I have worn a similar helmet for a number of years. I live in Sydney, Australia, where last summer we had a number of days with top temperatures around 46-48 degrees Celsius (115-118 Fahrenheit) and I was able to get about with one of these on my head, a long-sleeve white linen shirt and long khaki trousers (and a goodly supply of cold drinking water.) Far more effective and more durable than my Panama. You do tend to get a few "safari" jokes though.
Got one of these down here in Australia. Been wearing mine for the past...four, five years? Don't often get the chance, but when it's BLAZING HOT (40, 45'c +., which is...what? 115~'F) and I gotta go outside - bring my pithy. Soak it in water and it's amaaaaaaaazing. Really works fantastically well.
Pith helmet and in particular the Wolseley type helmet it became known during the British Empire. Very classic type of helmet, adopted by many other countries as well, but again it became famous by the British Army during the British Empire. British Army stopped using them in 1948.
You have that backward, MD. They were initially made of pith and later made of cork. Cork is more common and most of these helmets ARE made of CORK. The helmets you get from Village Hat Shop are made of cork. UPDATE: After owning 3 if there and dissecting one, I can say that the Village Hat Shop hats are made of a combination of cork and sola pith.
Great information and video. I totally agree with you that headgear is unfortunately under appreciated and underrated. Thank you for the great presentation.
In the old days, the pith helmet was used as a base for the early bug nets and bee nets. See internet. I have three pith style hats, one still made in Stockton,cal for the mail service. Its a straw hat that you wear wet or dry. Mine is about ten years old.
I bought one for 5 bucks at a yard sale.It was faded and torn around the edges .The reason I bought it was because it had Guadalcanal ‘43 written on it.
I was bought one in the last few months and only just started to wear it now the hot weather is here. Im very impressed. I own a lot of hats, this is my favourite in hot weather. They beat my Tilley hats for comfort and for regulating temperature. If in doubt buy one you won't be disappointed.
I got this same helmet on Wish. It looks a bit like the one that Erwin Rommel wore with his matching lightweight khaki uniform in the North African desert, but it's made in Vietnam. It works great, though. I'm a school crossing guard in my city and I got the helmet in the mail in time for the last few weeks of school. It helped immensely on those calm, cloudless, boiling hot half-day postings! Wish also sells t-shirts and coffee mugs that say "If I can't wear my pith helmet, I'm not going".
I got this pith helmet. Out of the box it had a problem with the head strap. It was attached to the cork in a circular shape that didn't fit my oval head: (tight on the front and back and loose and wobble from side to side.) I fixed this by removing the rivets and punching new holes in the strap at the right locations so that when i put the rivets back in, it fit my head perfectly. Also I found you can tighten the neck strap which is must if you want keep the hat on your head well running.
Let me add to this, too - villagehatshop, a .com in the USA is a sister site to one in the UK. Closer, and usually free ground shipping when you spend $75, I think.
Bombay Hat Works in Bangalore used to make these, I have one that my grandfather had, but these aren't available anymore! Looking for these here in India and the only one selling is Village hats online, I kinda love these hats. Now I get hats made out of Lavancha.. a root of some plant used to make hats, slippers, scrubs, etc.,
Main issue with the pith helmet that lead to it's demise was its ability to be camouflaged, and for civilian use it's ability to be mistreated. Still a valid option though.
The French style tended to be more popular with civilians - probably because it was easier to get them than the British style, which would have been reserved primarily for military services.
Allright Doc. How do you make that hing look cool, liek a real cowboy hat? Man, how are you gong to use that hat in your land when you get your horse? LOL Actually, it looks pretty good. I might get one. It will fit perfectly where I live in Maricn County, CA. I wonder if the holes on the side can be used to carry some fishing hooks.
Thanks for the quick response. I just checked their site. They have 2 of them. One for $14.97, one for $29.97. Both photos look identical. LOVE YOUR VIDEOS! Keep up the GREAT WORK!! : )
The best ones sre made is pressed fiber,USMilitary surplus.The ones made in Vietnam arent worth a shit.Ive been wearing one for25 years,now I cant find any.
Is it possible to dye it without damage? Maybe a green or tactical black? : ) Or do you think that would negate most of it's cooling properties. White and khaki aren't my best colors. Now, if it came in a color that matches blue jeans, I'd own one by the end of the week! Neat idea and review! stay safe!
yadjekim, a little trivia for you: During the Victorian Era (1837-1901), when troops in Her Majesty's Foreign Service were in India and Africa, their piths were originally pristine white. Before too long, this made them the perfect targets for rifles and spears, so someone came up with the idea of soaking them in big vats of milked coffee to dye them khaki. I would put Clorox in a spray bottle , lightly saturate the helmet and then sit it out in the Sun to dry. Then you can redye it.
