Travel Gear Review: A Crushable Travel Hat That Really Fits
I have a long and complicated relationship with the sun.
I'm habitually cold, so I'm naturally drawn to its warmth. But my pale skin must hide from it, otherwise I'm in for another painful sunburn.
Hats have become a necessary travel accessory, but my head causes one teensy little problem — it's about the size of a grape. Hats typically don't fit me.
When I shop for them, I head straight to the children's section and hope that the selection won't be too glittery or cheap. Because, yes, the hat must be functional and fashionable!
So, when Tenth Street Hats offered me a chance to find my dream hat in exchange for an honest review, I was excited to check out the company's lineup of fashionable styles and colors.
I started browsing the expansive website and immediately found several that looked great. But needing a hat that could travel well, I decided to choose a hat from their "Crushable" category, knowing that would be the most practical.
Even after narrowing my choices to only the crushable hats from the hundreds they sell, I still had numerous material options to choose from — felt, wool, polyester, raffia — and in multiple styles including beret, rain hats, fedora, safari and more. I chose the hand-crafted "one size fits all" straw Levanzo hat by Scala. It has an adventurous look with its leather chin cord, but it is also feminine with a wide brim.
Once it arrived, I immediately tried it on. Lo and behold, it was too big on me, which I expected. Of course!
However, with every order, Tenth Street Hats includes a two-pack of sizing tape to fix this very situation. I used both pieces and the hat finally was snug enough to stay put. Next, I wanted to test the crushability factor, something I wasn't sure would work.
I've had straw hats before, and they did not bounce back when folded. Actually, they were ruined the moment they were tugged the wrong way. So, when I carefully folded the hat down, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was about the size of a shirt in my suitcase. Letting it go, it instantly went back to its original size and looked as good as new.
I deemed it ready for my next trip — a cruise along the Sea of Cortez in Mexico. Knowing there would be days of strolling the ship's decks, spending hours at the beach, and taking walking tours through the towns and villages, this trip would test the Levanzo's durability, crushability and its sun protection.
I loved that it would be pretty darn cute, too.
In preparation for my trip, I read the Tenth Street Hats FAQ page to know how to care for my hat. I found the "How To Wear Your Hat" section extremely helpful as I had never worn a large brim hat before (shoutout to the Halo Style!). The website also gives tips on how to measure your head, what size to choose and fitting tips.
When it came time to pack, I folded the Levanzo twice and tucked it into the mesh pocket in the lid of my carry-on suitcase. I then took two flights, a shuttle bus ride and a tender boat trip before I was able to unpack the hat again. After 14 hours of travel, the hat needed a little time to adjust to its proper shape, but it snapped back as if it had never been folded at all. That's when I knew this hat was a keeper.
When I needed both hands to take pictures at the windy beachfront, I simply tightened the leather cord to my chin and the hat stay put even in strong wind gusts. And if you don't want the cord to hang down at all, just tuck it up inside the hat.
The Levanzo is a beautifully tailored and practical addition to my travel hat collection. Interested in adding a new hat to yours? You can check out the full lineup of Tenth Street travel hats to find some styles that suit you and your travel needs.
The company also offers a 30-day, hassle-free return or exchange policy as well as a one-year, craftsmanship guarantee on all hats. Which means they'll replace your damaged hat for free within the first 12 months.
Now, if that's not hat happiness security, I don't know what is.
Thanks for reading and remember to always travel happy!
Kelly