Bandanas are, without a doubt, the most versatile headgear out there. You might start out a trip or venture with some kind of hat – or nothing – on your head, but when it comes down to it, bandanas will always win in the end. I’ve started camping trips with a baseball cap on, only to switch to a bandana by afternoon (I lost my favorite green triangle on a 17-mile hike and was slightly devastated). In an attempt to channel Indiana Jones, I got a khaki bucket hat with a chin strap (!) for a summer archaeology program, but was back in the bandana by the second week. I can’t explain why; it’s just one of those things. There’s something about bandanas that keeps me coming back.
Is it a comfort thing? Bandanas are always the right size, never too loose or too tight. They soak up sweat like anything, but unlike hats, they don’t trap it right against your skin. They keep your hair out of your face without blocking your vision.
Is it a style thing? Maybe I just look particularly good in bandanas – but then, who doesn’t? They can flatter any face, and come in so many colors and designs that you’re bound to find one you like. Unlike that khaki bucket hat, I’ve used every bandana I own for more than a week.
Is it a price thing? You can’t beat bandanas for being cheap and easy to come by. Considering how much it’s possible to spend on a nice baseball cap, bandanas are practically free – I had a Yankees one for years that I wore nearly every day during the World Series – when I couldn’t convince my dog to keep it around his neck, that is.
Whatever the reason, I’m a bandana kind of girl. Why do you do the ‘do-rag?
