Steam Punk Explorer

This Pith Helmet was purchased new from a re-enactment market, and is ideal for any explorer character. 

I have photographed this one with me as steam punk type adventurer complete with my steam punked rifle.

Pith Helmets are designed for humid climates, they are light weight and practical.

They include ventilation in crown via simple holes

The top button is also designed to allow ventilation as can been seen from the photo above and photo below taken from inside the helmet showing where the button bolts on to the helmet.

Another feature is the chin strap which most of time forms a decorative feature on the brim, but when windy can be brought down and fasten under the chin.

The hat is covered with cotton and includes a adjustable lining which forms a sweat band. 

Commander Hunter of Death Angel Squad

This is a leather covered steampunk or hell angel novelty helmet

I bought it off ebay its well made, good buckles and lining, comfortable but doubt it would actually be suitable head protection for a biker, but that's not what helm is about anyway.

This helm apparently gets a thumb up. 

Velvet Riding Hat

I own this Helmet after spending about year having riding lesson in the vain hope of becoming a Jouster.

Before I got anywhere near even a basic rider  I fell off a horse straight on to rigid fence at a canter, ambulanced to the hospital no fractures to my ribs where found but it was 6 months before I could lie on that side of body and I never went back to riding apart from the odd pony trek while on holiday.
I think good riders start young, and own their own horse and stables or train full time such as for the Queens life guards.

This is certified riding helmet velvet covered in the equestrian style, although modern helmets are much more practical, this one is now 25 year old.

This style of this riding helmet is called a Hunt Cap.

Dr Livinstone I Presume

The Pith Helmet is a light weight helmet made of cork (or pith) and then covered in cloth with small holes for ventilation.

Helmets rather than hats in that they are designed to provide physical protection against hard things hitting the head. 

I mainly think of these as worn by European gentlemen (and women) explorers but they were more often worn by the government officials, army, police and navy.  

Worn in for the most part during the 18th and 19th by people from colonial countries in the tropics, although it seems they were worn as official headgear as late as the 1960's 

Also worn by travellers from United States and adopted by the Vietnamese army.

Pith Helmet also know as Safari helmet, Sun helmet, Topee, Sola topee, Salacot or Topi

This one was found in a Army Surplus Store and was possibly (I did say possibly) made post WWII in India from Shola Pith

Bicorne Hat

This bicorne is a stiff felt hat, unlike the bicorne in my earlier post it won't fold flat, its also can only be worn fore and aft.

What I call hard hats might be better called stiff felt hats, they are hats made of felt where the felt is soak in water then steamed and then pressed in a mould and or rolled into shape. Once formed the hat stays to its formed shape and becomes quite rigid. Top Hats, Bowler Hats are usually made this way.

Purchased from a medieval market, this style is much flattened compared to some.

Grandee Hat Maybe

This hat style may have a name but I don't know it, the nearest equivalent I can see is Grandee or a tall Bolero hat.

Made by Fernández y Roche of Spain according to the label, I found it at a historical fayre TORM (the Original Re-enactors Market) in 2008, cost me £75, it is a quality hat, not a something from a fancy dress stall, used several times, this hat is well loved by me and its going to last a while.

Steampunk Top Hat

This my steampunk mad hatter top hat

Top hats can also be known as Beaver hats, High hats, Cylinder hats, Chimney Pot hats or Stove pipe hats, however I would definitely call this one a TOP hat

Its got a leathery oily feel to the fabric, size 59 which is bit big (by 1 size) for my head, lucky for me my ears keep it up well.

I think this hat will need a slightly insane character in my larp adventures to wear it.

Hard Hats = Hats stiffened in some way so they are no longer bend, this may be through steaming, pressing or adding a rigid material.