Acceptable Hat

[hoopman]

What is an acceptable hat for the heat in August in the Mediterranean? Baseball cap, golf hat or something else?

[BurBunny]

I recommend something along the lines of a Tilley hat - broad brimed, vented, so both cooling and keeps the sun off face and neck.

[happy trailer]

A baseball cap is OK, best if it has an extended bill. I get by with that most of the time, but I have long hair that covers my ears and neck.

 

But, even better is a lightweight hat that has a wide enough brim to also give your neck some coverage. All the better if it has some sort of sweatband running around the inside. (I believe a golf hat might fit that description.)

 

Both the bill of my baseball cap and the brim of my hat are lined in dark green- that really helps with sun reflection.

 

Be sure to cover all exposed skin with a good sunscreen, and to carry extra with you to reapply every hour or so. The summer Mediterranean sun can be brutal.

 

And- VERY important (I can't stress this enough!)- make sure you drink water all the time! Always have a bottle of water in your hand, and every 5 or 10 minutes take a sip- even if you aren't thirsty. Keeping hydrated is the only way to avoid dehydration.

 

Here in Israel, every one knows not to leave home without a bottle of water. We're also very sensitive to tourists we see who appear in distress, or on the verge of it, and will put a bottle of water in their hands and urge them to drink.

 

HTH, and have a great trip!

[hoopman]

A baseball cap is OK, best if it has an extended bill. I get by with that most of the time, but I have long hair that covers my ears and neck.

 

But, even better is a lightweight hat that has a wide enough brim to also give your neck some coverage. All the better if it has some sort of sweatband running around the inside. (I believe a golf hat might fit that description.)

 

Both the bill of my baseball cap and the brim of my hat are lined in dark green- that really helps with sun reflection.

 

Be sure to cover all exposed skin with a good sunscreen, and to carry extra with you to reapply every hour or so. The summer Mediterranean sun can be brutal.

 

And- VERY important (I can't stress this enough!)- make sure you drink water all the time! Always have a bottle of water in your hand, and every 5 or 10 minutes take a sip- even if you aren't thirsty. Keeping hydrated is the only way to avoid dehydration.

 

Here in Israel, every one knows not to leave home without a bottle of water. We're also very sensitive to tourists we see who appear in distress, or on the verge of it, and will put a bottle of water in their hands and urge them to drink.

 

HTH, and have a great trip!

Great tips, I have several caps that should work as long as I am not perceived as the ugly American.

[texancruzer]

While on our last trip ( just 2 months ago) we purchased a really cool Panama hat for dh in Mykonos. White with black band.

 

What was REALLY nice was I could pick him out of any crowd (there was a BIG crowd on the Acropolis !!) very easily. He got lots of compliments on it too. :D

[CintiPam]

A baseball cap is perfectly acceptable, and is all my spouse will wear abroad, but many prefer more coverage in the strong, Mediterranean sun.

[LovesSicily]

Yes to the baseball hat. My husband wore a cotton light khaki colored baseball hat (non-logo) through Egypt and Israel. My preference is a wide brimmed packable sunhat.

[hoopman]

I will bring 2 baseball caps to alternate and I should be fine.