Pith helmet

**Jack Daw** · 24th February 08, 07:25 AM

I'm a piper that lives in hot, humid Houston, TX. For a bit, I toyed with the idea of getting Highland regimental kit that would have been worn in India at the turn of a previous century. Well, another piper buddy had already done the same and warned me that a pith helmut is very hot inside and therefore not very comfortable in the summer heat at all.

**Jack Daw** · 24th February 08, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by BoldHighlander

Here's a picture from my wedding (1996) that I thought you'd appreciate

Since it was an 1860's period wedding (complete with Confederate parson & sabre bearing honor guard) our piper, who is a uniform collector (in his stash is one of the uniforms worn in the Shirley Temple film "Wee Willie Winkie"), wore an authentic India campaign uniform circa 1865, complete with a military pith helmet.

(My bride was wearing a gown my sister made based on one that John Hunt Morgan's bride wore to their 1862 wedding, and though I did not own a kilt at the time & keeping somewhat with the calvary theme, I wore a Gordon tartan vest that my sister made for me).

Cool idea, Terry!

**slohairt** · 24th February 08, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by McClef

Outside of military usage, which would in any case be largely historical, wearing one might very well be taking the pith.

Taking the pith indeed!

**Bugbear** · 24th February 08, 08:39 AM

You'll need a bull whip.

**JS Sanders** · 24th February 08, 08:52 AM

Hey JD -

It would be impolite of me to contradict your piping pards experience... no doubt he's found the helmet unpleasant.

I've had a white Kitchener-style helmet for years. Sweltering summer temperatures aren't foreign to us in this part of the South. I've found mine to be more comfortable than woolen head covers.

My helmet has a vent at the top and a suspension headband. I can actually feel air circulating inside at times. Perhaps the manufacturer has everything to do with how comfortable these lids can be.

I don't wear the helmet often - it really only matches a military-style tunic or possibly khaki shirt & associated kit. Here the demand for such a thing is limited. Almost always it's at funerals and the khaki would be too informal, so that leaves the ever so sauna-like tunic. Obtaining a cotton white tunic as retailed by www.glengarryhats.com seems to be a better alternative to my woolen model.

My only real complaint is keeping the bass drone from occasionally striking the helmet's brim and knocking the helmet askew.

Slainte yall,
steve

**Standard** · 24th February 08, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Coemgen

Besides, I can always pretend I'm on safari; I might as well be! The students here are animals, and the dorms are jungles, so I might as well go whole hog and get a safari shirt, a machete, and a khaki kilt (and, of course, a loyal native guide/servant/friend who wears a fez and gives wise, but cryptic advice)!

I'd definately go with the loyal native guide.

Sounds like a fun way to spend the summer.

If you do get the pith helmet get the straw one. I know it is a little more expensive, but one of the asphalt highway construction companies that I have to do inspection on has a (working)forman who wears one and swears by it. The straw one has lots of air flow through it, and he says that it is cool in the summer, and certainly provides lots of shade while he and the crew are out in the open laying asphalt. Of course there is the usual amount of ribbing that goes on with the hat, but no more so than for my Tilley.

Anyone else out there own a Tilley? Best hat ever made.

**Jack Daw** · 24th February 08, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by JS Sanders

Hey JD -

It would be impolite of me to contradict your piping pards experience... no doubt he's found the helmet unpleasant.

I've had a white Kitchener-style helmet for years. Sweltering summer temperatures aren't foreign to us in this part of the South. I've found mine to be more comfortable than woolen head covers.

My helmet has a vent at the top and a suspension headband. I can actually feel air circulating inside at times. Perhaps the manufacturer has everything to do with how comfortable these lids can be.

I don't wear the helmet often - it really only matches a military-style tunic or possibly khaki shirt & associated kit. Here the demand for such a thing is limited. Almost always it's at funerals and the khaki would be too informal, so that leaves the ever so sauna-like tunic. Obtaining a cotton white tunic as retailed by www.glengarryhats.com seems to be a better alternative to my woolen model.

My only real complaint is keeping the bass drone from occasionally striking the helmet's brim and knocking the helmet askew.

Slainte yall,
steve

Oh, you have breezes? A lot of time we get thick, stagnant air. But, I may reconsider anyway. I think "Wee Willie Winkie" was my first intro into pipes and kilts when I was a wee one myself. I thought about the white doublet at GlengarryHats, but does white cotton yellow over time?

**JS Sanders** · 24th February 08, 09:09 AM

<< ....but doesn't white cotton yellow over time? >>

It may yellow because of sweat and skin oils. Ya gotta keep it clean.

steve

**Tattoo Bradley** · 24th February 08, 09:31 AM

Um yeah. How about no?

**Chef** · 24th February 08, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by Standard

Anyone else out there own a Tilley? Best hat ever made.

I'm not sure about the pith helmet, but I'll second the vote for the Tilley. I have an LT6 and it perfect for a hot summer day. Wide brim and very light. Someone walked off with mine a couple years ago, but they have a policy once you buy from them that if that happens they send you a new one fro 1/2 price.