The brutal summer heat is finally over, and you know what that means. It means, of course, that it’s time for hiking – and getting your bandanas for hiking in order before you hit the trail.

Bandanas are great accessories to have in the backcountry or on the hiking trail because they are so versatile – they are simple, effective, and multi-functional. In fact, there are many ways you can use them and wear them for comfort, protection, and just sheer functionality.

And you’re no longer limited to just a couple of color choices. You can find bandanas in multiple colors and prints, from traditional paisley to flag bandanas to pet-themed bandanas and more. Today, you can get a bandana to perfectly suit your personal preferences and style.

Bandanas are reusable too, an important consideration for anyone who is the least bit environmentally conscious. You don’t use them once and throw them away as you would, say, paper towels.

So let’s get right to it and look at 7 practical uses for hiking bandanas on the trail.

1. Sun Protection

Perhaps the most important use bandanas for hiking lend themselves to is protection from the sun, protection from those damaging, cancer-causing ultraviolet rays. You have several options here, for example, wearing your bandana kerchief style over your head, around your neck cowboy style, or under a hat to protect the back of your neck. The important thing is to cover exposed areas of skin to protect them from UV radiation and sunburn, especially at higher altitudes where the danger is more pronounced.

2. Cooling Aid

You can also use your bandana to help you stay cool during the heat of the day. The best method here is to wet the bandana, wring it out a little, and then wear it covering the back of your neck or under your hat. As the moisture in the bandana evaporates, it will have a cooling effect, thus allowing you to better enjoy your hike on warmer days.

3. Wiping Sweat

And, of course, a bandana serves admirably as a rag for wiping away sweat. Even on winter hikes, you will still perspire owing to the vigorous activity you’re engaged in. And no one wants stinging sweat in their eyes. Just use your bandana as a towel substitute to wipe that sweat off your forehead and face, and keep on trekking.

4. Waste-free Tissue/Napkin

Similarly, you can use a bandana as a waste-free tissue or napkin. Allergies are a common hazard for many hikers, or you may even have the sniffles. In either case, you can use a bandana as a stand-in for tissue to wipe eyes or nose. A quality bandana will be plenty soft enough for the purpose, and then afterward you can take it home and wash it for re-use.

5. Hair Control

A bandana also works well to keep your hair under control and out of your face. The best way to wear your bandana for this purpose is as a bandana headband. Just fold the bandana in half several times until you have a thin band, and then place it across your forehead and tie it in the back – instant hair control that also absorbs sweat to keep it out of your eyes.

6. Emergency Feminine Products

Bandanas for hiking can be used in ways that are perhaps a little indelicate to talk about, but are still a good solution in an emergency situation. And one of these is as emergency feminine products. When the time comes around on the hiking trail and you don’t have your standard feminine products with you, you can always use your bandana in a pinch for the purpose.

7. First Aid

As any experienced hiker can tell you, a bandana can literally be a lifesaver in the backcountry. Falls and other unexpected events that result in injury can happen at any time. You can use a bandana to bind a wound, to apply pressure to stop bleeding, as a sling, and to tie on splints. Really, you should never go hiking without a few bandanas in your backpack.

Even More Uses for Bandanas for Hiking

Bandanas for hiking have many more uses and capabilities that you likely have never even thought of. Here are just some of them . . .

• To help with repelling insect pests when soaked in repellent and worn around your neck or under your hat
• As a fly swatter when clouds of those annoyances appear
• As a washcloth when you want to clean up before crawling into your sleeping bag
• As a face mask to filter out smoke, pollen, and other irritants
• For extra padding on your backpack straps or belt when you need it on those long hikes
• As a hot pad when your hike involves and camping and campfire cooking
• As a trail market to avoid getting lost and as a signal flag if you do
• For pre-filtering drinking water to strain out debris before you treat it with tablets

Additional Observations

As we mentioned early on, one of the most important uses of bandanas for hiking is as protection from UV rays and to guard against sunburn. But you do need to keep a couple of things in mind about using bandanas for this purpose.

Be sure to look for bandanas with a higher Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) to ensure adequate protection from the sun’s rays. This becomes an even more important consideration if you plan to hike at higher altitudes, so try to get bandanas with at least 20 to 30 UPE.

In addition, make sure to cover all exposed areas such as neck, face, and (possibly) hands. This means, of course, that you’ll need to take several bandanas with you to get the job done. And don’t forget a hat and sunglasses to complete your UV protection.

Your Source for Quality, Affordable Bandanas

Bandanas really are (or should be, anyway) an essential part of your hiking gear

So when you’re ready to get your bandanas for hiking, go to the bandana source that offers both quality bandanas and great prices coupled with superior customer service – Bandana.com

Here at Bandana.com, we offer a wide selection of all kinds of headwear, including bucket hats, bandanas, and doo rags. You can get more information about us here.