I Stole Gandalfs Hat

This is felt wizards hat, grey in colour similar to Gandalf's from the Lord of Rings/The Hobbit films and images.

Apparently, the name Gandalf comes via Tolkien from a Norse mythology name meaning staff man or wand elf.

Gandalf wore the grey hat before he became head of the Middle Earth wizards, while he was the Grey Wanderer, the Grey Pilgrim, Greyhame, Gandalf the Grey, among many other names which don't contain the word grey.

The hat will soon be adopted by a character I play in lrp.

The hat was purchased from Leonardo Carbone.

Brown Muffin Cap

This renaissance beret, muffin cap or whatever you wish to call this style of simple cloth cap.

Like a modern beret it as a brim the circumference of your head to which is fixed an abundance of fabric so overhang and droops over the brim, in the muffin cap this is much more extreme than a modern beret often involving the fabric being pleated onto the brim.

Square Cornered Hat

This is one of those hats that I'm having trouble categorising as it was donated, its origin was as a gift to a friend visiting Japan, however, the hat is not Japanese. 

The hat is well made with a tapestry pattern on display.

Inside the hat is a label which google translate fails to recognise, so not sure of the language, something Asian.

This hat is too rigid to be a comfortable Leisure cap, its similar in some ways to Birretta, mostly its unique, at least to me. 

NEW 3rd October 2020 - Finally found what I believe this hat to be, its called an Uzbek Duppi Cap or Uzbek Doppa cap

Light Up Hat

This beanie hat has an inbuilt headlight.

The hat itself is basic woollen beanie hat, but in the turnup, there is an LED light.

The headlight is activated by a button in the middle and pops out of the frame for USB charging.

The hat is very convenient no hands needed light for finding things or putting up a tent at night and somewhat less bulky than head lights, the downside is you can't adjust the angle so have dip your head further than a head light. 

The only other downside I see is warm summer use but yet to experience that. 

This light is not going to blind people or bring down planes, but it's bright enough to be very useful.

I got this or these hats (1 Grey and 1 Black one) as a gift from friends for Christmas

Russian Headgear

This is sold as Russian Tank commanders hat or helmet

A quick bit of research would suggest however its a paratroopers helmet worn by the airborne division of Russian Army during parachute drops. The Russian airborne division is heavily mechanised and they do drop vehicles with people inside them unlike most other armies, so perhaps it's both.

I normally consider helmets as a rigid head covering, this one, however, is a soft helmet, heavily padded in the ribs to protect you against impacts with hard surfaces.

The helmet is not mine and normally left at the entry stair to the owner's attic room which has many low beams so is ideal headwear.

Cossack Hat

This is a Russian army cossack hat

Made from sheepskin, this tall cylinder of fur is joined at the top with a fabric circle emblem.

This hat is also known as a Papakha in Russia however there are two different styles of Papakha, this one is the Papaha, the other is the Kubanka which is a shorter version, but basically the same.

The Cossacks were an independent nation which got integrated into the Russian nation, not in a good way, so the Cossack army fought against Russia, for Russia, played both sides, helped and hindered the Germans WWII, helped and hindered the Americans in WWII, helped the British fight communism and much more.

The Cossack Army ceased to exist after World war II, however, a law was passed just before the end of 20th Century as the Soviet Union ended allowing Cossack to exist again and they now deal with local Administration. 

They still wear this style of hat 

Camo Ushanka

This camo pattern ushanka is probably a perfect hunting hat, however never been hunting so could be worst hunting hat ever for all I know.

Also for some reason the double ear flaps I find make this hat a little comical, but they may have a purpose, perhaps to protect the ears for the noise of the gun or just extra ear warmth.

Ear flaps up and away

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.

Skull Past

This wool felt skull cap is one of my oldest hats

Made from 8 triangles of fabric sewn together

Now a chance to scan some old photos of me wearing the skull cap

Above me as part of mummers play

Below me in shorts at a music festival

Below me doing theatrical mediaeval reenactment at Warwick Castle

Not worn much recently, but one that got worn often.

Zucchetto Like

This skull cap is on the edge of being a zucchetto however zucchettos are typically much shallower, resting rather than clinging to the head.

The hat also does not include the little stem or cord that comes out of the centre of the hat where the panels meet.

Still, the 8 panelled cap is traditional for a zucchetto and the bright red colour makes it look a very religious hat.

Skull caps are one of those hats that don't really offer any practical use other than their aesthetic purpose.

Biretta

The Biretta is a hat that moves from the circular hat band into a 4 cornered squarish shape.

The corners are called horns, they may have 3 or 4 horns and the horns can be small like this or quite large and flamboyant.

The hats are worn by priests in the Catholic and Anglican church and also as academics hats in universities, usually denoting someone with a doctorate.

When worn by Bishops or denote ranks the hats can also get extra adornments such as pompoms.

Biretta is also optional head wear for female barristers in England and Wales.

The history of Biretta stretches back at least as far as the 10th Century.