Do you wear a hat?

John, I always pack my venerable Tilley Hat along, but tend to wear it mostly for sun or rain protection. It's not something I wear daily during the trip. I've found that it increases my "comfort level" substantially on really HOT days (there were more than a few of those in Greece last year).

My head is so gigantic that I cannot find attractive women's hats. HOWEVER, my gorgeous and fashionable husband almost always sports a lid in Paris. A lot of guys wear them, and they are excellently useful for keeping the sun and rain off. Also, for looking soignee and sexy in photos. He would never been seen dead in a Tilley's or other type of "I am a well-to-do American tourist" hat. On our first day every trip we go to H&M or C&A or someplace funky in le Marais or les Halles or by Beaubourg, and he picks up a fashionable new chapeau for the trip. Those fast fasion places are cheap, the hat is a neat souvenir ("Where'd you get that great hat, John?" "In Paris!") and you won't end up looking like you left the house thinking you were going on safari. :D

I like to bring a hat. I usually throw in a light ski cap because it packs easily, give me warmth if I need it, and covers up unruly hair when necessary. People talk about baseball caps pegging you as a tourist, which is mostly true. A golf cap, essentially the same thing with a different logo, doesn't look out of place (either way people will know you are a tourist). I don't bring one only because it will get disfigured before I wear it (same with a straw hat) unless you wear it all the time. A lot of people like the safari style hats from REI or ex-officio. They're a little too much for me. Great for a camping trip but not something I'd wear in downtown Munich or Paris.

I carry a folding baseball-like hat from Outdoor Research. The brim folds in two so the hat can be stuffed in a pocket or backpack. I carry it for two purposes: 1) As a rain hat, and 2) To keep the sun out of my eyes on really bright days. If I traveled in colder weather it would work for that as well. It isn't fashionable, but in my mind is more of a necessary item.

I do not typically wear a hat, except for where I will be out in the sun most of the time, Greece for example, any place that will be mainly beach. Then I usually just pick up a cheap hat at a market, since I usually also lose them during the trip.

I pack a very plain baseball cap and use when I'll be in direct sun for an extended time and when it's raining. It's easy to pack, light and does the job.

Yes, anytime I'm in the sun for any length of time, or if it is raining. I either wear a straw hat I bought in Asissi or a round white fabric one I bought here in England - it looks like a cricket umpire's hat. Both fit in perfectly throughout Europe. If its raining I wear a dark green waterproof waxed round hat which I bought at an English garden centre and no umbrella.

Kira, thanks for your reply. Buying a hat once in Paris would be a nice souvenir and I'll have a chance to look around and see what other people are wearing first. James, what you suggest runs up against the problem I have. In LA I only wear a hat when I go to the beach, at which point functionality trumps style concerns. Its not that I have anything against hats, but most of the time here in LA I'm in a building or a car so keeping the sun off just never comes up. As a tourist I hope to be outdoors walking much more than I do at home.

John, I too took the souvenir approach when I bought a sun hat in Provence. It was actually made in Italy, but I've taken it with me to any place where I am worried about sun. If the heat comes back to NYC I'll start wearing it on my walk to work. ; ) I also took the souvenir route in Scotland and have bought hats there when it gets too cold. ; ) Pam

Hello John. A Men's hat that I think is excellent for travelers at Europe in September is the Filson cover cloth crushable Packer Hat. It is pliable - it has a crushable crown - thus this hat can be stuffed into a carry-on size bag. It has a fedora style crown. Dull dark green color. 2.525 inch brim. 8 grommets for ventilation. The cloth is 6 ounce 100 % cotton. 2 ply by 2 ply, parafin treated. A photograph of this hat is at the website www.altrec .com/Filson/Hats. I would bring to Europe the regular Filson hat (not insulated). And I would bring a wool knit hat (such as a U.S. Navy "watch cap") to wear when I am on a high mountain.

But not a beret in Paris (you might be the only one wearing a beret).

I take a plain ball cap with no logos of any kind...since I don't normally wear hats, the one I take doesn't get much use except when the need is great( eg really bright days, etc )

John - This is the one item I over pack on. I take 3 hats, yes 3. I always take my Tilley, a Tam and a baseball style hat.

