Traveling with a Fedora

[Gunk]

I'm thinking of getting the grey traveling fedora and I would like to bring my Fed IV as well on plane trips, are there any type of hat boxes that I can use? I've seen some vintage ones on ebay, but does anyone know of new alternatives that aren't costly?

[YARVTON]

I suppose this presents a problem if one doesn't have two heads, so perhaps I should say: wear the Gray and don't baby the other -- and that was the "Indy way" back in the day. And if you do want to baby the second, any box would do -- a vintage hatbox would be OK for home storage, but not for the ordeals of 21st-century air travel. Plastic hatboxes are pricey, and cardboard are bulky as well as hard to find. Unless you're willing to check the hat and pay for extra baggage, then you should get one of the industrial-strength travel hatboxes and hope your luggage isn't lost!

[Gunk]

im all for the "indy way" but I don't think he had a Fed IV that cost over $100...***** nowadays things are so expensive but for the time frame indy lived in hats were common and didn't cost nearly as much

[Renderking Fisk]

If you're looking for advice, I would only take one fedora - the one you wear on your noggin.

[Indiana Greg]

HAT CANS

[JimL]

I was going to suggest a Pelican case...

I check my camera gear in those!

[gabrielle]

HAT CANS

Where to buy?

[Indiana Greg]

HAT CANS

Where to buy?

Anywhere (online or "brick & mortar") western wear is sold. (tack shops).

[Piker]

Akubra makes the "Casual" It can take a Heckuva beating and pops right into shape. You can even roll it up and pack it.

Airlines are starting to charge 10 bucks per checked bag.

[Tycoonman]

PB Hats


Sheplers

Tycoonman

[Kentucky Blues]

im all for the "indy way" but I don't think he had a Fed IV that cost over $100...***** nowadays things are so expensive but for the time frame indy lived in hats were common and didn't cost nearly as much

The Fed IV is not an expensive "you pay over $100 to look good" hat. It's an expensive "you pay over $100 to get over $100 worth of toughness" hat Or in other words, it costs so much because it's high in quality and toughness. I wouldn't crumple it up, but you could fold it enough to fit in your luggage without damaging it. To be honest, except for a stiff hat, or a wool hat, you could probably do that with just about any hat and not ruin it (not suggesting you necessarily do that). But anyway, people have done some pretty serious tests to see what the federations could take, and they can take alot The only damage mine has suffered was a result of actual abuse, but sittings and crushings it took like a real trooper.

And in regards to what Renderking said, I have to agree with him, unless you have a particular need for more than one hat. I would assume you're not getting the grey hat JUST to wear on planes and such. In my case, I have several hats in different colors, and I wear whicever I feel like wearing, and what's appropriate (IE, no straw in a snow storm) and when I travel I take the hat I feel like taking

-KB

[McFly]

I took a trip up to San Francisco once with my high school choir 2 years ago, and I brought my Akubra with me (who wouldn't?). Well, we had homestay families, and so naturally while I was out performing in my tuxedo, I left the Akubra at this family's house. Unfortunately for me, I got really sick (we had a bug go through the choir - almost took out all of us basses!) and instead of sending me back to that house, they took me to the hotel where the other sick people were staying. So, the guy from the choir that was with me at that other house had to get moved to a new house, and do you think he thought to bring my trademark, nickname earning hat? Nope...

So several *months* later, after lots of phone calls, I had convinced the choir director of the school in San Fran to talk to people and find my hat and send the thing back to me. He packed it in a cardboard box with newspaper and send it back via USPS mail! When I got it, it was crushed up and looked terrible! Popped right back into shape! Although it didn't fit me anymore...

The point is, these things are like tanks! Don't be afraid to throw an Akubra into a suitcase and flatten it. You know it won't taper in there!

Shane

[ichnob]

Thanks for those links Tycoonman. That double hat can looks really interesting. That means I can wear one hat and bring two along for the ride.

[Canasta]

My wife and I went to perform in Hong Kong last September.
The one ting that got us stopped the most here and abroad was that silly Hat Can. It is unusual enough to get the attention of most.
Once I explained what is was, the airport personnel still wanted to see inside, however it was more out of amusement than safety.
They are great to have though.

Regards,
C

[gabrielle]

I love the hat can on Shepler's that can hold more than 1 hat, pretty nifty if you want to bring the one you're wearing and another one and maybe another of a different style too...like a C-crown.

The prices are not that bad either and the cans come in several nice colors.

[YARVTON]

I would argue that nowadays things are so cheap --with exceptions of course. Plane travel is ridiculously cheap compared to what it was in even the early 70's. And the Akubra is a true bargain. But back in the day, no matter what the price level, one had "good, dress-up, Sunday-Best" clothes and everyday or work clothes. Indy's gray fedora was for "travel & dress-up" and thus likely expensive and well-treated. Where was the iconic brown hat? Rolled up and stuck in a bag with the rest of his "gear"!

The only other real suggestion I have would be to ship your excess clothing ahead of you, though that only works if you will be staying somewhere for more than a few days, and that might also end up costing more than you would like.

[Indiana MarkVII]

For those who own and use a Hat Can (single or double), do you carry it onboard aircraft, or check it as luggage? Will either one fit in most overhead bins, because it doesn't look like it will fit under seat in front of you.

[XPLSV]

Another consideration with the hat can is that a second piece of checked luggage is pretty much a $25 add-on each way. I've tended to not bring my most favorite or least crushable hats when traveling...depends upon the destination.

[Indiana Jimbo]

I seem to have to travel by plane quite a lot now, and at first I just wore it the whole way where it should be... on my noggin. But, a few trans-Atlantic flights later, I grew pretty wearisome of this. I thought about the best way to pack it, and although I'm positive my AB Deluxe could take a good crumpling in stride, I have developed this method...

First, I pack my luggage as I would without a hat, leaving a complete gap in the middle of the bag. Nothing should be in this gap and the gap is the circumference of my hat.

Next, I gather up all my (clean) socks and ties that I'm bringing and stuff them inside my fedora and place it into my bag so it fits nicely in the gap. There is no room for much stuff to move around, therefore the hat wont get wrecked.

I've used this method many-a-time and its never failed me... the only problem I've had was when the airline temporarily lost my bag.

Almost had a heart attack.

Cheers!

[JimL]

That's a good method- any slight 'denting' is easily fixed with a bash touch-up...

Good one!

AND, no extra bag to pay for...

[Indiana Jimbo]

Plus, volume-wise, it takes virtually no space up in your bag.

[Indy35]

I seem to have to travel by plane quite a lot now, and at first I just wore it the whole way where it should be... on my noggin. But, a few trans-Atlantic flights later, I grew pretty wearisome of this. I thought about the best way to pack it, and although I'm positive my AB Deluxe could take a good crumpling in stride, I have developed this method...

First, I pack my luggage as I would without a hat, leaving a complete gap in the middle of the bag. Nothing should be in this gap and the gap is the circumference of my hat.

Next, I gather up all my (clean) socks and ties that I'm bringing and stuff them inside my fedora and place it into my bag so it fits nicely in the gap. There is no room for much stuff to move around, therefore the hat wont get wrecked.

I've used this method many-a-time and its never failed me... the only problem I've had was when the airline temporarily lost my bag.

Almost had a heart attack.

Cheers!

I do exactly the same thing, but i pad the base before setting the hat in, and fill the first hat, and stack another one on top of it. I usually don't pack more than two hats for a trip, if your wearing one, that gives you three, and thats plenty for travel.

They can still get a little crushed, i've learned to put them in the lighter bags, the heavier the bag the more likely they are to be just lumped and shoved around on all sides.