Pith helmet

A pith helmet is a common, especially in the tropical and subtropical countries headgear for protection against sunlight and / or rain. In addition, the pith helmet can also provide some mechanical protection against falling objects, which may for example be in the jungle with larger tree fruits (like coconuts ) is an advantage.

The helmet consists of a forming core of cork, pith, plastic or paper mache and a generally textile coating. The French form has an approximate hemispherical shape with an attached rotating, slightly inclined downwards flat screen, often with chin strap and small vent cap on the ridge. The British form is reminiscent of the helmet of an English patrol officers (Bobby ). The coatings are either light in color ( the reflection of sunlight ) or camouflage according to the intended use for the environment (for example yellow, safari, khaki, different shades of green ).

Pith helmets belong to the stereotype of European explorers and colonizers in Africa and Asia. The local people preferred other ( the traditions of their people appropriate ) headgear. But there are also areas where the local population pith helmets bears, so in northern Vietnam ( in particular, men, women wearing rice straw hats ). For the first time pith helmets were used in 1868 by British colonial troops during the campaign in Ethiopia and worn by both infantry and cavalry of. Within a few decades, most colonial powers followed the British example. It was used commonly helmets made ​​of cork with fabric cover in khaki.