Shemagh (Keffiyeh) Scarf: Why I Travel With One
Travel Gear
One of my favorite & most used pieces of travel gear. The Shemagh or Keffiyeh is an incredible multi-use essential tool when traveling. I always have one with me.
The Shemagh (pronounced “shamay” or “schmog“) is a soft piece of woven cotton cloth, kind of like a giant heavyweight bandana.
You can also think of it as a smaller (yet thicker) sarong.
You may recognize it as a traditional headscarf in many Arab nations. Unfortunately, ignorance in the world runs rampant, and because of this the Shemagh often gets a bad rap.
Once you start using one though, you’ll quickly discover those Arabs sure knew what they were doing when they created these!
In my opinion it’s more useful than a bandana, plus more convenient & durable than a sarong. In fact I’d argue the shemagh has 101 different uses…
Shemagh Uses
- Dust Protection. Cover your face on motorcycles, trucks, and chicken buses.
- Sun Protection. Great for when you’re stranded in mid-day heat without shade. Especially if you’re bald (like me).
- Towel. Small, lightweight, fast drying, but thick enough get the job done.
- Ground Cloth. Keep your butt clean & dry when sitting on the ground.
- Warmth. Wrap it around your neck as a scarf to keep warm.
- Bag. Put stuff in middle, tie corners together. Instant hobo sack.
- Sarong. Wrap around your waist for modesty. Shorter than a normal one.
- Sweat Rag. Great for hiking, running, or other sweat-inducing activities.
- Arm Sling. Sprain a wrist or break an arm? Temporary immobilization.
- Emergency Bandage. Help stop bleeding & protect the wound.
- Pillow. Thick & soft enough to ball up & use for bus rides/camping trips.
- Weapon. Twist big rock up in the middle. Swing away. Instant self-defense tool!
- Concealment. Often used to hide my camera in questionable neighborhoods.
- Rope. Long enough to be rolled up to tie things together.
- Water Filter. Fold multiple times & filter debris out of water before boiling.
- Pot Holder. Take that boiling water you just filtered off the fire.
- Keeping Cool. Soak in cold water and wrap around your neck.
- Signal Flag. Large enough to wave and get someone’s attention.
- Blanket. Decent for covering your upper or lower body.
- Eye Mask. Sleep during the day or in a hostel when lights are on.
These are only a few of the Shemagh’s many applications.
This simple piece of cloth is so practical that Australian, British, Irish, Thai, and even US Special Forces all issue the Shemagh to their troops!
I’ve been traveling the world for the past 7 years with my Shemagh, to over 50 countries like Iceland, Fiji, Mexico, Cuba, Greenland, Israel, and even Afghanistan. It’s one of my most useful pieces of travel gear.
So if you don’t have one yet because you’re worried about what people will think, get over yourself and find out what you’ve been missing. ★
Bonus Video! How To Tie A Shemagh Headscarf
(Click to watch How To Tie A Shemagh Headscarf on YouTube)
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your trip. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other useful travel accessories.
Book Your Flight
Book cheap flights on Skyscanner, my favorite airline search engine to find deals. Also read my tips for how I find the cheapest flights.
Rent A Car
Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent local apartments on Airbnb ($35 discount!). Read my post for tips on booking cheap hotels.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.
READ MORE TRAVEL TIPS
I hope you enjoyed my article on why I travel with a Shemagh (Keffiyeh) Scarf! Hopefully you found it useful. Here are a few more wanderlust-inducing articles that I recommend you read next:
- How To Save Money On Accommodation
- 25 Important Travel Safety Tips
- How To Start A Successful Travel Blog
- What Do I Pack In My Backpack?
Can you think of any other uses for a scarf? Do you use them? Drop me a message in the comments below!
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