The best packable sun hat solves three problems at once:
- certified UV protection,
- a silhouette elegant enough to dress up,
- and a construction that survives a suitcase.Â
The Georgia fedora delivers all three, a color-blocked straw fedora in patented SquisheeŽ that packs flat, blocks 98% of UVA/UVB, and springs back to shape on arrival.
It sits within a larger family of straw hats for women built on the same principle: elegance with gentility, married to function.
This review covers what the Georgia is made of, how it performs in real travel, verified alternatives at other price points, and one wearer's season with it.
The Georgia Fedora: A Packable Sun Hat in Detail
The Georgia is a traditional fedora silhouette, indented crown, 3.75-inch medium brim, rendered in SquisheeÂŽ, a patented man-made fiber that resembles fine raffia while incorporating recycled materials. The color-blocked spectator design, finished with crisp white edges and a discreet logo rivet at the back of the crown, gives a classic shape a distinctly modern face.
The material is the point.
Developed after a year of experimentation in the mid-1990s, SquisheeÂŽ was created to solve exactly the problem this review is about: natural straw is fragile, splinters, and rarely survives travel.
SquisheeÂŽ is lighter and more durable than natural raffia, won't crack from wear or melt when wet, and recovers its shape after being packed upside down in a suitcase.
The full background:Â what is Squishee material.
Four decades of millinery expertise stand behind the design, the same body of work featured among sustainable straw hat brands for its recycled-fiber construction.
Top Benefits of the Georgia Packable Sun Hat
1. Certified Sun Protection
The Georgia carries a UPF 50+ rating, blocking 98% of UVA/UVB rays, the highest rating awarded under the AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists) testing standard.Â
The 3.75-inch brim shades the face and neck through long outdoor days, exceeding the 3-inch minimum the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends for meaningful coverage.
2. Truly Packable Design
Place it upside down in a suitcase, fill the crown with hosiery or soft clothing, and it arrives intact. No hat box, no hand-carrying through airports.
The technique and how it differs for structured hats, is covered in this guide to packing and caring for designer hats.
3. Sustainable and Durable
SquisheeÂŽ incorporates recycled fibers and outlasts natural raffia through repeated wear and packing cycles. Durability is its own form of sustainability: a hat that holds its shape for years replaces several that don't.
4. Versatile Style
The spectator color-blocking, offered in Red Mix, Black Mix, and Blue Mix, among seasonal colorways, moves from beach morning to garden party without changing register.
It reads as considered rather than casual, which is precisely what most sun hats fail at.
5. Comfortable All-Day Wear
An elasticized inner band fits most head sizes securely without pinching, and the lightweight weave stays cool through the hottest hours. A sun hat only protects when it is actually worn, comfort is what makes that happen.
Best Features at a Glance
| Feature | Detail | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| SquisheeÂŽ construction | Patented fiber, recycled content | Packs flat, springs back, water-resistant |
| UPF 50+ rating | Blocks 98% of UVA/UVB (AATCC-tested) | Certified protection, not a marketing claim |
| 3.75" brim | Medium coverage | Shade for face and neck without bulk |
| Color-blocked design | White-edged spectator combinations | Modern signature on a classic silhouette |
| Elasticized inner band | Fits most head sizes | Secure, comfortable all-day wear |
| No special care | Wear, pack, reshape | None of the upkeep natural straw demands |
Pricing
The Georgia retails at $385, a considered investment for a hat, and a reasonable one measured per season. A certified UPF 50+ piece that survives years of travel replaces the cycle of inexpensive straw hats that lose shape after one summer and protect far less along the way.
The value is in what does not need replacing.
Georgia Fedora Alternatives
For a different brim, budget, or silhouette within the same material family:
-
Sea La Vie Wide-Brim Fedora: $325. For more coverage than the Georgia's 3.75 inches, the Sea La Vie extends the brim to a full 5 inches with the same UPF 50+ SquisheeÂŽ construction, the pick for beach-heavy itineraries.
