The Value of A Good Pith Helmet

Creative Commons picture by octopushat.

Pop a pith helmet on your head and you officially look like a badass.

The word around the water cooler is that Europeans once thought they required a pith helmet to survive in the tropics. The story was that they lacked the natural immunity to the harsh tropical sun that the locals had. As my great grandfather would always say “when you discover that you have a annoyingly serious innate vulnerability, and you will, just turn it into a fashion statement that reminds people of your badass-ness.” Which is apparently the course of action that people of European descent took in this case.

It is true that people with lighter skin are more vulnerable to the sun than those with darker skin. However, that is about where the truth of this story stops. Extended time in the sun damages everyone. No one is safe! To avoid this damage it can be a good idea to wear a wide brimmed hat. Ones that aren’t too heavy (like pith helmets) tend to feel the best. But, for those who don’t care about “feeling” and “best” steel hats block the sun and exercise the neck.