Check Your Gear: BOONIE HATS

January 22, 2023 Vol. I, Issue 4

Welcome to the first post about clothing and gear.  Today we’re talking about one of my favorite pieces of headgear for adventuring…the Boonie Hat!

Although I can find no evidence for it, in my opinion, the boonie hat can trace its roots to the old military campaign hat.  Campaign hats were formerly worn by the US Army and Marine Corps on…well…campaigns.  One definition of “campaign” is a military field operation.  These hats were drab in color and had a wide brim to protect the wearer against the sun and rain.  The campaign hat is, itself, a descendant of the old Cavalry Stetson.  Wide-brimmed hats were a favorite of the military and adventurers alike for their function and style.  When you think of General Custer, Teddy Roosevelt, General “Blackjack” Pershing, and Indiana Jones, they all sport a broad-brimmed hat.

In today’s military, the campaign hat is only worn by Drill Sergeants (US Army), Drill Instructors (USMC), and Military Training Instructors (USAF).  It’s no longer part of the regular uniform.  But forces on the ground and explorers worldwide still wanted and needed a hat to protect them from the harsh elements…and they found in the boonie hat.

The word “boonie” comes from the US military slang term “boondocks” which now refers to remote places.  It’s originally derived from the Tagalog word bundoc meaning “mountain.”

The boonie has officially gone by many designations throughout its military history from Vietnam to today:

• Hat, Jungle, with Insect Net
• Hat, Camouflage (Tropical Combat) Type II
• Hat, Sun” or “Hat, Sun, Hot Weather

No matter what the “official” nomenclature was, we always called it a boonie hat.  In the military, it’s only authorized for wear while actually on deployment.  Don’t let the First Sergeant catch you wearing it in garrison!

Ok, enough history…let’s talk about the hat itself!!!

I’m not going to debate different brands vs surplus vs your super custom Job.  I’m just going to talk about some pros and cons and why I like to wear them.  Deal?  Ok, let’s go!

Boonie hats come in a huge variety of sizes, styles, colors, and patterns.  There is literally one that will go with anything you have if that’s important to you.  Some have snaps to keep the sides of the brim up cowboy or Ausie style.  Others have “branch loops” around the base so you can weave in foliage for extra camouflage.  Just go on your favorite online shopping site and you’ll see what I mean.

I wore many varieties of boonie hat during my military career.  Mostly because in my 24 years the Pentagon couldn’t decide on a particular camo pattern and stick with it!  I wore a woodland pattern in Bosnia in the 90s, three-color desert (DCU) in the Middle East, NWU Type III in the Riverines (my favorite), and finally MultiCam (OCP) in Afghanistan.  Now I have a solid green nylon boonie with some “extras” I’ll talk about later.

First, the old government issue hats. 

My OCP hat from my time in Afghanistan has a 2½ inch brim.  I think this was standard with all the older versions.  A lot of “operators” would trim it down a bit for better visibility.  The “GI” hats all have branch loops but some commercial varieties don’t.  These also have metal mesh grommets for ventilation and a string “chin strap.”  We usually used the string to prop up the sites cowboy style. 

That’s right…Tacti-coooooool!

In 2010 the US Navy brought into service the Navy Working Uniform (NWU) Type III.  This was a replacement for those of us that formerly wore the woodland pattern uniform.  I was in the Coastal Riverine Forces at the time so I was lucky enough to get them. 

Side note…best uniform I EVER…and I mean EVER…wore!!!

The NWU Type III boonie has a 2¼ inch brim.  It has branch loops as well, but these are in the same pattern as the hat similar to the USMC (MARPAT) hats.  A nice touch.  The chin strap has a spring loaded adjuster instead of a small piece of leather like the older styles.  Another nice touch is the addition of fleece-like fabric in the inside front and the top to soak up sweat.  In my opinion, a lot of thought went into the design of this hat.  It was, by far, my favorite during my years in uniform. 

Thanks, Pentagon…for once!

Now that I’m retired…thank you for my service…I have a bit of an eversion to wearing camouflage.  In recent years I’ve bought some new boonies.

Since I live in the tropics, I bought boonie style hat at my local department store.  It’s green, has four sewn eyelets and some integrated mesh for ventilation.  The string is a lot longer than my issue hats but has the plastic spring loaded adjuster.  It has a brand name label, but considering where I am, this may or may not be accurate.  The only modifications I made were a patch on the front and having elastic sewn in the inside for a better fit.  It’s floppier than the military ones due to the larger brim but I don’t mind.

As a retirement “job” I volunteer with a national humanitarian organization as an EMS instructor.  In this capacity I’m frequently outside teaching in the elements or involved in disaster relief.  What do I wear for that?  Yup…a boonie.  This one is the same as the green one except for some different patches.  Both of these hats lack the branch loops.

The last type boonie in my current collection I found on a popular online shopping site.  It also has a 3 inch brim but the inside feels like foam so it holds its shape much better than the traditional hats.  The crown is a lightweight nylon; the bottom half being solid and the upper half mesh. 

I really like this hat!

It has some additional features that are really cool too…

What makes this boonie so extra is it has a hook-in piece that covers your neck.  The British called this a neck curtain which tied onto the pith helmets when they were in service.  This neck curtain eliminates the need to wear a scarf around your neck for sun protection.

But what about the sun on your face?

You’re not going to believe this but…

IT HAS A MESH FACE COVER TOO!!!

Yes, there’s also a hook-in face cover made of see-through mesh to protect you from looking like a lobster after a long day at the beach or on the water.  I used the face cover out on the boat as a lifeguard as part of a water rescue class.

Told you this hat was cool!

Both of these add-ons have small hooks for easy removal, but I prefer to just tuck them inside the hat when not in use.  This one is also sans branch loops.  I haven’t made any modifications to this hat…yet.

But wait, there’s more…

There are lots of videos out there showing how people have personalized their boonies.  I haven’t done any of these things but feel free to experiment.

Like I said earlier, some people trim down the brim for better visibility.  I get it, but I think this defeats the purpose of the hat.  If there’s a reason you need to do this you can always roll it up in the front.

I saw a video of someone who fed a wire through the outer edge of the brim so they could shape it better. 

Stylin’, Bruh…but I don’t think it’s necessary. 

Ok, ok, I tried it but just couldn’t get the wire all the way around and gave up. HaHa! 

The only real reason I would do this is to maybe keep a little wire on you to use in trapping for survival.

Some after-market hats have what they call a “map pocket” sewn in the top on the inside.  This might be useful, but not for maps.  I think you’d sweat through your map and ruin it.  But, I think it would be great for a small, flat flexible magnifying sheet for fire starting or, perhaps a handkerchief. 

Finally, my favorite addition to a boonie hat is some length of cordage (see, “The 10 “C’s” of survival, Pt. 1”).  I haven’t done this, yet but, it’s easy to attach up to 50 feet of paracord to your hat like a hatband.  It can be woven through the branch loops secured by other means.  I promise, once I do this I will have a post on it.

I know in the beginning I said pros and cons, but I can’t think of any real cons to wearing a boonie hat when you’re off adventuring and the climate is right for it.  If you don’t have a boonie, go out and get one.  Leave the world of ubiquitous ball cap wearers and join us in the “boondocks!”

See you around the campfire!