View Full Version : Shemagh Wearing
Just bought meself a shemagh from the guy at the WG.
Anyone able to tell me how this thing wraps 'round ones bonce?
Stuart is the man for that :wink:
http://www.actiongear.com/agcatalog/shemagh.html
Try this m8 best I could find on the web
Paul :wink:
RAPPLEBY2000
07-09-2004, 23:27
I've worn mine like that once late on a winter night i'd forgotten my hat, it worked a treat, they also serve many other purposes:
triangle bandage,
padding,
hot pot holder,
standard scarf,
can be used as a sarong(tropical skirt)
baby blanket,
shawl,
baby carrier,
towel,
sweat rag,
dust mask,
improvised: sock, glove.
it's not prehaps ideal to be wearing the scarf, full covered arabian style in public in the present political atmousphere :shock: :roll:
they are cotton too, so will dye according to your colour preferance.
and cheap, you can buy them in "newage/ hippy" :hurra: shops for around £5! :biggthump
well worth investing in, so long as you figure out how to use it! :wink:
there are litrally hundreds of ways of wearing a shemagh (as well as hundreds of uses for them)
my favourate (and very adaptable way) of wearing them is as illistrated in the link below:
www.khs-pro.de/tacticalsource/shemag/cheque_anleitung.html
if you can get one with as tight a weave as possible
Buckshot
08-09-2004, 08:50
Stuart,
I tried wearing mine like that but I found it wasn't big enough.
I bought mine from the local army surplus, it's the green and black one.
Do shemaghs come in different sizes or have I just got a big head? :yikes:
Cheers
Mark
Stuart,
I tried wearing mine like that but I found it wasn't big enough.
I bought mine from the local army surplus, it's the green and black one.
Do shemaghs come in different sizes or have I just got a big head? :yikes:
Cheers
Mark
Shemaghs come in different sizes, I got one of mine in Kuwait and was measured up for it :-).
You'll find that all the green ones appear to be one standard size though, you may be better off getting an issue desert one (they are a bit larger) and trying to dye it. The desert ones are quite thin but still work in the UK very well.
Keith_Beef
08-09-2004, 09:25
there are litrally hundreds of ways of wearing a shemagh (as well as hundreds of uses for them)
my favourate (and very adaptable way) of wearing them is as illistrated in the link below:
www.khs-pro.de/tacticalsource/shemag/cheque_anleitung.html
if you can get one with as tight a weave as possible
Thanks, Stu.
The pictures are clear enough, without the German text.
But what approximate size and shape are those Tuareg sheks?
Keith.
hobbitboy
08-09-2004, 09:49
HEHE! My old geology teacher used to work in Oman and bought a shemagh back with him. He always took it on field trips, which was great especially the looks he'd get from passing locals :o): then the locals gaze would usually fall on a load of really hungover 18yearolds :roll:
Happy days! :wink:
Great Pebble
08-09-2004, 11:26
One of the original pink variety, as in the German illustrations, will also do a fair job of filtering water.
There is however some reason, and I can't remember what, why they stopped issuing them and went to the chunkier olive/black variety. Not that it matters I suppose.
Run it through Babel fish (http://world.altavista.com/babelfish/tr) to get English text, still doesn't make much sense though!
Tantalus
08-09-2004, 13:09
translated text :wink:
Traditional Tuareg headgear . As used by french army desert units . The light material provides sun protection and also a degree of cooling for the head.
1 Lay the cloth out lenghtwise then place over your head so that the short end comes down over your chest and the head is covered
2 Take the long end under your chin and over the short end
3 Twist the long end and pass it from behind your head around across your forehead
4 Keep the twisted end going round your head towards the back again
5 Tuck the loose end under the "crown" you just made
6 Done !
7 Simply pull the part under the chin up over your mouth and nose to protect yourself from dust
HTH
Tant
Cheers chaps.
It's been a long long time since GCSE German, so the translation is appreciated too.
well, following one of our superb logos, i'm going to BCUK the trend....
i was going to say, throw the shemagh in the bin and get a cheche...
the bit of headgear shown in that german link is a cheche, (pronounced shesh) they're about six feet long and much more wearable than a shemagh. on top of all the uses previously mentioned, you can have a much more enjoyable siesta, soak the cheche in water and drap it over you. keeps you cool in the heat of the day and very importantly keep the flies off. :super:
cheers, and.
Keith_Beef
08-09-2004, 22:00
Thanks, Stu.
The pictures are clear enough, without the German text.
But what approximate size and shape are those Tuareg sheks?
Keith.
Ah, a bit of research, and I've answered my own question:
http://www.doursoux.com/img/images_produits/vEC0202.jpg
Doursoux surplus in Paris describes them as being 1 metre × 2.40 metres
Called a "cheiche", on the site, Doursoux wants EUR15 for them, in black, white or sand.
http://www.doursoux.com/popup.php?id_prod=323&
Keith.
Ah, a bit of research, and I've answered my own question:
http://www.doursoux.com/img/images_produits/vEC0202.jpg
Doursoux surplus in Paris describes them as being 1 metre × 2.40 metres
Called a "cheiche", on the site, Doursoux wants EUR15 for them, in black, white or sand.
http://www.doursoux.com/popup.php?id_prod=323&
Keith.
