Now that travel is becoming a regular part of our lives, it's time to pack your favorite holiday essentials and dust off your bags. You should pack a hat appropriate for every situation if you're heading somewhere warm and sunny. But packing a hat for travel might be more challenging than it looks because a bad fold or too much pressure might crush or destroy your hat shape. So, to maintain its shape and keep it ready for your next trip, you must know how to pack a hat when traveling.
Our expert tips on how to pack and travel with hats can be helpful for your next trip.
How to Pack and Travel with Hats?
The process of deciding which hat to pack can be greatly simplified by choosing a model made specifically for travel. Rollable hats are convenient to pack and remove from your suitcase. They are the ideal choice for easy and hassle-free packing without losing shape. Besides, if you want to travel with your own style, there are some great ways to safely carry a hat on a plane.
Explore various methods for packing your hats for travel.
1. Use a Hat Box
Using a hat box is more efficient than storing your hats in your luggage. It's the best way to keep your trucker hats organized and prevent them from getting dented or crushed. But a hat box will take up a lot of space in your luggage, especially if you're traveling by plane and only have a carry-on or medium-sized bag.
2. Wear the Hat
Bringing your favorite hat on the plane is the best alternative if you are still looking for a hat box or carry it in your luggage. You can wear your hat on your head or store it under the seat in front of you for the duration of the journey, depending on its size and form. To ensure that your hat is securely stowed in the plane's overhead, it is preferable to put it in a carry-on or tote bag.
3. Fasten it to a Purse
What should you do if you want to avoid putting a hat in luggage that is difficult to get to? There is a solution that falls somewhere between wearing it on your head and putting it away. You have the option to fasten your hat to your bag or purse. Hats with a hole in the back, such as visors or trucker hats featuring snapbacks, can be looped around a backpack strap or purse handle.
4. Stuff your hat
When traveling, the best method to keep the crown and form of your favorite hat is to (gently) stuff the interior of it. Invert the hat and place it inside your suitcase. Fill the interior of the cap with soft t-shirts, socks, knickers, etc. Just enough should be packed inside your hat to prevent the crown from bowing inwards, but not too much.
Once your hat is in position, carefully pack your clothes around the brim, taking care not to pack them too tightly against the crown. Make sure that any shoes or bulky toiletries are put at the bottom end of your suitcase by using the principle of heaviest to lightest (learn more about this in the next step). After it's secure, you can cover it with soft garments, being careful not to crush it anymore.
5. Pack Heaviest to Lightest
Put your heavy luggage at the bottom of your travel suitcase, such as coats, shoes, and toiletries bags. Hats and other delicate, softer objects can be layered on top. By packing in this manner, you can prevent your hat from being crushed under the weight of your other clothing.
6. Pack with Soft Clothes
Pack with soft clothing to prevent crushing during transit. Make sure your hat is in its branded dust bag to prevent it from rubbing or catching on any of your other packed belongings.
7. Unpack Your Hat When You Reach There
Rollable hats are not a long-term or permanent storage solution for hats, even if they are made to be folded and rolled for travel. As soon as you reach your destination, take your hat off of your suitcase to avoid any significant fold lines or kinks. By doing this, your hat will be able to recover its shape after being stored.
Your hat will remain in the finest possible shape in this situation if you are extra careful and take the time to pack it properly.
How Should A Hat Be Maintained While Travelling?
When you get to your location, you may find that your hat has a few little creases or feels a touch stiff from being in your luggage. To keep your hat in shape, you must take care of it.
If you have chosen to wear a rollable hat or soft fabric hat, lay it down and unfold it so that it can restore its shape. Let the steam soften your hat by placing it in front of the iron or close to the kettle's spout. Then, gently reshape it with your hands. Before wearing the redesigned hat, let it cool on a level surface.
You must take off your non-rollable hat as soon as you get to your location if you have decided to pack one. Probably, your hat was partially crushed throughout your journey. Take it off and set it down on a level surface. If steaming is required, you can reshape it using the same technique as with rollable hats.
Pack your hats safely and follow the tips above to take them with you on your upcoming trip.