You sure do. The Stetson is the one. I amsure you just don't look quite right with that pith helmet. i know I wouldn't. Can you imagine a 63 year old daggo with a huge nose wearing that hat. I woldn't look good with it either.
Why are you guys so racist towards the British? There's nothing 'pretentious' just because it's English in origin. The US military used pith helmets too, military issued no less. You'll also find climbing helmets are good for general wear, or look towards special forces trends for comfort and functionality, they're very picky blokes when it comes to their kit.
I reckon some (not most, but normally the ones who moan) are insecure that Britain was the dominant world superpower before America, and America is yet to successfully defend their homeland from mortal danger/imminent invasion. (Britain has done that several times in the last 954 years). America being such a young country appears to feel the need to always be star of the show. Thats how it looks from European former world superpowers here in Britain, France, Spain. Probably in Russia too, i know stalin hated Americans so most difficult relations (Russia-america) had to be done via Winston Churchill at one point.
I have worn a similar helmet for a number of years. I live in Sydney, Australia, where last summer we had a number of days with top temperatures around 46-48 degrees Celsius (115-118 Fahrenheit) and I was able to get about with one of these on my head, a long-sleeve white linen shirt and long khaki trousers (and a goodly supply of cold drinking water.) Far more effective and more durable than my Panama. You do tend to get a few "safari" jokes though.
Got one of these down here in Australia. Been wearing mine for the past...four, five years?
Don't often get the chance, but when it's BLAZING HOT (40, 45'c +., which is...what? 115~'F) and I gotta go outside - bring my pithy. Soak it in water and it's amaaaaaaaazing. Really works fantastically well.
Pith helmet and in particular the Wolseley type helmet it became known during the British Empire. Very classic type of helmet, adopted by many other countries as well, but again it became famous by the British Army during the British Empire. British Army stopped using them in 1948.
You have that backward, MD. They were initially made of pith and later made of cork. Cork is more common and most of these helmets ARE made of CORK. The helmets you get from Village Hat Shop are made of cork.
UPDATE: After owning 3 if there and dissecting one, I can say that the Village Hat Shop hats are made of a combination of cork and sola pith.
Yeah pith is rare i have a vietnam era us gi sun helmet made of press board. And I always wondered if i could soak it like pith
The pith helmet is generally made in Vietnam due to French Imperialism, in fact that specific pith helmet is French design not British.
Actually it was first used by the Spanish
I got a Foreign Service (Zulu) style pith helmet the other day, love it
Great information and video. I totally agree with you that headgear is unfortunately under appreciated and underrated. Thank you for the great presentation.
In the old days, the pith helmet was used as a base for the early bug nets and bee nets. See internet. I have three pith style hats, one still made in Stockton,cal for the mail service. Its a straw hat that you wear wet or dry. Mine is about ten years old.
The postal service wear those during their routes down here. They do well here.
I bought one for 5 bucks at a yard sale.It was faded and torn around the edges .The reason I bought it was because it had Guadalcanal ‘43 written on it.
I have a pith helmet. LOVE IT! Its been my every day wear hat for 3 years now. I need to replace it, its been smashed in a few to many times :/
I was bought one in the last few months and only just started to wear it now the hot weather is here. Im very impressed. I own a lot of hats, this is my favourite in hot weather. They beat my Tilley hats for comfort and for regulating temperature. If in doubt buy one you won't be disappointed.
I got this same helmet on Wish. It looks a bit like the one that Erwin Rommel wore with his matching lightweight khaki uniform in the North African desert, but it's made in Vietnam. It works great, though. I'm a school crossing guard in my city and I got the helmet in the mail in time for the last few weeks of school. It helped immensely on those calm, cloudless, boiling hot half-day postings!
Wish also sells t-shirts and coffee mugs that say "If I can't wear my pith helmet, I'm not going".
I got this pith helmet. Out of the box it had a problem with the head strap. It was attached to the cork in a circular shape that didn't fit my oval head: (tight on the front and back and loose and wobble from side to side.) I fixed this by removing the rivets and punching new holes in the strap at the right locations so that when i put the rivets back in, it fit my head perfectly. Also I found you can tighten the neck strap which is must if you want keep the hat on your head well running.
These hats always remind me of Tarzan movies when I was a kid. :)
That is (as has been noted) a French style Pith Helmet worn by the French when they occupied what was then known as Indochina.
The longer back side is the back side, the chin strap needs to be on the front that is the narrow side of the brim.
It was made by Dorfman and Pacific in Stockton, Cal. 10 years old and still going on strong. Check on -line.
Let me add to this, too - villagehatshop, a .com in the USA is a sister site to one in the UK. Closer, and usually free ground shipping when you spend $75, I think.