0ff the top of my head (no pun intended) thats about a tenner, not bad, most of the shemaghs that I have come across are square, but this sounds a good alternative, good hit :biggthump
The General
09-09-2004, 01:28
All I can say is I really want one like Stuart had at the MM meet! :naughty:
Exploriment
09-09-2004, 01:46
This should help. From the terrific Military Morons site
How to tie a shemagh (http://www.militarymorons.com/gear/img/howtotie1.jpg)
That link comes up password required...
The box tells you what the required password is (mm) ... it is a primative form of protection from bandwidth being used up by people linking to images.
We should try to find all the uses of the shemagh, like Hitch Hikers guide (except no with towels). In case you didnt know, the babel fish was in the hitck Hikers guide!
USMC in Portsmouth sell the "Cheches" head scarves in light tan, black and central-european cammo for £8.95.
Their phone number is 0870-7525500. :-P
ChrisKavanaugh
18-09-2004, 04:24
You lot look like a bunch of bored Elvis impersonators who just discovered T.E. Lawrence :nana: I want a real brit brolly to go with my sabre while reading Sir Richard Burton's fascinating works. Seriously, I do, really. Any websites? No Red Chinese rubbish either.
You lot look like a bunch of bored Elvis impersonators who just discovered T.E. Lawrence :nana: I want a real brit brolly to go with my sabre while reading Sir Richard Burton's fascinating works. Seriously, I do, really. Any websites? No Red Chinese rubbish either.
Hi Chris, these guys are the real deal, New Oxford Street in London. Unfortunately no webshop but interesting anyway.
http://www.james-smith.co.uk/main.htm
Keith_Beef
18-09-2004, 21:20
You lot look like a bunch of bored Elvis impersonators who just discovered T.E. Lawrence :nana: I want a real brit brolly to go with my sabre while reading Sir Richard Burton's fascinating works. Seriously, I do, really. Any websites? No Red Chinese rubbish either.
The T.E.Lawrence brigade are still trying to buy Brough Superiors.
Are you working through the whole of Burton's translations done for the Kama Shastra sociesty?
Keith.
havingagiraffe
18-10-2005, 00:00
Do shemaghs come in different sizes or have I just got a big head? :yikes:
I know this is an old thread, but.....
I've just bought a cheap shemagh off ebay. Under a fiver with free P&P. I excitedly tried the wrapping techniques recommended on this thread but gave up when none of them seemed to add up. Then I got my tape measure out. :thinkerg: The shemagh barely measures three feet by three and a half feet. Nowhere near the four to five feet square you need to do a convincing Lawrence of Arabia impersonation. No wonder it was cheap. :aargh4: Oh well, it'll make a nice table cloth. :o
i was going to say, throw the shemagh in the bin and get a cheche...
I don't want to buy another shemagh, so I think I'll hem a piece of cotton to make a 6' x 4' cheche. The German links for cheche tying no longer work, so I'm hoping that some desert dwelling bushcrafter can offer a few pointers on how to tie it. :)
Motorbike Man
18-10-2005, 00:10
I know this is an old thread, but.....
I've just bought a cheap shemagh off ebay. Under a fiver with free P&P. I excitedly tried the wrapping techniques recommended on this thread but gave up when none of them seemed to add up. Then I got my tape measure out. :thinkerg: The shemagh barely measures three feet by three and a half feet. Nowhere near the four to five feet square you need to do a convincing Lawrence of Arabia impersonation. No wonder it was cheap. :aargh4: Oh well, it'll make a nice table cloth. :o
I don't want to buy another shemagh, so I think I'll hem a piece of cotton to make a 6' x 4' cheche. The German links for cheche tying no longer work, so I'm hoping that some desert dwelling bushcrafter can offer a few pointers on how to tie it. :)
If what you've got is what I think you've got, I used one for years on a motor bike as a scarf and for that they were superb. I used to wear mine by folding it into a triangle with the tip hanging down my chest, wrap ends around my neck so that they crossed over at the back of my neck and then dangle down my chest. Made a huge difference to staying warm.
havingagiraffe
18-10-2005, 13:19
If what you've got is what I think you've got, I used one for years on a motor bike as a scarf and for that they were superb. I used to wear mine by folding it into a triangle with the tip hanging down my chest, wrap ends around my neck so that they crossed over at the back of my neck and then dangle down my chest. Made a huge difference to staying warm.
