travel panama hat

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Montecristi Classic Fedora / Grade 20

This is a Montecristi woven hat in a Super Fino quality. The Montecristi fedora is perhaps the most famous panama hat. This classic model is creased lengthwise down the crown and pinched in the front on both sides.  This is a perfect travel panama hat that will protect you from the sun in any adventure trip, while keeping you light and cool.

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• Hat Size Chart

This is a Montecristi woven hat in a super fino quality.  The Montecristi fedora is perhaps the most famous panama hat style. This classic model is creased lengthwise down the crown and pinched in the front on both sides.  Great for any ocasion, casual or formal and suitable for all ages.   

If you are planning a trip, the panama fedora is perhaps the best travel hat style option there is.   Wherever your travels take you, this adventure hat will protect you against the sun while keeping you light and cool.

If you are not sure of your exact hat size you can measure the circumference around your head by using a tape measure or if you do not have one you can use a string and then measure it against a ruler.

The measurement level should be where a hat would normally rest, that is above the ears and above the eyebrows ridges. While measuring keep the tape firm but not tight.

Check the size chart given below. For in-between measurements use the next size up.

Panama Roll-Up Hats - Famous Foldable headweare

Panama Roll-Up Hats - "Foldable" Certainly the panama hat has an unmatched history for its durability and roll-ability to fit into a small wooden box or a bamboo tube for storage or shipping. That is one of the reasons the Panama hat is so famous! The benefits of rolling up a hat (or Folding) are obvious when you are sitting on an airplane looking for a place to set your hat! So their are some who truly benefit buy this style and so I make it available to you! But before you make that decision please take into consideration what it is you are asking for and if you still would like a roll up hat, I will be happy to make it for you!  All True Montecristi Panama hats are roll-able, foldable and will bounce back into shape when unrolled that is because of the Unique "Paja" that the hat is made of.

The differences: 1 - in the Roll up (foldable) is that the Leather sweat band will be much thinner! or made of fabric The reason for this is simply because if you try to roll up a hat with the standard leather band, although the band is of highest Quality, it would restrict the effectiveness of its ability to roll up due to the thickness of the leather! so part of the reason we do not recommend it is, a thin a leather sweat band it will be susceptible to sweat stains easier than the standard thicker band, and sweat stains that can be very difficult to clean out! So although some thew the history of panama hats, have a need for just such a hat, like heavy travelers, the average person will do much better with the standard hat that has the standard leather sweat band. 2 -We use a linner inside our hats that is removable if you dont like it. but will not be included in the rollup models beacuse it restricts rolling and beacuse the swatband mentioned in point 1 is not stiff enough to hold the linner material behind it. 3- we use pich protectors on stadard models (excluding the Optimo) to make your hat last a lifetime of pinching the top it will not break teh straw even though you would never know it was their! In addition to that whenever you roll up a such a fine product as this it is not without any sign of having been rolled once you unroll it, it will take a little steam to put things back in order mostly the brim in the case of an optimo model and the crown as well in other models. So if you order a roll able hat from use we will use less stiffener or no stiffener at all in some cases to keep the hat as flexible as possible but that on the other hand makes reshaping it a little more difficulty since it will have a harder time holding its shape if it has no stiffener in it at all. The historic classic Optimo will hold its original shape the best when it is unrolled. (basicly the first panama hat model it is basicly an unshaped hat ) For this reason it is the standard recommendation, but any of the hats can be rolled up because they are all made in the same way and are all Equally durable! but since the other styles do not have a crease down the middle they do not unroll as well without leaving a slight crease threw the middle of the hat. In no way would this damage the hat since the crease can be worked out without too much trouble it is just that they do not have the same look right away after unrolling. on the other hand the Optimo has this natural crease and so immediately after unrolling it, it does not have as much tall tale signs of having been rolled! The choice is entirely yours but just so you are aware of the difficulties of the roll up style. I find that most people ask about this style only because they have heard about the Famous Roll up panama hats and it is a conversation piece for them and that is fine, but it may not be as practical as you might need from a daily wear hat. First step in rolling a panama hat

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Home » Packing Lists » How to Pack A Panama Hat in a Suitcase for Traveling

How to Pack A Panama Hat in a Suitcase for Traveling

The video below will show you exactly how to roll a panama hat so it will fit perfectly into your suitcase or carry-on luggage without damaging the hat. We also have some do’s and don’ts for traveling with your hat as well as some important tips for caring for a Fedora hat.

Above Image: Pineapple & Star Sun Straw Fedora Hat

Table of Contents

Unrolling Your Hat

Do’s & don’ts for packing a panama, handling & storing, reshaping a panama hat, how to clean a panama hat, how to roll a panama hat for packing.