I purchased a fantastic driving style cap for my husband to wear in Paris. Of course, he lost it. Not to be stopped, I purchased another one that he wears when it is cooler weather. I also purchased a lightweight driving style cap for him to wear. He needs sun protection on his head. However, sometimes, he has actually worn a baseball style cap in the rural areas. I try to make sure the cap doesn't have a bid American logo on it and is in a subdued tone. I wish he wouldn't wear it but sometimes it isn't worth an argument. I wear a beret in Paris when it is cooler. Yes, I am probably the only one but I like it. I also wear it here in the states. I have hat from the Tivoli gardens near Rome when I can find it.. It is good for really hot days. I looked at the beautiful sun hats in Provence but since they didn't seem to be crushable, I didn't buy one. I may do so on my next trip. Otherwise, I go hatless. I am going to be in Italy and France this fall so I will probably look for some sort of hat to stay cool.

Hey John,
Like Bev's hubby I'll be wearing my driving caps. A tan fire hose material cap for the sunny days and a black oil cloth cap for the rainy times. The French have a uncanny talent for spotting Americans. You can't deceive them. We had a surreal experience at the American Church in Paris. A choir from Minnesota was performing and at the end of the performance they had a meet and greet. A few French came forward and you could see the choir members really concentrating to understand. When we met them we began to speak right out of the French I textbook, then we quickly ran out of French phrases and crossed over to our east coast accented English. They didn't expect vacationing Americans attending their concert. They were caught slightly off guard. Travel safely John, we'll be in Paris 13 to the 16th. I'll be the American with the black sneakers wearing the driving cap!

Hats are useful if your head is cold or you do not have much hair and it is hot. They are also useful if you are having a bad hair day. Put one on your head and look in a mirror. This will give you a good idea if it suits you or not. I personally find balaclavas the most versatile.

I always take a baseball hat. In summer I take a light colored one that does not weigh much. In winter a heavier one, in a darker color. Wear what you want, and what makes you comfortable; they can spot you as a tourist a mile away,or the first time you open your mouth. But a beret in Paris? no way!

With some of the comments about berets, I found it interesting to read my September 2011 issue of the France magazine. There is an interesting article about berets. It told about the beret making factories and the steps required to make a beret. There is also a Musee du Beret in Nay. Berets have a very old history. According to the article, "Minoan remains from Crete dated to around 1750 BC show both men and women apparenty wearing berets." "The beret was formerly the preferrred headgear of men in the Bearn ... Although girls wore berets, especially after World War II, they remain principally a masculine symbol in country areas. French countrywomen rarely wear berets, even if they are now a fashion item among female city dwellers." As it says in the article, "A traditional wearer of the French beret rarely takes it off, except at funerals. As one farmer remarks in the Musee du Beret video, ' "If you see me without my beret, it's either because I have lost it or because I have a problem." ' Will I keep wearing my beret when I need it? Mais oui!

I love my Tilley, rain or shine! Yes, it will be with me in Italy next week.

I live in L.A. I like to wear a hat if I'm outdoors a lot. Being bald, it helps to keep the sun off your head all day. I didn't want to wear a baseball hat in Europe, I only wear one here when I am working or playing baseball. I am aware of it and have looked for others wearing a hat and it's the same everywhere I went in Europe as it is here in L.A..... most men don't wear a hat. After looking around a lot I went with a casual Fedora style hat from Macy's in a light gray. My wife likes it and it looks good. but it's hard not to look/feel a little pretentious wearing it. It reminds me of a typical young actor and all I need are the big sunglasses to really look like I'm in a disguise. I got over it and wore it a lot on my trip.

I love my Tilley and wear it with pride. ;-)

My husband and I always take a Tilley and a baseball cap (as he is a tennis teacher and we usually travel to locations where he needs one.) I'd love to make my Tilley a little more interesting and less "safari" style. Has anyone ever done that other than the pins I've seen attached?

I took a wide brimmed hat with a fabric feature to cover the neck to Greece knowing the sun would be hot, particularly since most of the ancient ruins were on top of mountains (no shade). Most of my travel mates had hats but got their necks sunburned.