We leave for Italy on June 23 and unless we buy him a new hat for Father's Day my husband will travel with his trusty 25 year old Pith Helmet. He has worn this on all of our many international travels to Asia, Central America and Europe.

He is very happy with this hat. He thinks it is quite functional. My now teenage girls think it is pretty goofy and I think it is a terrible travel hat as it obviously is not packable!

Going without a hat is not an option as he is fair and has thinning (almost top bald) hair.

So, what can he wear?? Does anyone have any good sources for dare I say "fashionable yet functional" head wear for men?

Hi karin,

>He has worn this on all of our many international travels to Asia, Central America and Europe. <

Why change now?

Ira, have you seen a pith helmet???

In Canada we have these hats called Tilley hats which are canvas, basically indestructable and, while not the cutting edge of fashion, not bad and certainly better for your husband than either a pith helmet or baseball cap. They pack and wash easily too. The website is www.tilley.com and seems to indicate access for Canadian, U.S. and British users. The hats are also guaranteed for life which, by the sounds of it, might be something your husband appreciates. He won't get the attention he would wearing the pith helmet, however! Good luck, I suspect Ira is on to something and it will take more than just the purchase of a new hat to change your husband's ways!

Tory

Ira-
Just to give him an option?? It really isn't the best travel hat and, I must admit, I have a bit of sympathy with the girls. They want him to "update".

Thanks for the info on Tilley hats! I checked out the site and I think there could be a winner among them. I forwarded the link to my husband and we'll have to see his response.
KarinW

Hi all,

Yes, I have seen pith helmets. I have one. I also have a deerstalker, a few tams, some Stetsons and assorted caps.

If the man looks cool in his pith helmet, why should he change?

As far as goofy goes, what could be wierder than what teenagers wear?

I have a Tilley hat, and it is certainly packable, but is not nearly as comfortable in warm climates as a pith helmet. What is the virtue of being packable anyway; when you bags are packed, you are on the move and would likely be wearing your sun protection.

Let him wear what he wants. Point out to your children that its his life (I'm sure they have used that argument on you) and that it makes him easy to find in a crowd.

Does he have any other bizare dress habits? My assumption is that he would also insist on wearing combat boots, hip canteen and a WWII desert uniform with the helmet.

Why don't you also wear a similiar get-up? Europeans are very impressed with a fashion-coordinated couple.

"get-ups"..are you kidding, Chat???? I've never seen anything more "unusual" than some of the stuff Europeans wear.
Get real...the children's "embarrassment" would be best expressed to their father as opposed to being reported here.

A Pith Helmet. He can't wear it on a plane. Do you actually admit that you are with him? LOL
Can you just be sure that he wears his hat facing forward!! Not backwards.
Thank you ever so much~

A baseball cap worn backwards will do just fine!

"Proud to be American" baseball cap is very popular all over Europe these days.

I recently bought my husband a packable Panama hat at travelsmith.com (or was it magellan.com?). The hat is very stylish and performs as advertised: it can be packed flat without any problem and looks fine afterwards. It's cool in both senses of the word, too.

I'm glad to see those cranky old europeans finally coming to thier senses. I bet they look real snappy in those baseball caps.