Rolling a Panama hat for traveling is easy. First, place a fist inside the hat and push the top up so the hat flattens. Second, start from one side of the hat and begin to roll it tightly. Once it is rolled, it will look like a cone. Now you can place a rubber band, hair tie or string around it to keep it from unrolling or you can place it into the box that came with it, if it’s available. Then you can put it in a suitcase or bag, making sure to pack your clothes around it so it won’t get crushed.

Stiff Hats: If you own a Panama hat that is very stiff and hard, then rolling it may cause it to crack. This can be avoided by steaming your hat or misting it with water before rolling it.

When you are ready to unroll your Panama hat, take it out of your suitcase and remove the rubber band or string that is keeping it rolled up. Slowly unroll it and unfold it. Place your hand inside the hat and use your fingers to form an indent in the top of the hat. Form a point in the front of the hat and flatten the brim. If your hat is wrinkled or deformed, you can lightly steam it and smooth the wrinkles.

Here are a few things you should and shouldn’t do when taking your Panama hat on vacation with you:

Do – Steam Out Wrinkles in Your Hat

Do – Roll Your Panama Hat

The best way to pack a Panama hat in a suitcase is by rolling it up and carefully placing it in between your clothes.

Do – Store Your Hat Unrolled

A Panama hat should be stored unrolled. Leaving the hat rolled up for a long period of time will deform the hat and will ruin it. Try not to leave the hat rolled for more than a few days. If you are going on a road trip , you may want to wear your hat instead of packing it away.

Don’t – Roll Standard Weave Hats

Don’t – Fold a Panama Hat

A Panama hat can be rolled but should never be folded. Folding the hat will cause creasing, deformation and will ruin it.

Don’t – Wear Your Hat in the Rain

Panama hats were designed to keep your face shaded and protected from the sun but they were not designed to protect you from the rain. Most are not waterproof and will shrink or deform if they get wet. If it is raining outside, put your hat away or use an umbrella to keep it dry.

Caring for Your Panama Hat

Panama hats are a great thing to own and wear but to keep them in tip-top shape, there are a few things you need to do to maintain them.

The front point of a fedora hat is prone to cracking so try not to hold the hat from the top. The best way to handle a Panama hat is by picking it up from the brim. Always store the hat unrolled and with the brim flat on a shelf or in a drawer.

There are a few different ways to reshape your hat. The top way to reshape it is by misting it with a steamer and then smooth out the wrinkles. Another way is by using a blow dryer to warm the hat up, making the fabric more flexible and easier to reshape. The top of the hat can be reshaped by placing it over a bowl or round object. The brim can be reshaped by placing a damp towel on top of it and then iron it. Make sure the iron is not too hot or you could burn the hat.

Most Panama hats don’t need much cleaning. Dust the hat off regularly using a dry cloth and if it has some stubborn dirt, then you can use a baby wipe to clean it. Never use soap and water on your hat.

Now you know how to back a Panama hat in a suitcase for traveling as well as how to clean and care for a Panama hat. If you are searching for a hat to buy, then check out the top rated Panama hats on Amazon by clicking here . Finally, here is a video guide about the history of Panama hats that will give you even more information about these amazing hats.

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The Panama Hat Guy Advice

How to travel with a panama hat.

When it comes to travelling, hats are an essential item. The problem is, if you take an ugly hat that is easy to pack, you end up with all your photos being of your ugly hat. So the goal is to bring a beautiful hat and make sure it arrives at your destination in perfect condition. Lets do it.

There are three simple options :

1. Wear your hat on your head - they are fantastic for sleeping on planes because you can place it over your face, shade your eyes, hide your drooling and can see what is going around you. Plus you look like a Mexican gangster. Often I will place my hat on top of my luggage after I take off, and it will still be there when I arrive. Personally I love seeing everyone at the freezing cold Melbourne airport, wearing their hats and Hawaiin shirts, off on a big adventure. I often see my hats and boxes, and it feels good.

2. Put it in a hatbox (or any box really) . You can then place that inside your luggage, and fill the box with light items that won't crush your hat (t-shirts, cashmere jumpers, silk underwear etc.). If you have a hatbox, then you can pack two or three hats in the same space. I usually pack all the family hats in my box. You can then use it as carry-on, or pack it in your bag. If your hat is a fino or very soft, then always use a box or wear it.

3. Pack your hat carefully in your luggage . Place it flat on the base of your bag, fill the crown (where your head goes) with soft things, and pack around it gently. Taking care to see then brim is sitting as flat as possible.   If it gets a little crushed, you can steam in a bathroom , where it will absorb moisture and let it come back to shape. 

The main idea is to have a plan, and take your time to care for your hat. Personally I like to travel with three hats, one to wear, one as a backup, and one I can give away to someone I like. 

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The World Through a Lens

A Glimpse Inside the Workshops of the World’s Finest Panama Hat Makers

Creamy as silk and costlier than gold, a Montecristi superfino Panama hat is as much a work of art as it is of fashion.

