Travel notes

Packing a straw brim so it comes out wearable

A wide brim and a suitcase are natural enemies, and the fight is decided by the weave rather than by how carefully you pack.

Find out whether yours rolls

Soft paper braid and raffia bend along the braid line and spring back. A stiff woven crown with a shaped edge does not bend, it creases, and a crease in straw is permanent.

The listing tells you which one you have. Where a hat is meant to roll we say so, and on our shelves that is true of a good third of the warm-weather styles.

Rolling a soft brim

Take the brim in both hands, fold it in on itself towards the crown and roll the whole thing loosely into a tube. Loose is the word that matters. A tight roll is the same as a crease.

Put the roll near the top of your bag rather than under your shoes. Straw survives being bent for a day and does not survive being sat on.

Carrying a stiff one

A hat that will not roll travels on your head. That sounds like a joke and it is the honest answer. Wear it through the airport and you have solved the problem.

If it has to go in a bag, turn it upside down so it rests on the crown, fill the crown with socks so the sides cannot collapse inwards, and pack soft things around the brim without pressing on it.

Waking it up at the other end

Unroll it and smooth the edge outward with the flat of your hand, working around the brim. Most of the waviness walks out in a minute.

For a stubborn edge, hold it briefly over steam from a kettle and shape it while it is warm. Keep your hand well clear of the spout, and do not soak the straw.