For years, I considered myself not a hat person, until I discovered the transformative power of a wide-brimmed Eric Javits hat. Suddenly, hats became an essential part of my travel style. I envisioned myself wearing it on every vacation, adding a touch of elegance and sun protection. However, my excitement quickly turned to slight disappointment when I realized even rollable hats weren’t immune to packing mishaps. They often emerged from luggage looking less than perfect, creased and misshapen. Investing in a beautiful, and often expensive, hat meant I needed to find a way to protect it during my travels.
That’s when I realized the crucial item missing from my travel gear: a Travel Box For Hats. These ingenious accessories are specifically designed to safeguard your hats, preventing crushed crowns, bent brims, and ensuring they arrive at your destination in pristine condition. Whether you are a fan of baseball caps, elegant fedoras, or wide-brim sun hats, there is a travel hat box tailored to your needs.
To help you find the perfect solution for your precious headwear, we’ve explored the best travel-friendly hat boxes available. We focused on options that offer superior protection, convenient features like carrying straps and spacious interiors, and of course, stylish designs to complement your travel aesthetic.
Our Top Picks for Travel Hat Boxes
- Best Overall: Brixton Fedora Travel Case at Villagehatshop.com
- Best Hardside: Mark & Graham Montauk Raffia Hat Box at Markandgraham.com
- Best Softside: Samplife Hat Box at Amazon
- Best Style: Steamline The Illustrator Hatbox Deluxe at Steamlineluggage.com
- Best Leather: Freya Leather Travel Hat Box at Thefreyabrand.com
- Best Expandable: Bagsbee Dynamic Hat Box at Amazon
- Best for Multiple Hats: Kushon Oversized Hat Storage Box at Amazon
- Best Compact: Atzi Hats Fedora Carrier at Amazon
- Best for Wide-brim Hats: Calpak Large Hat Box at Calpaktravel.com
- Best for Baseball Caps: New Era Cap Carrier at Amazon
Best Overall
Brixton Fedora Travel Case
Why We Love It: The Brixton Fedora Travel Case offers a sophisticated design, robust protection, and a reasonable price point compared to similar high-quality options.
What to Consider: It’s designed as “one size fits most,” which means hats with brims exceeding 4.38 inches might not fit comfortably.
The Brixton Fedora Travel Case stands out as a top choice for discerning travelers. Like other premium hardside hat boxes, it’s built to be sturdy and long-lasting, ensuring your hats remain protected throughout your journey. However, it’s the combination of smart features and a more accessible price that makes it our “Best Overall” pick. Many comparable hardside cases can easily cost between $200 and $500, making the Brixton a more budget-friendly yet equally stylish and functional alternative.
Beyond its protective hard shell, this travel case offers practical features that enhance its usability. It includes both a top handle for easy carrying and a removable, adjustable shoulder strap. The shoulder strap is thoughtfully designed to be slightly wider than average, distributing weight more evenly and reducing shoulder strain when carrying heavier hats.
The interior is lined with a luxurious print satin and features a large cinched pocket alongside a smaller zippered pocket. This adds significant functionality, allowing you to store not just hats but also other small travel accessories. Another thoughtful detail is the inclusion of small feet on the base of the case. These feet allow the case to stand upright, keeping it off potentially dirty floors and maintaining its pristine appearance. Speaking of appearance, the herringbone design is available in both cream and charcoal gray, offering elegant color choices that ensure your hat box looks as stylish as the hats it carries.
The Details: 16.25 x 15.5 x 7 inches | Material: Ethylene vinyl acetate | Capacity: Up to two hats
Best Hardside
Mark & Graham Montauk Raffia Hat Box
Why We Love It: Mark & Graham’s signature personalization service lets you add a unique monogram for a small extra charge, making this hat box truly your own.
What to Consider: Despite its generous dimensions, this hat box is designed to hold only one large hat.
Inspired by the chic Hamptons lifestyle, the Mark & Graham Montauk Raffia Hat Box exudes beachy elegance. This hardside hat box is a statement piece you’d be proud to carry, whether boarding a yacht or heading for a glamorous day by the sea.
