Too Small for Me

 This coonskin hat is too small for my head. 

If I pull really hard the brim will stretch on but within a few minutes it contracts and springs up leaving it precariously balanced.

Not my hat but part of our crew kit, never seen anyone wear it, so might be something to pass on to a worthy smaller head.

Story Tellers Hat

This hat is called a Kyrgyz and also known as the Ak Kalpak or White Kalpak, worn by people in central Asia

This is the national hat of Kyrgyzstan, Russian

Its also known by some as the storyteller's hat, it is mainly a hat worn by the nomadic men at festivals although for some in the region its everyday attire. This style hat is known only in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan

Made of 4 padded panels of felt, this tall embroidered hat is supposed to resemble snow-covered mountains,

The 4 panels represent the four elements: air, water, fire, and earth. Where the panels meet represent the sun and life. There is also a tassel on the right part of the crossing which represents posterity and prosperity

One of the best things about this hat is it packs flat, the joints in the panels are butted together with no overlap so they fold easily

A hat to provide warmth in winter.

Goggle Beanie

A beanie with built-in goggles who's crazy idea was that?

This is a traditional cotton ribbed beanie with goggles sandwiched into the brim possibly used by skiers.

I think the idea is more of a fashion thing than of practical use.

Although it does work has a pair of goggles, the beanie brim when folded down holds the goggles in the right place and steady enough to protect the eyes from the bright sunlight. 

That said you end up looking like some cheap superhero called Insect Man.

False Fur

This fake fur trapper hat would no doubt keep your head warm in a blizzard. 

 Not being real fur helps with comfort although probably not by much, I suppose being fake it's more flexible and soft on the inside than a real fur hat.

A real fur trapper hat made from the pelt of the North American/Canadian hunters prey would probably look more like a coonskin hat.  

Sheepskin Hat

This trapper style hat is made of sheepskin, ideal to keep your head warm on a cold windy day

I've talked about trapper hats before and so don't have a lot more to say, so just follow the labels for trapper hat.

The ear flaps tie up.

Ushanka

Ushanka comes from a Russian word meaning ears.

This fur-lined cap comes with fold-down ear flaps that can be tied up to the crown of the cap, or fastened under the chin to protect the ears lower face from the cold. 

The Ushanka cap or hat is winter wear worn any from the USA to Russia but is very popular with Soviet naval officers

Traditionally made from rabbit or sheepskin and used in all sorts of extreme cold climates

This could also be called a trapper hat, but a trapper hat is not necessarily fur lined or designed for extreme cold.

This hat is a tourist variety with cheap soviet style badge and artificial fur but is still a practical hat that not just novelty wear.

Chewbacca Hat

This novelty hat was a Christmas gift, turns out to be a warm comfortable hat, but still not sure where I would want to wear it.

Its meant to be Chewbacca from Star Wars head, although could be a golden poodle hat as well

Coonskin Cap

The coonskin cap was originally worn by native Americans but were adopted by some European colonists as hunting hats 

The hat is associated mainly due to film and folklore with Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone, although according to Wikipedia the font of all knowledge Daniel Boone never wore a coonskin hat.

A real coonskin hat is made from the whole skin from raccoon, tail and all stretched over the head.

This reproduction was a gift from my mother when she visited Texas this Autumn, the label says Dan'l Boone Coonskin cap.

Why am I wearing fur inside, its too warm

I surrender

I need a bigger beard

Serious Russian

This trapper style hat did start its life with a hammer and sickle badge on the front and was advertised as a Russian Army Style Winter Hat, which is what it is.

Made of fake fur which covers the outer surface, its built around a trapper style hat design with ear flaps and ties for under the chin, that are ideal for what I imagine Russian winters are like

This Russian can be fun.

Perhaps he can't ear well with flaps down.

 But is quickly serious again in to keep up his appearance.

Oops I bought a new hat

So I was walking around a charity shop looking for a old leather coat to cut up when I spotted a hat, so over the last 2 weekends of not looking for a hat we have leather coats found 0, hats found 2.

This cap is suede with a artificial fur lining. I would call it a hunting cap

Knitted beanie hat

This hat was a Christmas present hand made by Julie made this

This hat is possibly my most worn winter hat, its just comfortable.  This hat is very warm ideal winter wear while at the same time the lets your head breath so it does not feel sweaty. The only time it fails is in the wind which it offers no protection against, its also obviously not water proof.

Here is me wearing the hat at the Black Country Museum in Dudley

And again while walking just as the snow started.