In almost any adventure film - about the conquerors of safari and impenetrable jungle - you can notice an important attribute that his characters wear - a cork helmet. This “gift from Africa”, a solar helmet or a helmet for a safari, as it was popularly called by people, can actually be not just an element of “tropical surroundings”, but rather widely used in the everyday life of a modern person.
A bit of history
The appearance of this item in everyday life is attributed to the beginning of the 19th century. And already in the 40s, it became quite widespread and takes on a standardized form. The cork helmet in this period of time is a hat made of cork sprouting under the bark of trees and covered with a white cloth cover that protects from the sun.
A model was developed in England specifically for the personnel of the colonial troops who served in the tropics and hot countries. Later, in the 70s, the color of the helmets changed to brown and khaki - this was facilitated by the war with the Zulus. The English police, by the way, to this day use this item of clothing in its full uniform.
The colonial troops of France began to be supplied with similar headdresses (they differed from the English counterparts in wide fields) only in 1878. And in 1881, the USA began to equip their army with cork helmets.
Civil helmet use
And among civilians, a cork helmet has found its application. Photos of models of this headgear, reviews of real users show that it can be quite practical and even necessary thing. It protects the head and face quite well from mechanical damage and can be used for hiking in the forest, on the river, trips to the country. The wide fields of the helmet protect from scratches and damage to the face by knots and from rain, preventing water from entering beyond the collar. According to the owners, getting wet through, being in this headdress, can be done only after three hours of continuous rain. In addition, it is very light, even long wearing does not cause discomfort to the head.
Very often you can find a cork helmet on the inhabitants of Vietnam - for them it has become an ordinary headdress, akin to a panama hat or cap, used in everyday life. For the colonial troops of British soldiers in the Commonwealth, this item is an integral mark of identification. But the constant wearing of a cork helmet by soldiers of the British colonial troops is just a well-established stereotype.
Cork helmet for a child - a subject for games or real protection?
Children are great visionaries, and in their games they often try to imitate the heroes of their favorite films.
A cork helmet bought or made with your own hands will allow the child to feel like a true traveler, an avid hunter and a great conqueror of a safari. Boys who are keen on history will definitely try on the role of a soldier of the French army in Indochina. If we talk about the practical side of the headgear, then here you can note many of its advantages. A helmet is an excellent protector from the hot sun and rain during long rafts and trips, the cork structure perfectly maintains a comfortable head temperature, does not lend itself to deformation and getting wet. If the child is an avid tourist, then making a cork helmet with your own hands for him or buying in a specialized store will be the right decision of caring parents.
Fall and shock protection
You can use such a helmet for very young children. Kids who are actively beginning to learn the world - learn to get up, crawl, walk, inevitably face frequent falls and bumps. If the possibility of injury worries parents, then you can take care of safety in a timely manner. In this case, the cork helmet will do an excellent job of protecting the baby’s head during unsuccessful falls - it will save you from cones and more serious injuries, such as a concussion. But no matter how convenient, easy and comfortable the headgear is, it should be remembered that many babies do not favor them and are trying in every possible way to pull it off their heads. Therefore, before buying it will be wise to try it on the child and understand how much he is ready to be in it.