Yup, that's exactly what I've got. You're right, it makes a great scarf. :) Unfortunately, that's not what I had in mind when I bought it. :( I was actually looking for something the same but bigger so I can look like BCUK moderator Stuart's avatar. :rolleyes:
Motorbike Man
18-10-2005, 15:30
Yup, that's exactly what I've got. You're right, it makes a great scarf. :) Unfortunately, that's not what I had in mind when I bought it. :( I was actually looking for something the same but bigger so I can look like BCUK moderator Stuart's avatar. :rolleyes:
I reckon your best bet for that would be to hem a couple of metres of muslin or light weight cotton
If what you've got is what I think you've got, I used one for years on a motor bike as a scarf and for that they were superb. I used to wear mine by folding it into a triangle with the tip hanging down my chest, wrap ends around my neck so that they crossed over at the back of my neck and then dangle down my chest. Made a huge difference to staying warm.
hey thats exactly how i wear mine!
i'm seldom seen without esp this time of year.its fantastic.
i got it five or six years ago when i asked my folks to bring me back one from egypt. its the real deal not like alot of these that seemed to have cropped up of late (some music-student-fop-fashion thing!).
genuine egyptian cotton...mmmm....luuuuvly :)
Uhh....I had a dream last night I was in the desert wearing one. :confused:
Strange, no?
Motorbike Man
18-10-2005, 18:53
Oh buggrit, after reading all this, I now feel the need for a new shemagh scarf :rolleyes:
havingagiraffe
18-10-2005, 22:08
Oh buggrit, after reading all this, I now feel the need for a new shemagh scarf :rolleyes:
Want to buy the two day old red and white one which won't quite cover my head? :joke:
After reading all of this I really want one :( . Even though I still cant work out how to pronounce the word shemagh :o .
Anyone know of any palces to get them on the cheap??? ;)
havingagiraffe
21-10-2005, 02:07
After reading all of this I really want one :( . Even though I still cant work out how to pronounce the word shemagh :o .
Anyone know of any palces to get them on the cheap??? ;)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/US-Army-desert-head-neck-scarf_W0QQitemZ6570486343QQcat egoryZ588QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
If you want something a bit more Arab looking, you could try some of the Islamic shops on City Road in Cardiff.
E-mail sent to the seller. Hopefully I'll have one by next week :D. If so I'll be havign fun over the winter trying to get it to stay on my head :) .
I use the black/OG shemagh as my main scarf in the winter. Its quite light, very warm and doesnt chaff like fleece or wool. I lost one last year on the Langdale Pikes, it was persistantly raining and I made a fine hat out of it. When the sun came out I tied it to the back of my pack to dry - unfortunately the knot didn't hold and its probably still up there. Got another for £5. Can't go wrong.
I tried the cheche but it was far to large and unwieldy for the UK - sent it back to USMC.
Graham_S
23-10-2005, 23:00
i've got three of them.
great kit
[QUOTE=Dunelm]I use the black/OG shemagh as my main scarf in the winter. Its quite light, very warm and doesnt chaff like fleece or wool.
A mate went over in 03-04 to Afghanastan to instruct Afghan Cav. Scouts. I ask him prior to departing the states to send one back, he sent, on ein OD/Black,and sevral lighter ones . The od/black serves me also in winter. Great piece of kit. Im going to try and collect a tan/black one ,also
I
We should try to find all the uses of the shemagh, like Hitch Hikers guide (except no with towels). In case you didnt know, the babel fish was in the hitck Hikers guide!
I used to wear one of these when I was younger and on a large numnber of demonstrations. One could cover face and head against those police-photographers anmd waterthrowers. :)
Nowadays its a fashion-article, those unpolitical and consume-happy younbgster dont even know what it means. :(
gregorach
24-10-2005, 16:48
One could cover face and head against those police-photographers anmd waterthrowers. :)
Yeah, if you try that these days they tend to declare S45 (I think) of the Terrorism Act and arrest you for covering your face.
They're still darn good against the midges though. :)
I used to wear one of these when I was younger and on a large numnber of demonstrations. One could cover face and head against those police-photographers anmd waterthrowers. :)
Nowadays its a fashion-article, those unpolitical and consume-happy younbgster dont even know what it means. :(
....whilst some understand it to be a traditonal middle eastern headress used to keep the blistering sun and sand at bay...rather than a anarchic political symbol
:BlueTeamE
:240:
Roy's Badger
31-10-2005, 11:53
For the 'square shemaghs:
1. Fold material diagonally, so it is a triangle in shape.
2. Put on head, longest side across your forehead, with other point down your back.
3. The locals secure theirs with a purpose made 'ring'- elastic works just as well.
4. Et voila! You can now tuck one of the points up into the loop/elastic on the opposite side of your head, wrapping it around your face. Then wrap the other point around your shoulders, covering your neck.
I have used shemaghs several times in the desert, and they are very effective at keeping your head cool, much better than a hat. Learn from the locals...
It is also possible to wear it without the loop:
1. Tie a knot in one end.
2. Put knot in centre of forehead, with all other material over your bonce.
3. Twist the material at the back of your head a couple of times, make sure it's tight.
4. Wrap the remaining material round your neck, face and tuck it into the main material on top of your head, on the opposite side to where it came over your shoulder.
Ok, but you don't get the advantage of the 2-layer/air gap that the first method provides. Looks cool, mind... :cool:
havingagiraffe
31-10-2005, 12:28
For the 'square shemaghs:
1. Fold material diagonally, so it is a triangle in shape.
2. Put on head, longest side across your forehead, with other point down your back...................
Thanks for the top information. :You_Rock_