# Do Pith Helmets Keep You Cool? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 2, 2009, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102 "2009-11-02T22:14:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/1 "2009-11-02T22:14:18Z")
When you look at those old 1930’s Tarzan movies, the white explorers are all wearing pith helmets. These are pretty heavy-I saw one once. They have a lining of a cork-likesubstance (pith) which is supposed to keep your head cooler. Are these helmets any better than, say, a baseball cap? ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/2 "2009-11-02T22:18:47Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > When you look at those old 1930’s Tarzan movies, the white explorers are all wearing pith helmets. These are pretty heavy-I saw one once. They have a lining of a cork-likesubstance (pith) which is supposed to keep your head cooler. Are these helmets any better than, say, a baseball cap? Yes, they work. They aren’t heavy, though, they are made of cork and fabric. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/3 "2009-11-02T22:25:56Z")
They are very light weight, and when worn properly have a gap under them that allows air to circulate around your scalp. Very comfortable, even if my daughters don’t like to be seen with me during the summer. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/4 "2009-11-02T22:57:29Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > Very comfortable, even if my daughters don’t like to be seen with me during the summer. So you are saying when you wear one, your daughters don’t want to be seen around you and are pithed off? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/5 "2009-11-02T23:03:50Z")
Such a pithy response. Mine is quite comfortable. I wear it gardening. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/6 "2009-11-02T23:11:49Z")
They make you _look_ cool. 🆒 OK, maybe ‘interesting’ would be a better word. Fine. ‘Eccentric’. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/7 "2009-11-02T23:35:30Z")
The pith, as well as the purgee (headband) is absorbent, so if saturated with water will keep your head cool through evaporation. (Which wasn’t an option for the Americans in WWII, who wore molded cardboard pith helmets) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/8 "2009-11-02T23:37:16Z")
Dependth how warm the pith ith. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/9 "2009-11-02T23:38:06Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > So you are saying when you wear one, your daughters don’t want to be seen around you and are pithed off? It is better to be pithed off than to be pithed on. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/10 "2009-11-02T23:39:22Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > The pith, as well as the purgee… [nitpick] Puggaree. Also, pugaree or puggree. [/nitpick] . ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/11 "2009-11-03T00:36:55Z")
The boyfriend has one that he loves. He does sometimes wet it, and says it’s a very efficient cooling method. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/12 "2009-11-03T00:52:39Z")
Dammit! Too late! 🙂 I _was_ gonna say, if the pith ith frohthen. A couple years ago, The Sharper Image sold a plastic neck band which, if you poured water into one spongy side would keep your neck (and theortically) your head. [http://www.amazon.com/Sharper-Image-Personal-Cooling-System/dp/B000XO2LNC](http://www.amazon.com/Sharper-Image-Personal-Cooling-System/dp/B000XO2LNC) I _think_ it’s downstairs in a box with some other exercise stuff. If I can find it, I’d be glad to send it to ya as a gift. Let me know! 🙂 Q ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/13 "2009-11-03T01:26:01Z")
A friend of mine makes those things with that absorbent jelly-stuff in a cloth tube. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/14 "2009-11-03T01:40:29Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > Dammit! Too late! 🙂 > > I _was_ gonna say, if the pith ith frohthen. > > A couple years ago, The Sharper Image sold a plastic neck band which, if you poured water into one spongy side would keep your neck (and theortically) your head **COOL**. > > [http://www.amazon.com/Sharper-Image-Personal-Cooling-System/dp/B000XO2LNC](http://www.amazon.com/Sharper-Image-Personal-Cooling-System/dp/B000XO2LNC) > > I _think_ it’s downstairs in a box with some other exercise stuff. If I can find it, I’d be glad to send it to ya as a gift. Let me know! 🙂 > > Q Edited to add the word “cool” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/15 "2009-11-03T02:38:39Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > A couple years ago, The Sharper Image sold a plastic neck band which, if you poured water into one spongy side would keep your neck (and theortically) your head. > > [http://www.amazon.com/Sharper-Image-Personal-Cooling-System/dp/B000XO2LNC](http://www.amazon.com/Sharper-Image-Personal-Cooling-System/dp/B000XO2LNC) > > I _think_ it’s downstairs in a box with some other exercise stuff. If I can find it, I’d be glad to send it to ya as a gift. Let me know! 🙂 I haven’t tried ths edition of the neck cooler, but I did try another version SI made. That version was all metal and ridiculously expensive ($200 if I recall correctly). That version was amazing, and very effective. No water or breeze came in contact with your neck - only the metal, which was cooled by the water and fan inside of it. And, of course, none of these things work well when the humidity is high. That would make pith helmets a lot better in the desert than the jungle. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/16 "2009-11-03T03:09:07Z")
I’ve been using this [solar powered pith helmet](http://www.uberreview.com/2006/02/the-solar-powered-cooling-pith-helmet.htm) for years, with good results vis a vis cooling. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/17 "2009-11-03T06:22:21Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I’ve been using this [solar powered pith helmet](http://www.uberreview.com/2006/02/the-solar-powered-cooling-pith-helmet.htm) for years, with good results vis a vis cooling. What is your hat size? They don’t seem to come in multiple sizes. ---
**Author:** ![Wheeljack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@Wheeljack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheeljack)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/18 "2009-11-03T09:00:31Z")
It doesn’t just keep you cool, it keeps you _awesome_. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/19 "2009-11-03T09:06:42Z")
I have a Zulu War-style Pith Helmet and can confirm they do indeed keep you cool, although my wife won’t let me wear it in public. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102/20 "2009-11-03T12:15:33Z")
Martini-- try the Aloha Shirt/ pith helmet combination. Chicks dig it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-pith-helmets-keep-you-cool/516102.md?page=2)