After two study tours of Israel, I’ve learned a few things about what to pack when I go there that you may find helpful.
Item #1- Wide Brimmed Hat
Both times I’ve been to Israel it’s been in the spring, but no matter when you go, the sun is always a factor. The first year I found a hat at TJMaxx for a steal. It sufficed, but when I got my photos back from the trip, I had quite a surprise. That’s when I realized that I looked like I’d stolen the hat from the closet of Napoleon Bonaparte.
My Tilley Airflo hat after it's first wash.
Call me vain, but I don’t like the idea that I’ll be looking back at my Holy Land photos for the next 20 years and thinking, “My, oh, my… there’s that Napoleon chapeau again.” (chapeau=hat in French, one of the few words I remember from high school French class) I decided to invest in a good Tilley brand “Airflo” hat this year. I’m so glad I did.
The point of a Biblical study tour in the Holy Land is not to make a fashion statement. In fact, we hiked about 5 miles a day and I looked like I’d been working out in the yard most of the time. Nevertheless, a sturdy, comfortable hat is a must… and did I say wide-brimmed?
Tilley’s are more expensive than many other brands, but they’re well worth their cost since they are cool, washable, and pack well. If they ever wear out, the company will replace it for free!!! The hat I bought has an under chin tie, a really handy feature on windy days in the Mideast (and of which there were several).