The exterior is crafted from boho-chic woven raffia, accented with bright white leather details and polished gold hardware. The zippered case opens to reveal a polyester twill lining, complete with two interior pockets perfect for stowing away small accessories. Carry options include a top handle and a detachable shoulder strap, offering versatility for different travel situations. A standout feature is Mark & Graham’s personalization service, allowing you to add a foil-debossed monogram for a personal touch that most other hat box brands don’t offer.
The Details: 18 x 16.5 x 6 inches | Material: Woven raffia, polyester, polyurethane leather | Capacity: Up to one hat
Best Softside
Samplife Hat Box
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Why We Love It: The Samplife Hat Box is versatile enough to accommodate a variety of hat styles, from floppy sun hats to structured fedoras and casual baseball caps.
What to Consider: The felt fabric might be prone to wrinkling when folded or stored for extended periods.
The Samplife Hat Box offers a practical and affordable softside solution for hat travel and storage. Constructed from sturdy yet flexible felt, this carrying case features a clear side panel. This see-through window is incredibly useful when you’re storing multiple hats, allowing you to quickly identify the contents without unpacking. Depending on their size and style, you can easily fit several hats inside. The box is equipped with both top and side carrying handles, secure zippers, and interior bottom straps to keep your hats in place.
When fully expanded, the case stands just over 10 inches tall, providing ample space for your headwear. However, when not in use, it collapses down to a mere 1.2 inches in height, making it easy to store flat and saving valuable space. While the felt material might crease if folded tightly, wrinkles can be easily removed with a quick ironing.
The Details: Dimensions: 16.5 x 16.5 x 10.5 inches | Weight: 1 pound | Material: Felt | Capacity: Up to five hats (size dependent)
Best Style
Steamline The Illustrator Hatbox Deluxe
Why We Love It: This hat box is not just functional; it’s a stunning accessory in itself, boasting a stylish design and even space to store sunglasses.
What to Consider: The Steamline Illustrator Hatbox Deluxe is among the pricier options on our list, reflecting its luxury design and materials.
Evoking the golden age of travel, the Steamline The Illustrator Hatbox Deluxe captures the iconic elegance of classic steamer trunks. These trunks were once the preferred luggage of sophisticated travelers who embraced dressing up even for air travel.
While dressing formally for flights might be a thing of the past, this hat box revives that sense of timeless style and nostalgia. The Illustrator model is particularly captivating, featuring a Japanese pasco fiberboard exterior wrapped in a distinctive artist-designed print lining and finished with elegant cream trim.
Functionality is not sacrificed for style. The hat box includes removable top-grain leather shoulder straps, a comfortable carry handle, secure precision clasps, and a suitcase attachment strap for seamless travel. This hat box is more than just luggage; it’s a piece designed to become a cherished heirloom.
The Details: Dimensions: 17.75 x 16.5 x 6.75 inches | Material: Leather and Japanese pasco fiberboard | Capacity: Up to three hats
Best Leather
Freya Leather Travel Hat Box
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Why We Love It: This luxurious leather hat box offers an impressive array of carrying options: shoulder strap, crossbody strap, grab handle, and even a luggage trolley sleeve.
What to Consider: The Freya Leather Travel Hat Box has a more limited capacity, fitting only up to two hats.
The Freya Leather Travel Hat Box is an investment in luxury and protection. Crafted from supple pebbled leather in a rich brown shade, this vintage-inspired hat box is as beautiful as it is functional. Its size is generous enough to accommodate up to two large hats, and potentially more depending on the specific hat sizes.
Despite its luxurious feel, this hat box is designed for practical travel. It’s TSA-approved for carry-on, allowing you to keep your precious hats with you in the cabin and avoid the risk of damage from checked baggage. The versatility extends to its carrying options, which include a wristlet strap, a detachable crossbody strap, and a trolley sleeve to securely attach it to your rolling suitcase handle.
The Details: Dimensions: 16.9 x 18.5 x 7 inches | Material: Leather | Capacity: Up to two hats
Best Expandable
Bagsbee Dynamic Hat Box
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Why We Love It: The Bagsbee Dynamic Hat Box is expandable and includes unique removable stabilizing rods, features not commonly found in other travel hat boxes.
