I have a few stipulations when traveling, and going through the airport hands-free is one of them. I hate having a loose jacket, hat, or sweater that I’m responsible for keeping track of throughout the day. While I can get away with layering up before a flight, finding the best approach to pack a weather-appropriate hat for a beach vacation (besides just wearing it on the flight) is especially difficult. 

Rather than shoving the much-needed accessory into my luggage and risk having it lose its shape completely, I decided to hunt for a packing-friendly option like the Shade & Shore Straw Visor Hat at Target for my upcoming vacation to Mexico. This hat, which comes in three neutral colors, including tan, white, and black, unclasps in the back and rolls up to be compact and a travel-friendly option for your limited suitcase space. Right now, it’s on sale for just $8, making it a summer must-have for anyone spending time outside. 

Shade & Shore Straw Visor Hat

When collapsed, the hat transforms into a small tube that can be packed in a checked or carry-on bag without risk of flattening, and the added elastic keeps it from unraveling in your luggage. On top of its convenient (and genius) design, the hat also holds up against the heat. It has a 4.75-inch brim that one shopper said “provides so much coverage” and a UPF 50+ rating to protect your scalp and skin. While it’s a great item to bring along on a vacation as I plan to do, it will also be useful around the house when you go on walks, garden, or relax outside this summer. 

Shoppers agree, with one customer saying that the hat “packs easily” and is a “must [for] hot vacations.” Another customer said it’s “perfect for the upcoming pool and beach season,” adding that it’s “easy to pack for vacations and doesn’t take up a lot of space.” Considering I have multiple trips to the beach and tropical vacations planned this summer, this packable sun hat will be the first thing I throw in my luggage.  

This hat is currently 20 percent off in all three colors, so I may even grab multiples. To shop for more discounted, travel-friendly hats from Shade & Shore at Target, keep scrolling. 

Shade & Shore Packable Straw Floppy Hat

Shade & Shore Packable Straw Panama Hat

Shade & Shore Packable Paper Straw Floppy Hat