Gabriel Lucas irons a hat at his workshop in Montecristi, Ecuador. Credit...

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Photographs and Text by Roff Smith

• Published July 20, 2020 Updated July 22, 2020

At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, with travel restrictions in place worldwide, we launched a new series — The World Through a Lens — in which photojournalists help transport you, virtually, to some of our planet’s most beautiful and intriguing places. This week, Roff Smith shares a collection of photographs from the workshops of hat artisans in Ecuador.

Creamy as silk, costlier by weight than gold, the color of fine old ivory, a Montecristi superfino Panama hat is as much a work of art as it is of fashion. The finest specimens have more than 4,000 weaves per square inch, a weave so fine it takes a jeweler’s loupe to count the rows. And every single one of those weaves is done by hand. No loom is used — only dexterous fingers, sharp eyes and Zen-like concentration.

“You cannot allow your mind to wander even for a second,” says Simón Espinal, a modest, soft-spoken man who is regarded by his peers as the greatest living weaver of Panama hats, possibly the greatest ever. “When you are weaving it is just you and the straw.”

Mr. Espinal’s hats average around 3,000 weaves per square inch — a fineness few weavers have ever even approached. His best has just over 4,200 weaves per square inch and took him five months to weave.

The 52-year-old Ecuadorean is one of a dwindling number of elite Panama hat weavers, nearly all of whom live in Pile, an obscure village tucked away in the foothills behind Montecristi, a low-slung town about 100 miles up the coast from Guayaquil.

I became interested in the hats about 15 years ago, quite by accident, when I read about straw hats that could cost thousands of dollars. Intrigued, I began researching the hats, made a trip to Ecuador — where all true Panama hats are woven — and discovered this curious, and gently anachronistic world of the hat weavers of Montecristi.

Although the weaver is the star of the show, the making of a Montecristi is a collaborative art. After the weaver has finished his or her part, the raw hat body passes through the hands of a tag-team of specialist artisans whose titles — the rematador, the cortador, the apaleador and the planchador — lend the making of a Montecristi Panama hat something of the hot-blooded formality of the bullring. (The term rematador is drawn directly from bullfighting: There, it is the finisher, one who “performs some act that will provide an emotional or artistic climax,” as Hemingway describes it in “Death in the Afternoon.”)

In Montecristi, the rematador is the specialist weaver who performs the complicated back weave to seal the brim, thereby bringing to an artistic close the weaving phase of the hat’s creation. After that, the excess straw is trimmed away by the cortador, who then gives the hat the closest of shaves with a razor blade to trim away any burrs in the straw.

“Sometimes, when I am cortador-ing, I come across a straw that has become discolored or has not been woven correctly,” says Gabriel Lucas, one of Montecristi’s top finishing artisans, as he performs a delicate operation on a fine hat that will be worth thousands when it is finished. “We call these hijos perdidos — the lost straws. I have to carefully cut them out and weave in a new straw to replace it.”

After it has been properly barbered, the hat is pounded with a hardwood mallet by the apaleador to help bed the fibers, then briskly ironed by the planchador to give it the right amount of stiffness in preparation for the final stage: blocking, or the sculpting by hand of the unformed hat into its recognizable styles: fedora, optimo, plantation.

Panama hats are uniquely Ecuadorean, despite their curious misnomer. The term “Panama hat” has been in use since at least the 1830s, and came about because the hats were often sold in trading posts on the Isthmus of Panama, which was a shipping crossroads long before the canal was built. The name was popularized during the California gold rush, when tens of thousands of prospectors passed through Panama on their way to the diggings, many of them picking up a hat along the way.

Panama hats became even more firmly fixed in the popular imagination after the Paris Exposition in 1855, when a Frenchman who had been living in Panama presented Napoleon III with a finely woven hat. His Highness loved the hat and wore it everywhere.

Then, as now, celebrities set the tone in the fashion stakes, and nobody was more A-list than the Emperor of France. Silky fine Panama hats for spring and summer became de rigueur among the rich and famous. King Edward VII is said to have instructed his hatter to spare no expense but get him the finest Panama available. Fabulous sums were paid by him and others for the best hats. A Talk of The Town article in The New Yorker from July 1930 describes a $1,000 Panama — around $16,000 today — on display at Dobbs hat store in the city. Florenz Ziegfeld was discussed as a likely buyer.

These days, the overwhelming majority of Panama hats are woven in Cuenca, an attractive town in the Andes whose residents, prompted by the local government, turned to hat weaving in the mid 1800s, once Panama hats became popular. These are the hats you find in department stores and most hat shops. Nice hats, they are woven in a light, simple “brisa” weave, which can be turned out swiftly and in commercial quantities.

Montecristi, on the other hand, is the seat of the art. Locals have been weaving fine hats out of the fibers of the toquilla palm for centuries. Here, hat making has remained a cottage industry, the weavers gathering and preparing their own straw as they have for generations, weaving their hats in their artistic and time-consuming “liso” weave, a pretty herringbone style.

