How to travel with hats

[samtemporary]

Under the seat in front. Traveled a few times with my Panama without incident.

 

[BR Gordon]

I fly quite frequently, and have never had a problem. Because of all the steel in my body, I usually use the full body scanner. I wear the hat into the scanner and then hand the hat to the technician. They then hand it back to me as I exit the scanner. No one has ever objected to this procedure. Once I'm seated in the plane, I snap the brim up and place the hat on the floor, protected with a plastic bag, under the seat in front of me.

 

[daizawaguy]

On the very top of something flat in the overhead locker...

 

[dnjan]

Most of the overheads on flights I've been on recently wouldn't have fit a collapsed top-hat!

Does anyone have a source (other than Art) for thin, clear plastic bags for hats?

 

[1961MJS]

Most of the overheads on flights I've been on recently wouldn't have fit a collapsed top-hat!

Does anyone have a source (other than Art) for thin, clear plastic bags for hats?

Hi

I suggest buying a rain hat cover, but in a larger size than is recommended. The rain cover screwed up the bow on my Jaxonbilt because it was too tight. You don't really need a rain cover on a fur felt hat, but it keeps off the grease in the TSA's torture devices. I think that the dry cleaning bags would work well also.

Later

 

[dnjan]

The rain hat cover I found a few years ago was quite thick. I am hoping for something about as thin as a dry-cleaning bag. (and equally as light).

 

[1961MJS]

The rain hat cover I found a few years ago was quite thick. I am hoping for something about as thin as a dry-cleaning bag. (and equally as light).

Hi Don

I supposed cutting down a dry cleaning bag and taping the edges would be a good alternative, but the rain hat covers are under $10.00. Kind of depends on what you think your time is worth, how soon you'll loose the rain hat cover, and how soon you'll rip the dry cleaning bag. [huh]

Later

 

[gtdean48]

My hat goes thru the scanner in a bin usually with my boots or my coat, laptop & briefcase right behind to push the hat thru if it gets knocked out.
I have a roll aboard suit case too so I can't carry a hat case & stay under 2 items.
I store my coat & hat in overhead bin, reshape & put on after landing.
Do this for vintage, new factory, & custom ones = all felt.

 

[Edward]

My hat goes thru the scanner in a bin usually with my boots or my coat, laptop & briefcase right behind to push the hat thru if it gets knocked out.
I have a roll aboard suit case too so I can't carry a hat case & stay under 2 items.
I store my coat & hat in overhead bin, reshape & put on after landing.
Do this for vintage, new factory, & custom ones = all felt.

That's how I roll and I've never had a significant problem. I take care of my stuff, but there does come a point where you have to think "it's a hat, it's utilitarian.... it's clothes" and just use it. Certain key pieces which are very rare or valuable aside, and within reason, I do think we can these days be too precious about these things sometimes.

 

[1961MJS]

My hat goes thru the scanner in a bin usually with my boots or my coat, laptop & briefcase right behind to push the hat thru if it gets knocked out.
I have a roll aboard suit case too so I can't carry a hat case & stay under 2 items.
I store my coat & hat in overhead bin, reshape & put on after landing.
Do this for vintage, new factory, & custom ones = all felt.

HI

I've only traveled twice in 2011, but I used a few of those Rubbermaid tubs to put my stuff in. I think I'd just put the hat in its own tub, but in a clear plastic cover of some sort. I never thought of it before, but does the TSA consider hat wearing weirdo's to be security risks?

Later

 

[BR Gordon]

I never thought of it before, but does the TSA consider hat wearing weirdo's to be security risks?

Later

There have never been any issues between TSA and this hat wearing weirdo.

 

[Blackthorn]

HI

I've only traveled twice in 2011, but I used a few of those Rubbermaid tubs to put my stuff in. I think I'd just put the hat in its own tub, but in a clear plastic cover of some sort. I never thought of it before, but does the TSA consider hat wearing weirdo's to be security risks?

Later

They think I'm a weirdo, but it has nothing to do with my hat.

 

[BR Gordon]

If you think that wearing a hat might create problems with TSA, try going through in a kilt.

 

[1961MJS]

If you think that wearing a hat might create problems with TSA, try going through in a kilt.

Um, doesn't that improve timing on the whole strip search thing? Of course, bringing the pipes probably takes a little longer...

Later

 

[BR Gordon]

Um, doesn't that improve timing on the whole strip search thing? Of course, bringing the pipes probably takes a little longer...

Later

There are two or three metal buckles, depending on the kilt, that really drive the scanner crazy.

I've have just passed through the TSA security and once again have had no problem with wearing my hat through the full body scanner. The only thing that they had to do was look for IEDs hidden within the hat.

 

[SteveAS]

I've always put my hats in bins, but twice now, I've had the rubber curtains permanent leave black marks on my hats. To get around that problem, I now carry a plastic bag and put my hat inside it before I put it in the bin (an idea I think I got from someone in this forum).

 

[gtdean48]

.... The only thing that they had to do was look for IUDs hidden within the hat.

Interesting device to hide in a hat...

 

[1961MJS]

There are two or three metal buckles, depending on the kilt, that really drive the scanner crazy.

I've have just passed through the TSA security and once again have had no problem with wearing my hat through the full body scanner. The only thing that they had to do was look for IUDs hidden within the hat.

I didn't catch that before. My mind reels with sarcastic replies and I can't pick just one. Obviously he meant IED's not IUD's, unlesssssssss, he's quoting the TSA.

Later

 

[gtdean48]

I didn't catch that before. My mind reels with sarcastic replies and I can't pick just one. Obviously he meant IED's not IUD's, unlesssssssss, he's quoting the TSA.

Later

Never know...he was talking about wearing a kilt....

 

[dnjan]

Hi Don

I supposed cutting down a dry cleaning bag and taping the edges would be a good alternative, but the rain hat covers are under $10.00. Kind of depends on what you think your time is worth, how soon you'll loose the rain hat cover, and how soon you'll rip the dry cleaning bag. [huh]

Later

The rain hat cover was just too bulky to fold up into something small and compact enough to keep handy in my jacket pocket.
If I can't find anything better, I will cut down a dry-cleaning bag. But I guess I was (optomistically) assuming that thin hat bags existed and were readily available.