Pith helmet

[pipesndrumsnun]

Dude...I thought you were poor and starving? Get a box of graham crackers, a jar of peanut butter, and some Ramen noodles instead!

[Coemgen]

Dude...I thought you were poor and starving? Get a box of graham crackers, a jar of peanut butter, and some Ramen noodles instead!

Well, I can get food at the canteen. However, to quote the great Tom Lehrer, it makes one "think of all the marvellous ways / they're using plastic nowadays."

I prefer to bike to the In-N-Out up the street.

[emolas]

I prefer to bike to the In-N-Out up the street.

You cruel, cruel man! I could have went through the day entirely happy without hearing that name. Now all I can think of is a Double-Double with fries and a shake. Mmmmmm, now that's what a hamburger's all about....

[Jack Daw]

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.

[Bugbear]

You'll need a bull whip.

[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

[Jack Daw]

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?

[Standard]

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.

[Chef]

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.

[Panache]

Kevin,

I have thought about the same and having discussed this with a few certified kilt snobs here is the conclusion I came to.

A pith helmet, paired with a khaki "safari" shirt, and khaki hose from What Price glory (and simple military style belt and sporran*) would be a fun and comfortable outfit for a highland games. It would be a bit costume-like in the same vein as wearing a Jacobite shirt and leather lace up boots to one. In this context I think you would look good and likely be very comfortable.

But such a rig is not for everyday wear. It is far too thearical.

Cheers

Jamie

* Handle Bar mustache not required but it would complete the ensemble