Their output is necessarily small, and that of the elite weavers in Pile smaller still. In a good year, Simón Espinal might make three hats.

Lately the government has been urging the weavers in Pile to become more commercial, to abandon the old ways, not to weave such fine hats — but they’ve refused. “This,” says Simón Espinal, “is a gift from God.”

Roff Smith is a writer and photographer based in England. You can follow his adventures on Instagram: @roffsmith .

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The Real Panama Hat

For centuries, Panamanian artists have been weaving “pinta’o” from natural fibers

Lola Méndez

The Panama hat is infamously misnamed. The handmade straw headgear actually hails from Ecuador. Construction workers building the Panama Canal wore the hats, though, as their wide brims protected them from the harsh hot sun. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt inspected the construction of the canal in a white linen suit topped off with one of the Ecuadorian hats. Photos of Roosevelt unintentionally launched a fashion trend, and the name stuck.

The real Panama hat is the sombrero pintando (“painted hat”), also known as the pinta’o .

The pinta’o originated in the province of Coclé southwest of Panama City, where the hats are still made today. Like the Panama hat, the pinta’o is also handwoven with natural fibers, but it is defined by intricate dark patterns that are woven throughout the hat. Exquisite artisanship is required to craft the sombrero from the fibers of several local plants— bellota for the white part of the hat, chonta for decoration, chisná for dying fiber, junco to make the ornate tarco stripe, and pita for stitching the hat. The bellota fibers are boiled before being sun-dried for about a week, as the whiter the fiber, the more valuable the hat. After the fiber has dried to the desired shade, it’s woven into braids. To form the hat, braids are wrapped around a wooden block and carefully sewn together by hand. Intricate geometric motifs—straight lines, waves and zig-zags—are formed from bands of chonta fiber dyed with chisná leaves. The design creates the appearance of a “painted hat.”

“The pinta’o tradition goes back 200 years,” says Marelys Montero de Monteza, artisan coordinator of Coclé-Ministry of Culture, which works on preserving and conserving the country’s cultural heritage through the promotion of art and culture. “The hat highlights techniques, ancestral expressions, plant care and creativity in the designs that have been transmitted from generation to generation. It’s an important cultural motif that’s ingrained with the customs of the people and a symbol of pride for any Panamanian.”

The pinta’o hat is part of the typical attire of Panama for men, women and children. “Anyone can wear the pinta'o hat. The farmer uses it to protect themselves from the sun and a singer uses it for folk ensemble performances,” says Silvia Rodríguez, a master weaver of pinta’o based in Las Pozas, Penonomé, Coclé. In fact, many rural Panamanians have two pinta’o hats. “The daily use hat has up to ten turns [every time a circle lap is completed on the hat] and the other is more detailed with around 20 turns,” says Alex Santiago Tuñón , a pinta’o milliner in La Pintada, Coclé. The more elaborate version is donned for special occasions including Sunday mass, folkloric dances, weddings, birthdays and community celebrations. “Where there is some type of activity, the painted hat is worn,” says Juan Carlos Figueroa Quirós , a hat cobbler in La Pintada . “The hat is more than a symbol—it’s our identity.”

According to a Ministry of Industry & Commerce of Panama report, the Artisan Registry database lists 341 pinta'o makers. Most of the artisans are related, as hat-making is a household affair. “I was born into a family dedicated to making hats,” Rodríguez says. Hat-making has been her family’s business for five generations. “As a child, I saw my grandparents, parents and brothers do this work. All of us dedicate ourselves to making the hats. My mom taught me when I was six to weave with three threads of fiber,” she says. “The art is inherited from our ancestors. It’s our legacy to make pinta’o hats.”

It can take weeks or months to complete a pinta’o, the majority of which are made by request to match the customer's taste. “The finest hat I made had 22 turns and took almost two months,” Rodríguez says. The more intricately woven a pinta’o, the more expensive it is. A hat with less than 15 turns takes approximately ten days to make and costs under $100 while a more intricate design with upwards of 24 turns can take 90 days to make and cost over $1,000.

In 2017, Unesco inscribed the pinta’o to its ​​List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which honors knowledge, tradition and rituals that are an intrinsic part of a culture. “The artisans cultivate the plants, work the raw materials, braid the fibers and make this hat with them, which is part of a clothing of all the regions of the country in folkloric dances and community festivals,” Unesco noted in its ruling. After making the decision at a meeting of its Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Heritage, the agency said, “This artisanal practice fosters social solidarity, given that the creation of cooperatives and groups of hatters and growers is encouraged.”

“The declaration was an international recognition that there’s an intangible cultural heritage being lost,” says Ariana Curtis , an African American and Panamanian anthropologist. “The pinta’o isn’t mechanized, it's made by hand. There's reverence for the knowledge bearers and deep respect for how it’s passed from generation to generation. We see the pinta’o everywhere, so endangerment wasn't on people's radar until the declaration.”

