What was the “pith” in a helmet?

[Chefguy]

My avatar wears a toque, but you wouldn’t catch a Canadian wearing one.

[Leo_Bloom]

This is a thread of great pith and moment.

[DesertDog]

@brossa

I have a modern pith helmet, made in Vietnam. It’s cloth covered on both inside and out, and is about 3/8" to 1/2" thick. It’s light and rigid. Because my head is more oval than most, it was digging in at my brow and the back of my head, so I figured that I’d shave some material away in those places and get a look at the inside of the helmet to boot.

I bought a Vietnamese pith helmet last year* that was “one size fits most” and had the same trouble with my size 7 noggin. It was way too tight fore and aft so I didn’t even consider dissecting it and gave it to a friend on whom it fit just fine.

*Imported into Germany, thence in some mysterious way to Great Britain where it was offered on Amazon. Shopping is truly getting international.

[Chefguy]

@Leo_Bloom

This is a thread of great pith and moment.

And full of pith and vinegar.

[Kobal2]

The original question having been answered, allow me a follow-up : how were pith helmets as, yanno, *helmets *? Because to my mind if they’re made of something resembling balsa or styrofoam, that can’t have protected one’s head from very much, can it ?

@Colibri

Care in the spelling of headwear is definitely warranted. For example, you should avoid wearing a baklava

Don’t kinkshame.

@ChefGuy

My avatar wears a toque, but you wouldn’t catch a Canadian wearing one.

Attache ta tuque avec d’la broche !