-
SquisheeÂŽ Instinct. A cleaner, unbanded fedora line in Natural/Black, Peanut, and Cream combinations, the SquisheeÂŽ Instinct delivers the same packable technology in a quieter aesthetic at a friendlier price point.
-
SquisheeÂŽ Slide Peanut. The SquisheeÂŽ Slide Peanut offers a contemporary alternative silhouette with identical UPF 50+ protection and packability.
- Traditional raffia fedoras ($50â150). The budget route exists, with the trade-offs this review began with: natural raffia typically loses shape in transit, offers no certified UPF rating, and rarely lasts past a season. Why that happens and which constructions avoid it, is covered in this guide to packable hats that lose their shape.
The full range of travel-ready silhouettes lives in the packable sun hats collection.
A Season with the Georgia: Wearer Review
Review by Caterina Boboc
@mestylingyou
I am a hat lover, and some of my all time favorites are from Eric Javits.Â
Not only that they are stylish, well-made and incredibly versatile, but the designer went above and beyond adding SPF and that is what attracts me to them time and time again.
One of my absolute favorite is the Georgia hat - fashionable, packable and it provides unparalleled sun protection.
The Squishee straw is a sustainable man-made packable material that incorporates recycled fibers. I know that I can continue to look stylish all summer long while making sure that I stay protected from the sun, that is such a win.
I wear them at home from casual to dressy summer occasions, I take them on vacations with me as their hats are packable and easy to travel with without taking too much space and having you worry about if they are going to make it to the destination the same way.
If I could, I would have all of these designs as each, and everyone is so unique, beautifully made, and in stunning colors.Â
If you have yet to try his hats, I suggest you no longer wait as you will become and instant fan. They are true investments that you will have for years to come.
Worth every penny!
Give yourself the opportunity to fall in love with stylish yet functional hearts, that exudes, timeless, elegance, and showcase, exquisite craftsmanship!
I am and will forever be an EJ fan!
Now is your time to become one - whichever style you select, you will love it!
Of that I am sure!
Summary: Is the Georgia the Right Packable Sun Hat?
For travelers who refuse to choose between skin protection and style, yes, the Georgia is the clearest answer in its category. It combines four decades of millinery expertise with a material engineered specifically for the suitcase: UPF 50+ certified, 98% UV blocked, packed flat and recovered without damage.
If your itineraries lean toward full beach days, the wider-brimmed Sea La Vie is the stronger pick; for a quieter aesthetic at a lower price, the Instinct line covers it.
For everything in between, city summers, garden occasions, and every trip with a carry-on, the Georgia earns its place as the packable sun hat to build a warm-weather wardrobe around.
FAQs: Packable Sun Hat
Can the Georgia fedora really be packed in a suitcase without damage?
Yes. The SquisheeÂŽ material is designed for packing: place the hat upside down in your suitcase, fill the crown with hosiery or soft clothing, and support the brim with surrounding items. It won't crack or lose its shape.
How effective is the sun protection on this packable sun hat?
The Georgia is independently tested to the highest UPF 50+ rating under the AATCC standard, blocking 98% of UVA/UVB rays, more protection than most clothing provides, and it doesn't wear off the way sunscreen does.
Will the Georgia fedora fit my head size?
The elasticized inner band fits most head sizes comfortably, holding the hat securely without pinching while preserving the silhouette.
Is the SquisheeÂŽ material waterproof or water-resistant?
Highly water-resistant. It won't melt or lose shape when wet, so splashes, light rain, and beach spray leave no damage, something traditional straw cannot claim. It is not intended for heavy rain.
How do I care for a Georgia fedora hat?
No special care is required. Pack it as directed when traveling, reshape gently if needed on arrival, and the material maintains its appearance without any upkeep routine, the rare packable sun hat that asks nothing in return.