Rodríguez worries that the hat may disappear as younger generations are indifferent about learning the craft. Montero agrees, reflecting that “fewer young people are interested in making hats and preventing the tradition from being lost.” Quirós, a seventh-generation hat cobbler, is encouraging his children to carry on the custom. “There can be an extinction of this tradition if the artisans and the local governments don’t employ in the schools to be part of the teachings,” he says.

Another challenge is the depletion of raw materials , like Carludovica palmata and eleocharis . Many artisans are buying fibers from commercial suppliers, as opposed to farmers, some of whom sold their land only for it to be deforested into fields, destroying the raw materials in the process. Montero believes that conserving the plant species used to make the hats is necessary to saving the craft. “We must reinforce the cultivation and protection of the areas where the raw material is produced,” Tuñón says.

Tourism is also a key factor in preserving the pinta’o. The area most famous for the pinta’o is La Pintada , a town in Coclé. On October 19, the annual Civic and Commemorative Day of the Sombrero Pinta’o is held in La Pintada with parades, live music and vendors selling pinta’o hats. Ivan Eskildsen, Panama’s Minister of Tourism, says the festival started in 2011 as a way to safeguard the technique of the pinta’o. Travelers can watch artisans in action and support the traditional craft by purchasing a genuine hat at La Pintada Handicraft Market as a wearable souvenir.

“A hat might seem superfluous, but cultural traditions deeply rooted in our identity are very important to safeguard for the future,” says Eskildsen.

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11 Packable Travel Hats for Men [Crushable & Stylish]

Heading out? Traveling in style is easy with with our guide to the best packable travel hats for men. We men carefully choose our headwear to block the sun, cover up our unkempt hair, or to make a fashion statement on the road. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of versatile hats and caps from trusted industry leaders like Melin, Scala, adidas, and more.

Grab any one of these slick toppers and you’ll turn heads all the way from Auckland to Zurich.

I’ve done my best to cover all the bases here, with everything from baseball caps to bucket hats to Indiana Jones fedoras. And all of our top picks are crushable, packable, collapsible, or foldable and built to survive the abuse of travel.

Just grab one of these out of your pack, pull it over your noggin, and transform into Brad Pitt in his signature newsboy cap or Heisenberg at a meth meetup. (OK, maybe not that last one. At least not around TSA.)

So before you grab your passport and pack your bags, let’s get you outfitted with one of our top picks for our top-rated men’s travel hats.

Best Travel Hats for Men

• Best Performance Snapback: melin Trenches Icon Hydro
• Minimalist Do-Everything Cap: Western Rise Versa
• Dad Hat With Airplane Logo: NxTSTOP Liftoff
• Crushable & Ventilated Sun Cap: Coolibar Kaden
• UPF 50+ Straw Sun Hat: Sunday Afternoons Havana
• Indiana Jones Style Outback Fedora: Dorfman Pacific
• Wear-Anywhere Cowboy Hat: Teton
• Crushable Wool & Felt Fedora: Scala Classico
• Made-in-Ireland Flat Cap: Biddy Murphy
• Stylin’ Washed Bucket Lid: adidas Originals
• Beanie for Cold Weather: American Giant Shop
• Factors We Considered When Reviewing Products

Final Thoughts: Best Men’s Travel Hats

Best overall performance snapback melin trenches icon hydro.

Material : Varies by model Pros : Waterproof, stylish, floatable, breathable Cons : A little pricey for a ball cap Best for : Active lifestyles

I’m usually a baseball hat guy when I travel, and melin makes some of the sturdiest and most customizable lids around. The Trenches Icon Hydro is perfect for men who lead an active lifestyle. If you’re searching for a hat that’s equally at home on a sunny beach, coast to coast road trip , or an urban cafe, this is the one.

Melin makes this hat in a load of configurations, styles, and sizes, each made from lightweight, breathable material that floats on water and has a hidden image that’s only visible when wet. It also has a crushable front panel which makes it perfect for people on the go.

Minimalist Do-Everything Cap Western Rise Versa

Material : Polyester, spandex, EVA foam bill Pros : Versatile, crushable, lifetime warranty Cons : May not fit larger heads Best for : Small-to-Medium heads wanting a does-it-all hat

The Western Rise Versa is a no-nonsense, minimalist baseball cap with no logos, designs, or distractions. This allows you to wear it with any outfit you please and make fussing over fashion old news.

Its modest looks are only half the story: The four-way stretch material is breathable, waterproof, and wicks moisture away. Its versatile design means you can jam it into your bag and use it anywhere from the gym to crowded city streets.

