A beret as headgear in the woods

[oetzi]

I recently discovered the beret as a hat for the woods.
Its advantages:
cheap
packable
versatile.
The one shown is made in spain by http://www.boinaselosegui.com/
and unfortunately nearly unavailable here. But these are sources to get them:
http://home.avvanta.com/~rgphoto/2004/basqueberet.htm
http://www.southpacificberets.com/
Mine is rather large and has a diameter of 31cm (13.5" ). Wouldnt get a smaller one but have already ordered a much larger 15" one. The type shown has no sweatband. Instead one stretches the wool to fit over the own head comfortably.

Such berets are IMHO extremly comfortable to wear and on my last two-day hike I carried it along with my Tilley hat, to wear when the weather turned worse or I simply needed a bit more warmth:

 

[British Red]

Great idea.

Me, I'm a wearer of the tweed "flat cap", but its always a pleasure to see people in traditional head gear - from a trilby to a tam' its great to see people wearing the traditional stuff - I often think its probably better adapted to the local climate. A flat cap stuffs in your pocket, keeps your head both warm and dry and keeps the rain off your face. Great bit of kit (and reminds me of me Grandad too )

Red

 

[Graham_S]

After wearing one (in a professional capacity) fro 15 years, I reckon they're the worst designed piece of headgear in existence.
Don't like them at all.

 

[Chris the Cat]

I have the same one as you fella!
Love it! ( also love my flat cap and Swanni beanie!)
C da C.

 

[spamel]

I disagree with Graham, I liked mine. Saying that, in the Army w tend to shape ours instead of sticking it straight on our head after being issued it at stores!

I remember donning mine on a tab back from Darwin to MPA in the Falkland Islands when the snow started coming down, and it came down hard with a wind that can only be believed in the South Atlantic. The cold went straight through your skull to the brain, and it was like having the most severe headache ever after just a few seconds of the wind and snow coming down. Beret went straight on and everything was good again! I wouldn't wear one now I don't think, but then I have found a good outlet of the original old school headover and wear a cap comforter now when it is getting a bit perky. It keeps my hair out of my face too!

 

[andybysea]

The modern army beret is alot smaller than it used to be,so i guess offers alot less in terms of warmth and cover, when i used to do WW2 reenactment i used to wear the type used then, which i would say was of a similar size to the one your wearing Oetzi, i found it comfortable and warm even in the rain, i think the Brit military originally copied it from the French mountain troop of the 30's, but wore it in a differant style.

 

[Melonfish]

aye, didn't it start with the tankers wearing the black one? then everyone wanted em as i recall heh.

they are good bits of kit and lets be fair its a woolen garment so its going to give decen't warmth and protection and you can even feign looking stylish or in the case of those larger floppy types perhaps even break into a mime routine to entertain and delight your friends.
perhaps a mime version of a ray mears technique?

 

[John Fenna]

I love a good beret - I was known for wearing one for years....I now favour my Blanket Beret or Larping Tam - see my avatar over felted models, although my blanket material almost counts as felt as it iswell felted down!

 

[wolf_diver]

In the Mountains we used to move the beret around so the cap badge was over our ears, so you got a good flatcap with a sunvisor too. Warm compfy bulletproof and only worn in green.

Jay

 

[johnboy]

Warm compfy bulletproof and only worn in green.
Jay

Don't you mean Maroon........

 

[Tiley]

I got hold of a Chasseur Alpin beret (like Oetzi's - about the size of a large dinner plate...)in Chamonix a few years ago and wore it while skiing the Haute Route. It was brilliant - it kept the sun out of your eyes, kept your head warm and, with some inventive pulling of the edge, could be used to shelter any exposed bit of your head/neck - you don't have to wear it just 'au facon militaire' or 'comme un bec de canard'. When it gets a bit colder, I think I'll take mine for a walk in the woods. Thanks for reminding me!

 

[tobes01]

Berets have never really been my thing, I end up looking like a deformed wingnut. Was burdened with inspirationally original nickname of 'radar' when I had to wear one for a living.

 

[Adze]

I can't imagine why a beret would be seen as 'unfashionable'...

 

[oetzi]

I definitley hate the military-style berets, wouldnt ever wear one.
Also personally prefer the term "Baskenmütze" (= Basque cap) rather than beret.
But those rather large, floppy, artisty ones are great.
After all, if Rousseau, Wagner and the like got along with them, they are good enough for me, too
http://www.southpacificberets.com/youre-not-alone.php

 

[hog]

I can't imagine why a beret would be seen as 'unfashionable'...

Beat me to it.

 

[John Fenna]

I have always liked berets - check my avatar - and despise Mr Crawford but admire the sartorial genius of Che!

 

[oetzi]

I progressed to 37cm/14.5". the dog likes it.

 

[MikeE]

Loved mine and frequently got told off by CO's for wearing it instead of helmet and later Kevlar! Very comfy and if you have even slightly greasy hair they become quite water resistant! Wore in rifle green and dark navy but definitely preferred the green (espec. when walking around Fort Bragg in US, they didn't have a clue who I was!). Always shrunk mine as much as leather band would allow!

 

[komodomedic]

In the Mountains we used to move the beret around so the cap badge was over our ears, so you got a good flatcap with a sunvisor too. Warm compfy bulletproof and only worn in green.

Jay

Fighting fortyfith?