We’ve all been there. You pack your favorite hat in a suitcase and arrive at your destination only to find that it has transformed into an absolute wrinkled wreck.
Whether moving across the globe or to a nearby neighborhood, you want to ensure your hat collection is safe and sound in your new home.
Hats can be tricky to pack, especially if they’re rigid or not very flexible. This is why we’ve provided four simple methods on how to pack hats for moving.
Keep on reading!
Table of Contents
Things to Consider Before Packing a Hat
Before even thinking about packing your hat, you first need to determine what material it’s made of. Some hats are labeled “packable,” while others aren’t.
However, some packable hats can still develop wrinkles and creases. This can make it somewhat daunting to know whether or not your hat material is packable.
To help you out, we’ve included a list of hat materials that pack well and easily retain their shape.
- Raffia
- Soft straw
- Nylon
- Cotton
- Polyester
Generally speaking, the stiffer the hat, the more it’s prone to damage in a suitcase or moving box. Conversely, the softer the hat, the easier it is to fold, roll, or flatten it.
Even if you discover some wrinkles in your packable hat, it’s nothing a little steaming can’t fix!
How to Pack Hats for Moving
There are several ways you can pack a hat. The trick is to know what material you’re working with since each hat type requires a specific packing technique!
Stuff Your Hat
If you have a wide-brimmed stiff hat, the most common way of packing it is to stuff it with clothes! This is probably the safest way to ensure your hat isn’t wrinkled when you pull it out of the bag.
Let’s look at how to stuff your hat the right way!
Step 1: Lay Your Hat Upside Down
The first step is to take your hat and place it upside down on any flat surface, like a bed or desk. At this stage, the crown of the hat should be facing you.
Note: When laying your hat down, ensure it’s free of dents and wrinkles.
Step 2: Roll Your Clothes
Next up, grab some clothes and start folding or rolling them. You can use small items of clothing, like socks and scarves. You can also use larger things like shirts or a sweater if your hat is large enough.
Step 3: Stuff Your Hat
Now, to the most crucial step: start stuffing your rolled clothes into the crown of your hat. Repeat until your hat is fully packed and can no longer hold any more garments.
This ensures that the hat retains its form once removed from the bag.
Step 4: Pack Your Hat
Lastly, it’s time to pack your hat. Now, you may either place it crown-down or brim-down.
Placing your hat in either of the two ways depends on its form. For example, if you have a curved hat, it’s better to pack it crown-down.
Finally, pack your other clothes around the hat to protect it from excess weight.
Pro Tip: Packing a suitcase of your most used clothes will ensure you have things to wear as all your possessions are in transit. But also, suitcases are also great for packing other items too – like books.
Roll Your Hat
If you have a hat made of braided straw, you can simply roll it up and pack it in your suitcase. These types of hats are more pliable and are actually designed to be rolled up!
However, it might need to be reshaped once you pull it out of your suitcase.
Fold Your Hat
If you have a soft fabric hat, you can easily flatten it or fold it in your suitcase or moving box. Whether it’s a wide-brimmed sun hat or just a good old cotton bucket hat, soft fabric hats can be easily folded like a taco in just about any bag without having to worry.
Use a Clip
If you simply don’t want to risk damaging your beloved sun hat or any other valuable stiff hat you own, you can use a magnetic or binder clip. Not only does this ensure your hat arrives safe and sound at its destination, but it also saves you some room in your bag.
It’s very simple! All you have to do is clip your hat to your suitcase, backpack, or shoulder bag, and voila! Your hat is safely on its way to its new home!
How Not to Pack a Hat
Now that we know the different methods you can use to pack a hat, let’s go over two main pitfalls to avoid while packing your hat.
Mistake #1: Packing a Hat that’s too Stiff
Packing a hat that’s too rigid with absolutely zero flexibility is a big no-no. Very stiff straw hats, for example, aren’t meant to be rolled, flattened, or folded.
Sure, you can try the stuffing method, but if your hat’s too firm, this method is unlikely to work. Packing a hat that’s too stiff will probably cause it to crackle and break.
The best thing to do with these hats is to find a space in your car like between the back seats and back windshield.
Mistake #2: Packing a Hat with an Overly Wide Brim
There’s nothing wrong with packing a wide-brimmed hat. However, when your hat’s brim is wider than the actual box it’s going in, that’s a problem!
This is because you’ll have to bend or fold your hat’s brim to fit. Regardless of the hat’s material, bending the brim can cause significant damage.
Wrapping Up
There are many different ways to pack hats. However, the method you choose should depend on the material and size of your hat.
If your hat is more rigid, you can try the stuffing method or use a clip. If it’s more flexible, you can stuff, roll, or fold it!
If you found this article helpful, we have over a hundred different packing guides like how to pack your closet for a move and how to pack all those dress shirts you have. We’ve moved over a dozen times across 7 different states and share lots of tips we’ve picked up along the way!