Don’t get confused, Vietnamese manufacturing is way much better than Chinese one
Bombay Hat Works in Bangalore used to make these, I have one that my grandfather had, but these aren't available anymore! Looking for these here in India and the only one selling is Village hats online, I kinda love these hats. Now I get hats made out of Lavancha.. a root of some plant used to make hats, slippers, scrubs, etc.,
that would look great when im shooting my Lee Enfield Mk.4
A martini Henry would look better in my opinion
I hear Howard Hamlin in this video and I can't get this out of my head.
Main issue with the pith helmet that lead to it's demise was its ability to be camouflaged, and for civilian use it's ability to be mistreated. Still a valid option though.
What do you mean about mistreated? And isn’t it just as easy to camouflage as any hat
I've got a classic new British pith helmet.
I think wool hats and boonie hats are great for outdoor use. They are durable and waterproof.
I always thought these were 'French Style'. Apparently they were most popular with the Americans. I myself have a 'British Style' pith.
The French style tended to be more popular with civilians - probably because it was easier to get them than the British style, which would have been reserved primarily for military services.
this is a french design pith helmet it doesn't look pretentious weird not pretentious
Allright Doc. How do you make that hing look cool, liek a real cowboy hat? Man, how are you gong to use that hat in your land when you get your horse? LOL
Actually, it looks pretty good. I might get one. It will fit perfectly where I live in Maricn County, CA.
I wonder if the holes on the side can be used to carry some fishing hooks.
Thanks for the quick response. I just checked their site. They have 2 of them. One for $14.97, one for $29.97. Both photos look identical. LOVE YOUR VIDEOS! Keep up the GREAT WORK!! : )
PITH HATS ARE GREAT!!!
I'm planning on getting a real leather strap to replace the neck strap with.
God did not invent air conditioning. A fellow physician named John Gorrie from Florida did ;)
Why is there a strap across the brim of helmet?
No offense to southeners, I do not know how you guys can tolerate that steamy climate. I would go out of my mind.
Yeah I hate it, here. I’ve lived in snowy North Dakota mountains, and I’ve lived in south Florida. The cold is MUCH easier to live with.
I have enjoyed wearing one of these but the sweatband came apart. Does anyone know where I might find a replacement?
The best ones sre made is pressed fiber,USMilitary surplus.The ones made in Vietnam arent worth a shit.Ive been wearing one for25 years,now I cant find any.
Try Jaxon hats in the UK they're online. They have several styles of pith helmet. And colours. White . grey . Olive green . Khaki.
Have you got a link? All searches seem to come up with hatsandcaps.co.uk
@@MichaelGThomas probably changed their name and are now them
Careful, mdp we almost saw elbow lol
Can't own a bushman knife withouit a pith helmet... on the list!
can you replace the top knob with a spike?
Where did u get this pith helmet?
What's the length and width?
Is it possible to dye it without damage? Maybe a green or tactical black? : ) Or do you think that would negate most of it's cooling properties. White and khaki aren't my best colors. Now, if it came in a color that matches blue jeans, I'd own one by the end of the week! Neat idea and review! stay safe!
yadjekim, a little trivia for you:
During the Victorian Era (1837-1901), when troops in Her Majesty's Foreign Service were in India and Africa, their piths were originally pristine white. Before too long, this made them the perfect targets for rifles and spears, so someone came up with the idea of soaking them in big vats of milked coffee to dye them khaki.
I would put Clorox in a spray bottle , lightly saturate the helmet and then sit it out in the Sun to dry. Then you can redye it.
What's the liner made out of
You sure do. The Stetson is the one. I amsure you just don't look quite right with that pith helmet. i know I wouldn't. Can you imagine a 63 year old daggo with a huge nose wearing that hat. I woldn't look good with it either.
May I ask where you bought this Pith Helmet? I've been searching everywhere for one...
Village Hat Shop
Why are you guys so racist towards the British? There's nothing 'pretentious' just because it's English in origin. The US military used pith helmets too, military issued no less. You'll also find climbing helmets are good for general wear, or look towards special forces trends for comfort and functionality, they're very picky blokes when it comes to their kit.
BaSH PROMPT I don't understand either but yes I am a American
How would it be racist if we are all white
And the Mexicans also used them
I reckon some (not most, but normally the ones who moan) are insecure that Britain was the dominant world superpower before America, and America is yet to successfully defend their homeland from mortal danger/imminent invasion. (Britain has done that several times in the last 954 years). America being such a young country appears to feel the need to always be star of the show. Thats how it looks from European former world superpowers here in Britain, France, Spain. Probably in Russia too, i know stalin hated Americans so most difficult relations (Russia-america) had to be done via Winston Churchill at one point.
Those are the best
Where did you order this from?
Facts, I’ve been trying to get a pith helmet too
You can find them on Amazon.
MOS 8531 HERE!
-high 5-