Dad Hat With Airplane Logo NxTSTOP Liftoff

Material : Polyester, Spandex Pros : Curved bill, great for medium-to-large heads Cons : Some may find it a little dorky Best for : Dads, travel addicts

Here’s a ‘cool’ hat on Amazon with a classic dad hat design with a curved bill that’s clearly  made for travel. I like the ballcap design and may snag one of these bad boys for my upcoming trip to San Francisco.

In particular, I like the lightweight and breathable mesh and the front airplane logo so I can let others know exactly where my priorities lie. The NxTSTOP liftoff is the only hat on this list that’s not marketed as “crushable,” but it’s still travel friendly as can be.

Crushable & Ventilated Sun Cap Coolibar Kaden

Material : Cotton, polyester Pros : Easy to pack; ample sun protection Cons : Even with ventilation, it can run warm Best for : Long days in the sun – hiking, biking, beaching

I found two scabby ‘sunspots’ (keratosis) on my face the other day, so I’m taking sun protection seriously here in my mid-thirties. When I visit super-sunny South Africa this summer, I’ll be wearing a hat like this!

I like that this good-looking safari sun hat has a ‘stampede string’ like my favorite cowboy hat, plus it’s crushable, breathable, and extremely well-reviewed. Protect that precious skin, fellas.

UPF 50+ Straw Sun Hat Sunday Afternoons Havana

Material : 90% Paper, 10% Polyester Pros : Inexpensive, stylish, packable Cons : I honestly don’t see any cons here Best for : Protecting your head from the sun

Release your inner Hunter S. Thompson and embark on your very own Rum Diaries  adventure. This Sunday Afternoons faux-straw hat is perfect for blocking the sun as you slyly gallivant around the Caribbean looking for trouble.

It’s a classic travel hat — affordable, stylish, and packable — and a favorite of both men and women. So, like a good sweater, keep your eye on it or your lady friend may run away with it while you’re sleeping one off.

Indiana Jones Style Outback Fedora Dorfman Pacific

Material : 100% wool Pros : Waterproof, crushable, mysterious Cons : A little stuffy in hot weather Best for : Looking dashing as you swing from vine to vine

Just a heads up, you’ll need to be a particular type of traveler to do justice to this hat. So ask yourself — am I the kind of guy who can steal cursed artifacts, run a gauntlet of booby traps, fend off snakes, and still somehow manage to escape with his life? If so, proceed.

If you’re not already Indiana Jones, don’t expect this hat to make you his dead ringer. But you can count on it to reliably protect your melon from sun and rain while conferring a certain panache. Take that, René Belloq !

Wear Anywhere Cowboy Hat Overland Teton

Material : 100% wool Pros : Easy to pack, waterproof, classic style Cons : City slickers need not apply Best for : Country music stars and their fans

Here’s our favorite cowboy-style travel hat on the market. It’s easy to figure out why: The wide brim casts a lot of shade, and like others on this list, you can jam it into your pack and have it bounce back into shape when you get to your destination.

It’s 100% wool, so it will repel the occasional monsoon and dry quickly. Teton makes this hat in three different colors and five different sizes. And it saves time, too — you won’t ever need to pull out your passport to prove you’re an American.

Crushable Wool & Felt Fedora Scala Classico

Material : 100% Wool Pros : Attitude, weather-proof, travel-friendly Cons : You have to be worthy of it Best for : Cool and confident dudes with a sense of style

This ain’t your grandpappy’s fedora, gents. The Sala Classico is a century-old style that will make you look hot off the press. And durable? Try crushing it, rolling it, and jamming it into your pack — it’s up for anything.

With a bit of Bogart attitude and a soft-spoken tip of the brim, you’ll have the ladies ready to swoon. Scoop them up before they hit the floor revive them gently with a scotch. That’s ageless gallantry, and this is the travel hat for you, comrade.

Made-in-Ireland Flat Cap Biddy Murphy

Material : 100% wool Pros : Compact, unique, and oh-so continental Cons : Would be fightin’ words to diss this Irish classic Best for : Bald fellas like me

Guess what? With a last name like mine (Riley), I’m duty-bound to love the timeless Irish styling of this cap. Next time I tour my ancestral island, I’ll definitely be sporting one of these puppies and doing my best to blend in.

The Biddy Murphy is an Irish newsboy hat made in County Kerry, Ireland. This 100% wool cap is naturally weather-resistant and sheds rain, sleet, and snow. So pop it into your travel bag and get ready to down a Guinness (or several).

Stylin’ Washed Bucket Lid adidas Originals

Material : Cotton Pros : Keeps the sun off your neck Cons : Looks kinda ’90s, cotton doesn’t shed water Best for : Looking cool while turning back the clock

My big head doesn’t look good in most bucket hats, but Adidas has me pondering long and hard over their dazzling assortment of colors and patterns. I might just toss one of these into my pack the next time I’m traveling in Eastern Europe or Asia.

