Lancer Tactical Multi-Purpose Shemagh Face Head Wrap, Light Blue/Black

A 100% cotton shemagh is one of those things that sounds like it should be complicated until you've tied it on and realized it's just a square of fabric that does a dozen jobs. This one from Lancer Tactical is 44 inches to a side, weighs 6 ounces, and comes in light blue and black. It folds into a pocket and unfolds into sun protection, a face filter for dusty fields, a neck scarf when it turns cold, or just a way to stop sweat from running into your eyes. Pick your fold and go.

What it's good for. On a hot field day, wrapped around your head and neck it keeps the sun off skin that would otherwise get burned through your first hour. Folded across your mouth and nose it takes the worst out of dust and sand, and it dries quick enough to rinse and reuse. Sixteen different field configurations exist in the manual of arms for shemaghs, though in practice most people land on three or four that work and stick with them.

Before you buy. Cotton breathes, which is why it's the material of choice for this, but it's not a protective face mask or ballistic-rated anything. The 44-inch cut is the standard size, and the 6-ounce weight means you won't notice it's there until you need it. Comes as just the shemagh.