This Hat is Worn a Great Deal

This is probably the hat I've worn the most.

It looks like a basic felt fedora but not made to a traditional style instead it has made to a practical design. 

A mixture of cotton and felt with a wide elasticated band inside which grips the head very softly and stops the wind whipping it away. Its ventilated like a bush hat, water resistant and the elasticated band is also covered in a absorbent material to help sweaty heads

I purchased this hat somewhere near Tintagel while on holiday in Cornwall sometime in the late 80's, made by Kangol, its looking a bit tired now, but seen years of use.

It still kept on my the coat stand by the front door and grabbed whenever the weather is sunny and I don't need to be too smart.

 Its also visited the Tardis.

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

As Good as Sun Cream

This straw hat purchased for protection from the sun and was frequently used when I was doing medieval reinactment on hot days. 

The wide brim protects the back of neck and straw is in my opinion the best material for keeping you cool in the sun by letting your sweat easily evaporate.

The photo below is inside Muchelney Abbey where in 2002 I was playing a monk as part of a living history event.

Straw hats are unfortunately easily damaged so care must be taken in storage and transport, this one despite being 20 odd years old is still in good condition.

The only thing I added was tight string to keep it tied to head since even the lightest breeze can blow it off the head.

This hat was purchased at Tewkesbury Medieval Festival.

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.