Traveling With a Cowboy Hat

Airports, overhead bins and truck cabs are where good hats get crushed. Whether you're flying to a wedding or driving to the rodeo, here's how to get your hat there in the same shape it left.

1. 1. Pick a hard-shell cowboy hat travel case

   Soft bags and cardboard hat boxes collapse under the weight of other luggage. A rigid shell spreads impact around the hat instead of into the crown, and a bracket inside keeps the hat from sliding onto its brim.

2. 2. Fly with it as your carry-on

   Checked bags get stacked and thrown. Keep your hat in the cabin. A case sized within common carry-on limits, like the Mavericrest at 18.5″ × 17.3″ × 9.5″, goes in the overhead bin with you. Airline size rules vary, so check your carrier before you fly.

3. 3. Get through security smoothly

   Have the case easy to open in case it's screened. Don't pack liquids or other items in with the hat, so nothing presses on the crown or leaks onto the felt.

4. 4. Keep it out of the heat on road trips

   A hot dashboard or rear window can shrink a sweatband and warp a brim. Keep the hat in its case on the floor or in the cab, never in direct sun, and don't wedge heavy gear on top of it in a truck bed.

5. 5. Unpack and let it breathe

   When you arrive, take the hat out and rest it on its crown or hang it. If it got damp, let the sweatband air-dry before packing it again.