The Adidas Originals bucket hat is versatile and relaxed and goes with any travel attire. It’s also the most affordable hat on this list, so if you’re traveling on a budget, this might save you a few quid.

Beanie for Cold Weather American Giant Shop

Material : 100% acrylic Pros : Simple, warm, made in the USA Cons : Colors are a bit bland, not waterproof Best for : Cold ears on cool dudes

My great-uncle Leon is 80-some years old and has a cool AF sense of style. Nowadays his ears get cold easily, so I bought him this beanie to take on our trip to DC last month. Boom, toasty ears, no problem.

He loves his new beanie from American Giant Shop. It’s so simple, comfortable, and warm. Leon is a traditionalist and loves that this made in USA cap has minimal branding. Throw one in your winter travel bag next time and pretend you’re as cool as Leon. (Good luck with that.)

Factors We Considered When Picking Products

There’s no magic formula for choosing hats in general — if it feels good and looks good, you’re off to a good start. But when you add “travel-friendly” as a requirement, you’ve got to consider specific attributes, including:

When traveling, a hat will either be on your head or mixed in with your other gear. When it’s on your head, it may be there for hours, exposed to sun, wind, and rain. You’ll sweat into it, and at some point it may start to itch. Choose hats that are soft, properly sized, and won’t lose their shape.

In general, wool and synthetics are more water-resistant, breathable, and odor-free than cotton. I mostly prefer 100% wool because it doesn’t get soaking wet the way cotton does, and it stays fresh-smelling for longer periods.

Style of Hat

Headgear comes in two basic flavors — Hats (‘has a brim but no visor’) and Caps (‘has a visor but no brim’) — and both travel equally well. Choose from this list based on the conditions you’ll encounter when traveling and then add a dash of your personal style. You can’t go wrong… unless you choose a neon plaid propellor beanie.

On a serious note, please  do  choose hats that offer good sun protection. The folks at  SkinCancer.org say, “the best hats for sun protection have a brim of at least three inches to shade the face, scalp, neck, shoulders and upper back.”

Packability/Crushability

Once you take off your hat, it’s got to go somewhere… in a coat pocket, perhaps, or flattened and layered into your luggage. If you want it spring back into proper shape, look for products that advertise as ‘crushable’ or ‘packable.’ Wool felt performs well, as do many synthetics. However, straw is brittle and will crack or crumble, and cotton will wrinkle and crease.

Sad story: I took a spiffy fedora with me to Europe last year, but had to hastily jam it into my bag at one point. In Italy, it emerged crushed and never regained its former glory. Since then I’ve only traveled with caps that can take a beating and still look fresh.

You put a lot of effort and expense into planning the perfect trip, so don’t cheap out on that fashion statement sitting above your ears. Invest in one of these quality products that are sure to survive your globetrotting adventures. Go for it.

When you look good, you feel good. Spending a little extra on an accessory like a hat may seem superfluous, but in reality, can you put a price on self-confidence? Yes. Yes, you can. But most of these hats are affordable and can be the perfect accent for any travel outfit. Splurge a little, buddy!

Wherever you’re headed next, you can’t go wrong with any of the best men’s travel hats. But which one? Will you tour the Temple of Doom in your Indiana Jones Hat from Dorfman Pacific ? Swing up into the saddle in a cowboy hat from Overland ? Or make evening rounds in NYC wearing a snapback from Melin ?

Of course, there’s no reason to stop at just one new hat. I’ve got busy travel plans and the hat I take skiing in Telluride isn’t likely to be the same one I’ll need while sailing in the Mediterranean. And I’m always in the market for a new EDC hat for running errands or people-watching on the mall.

Just remember that the key element of any good travel hat for men is that it must be crushable, packable, and weather resistant. ‘Stylish’ is my close second consideration since I need all the help I can get in that department.

And third, let’s not forget why hats were invented in the first place — to protect us from the imposing sun. A hat that aces all three of those considerations will be your reliable travel companion for years to come.

Last Updated on March 19, 2024

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The perfect travel companion to keep your hat safe and secure.  Specially sized to be the perfect fit for a rolled Panama, this extra strong cardboard tube is guaranteed to survive the roughest of journeys!

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Watch CBS News

Who owns the ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore?

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Anne Marie Lee

Updated on: March 26, 2024 / 5:05 PM EDT / CBS News

The collapse of  Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday after being struck by a cargo ship has raised questions about who owns and manages the ship, as well as on the potential impact on one the busiest ports in the U.S.

Called the Dali, the 948-foot vessel that hit the bridge is managed by Synergy Marine Group, a Singapore-based company with over 660 ships under management worldwide, according to its website . The group said the ship was operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group and chartered by Danish shipping giant Maersk at the time of the incident, which sent vehicles and people tumbling into the Patapsco River.

"We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected," Maersk said in a statement to CBS News on Tuesday, in which it also confirmed the ship was carrying cargo for Maersk customers. The company had no crew or personnel aboard the ship.

