Anyone use a Shemagh?

Brian Andrews

Brian Andrews

Joined
Dec 11, 2006
Messages
1,659
I realize that a lot of people probably don't like these because hipsters have taking to wearing them for fashion, and mall ninjas have taken to wearing them to be tactical. But, all fashion etiquette aside, they do seem like they could be very useful. I am just not sure if it something that I would find very annoying :)

So, I was wondering if anyone ever uses one regularly?

B
 
I use one regularly myself. I keep it around my neck in the summer when I'm out doing yard work soaked with water and it does a good job to help keep cool. In the winter, I use it as a head and face wrap to protect myself from blowing snow, wind and the cold. I find mine down right useful year round.
 
JSMcustoms said:
I use one regularly myself. I keep it around my neck in the summer when I'm out doing yard work soaked with water and it does a good job to help keep cool. In the winter, I use it as a head and face wrap to protect myself from blowing snow, wind and the cold. I find mine down right useful year round.
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I use it similarly. Just seems handy for protection in sun or cold. I often use it like a scarf in the cold.
 
I carry one all the time. soaked with water they will keep you cool and can help retain the heat. they also have infinite other uses such as tourniquets, sweat rags, dust stoppers, keep the sun off you, or can be made into collection bag for foraging, ect ect.

I missed out on the merino wool one for tad but I think one would be a pretty damn amazing piece of kit in the winter! Hopefully I track one down before this winter.
 
I carried one last winter - used it as a scarf or pulled it up to use as a hood when we would actually get some precip.
 
Always have one in my pack. Its an item that is useful year round for me. Right now it's a black fly and skeeter barrier for my head & neck.
 
Brian Andrews said:
I realize that a lot of people probably don't like these because hipsters have taking to wearing them for fashion, and mall ninjas have taken to wearing them to be tactical.

B
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Yep, there was a time thought about 2007 - 2009 when I stopped using it awhile because of the younger set wanting to be "cool" but I've had mine for 13 years now.

Nowadays it's mostly in the day pack. A bit frayed and thin with age but still a useful and comforting piece of gear to have a around. The cloth's feel to the skin seems to get better with use. The only downside I could think about is the politics/cultural smear associated with it.


(From an old thread)


1. Blanket (torso only)
2. Earth pad/picnic cloth
3. Triangular bandage/trauma splint
4. Gear hammock (securing by elevating stuff from the ground)
5. Improvised rope and wrapper (Japanese "furushiki" style)
6. "Manly" fashion item
7. Emergency filtration system
8. Rolled-up pillow/head rest for long travels
9. Tool roll
10. Oh yeah--regular scarf.
 
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untamed said:
6. "Manly" fashion item
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There is no statement more true than this. My wife and I recently went to Vietnam for our honeymoon and I wore mine while riding around the countryside on a bicycle. I work behind a computer full time but my wife referred to me as "rugged" when I wore that simple square of cotton. Oh and it's great to keep you cool in hot/humid weather and warm in cold weather.

My wife just said the shemagh is on par with a beard for ruggedness.

Believe me, it's well worth the investment :)
 
I have several and use them for what ever I need them for. They are scattered around all of my packs and I have one in my EDC pack. They are extramly useful for summer heat and sun and winter cold as long as they are kept dry. Sometimes I wear one on my head, sometimes just for a rag. I think they are a better idea than a bush hat.
 
I've used shemagh's for sometime now. They help keep you cooler on extremely hot days in the field and can keep you warm when it's cold and windy. All shemagh's are not created equal. I like the one's marketed by Blackhawk the best.
 
I find a buff more useful, but keep a few shemaghs handy. I live in a windy desert climate, so I find uses for them. But it's also got a heavy redneck population, and shemaghs are frequently misinterpreted around here if you know what I mean.
 
I always have a shemagh and a couple bandanas in my pack. They are useful for all kinds of things and are easy to carry. I recently found a yellow and black shemagh at a thrift store for a buck, so had to get it as well.
 
Is there any particular brand which is considered better/best? I've been looking on Amazon as living in a very hot buggy state (Louisiana)I believe I could benefit from utilizing one.
 
Chris Larrikin said:
There is no statement more true than this. My wife and I recently went to Vietnam for our honeymoon and I wore mine while riding around the countryside on a bicycle. I work behind a computer full time but my wife referred to me as "rugged" when I wore that simple square of cotton. Oh and it's great to keep you cool in hot/humid weather and warm in cold weather.

My wife just said the shemagh is on par with a beard for ruggedness.

Believe me, it's well worth the investment :)
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Vietnam you say? Here in South East Asia another multi-use cloth is the "sarong". Affords more cover since it's larger.

It's often mistaken as woman's accessory there in the West but it's actually for both sexes with designs for either.

how_to_wrap_tube.jpg


k-6.jpg


Nice to "let the boys have some air" if you know what I mean. . .
 
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raindog101 said:
But it's also got a heavy redneck population, and shemaghs are frequently misinterpreted around here if you know what I mean.
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Indeed I do. The mountains of North Carolina are the same in that regard (in my area of them at least).
 
I take a shemagh with me 90% of the time I'm out but rarely wear it and when I do I usually have it around my waste a la Lundin. Makes a great fanny pack if you just want to head out with a water and a small survival kit. Love mine and use it for all sorts of stuff.
 
Brian Andrews said:
I realize that a lot of people probably don't like these because hipsters have taking to wearing them for fashion, and mall ninjas have taken to wearing them to be tactical. But, all fashion etiquette aside, they do seem like they could be very useful. I am just not sure if it something that I would find very annoying :)

So, I was wondering if anyone ever uses one regularly?

B
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Depending on where you live it's not just SAS fantasists and metro sexuals who wear them.
You have to add the political element to it as well (it's not just a piece of cloth) Islamists and Islamic sympathizers wear them too.
I wouldn't want to wear one when the EDL marched in my city.

I don't argue that in the outdoors a length of fabric (a tea towel or towel can serve the same use) has many uses but where I live I don't want to wear one.
 
No,
But I wear a long cotton scarf, that does every thing the shemagh does

And the shemagh is not polically correct around here!
 
I've used shemagh's in A'stan and they are a valued item both when it's hot, windy, blowing sand and even when it the wind chill is minus 10. However, I must admit, I've been using silk scarves for backpacking. They're much lighter, dry faster and still provide decent protection from the elements when used in that fashion.

ROCK6
 
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