Abraham Lincoln was our tallest president.
At 6-foot-4, he towered over people of his era.
But to make himself stand out even more, he wore his famous top hat.
These days, when you think about Abraham Lincoln you can’t help picturing a tall man in a long top hat.
Historians believe that Lincoln first wore a top hat to get attention while campaigning.
Lincoln’s stovepipe hat made him standout.
This was sometimes good and bad.
Throughout the Civil War, Lincoln and his family spent time in a cottage on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home.
This was a retreat located in the countryside outside of Washington, D.C.
Lincoln frequently slipped his security and traveled to the cottage alone.
He even enjoyed lonely moonlight rides to give himself time alone to think.
One evening, during a solo ride to the Soldiers’ Home, an attempt was made on Lincoln’s life.
As he rode slowly, a shooter fired a rifle from about 50 yards away.
Later that night when Lincoln arrived at the cottage he was greeted by Private John Nichols.
Nichols noted Lincoln was not wearing his hat, and the President told him what happened.
Private Nichols and another soldier went to the road where the shooting occurred.
The pair found Lincoln’s hat with a bullet hole in the crown of the hat.
In the end, Lincoln insisted that the whole incident was an accident and demanded the entire matter be kept quiet.
On the night Lincoln died, he dressed for the theater in a silk top hat from Washington hatmaker J. Y. Davis.
And when Lincoln was shot, the hat was found on the floor beside his chair.
Hats have long played a role in fashion and military history.
From Napoleon to Davy Crockett, these men wore hats in military battles that made them stand out.
While these hats didn’t give them a tactical advantage, hats can play a role in helping us survive.
In particular, where I live in Southern Utah, a hat is a necessity in the summer months to protect you from the sun.
Yet, many folks overlook adding a simple hat to their bug out gear.
Hats don’t need to be fancy.
Yet, they’re an easy way to protect your head from the elements.
A baseball cap is a good, simple option.
But, a popular choice of many outdoorsman is the boonie hat.
The boonie hat has its origins during the Vietnam War era.
These hats were first used by Special Forces and Long-Range Reconnaissance Units.
The versatility of the boonie hat made it popular among forces in jungle environments.
It protects your face and head.
And allows heat from your head to vent out through small grommets on the side of the hat.
The boonie hat protects the back of your neck from direct sunlight.
It also reduces the risk of ticks or bugs falling from overhead vegetation.
Finally, the boonie hat can be folded and placed in your pants pocket or rolled and stored in a backpack.
Now, here are a few boonie hats that you may wish to check out…
Rothco Boonie Hat.
Rothco is one of the best options if you want a boonie like the ones worn by the military. It is made to government specifications.
The Rothco Boonie has a cotton and polyester blend.
It is comfortable, durable, breathable, and resistant to small amounts of water.
The hat also has foliage loops around the hat.
These loops allow you to add leaves or other camouflage to the hat.
It also has an adjustable chin strap and 23 vents to keep you cool.
The Rothco Boonie Hat sells for about $20.
Columbia Boonie.
Colombia’s Boonie gives you great sun protection and ventilation.
This makes it the ideal hat for hot, dry weather.
One thing this hat doesn’t have is the foliage loops around the hat.
Instead, the Columbia hat has an added drawstring so you can custom fit it to your head.
So, when you’re at the beach, on a boat, or on a hike…
This hat gives your head UV protection, and helps prevent your face and neck from getting burned.
The Columbia Boonie sells for $30.
Tru-Spec Military Boonie Hat.
If you’ve ever worn a military-issued boonie then you know they’re made to strict standards.
And the Tru-Spec boonie meets current military specifications.
Brass eyelet vents help keep the air flowing under the hat.
It has an adjustable chin strap, and it features the foliage ring on the crown.
The foliage ring allows you to add brush and leaves to help you blend into your surroundings.
And while it’s a military design and style, this hat still comes in many patterns and colors to choose from.
The Tru-Spec Military Boonie sells for around $20.
So, it doesn’t matter if you’re known for your hats or not…
When bugging out, a hat is a simple way to protect you from the elements.
And any of these boonie hats will be a great addition to your gear bag.
