In my experience, the shemagh is a tool with limitless potential. I have personally used these for multiple purposes. My personal opinion is that an experienced outdoors person will want to carry a shemagh, (aka keffiyah), at all times.
This blog post is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of the uses of a shemagh. The intent is to give enough information to allow your creative juices to flow. Let’s get right into it!
Shemagh as a Head Covering
People generally associate the use of a shemagh as a head covering. This is a very common use and is potentially the primary use worldwide. The shemagh provides great sun protection for those with sensitive skin or a lack of other head covering. I can get a sunburn very easily find. In my experience, my shemagh provides good protection from the sun and wind.
Dust Mask
I had the opportunity to serve scouts and scouters from around the world at an event in 2019. During this event, I drove a UTV on some very hot dry days over some incredibly dusty roads. The dust was incredibly fine and so bad that several people needed medical attention. The dust was generated by all of the traffic and even the wind played a roll. Since I was in an open air vehicle there was no filters to use for protection. The shemagh came in very handy as a dust mask during that 2 week event.
Shemagh Warming Wrap
The shemagh is a fantastic source of heat retention. I know. I know. “Cotton Kills” and quality shemagh’s are made out of cotton. This option is intended as a supplement to any other system/s you are using. In my experience, this tool works really well as a shawl. It serves as an air trapping layer when you need that little something extra for warmth.
Carrying Tool
When you are looking to collect that kindling for your fire, your shemagh will make a great “basket.” I have used my shemagh as a laundry basket and a grocery bag. The shemagh is good for gathering any small items around camp or home.
Towel
Forgot the towel? Shemagh to the rescue! Use it as a towel and hang it up on the clothesline. Or… use it as a cooling rag on a hot day.
Wash Cloth/Dish Rag
The shemagh with a little soap and water does the trick as a wash cloth or dish rag.
Sun Shade
Take the shemagh and hang it between trees or in a shelter system and create extra shade. Use 550 cord or bank line tied to the corners to make this a hands free shade.
Shemagh Backpack
Taking a short hike for a picnic? How does it work? Tie two opposite corners together on both ends. These are not opposite corners diagonally, but are opposite, straight across, from each other. Now pack lunch into the pouch that you just created by tying the corners together. Next, place one arm through one loop and the other arm through the second loop. Now you’re ready to go! And just for fun you could pack drinks and a ground cover in this “backpack” too. This backpack will carry more than you think. It is not going to work well for any kind of long trek, but for a short hike or picnic, perfect!
Fire Tender
Since most shemagh’s are made out of cotton, strands of thread from the perimeter make great fire tender. When hiking in a storm, store the cloth inside your raincoat or pack. This keeps the tender dry for starting the fire! When you prepare to gather the threads for the tender, think about loose ends and edges.
Loose ends may be loose threads anywhere on the shemagh. Commercially made options generally have a series of knots with fringe. On the DIY version, there won’t be much if any “fringe.” Carefully remove several threads from one or two sides of the shemagh. I do not recommend that you cut pieces off of the edges or corners. Cutting into the edges or corners reduces the overall usefulness of the shemagh.
Hobo Bag
The shemagh has been shown above to work as a backpack. It can also be used as a hobo bag to carry whatever. The sky is the limit in regards to what can be carried. The Hobo bag keeps one hand free at all times.
Water filter
A rudimentary water system should have all kinds of filters and or strainers. The cloth serves as a filter for medium and large debris when collecting water for purification. This is only a first step in a water purification system. THIS WILL NOT REMOVE ANY BACTERIA/VIRUS/PROTAZOA etc. Boiling, in my opinion, is the best final solution to water purification in the field.
Shemagh BONUS
You can spend about $9-20 plus shipping to purchase your own OR you can DIY this tool. (Coming soon a post on how to make your own with a video)