Headgear
Headgear seems like a trivial item, but on a sunny day it can make all the difference in your Hiking experience.
Here's the type of headgear that we like for Hiking and why we like it:
- Hat
- Bandana
- Neck Gaiter
- Note: click on any photo to enlarge it
Hat
Miscellaneous Hats - as long as it has a bill
One of the items that many people decide not to take when hiking is a hat. There are always a variety of reasons for this: “the weather is not supposed to be sunny”; “we won’t be out for long”; “we will be hiking under the trees – in the shade”. Unfortunately, once you are out in the sun (or rain) and need a hat it’s too late to change your decision. Hats don’t weigh much. So always take one. Put it in your day pack if you don’t want to wear it. But take it. More times than not you’ll be glad that you did. The criteria that we use to evaluate hats are: 1) amount of coverage of your face and 2) ventilation. We always take a hat that provides good coverage of our face down to the nose. On warm days we take hats that have material that allows the air to flow through for coolness. On cold days we take hats that block the air flow. You can buy all sorts of hats at Amazon or your local mall.
One of the items that many people decide not to take when hiking is a hat. There are always a variety of reasons for this: “the weather is not supposed to be sunny”; “we won’t be out for long”; “we will be hiking under the trees – in the shade”. Unfortunately, once you are out in the sun (or rain) and need a hat it’s too late to change your decision. Hats don’t weigh much. So always take one. Put it in your day pack if you don’t want to wear it. But take it. More times than not you’ll be glad that you did. The criteria that we use to evaluate hats are: 1) amount of coverage of your face and 2) ventilation. We always take a hat that provides good coverage of our face down to the nose. On warm days we take hats that have material that allows the air to flow through for coolness. On cold days we take hats that block the air flow. You can buy all sorts of hats at Amazon or your local mall.
Bandana
Miscellaneous Bandanas - Cotton and at least 22" x 22" in size
A bandana is an odd little item that has more uses than you can count. I always take one to put around my neck in case it gets too sunny, or in case I need to wipe the sweat from my eyes while hiking. Since bandanas weigh very little, but have lots of uses (carrying items, dust mask, towel, First Aid, etc.,) carrying one in your daypack is a no-brainer. The criteria that we use to evaluate bandanas are: 1) size, 2) softness and 3) water absorbency. We have found that to be useful a bandana needs to be at least 22” x 22”. For comfort and water absorbency we prefer cotton. Here are a couple of great articles on the many uses for a bandana: 60 Uses for a Bandana for Survival Purposes (by Survival Cache) and 80 Bandana Uses That Will Blow Your Mind (by Survival Sullivan). You can buy all sorts of bandanas at Amazon or your local mall – just make sure that you get one that is at least 22 inches square.
A bandana is an odd little item that has more uses than you can count. I always take one to put around my neck in case it gets too sunny, or in case I need to wipe the sweat from my eyes while hiking. Since bandanas weigh very little, but have lots of uses (carrying items, dust mask, towel, First Aid, etc.,) carrying one in your daypack is a no-brainer. The criteria that we use to evaluate bandanas are: 1) size, 2) softness and 3) water absorbency. We have found that to be useful a bandana needs to be at least 22” x 22”. For comfort and water absorbency we prefer cotton. Here are a couple of great articles on the many uses for a bandana: 60 Uses for a Bandana for Survival Purposes (by Survival Cache) and 80 Bandana Uses That Will Blow Your Mind (by Survival Sullivan). You can buy all sorts of bandanas at Amazon or your local mall – just make sure that you get one that is at least 22 inches square.
Neck Gaiter
Miscellaneous Neck Gaiters – as long as it is a “tube”
We’ve all been there, out in the wind, the dust, the sun, the cold, the bugs and the glare off the water. And we all know that you really need to protect your face and your respiratory system from the elements. So, we’ve always been big advocates of bandanas, shemaghs and reusable N95 masks to make sure that you are protected from the sun and wind, and can breathe in whatever conditions Nature throws at you. Over the past couple of years we’ve also become an advocate for neck gaiters – especially in windy conditions – and with the COVID-19 craziness the number of neck gaiters on the market exploded. Given the number of new products on the market, in all sizes, colors, patterns and materials (e.g. polyester, spandex, microfiber, merino wool, fleece, synthetic, etc.,) we replaced all of our old neck gaiters with new ones. The criteria that we use to evaluate neck gaiters are: 1) breathability of the material – since if you can’t breathe through the material the gaiter is worthless, 2) amount of coverage from neck to face – we recommend at least 18” – but this can vary depending on the length of your neck and size of your head, 3) tightness of fit – the gaiter needs to stay up when pulled over your mouth and nose – but shouldn’t cut into your skin, and 4) washability. If you want more details about neck gaiters – here are a couple of great articles discussing their uses, versatility and evaluation considerations for different environments: The Ultimate Neck Gaiter Guide (by Broamer) and Neck Gaiters: A Noteworthy Face Covering (by MCR Safety). You can buy all sorts of neck gaiters at Amazon or your local mall – just make sure that you get one that is a tube of fabric at least 18” tall.
We’ve all been there, out in the wind, the dust, the sun, the cold, the bugs and the glare off the water. And we all know that you really need to protect your face and your respiratory system from the elements. So, we’ve always been big advocates of bandanas, shemaghs and reusable N95 masks to make sure that you are protected from the sun and wind, and can breathe in whatever conditions Nature throws at you. Over the past couple of years we’ve also become an advocate for neck gaiters – especially in windy conditions – and with the COVID-19 craziness the number of neck gaiters on the market exploded. Given the number of new products on the market, in all sizes, colors, patterns and materials (e.g. polyester, spandex, microfiber, merino wool, fleece, synthetic, etc.,) we replaced all of our old neck gaiters with new ones. The criteria that we use to evaluate neck gaiters are: 1) breathability of the material – since if you can’t breathe through the material the gaiter is worthless, 2) amount of coverage from neck to face – we recommend at least 18” – but this can vary depending on the length of your neck and size of your head, 3) tightness of fit – the gaiter needs to stay up when pulled over your mouth and nose – but shouldn’t cut into your skin, and 4) washability. If you want more details about neck gaiters – here are a couple of great articles discussing their uses, versatility and evaluation considerations for different environments: The Ultimate Neck Gaiter Guide (by Broamer) and Neck Gaiters: A Noteworthy Face Covering (by MCR Safety). You can buy all sorts of neck gaiters at Amazon or your local mall – just make sure that you get one that is a tube of fabric at least 18” tall.