shemagh question

[Kiwi-family]

I've noticed a few people take these along. I understand the usefulness in terms of using it as a scarf if it's cold, covering for pillow, makeshift skirt if desperate (and skinny enough!), sling for broken arm, picnic blanket, makeshift carry bag for provisions....my question - would you use it INSTEAD of a sunhat? Obviously if you want nose protection, you'd need to wear it with a "peak" at the front and not tight against your forehead - this is possible. I'm just wondering if all that fabric would get too hot round the neck. Any experience anyone?

 

[andy.d]

Under the Spanish sun, I wore a broad brimmed hat and then a piece of muslin underneath it to protect any bits of me not in shade. I'm northern-European light skinned, but I was interested that a Brazilian pilgrim I walked with for a bit did the same,

Andy

 

[StuartM]

I didn't need to on the Frances but I have done elsewhere. Particularly in mountains or plains where you get sun and wind together a shemagh beats a hat hands down.

 

[Kitsambler]

The folks who originated this garment (I'm thinking Middle East and southwest Asia) did so particularly for the sun and wind, so my guess is that it would work well for those purposes for you. Rain would be a different matter.

 

[Kiwi-family]

The folks who originated this garment (I'm thinking Middle East and southwest Asia) did so particularly for the sun and wind, so my guess is that it would work well for those purposes for you. Rain would be a different matter.

If it's raining, it's highly likely that sunburn will not be an issue :wink: But you know that!

 

[StuartM]

The folks who originated this garment (I'm thinking Middle East and southwest Asia) did so particularly for the sun and wind, so my guess is that it would work well for those purposes for you. Rain would be a different matter.

Yep, that's pretty much the conditions I use mine in. No use whatsoever in rain but it is very good in snow. Actually, I'd revise that, they can be quite useful in the rain to stop water going down your neck. Wrapped tight they are not that absorbent.

Just sun on its own then I prefer a baseball type cap and use the shemagh to keep the sun off my neck. I really don't like wide brimmed hats. You can wrap them loose and still get a decent amount of sun shade which can be a lot more comfortable than a hat in very hot conditions. The better Arab-made shemaghs tend to be thicker, stiffer fabric than the cheap Chinese copies which holds a better shape for shading when wrapped loose.

Learn to tie one properly though, it makes it a lot more comfortable than just doing some bodged wraps and knots. Plenty of videos on You Tube. Not so important in the sun but in the wind it makes a big difference.