What to Consider: While equipped with two handles, this hat box does not include a shoulder carrying strap.
The Bagsbee Dynamic Hat Box is designed for adaptable hat protection. It features interior stabilizing rods that maintain the box’s shape when upright, providing reliable protection for your hats, even during bumpy travel. It’s spacious enough to fit large hats with brims up to 16 inches wide and includes leather handles, durable zippers, a strap to secure it to a rolling suitcase handle, and interior elastic straps to keep hats in place.
Constructed from durable, moisture-wicking polyester, the case is built to withstand travel wear and tear. The unique expandable feature allows you to remove the stabilizing rods and collapse the case to a smaller size or even completely flat for convenient storage when not in use.
The Details: Dimensions: 16 x 16 x 8 inches | Weight: 1.3 pounds | Material: Polyester blend | Capacity: Up to four hats
Best for Multiple Hats
Kushon Oversized Hat Storage Box
Why We Love It: With an impressive capacity to hold up to 15 hats, the Kushon Oversized Hat Storage Box is ideal for both travel and long-term hat storage needs.
What to Consider: Similar to other felt cases, the Kushon Hat Storage Box might be susceptible to wrinkling and may require ironing to remove creases.
For hat enthusiasts with extensive collections, the Kushon Oversized Hat Storage Box is the perfect solution. Whether you’re packing a variety of hat styles – floppy hats, cowboy hats, top hats, wool hats, baseball caps, wide-brim hats – this spacious box can accommodate them all, and more. It boasts a remarkable capacity of up to 15 hats within its roomy interior.
The thick and sturdy felt exterior provides good protection, while a clear, tall side panel allows you to easily see the contents. It features a detachable and adjustable shoulder strap, along with three carry handles (two on the sides and one on top) for convenient transport. The bucket-style size is so generous that it can be repurposed for storing a wide range of items beyond hats, from towels and blankets to stuffed animals and clothing, or even used as a laundry hamper.
The Details: Dimensions: 19 x 19 x 17 inches | Weight: 1.39 pounds | Material: Felt | Capacity: Up to 15 hats
Best Compact
Atzi Hats Fedora Carrier
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Why We Love It: The Atzi Hats Fedora Carrier is lightweight and slim, thanks to its EVA foam construction and discreet zippers.
What to Consider: While it fits many hat styles, hats with brims wider than three inches, such as extra-large sun hats, may not fit inside.
The Atzi Hats Fedora Carrier is designed for travelers who value both protection and portability. This slim case is constructed from 100-percent crush-proof EVA-spandex foam. Despite its lean profile, it can hold up to three regular hats or two standard-size fedoras, or any hats with brims less than 3 inches wide. It’s versatile enough to accommodate bowler hats, straw hats, Panama hats, boater hats, and more.
This carrier is packed with features. It’s lightweight, waterproof, scratch-resistant, and features hidden zipper seams for a sleek look. It includes two carrying straps, an insert to prevent hats from shifting during travel, a plush interior lining, multiple trim color options, and four different carrying methods. It’s even designed to fit inside most large suitcases and has an elastic strap to attach it to a luggage handle.
The Details: Dimensions: 15 x 13 x 6.5 inches | Material: EVA foam | Capacity: Up to three hats
Best for Wide-brim Hats
Calpak Large Hat Box
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Why We Love It: The Calpak Large Hat Box is exceptionally spacious and can accommodate hats with diameters up to 18.5 inches.
What to Consider: Due to its size designed for large hats, this box may be somewhat bulky to carry around for extended periods.
The Calpak Large Hat Box is the ideal solution for protecting oversized hats, especially wide-brim styles. For anyone who, like myself, has struggled to travel with floppy sun hats, this box is a game-changer. It’s stylish, sleek, and generously sized to fit hats up to 18.5 inches in diameter, including sun hats, wide-brim fedoras, and Panama hats.
The water-resistant exterior is both practical and stylish, featuring a subtle texture for a touch of sophistication. It’s available in neutral colors like almond (light brown), espresso (dark brown), and black, making it elegant enough to double as a regular piece of luggage for short trips. A removable shoulder strap adds to its versatility.
