Travel Hat????

I'm a big hat fan -- even with sunglasses the glare gets to me without a hat. Found a crocheted hat with a 1-1/2 inch brim at a rummage sale and it has been perfect, squishable and packable. Brand name is Scala.

Actually, what I would do is wait until you get to Italy. You are starting in Venice and there are a bunch of vendor carts near St Mark's Square with sun hats for ~10€ or less. It made a nice souvenir, I wore it the whole time I was in Italy and the cart vendor said I looked bellissima!!! I tried the hat on, he came over to rearrange it, then pulled out a color he thought was better (it was and matched my glasses frames!) and then pronounced it perfect. Really, how could I resist?

You and your daughter can try them on!

If you normally like to wear a hat in the summer, then I would plan to bring one. I brought one on our first trip to Europe and only wore it a couple of times - last trip I ever brought a hat.

I sometimes pack a hat or two, since they take so little space, but seldom (if ever) wear them in Europe. Sunglasses, however, are a must. You will see many different kinds of hats on tourists (but hardly ever on locals). There will be lots of cute hats (and fashion scarves) for sale in Italy. So, if you decide you really need one, they will be available. Are you traveling on a tour? With Americans or Canadians? If so, many of your travel companions (male and female) are likely to be wearing hats from Tilley Endurables (the famous Canadian company). My husband always wears them, but to me, they scream "tourist" or safari, so I usually leave mine home. Bon voyage!

I never pack a hat, if I need one I buy a cheapie but that's only happened twice, when I was with friends on long beach days.

My hat of choice is now one I bought in Assisi many years ago. Straw, and barely a semblance of its former self. But I love it.

One day I'll get back to Assisi and replace it. Not crushable, though, although it has been crushed a fair bit.

For crushable we throw a couple of round white hats in the backpack. Bought them in Mürren, also a fair few years ago.

We like wearable souvenirs.

This will be the first time in 8 trips to Europe that I will be taking a hat, I found a one on sale at a local backpacking store that fit me perfectly and will be nice in the hot sun and rain. I agree that it screams "tourist" but as I've gotten older (65) I just don't really feel the need to try and fool the locals into thinking I'm something else (like they don't know). We're going to spend 3 days hiking in Monterosso next week before heading to Venice so it should come in handy.

Nigel, I thought you Brits wore hankies on your head!

Loved my Pendleton wool hat (crushable with brim) similar to: http://www.pendleton-usa.com/product/OUTBACK-HAT/166579/fs/true.uts
I added a chin strap for walking in UK wind and rain conditions. Hat is great for sun and light drizzle. The "crushable" feature is handy for stuffing the hat in a pack under high wind/rain conditions when the jacket's hood needs to be deployed.

I like Scala visors. They pack flat and have an extra wide brim. Amazon has them. Available in many colors.

I have a Wallaroo Hat Company (made in Boulder, CO-or maybe just distributed in Boulder?) hat. I don't dare take chances with the possibility of skin cancer and love being outdoors. Therefore, this hat has been to Europe with me several times and always kept me shaded and cool when traveling in the warmer months. It's lightweight, comes in a variety of colors, wide brimmed, packable, crushable and will regain it's shape when "coaxed". It's also adjustable by means of a cord that can be tied either in the back or under my chin, depending on the winds. In Colorado, we are all super aware of the likelihood of skin cancer and for me, this is the perfect hat.

I also have a Wallaroo hat that packs well and looks nice. I can dress it up or not with scarves, should I get bored. I have many hats as I am fair skinned and my eyes are extremely sensitive to light...so sunglasses don't completely do the trick. I have many other hats but this is my choice for travel. Seems to me I purchased it in Provincetown so I suspect they are a national company.

You are right, Wray. The company was founded in and is based in Boulder but from what I have read, there are stores other places in the US as well as online sites. If you want a hat for sun protection, this is the brand to check out. And as you say, versatile, too! I never thought to dress mine up with a scarf but I'll be trying that next time I wear it. Thanks for the great idea!

bridget,

I always pack along my venerable Tilley hat as it packs easily and has a high SPF factor. They have a number of different styles to suit just about every taste.

I'm like Wray--glare really bothers me. For a spring trip I took a visor that attached to my sunglasses. Tiny, lightweight. Worked fine. I need a hat in summer...Wallaroo, Scala, Columbia, Tilley. Got 'em all.

A big thanks to everyone for your advice!

Nondescript baseball hat.

I just did exactly what Pam described. We started off our trip in Venice and my friend and I both bought hats in St. Marks Square. Mine is currently stashed in my suitcase in cloudy Prague, but it's there when I need it.

I am not a hat or cap wearer in my normal day to day life. I bought one of the floppy sun shade style hats to use on one tour since it was a suggested necessity. Left it somewhere along the way the first day and never missed it at all.

I would also recommend a Tilley hat.

I would second the Tilley hat. They can be a bit expensive but hold up to almost anything, have a limited lifetime warranty etc. While I am not a big hat wearer at home (when I go out for a 2 hour walk is an exception) I have found them helpful when I travel. Like others, I have also bought a few on trips when I was positive I wouldn't need one so didn't pack it...... that'll teach me!