know if anyone has ever used a plastic hat carrier for their cowboy hats. If you have, could you tell me what you think of the carrier. I want to bring my hat with me, but worry about it being damaged. Thinking a carrier might be the way to go. Thanks!

What are the measurements of an overhead bin, assuming you are carrying it onboard? I have a few hat cans that have come with hats, they produce a pretty big footprint. Not sure they will fit in an overhead bin.

Quality varies depending on the brand. Some can be kind of flimsy. Be sure to check latches & hinges on the brand you choose. Not sure I would want to check one as baggage either. As Jared said, you might be taking less of a chance for damage by wearing & holding your hat in your lap.

suitedcboy · Feb 23, 2019

I have traveled with western hats in those domed hat cans and they fit in the o'head bins even in those rattle trap MD-88/Super 80 winged sewer tubes. I have one that is taller and not domed and that one I know would not work in many AC since the domed ones that are shorter fit with little to spare. I wear my hat on the plane so the hat can is for a second hat on the occasions where I had need (desire is the honest answer) to have choice.

Joao Encarnado · Feb 23, 2019

I traveled several times by airplane with a 4" brim hat. Always on my head. No problem at all. UK weather did it worst than the travel (train/bus/plane) itself.

DanK76 · Feb 23, 2019

Thanks everyone!

psklenar · Mar 1, 2019

Here's my PortaFedora holding my Art Fawcett custom at the Mumford & Sons show in Hartford CT last night.

pat----

Bushman · Mar 1, 2019

Typically with it on my head.

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