The Dali, which can carry up to 10,000 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, was carrying nearly 4,700 containers at the time of the collision. It was operated by a 22-person, Indian crew. It was not immediately clear what kind of cargo the ship was carrying. 

Who owns and manages the Dali?

The Dali is owned by Grace Ocean Private, a Singapore-based company that provides water transportation services. The ship was chartered by Danish container shipping company Maersk at the time of the collision.

Synergy Marine, founded in 2006, provides a range of ship management services, including managing ships' technical components and their crews and overseeing safety, according to S&P Capital IQ. Its parent company, Unity Group Holdings International, an investment holding company, was founded in 2008 and is based in Hong Kong.

Where was the ship headed?

The outbound ship had left Baltimore and was headed for Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, Synergy Marine Group said in a  press release . 

How busy is the Port of Baltimore?

In 2023, the Port of Baltimore handled a record 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo, worth $80 billion, according  to the office of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. The port is also a significant provider of local jobs. 

The top port in the U.S. for sugar and gypsum imports, it is the ninth busiest U.S. port by the total volume and value of foreign cargo handled. All vessel traffic into and out of the facility is currently suspended, although the port remains open and trucks continue to be processed within its terminals, according to a statement released by Port of Baltimore officials. 

What is the potential local economic impact?

Directly, the port supports 15,300 jobs, while another 140,000 in the area are related to port activities. The jobs provide a combined $3.3 billion in personal income, according to a CBS News report . The Port of Baltimore said Tuesday that it is unclear how long ship traffic will be suspended.

The disaster also caused chaos for local drivers. The Maryland Transportation Authority said all lanes were closed in both directions on I-695, with traffic being detoured to I-95 and I-895.

How could the bridge collapse affect consumers and businesses?

Experts say the bridge collapse could cause significant supply chain disruptions.

"While Baltimore is not one of the largest U.S. East Coast ports, it still imports and exports more than 1 million containers each year, so there is the potential for this to cause significant disruption to supply chains," Emily Stausbøll, a market analyst at Xeneta, an ocean and air freight analytics platform, said in a statement. 

She added that freight services from Asia to the East Coast in the U.S. have already been hampered by drought in the Panama Canal, as well as risks related to conflict in the Red Sea. Nearby ports, including those in New York, New Jersey and Virginia, will be relied on to handle more shipments if Baltimore remains inaccessible. 

Whether ocean freight shipping rates will rise dramatically, potentially affecting consumers as retailers pass along higher costs, will depend on how much extra capacity the alternate ports can handle, Stausbøll said. "However, there is only so much port capacity available and this will leave supply chains vulnerable to any further pressure."

Marty Durbin, senior vice president of policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said that the bridge is a critical connector of "people, businesses, and communities."

"Unfortunately, its prolonged closure will likely disrupt commercial activities and supply chains that rely on the bridge and Port of Baltimore each day," he said in a statement.

What other industries could be affected?

Trucking companies could be severely affected by the disaster. 

"Aside from the obvious tragedy, this incident will have significant and long-lasting impacts on the region," American Trucking Associations spokesperson Jessica Gail said, calling Key Bridge and Baltimore's port "critical components'' of the nation's infrastructure.

Gail noted that 1.3 million trucks cross the bridge every year — 3,600 a day. Trucks that carry hazardous materials will now have to make 30 miles of detours around Baltimore because they are prohibited from using the city's tunnels, she said, adding to delays and increasing fuel costs.

"Time-wise, it's going to hurt us a lot," added Russell Brehm, the terminal manager in Baltimore for Lee Transport, which trucks hazardous materials such as petroleum products and chemicals. The loss of the bridge will double to two hours the time it takes Lee to get loads from its terminal in Baltimore's Curtis Bay to the BJ's gasoline station in the waterfront neighborhood of Canton, he estimated.

Cruise operators are also being affected. A Carnival cruise ship that set off Sunday for the Bahamas had been scheduled to return to Baltimore on March 31. Carnival said Tuesday that it is "currently evaluating options for Carnival Legend's scheduled return on Sunday." The company also has cruises scheduled to set sail from Baltimore through the summer. 

Norwegian Cruise Line last year introduced new routes departing from the Port of Baltimore. Its sailings are scheduled for late this year. The company said the Key Bridge collapse doesn't immediately require it to reroute any ships.

Who will pay to rebuild the bridge?

President Biden said Tuesday that the federal government, with congressional support, would pay to rebuild the bridge.

"We're going to work with our partners in Congress to make sure the state gets the support it needs. It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge," Biden said in comments from the White House. "And I expect the Congress to support my effort. This is going to take some time. The people of Baltimore can count on us though, to stick with them, at every step of the way, till the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt."

—The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• Francis Scott Key Bridge
• Bridge Collapse
• Patapsco River

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News Streaming to discuss her reporting.

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