The Details: Dimensions: 19 x 20 x 8.5 inches | Weight: 6.7 pounds | Material: Polycarbonate | Capacity: One large hat
Best for Baseball Caps
New Era Cap Carrier
Why We Love It: The New Era Cap Carrier offers excellent value, capable of holding multiple caps at an affordable price.
What to Consider: This carrier is designed for standard-size baseball caps; larger or extended sizes may not fit comfortably.
For baseball cap enthusiasts, the New Era Cap Carrier is a must-have. This practical carrier allows you to pack up to six baseball caps without worrying about damaging their perfectly shaped flat brims. The bag itself is made from soft yet durable EVA foam and features robust zippers. Ventilation holes are included to prevent moisture and odor buildup inside.
The compact size of the carrier makes it easy to fit inside your suitcase or carry-on luggage. A top handle provides convenient grab-and-go portability, and can also be used to hang the carrier in your hotel room or closet at home.
The Details: Dimensions: 9.45 x 5.51 x 11.81 inches | Material: EVA foam | Capacity: Up to six hats
Tips for Buying Travel Hat Boxes
Determine the Best Size and Shape
When selecting a travel box for hats, your first step should be to assess your hat collection. Consider the types of hats you own, their sizes, the number you typically travel with, and their shapes. Choosing a hat box that properly accommodates your specific hats is crucial for optimal protection.
Think about how many hats you usually pack and look for a case with sufficient capacity. Most importantly, measure your largest and widest brimmed hats before purchasing a hat box to ensure they will fit comfortably inside.
Also, consider your preferred travel style. Do you plan to pack the hat box inside your checked luggage, or carry it on board? If you prefer to carry it on, look for options with an adjustable or removable shoulder strap, in addition to top handles, for flexible carrying options. These considerations will guide you to the most suitable travel hat box for your needs.
Choose the Proper Material
The material of your hat box plays a significant role in protecting your hats. For delicate hats like fedoras with structured crowns or baseball caps with perfectly flat brims, a hardside case is recommended. Hardside cases offer rigid protection against crushing and impacts, maintaining the hat’s shape. Softer, more flexible hats, such as floppy hats, might be adequately protected in a softside case. Softside cases often offer the added benefit of being more easily repurposed for general storage when not traveling.
However, keep in mind that hardside cases tend to be heavier than softside options. Larger hardside cases may also need to be checked as luggage due to airline size restrictions.
For particularly delicate or valuable hats, consider features like interior padding and water resistance. These extra layers of protection will further safeguard your headwear from potential damage during travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How many hats can I realistically fit into one hat box?
While some hat boxes advertise capacities ranging from five to fifteen hats, the actual number you can comfortably fit will depend on the size and bulkiness of your hats, and how well they can be stacked. Oversized or awkwardly shaped hats may reduce the advertised capacity.
To ensure a good fit, always measure your hats before buying a hat box and compare those measurements to the box’s interior dimensions. Look for retailers with flexible return policies, allowing you to test the fit at home with your hat collection.
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Are hat boxes considered a personal item on flights?
Whether a hat box qualifies as a personal item depends on the specific airline and its size restrictions for carry-on luggage. Like any carry-on or personal item, a hat box must adhere to the airline’s dimensional guidelines to be considered a personal item, typically fitting under the seat in front of you.
Hat boxes designed for larger, wide-brim hats may exceed personal item dimensions. In such cases, airlines may require you to store the hat box in the overhead compartment as a carry-on item or check it with your baggage. It’s always best to check the specific airline’s cabin luggage policies and the dimensions of your hat box before traveling to avoid any unexpected gate-side surprises.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Travel + Leisure contributor Emily Hochberg is a seasoned travel and lifestyle writer and editor. As a frequent traveler with her family, she has extensive experience packing for all types of trips, including the essential task of hat packing. Emily also regularly tests and reviews luggage and travel gear. For this article, she conducted thorough research on numerous travel hat boxes and cases to identify the best options for traveling with all kinds of hats.
Edited by Jasmine Grant, a Senior Editor at Travel + Leisure specializing in luggage and travel accessories with over a decade of experience in lifestyle and travel media.
Updated by Asia London Palomba, a trilingual Italian writer from Rome-based in Boston, focusing on food, travel, and history.
