Finding a travel hat that looks good and can survive being shoved into a bag is harder than it should be. Most wide-brim hats require wearing them through airports, packing carefully in a hard-sided suitcase, or accepting that they may emerge from your luggage looking like they lost a fight, or at least with a big crease.
The Wyeth Carter Packable Cowboy Hat has officially solved that problem for me.
I took the ivory Carter on safari in Botswana, where it went from my duffel to game drives at Natural Selection’s Elephant Pan and North Island camps. By the end of the trip, it had earned a spot as my new favorite travel hat.
I Folded My Cowboy Hat Like a Taco
The biggest test happened while enroute to Africa.
Instead of wearing the hat for the long journey from Denver to Johannesburg, I folded it in half like a taco and tucked it inside my duffel. Then I cinched down the bag’s side compression straps and hoped for the best.
Frankly, I expected some damage. At the very least, I expected a crease.
When I unpacked in Africa, I was completely shocked. No creases. No weird bends. No misshapen brim. It popped back into shape and was ready for safari.
Wyeth specifically lists the Carter as packable, and the company uses a five-tier travel rating system for its hats. The Carter currently sells for $58, which I think is a reasonable price for a hat this travel-friendly.
One Hat, Multiple Safari Looks
Another reason I love the Carter is its simplicity. The ivory hat comes without a decorative band, which essentially gives you a blank canvas.
Before my trip, I tried it with a patterned hat band. On safari, I switched things up by wrapping square scarves and bandanas around the crown. A cooling red bandana became one of my favorite combinations.
That little trick meant I could change the look of the same hat without packing multiple hats. When you’re trying to keep your safari luggage light, that’s a win.
Comfortable Enough for Every Safari
I wore the Carter on every game drive during my stays at Elephant Pan and North Island Camp.
The open weave makes it breathable in the African heat, and I found it comfortable enough to wear for hours on game drives. The fit is also adjustable. Wyeth’s hats use a one-size design with an internal adjuster that allows you to size the hat down for a better fit. I was able to tighten it when needed for faster jaunts through the rugged terrain.
It also has enough cowboy style to be fun. Paired with safari shirts, boots, scarves and bandanas, it quickly became part of my go-to safari look.
Is the Hat Worth It?
For me, absolutely.
At $58, the Wyeth Carter Packable Cowboy Hat is considerably less expensive than many of the straw and raffia hats I’ve bought or considered for travel.
It’s stylish, breathable, comfortable, adjustable and, most importantly for me, truly packable. After surviving multiple flights from Denver to Johannesburg folded inside a tightly cinched duffel, I don’t have to baby it when I’m traveling.
That’s exactly what I want from travel gear.
The Wyeth Carter Packable Cowboy Hat is my new favorite travel hat, and this one will definitely be coming on more adventures.
For reviews of safari duffels, check out post on Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler 60L and Eagle Creek No Matter What 110L for a multi-week trip.
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