Solo piping headwear?

[iunderwood]

My glen is in need of replacement, but I figured I'd ask: Do you wear anything on your head for gigs? I've always worn a glen, but for less formal occasions I sometimes go without it. I only play solo, so there's no band consideration here.

[EquusRacer]

I do the same...glens for more formal events (or whatever type cap one prefers); without for some others. I never know until I figure out what it is. That said, and opposite, I play mostly in a band or mini-band; rarely solo. When it's solo, it's usually for a friend who has died. In those cases, I've always had on a glen.

[pancelticpiper]

I wear a Glengarry in the band, but solo I either wear the plain black Mackie that I got around 1980, or the "fawn" diced Mackie I got in 2021.

My outfits at a Memorial Day service, and at an outdoor wedding.

[Pip01]

Greetings to All,

Living in this Old Stone Cave... as I do... most
usually... I wear a dark green or blue Balmoral...
and being a Brythonic Celt... many times I wear
a dark blue, black, or dark green... Balmoral-type
beret... with a dark green toorie... on the top. :-)

And... and alas... being the cultural product of
those Brythonic Celts... the right side... is the high
and prominent side... where unit designations, and
other emblems... are worn.

In a band?? We all wear what the band wears. :-)

But on my own?? I greatly appreciate... and employ...
the wide range of Kit & Gear... available to and for...
solo pipers... to best be able... to match... what ever
occasion... may be at hand.

Trusting that All... may find... and use... what ever
Kit & Gear... best suits their personal preferences. :-)

Regards to All,

Pip01

[Lochie]

Just did a funeral....wearing a Glen...
It fits in my argylle jacket inner pocket...
I'm lazy that way...but it's always on hand....

[EquusRacer]

Just did a funeral....wearing a Glen...
It fits in my argylle jacket inner pocket...
I'm lazy that way...but it's always on hand....

It also goes nicely under an epaulet. If no jacket, I slip it under my waist belt.

[Jens Olsen]

I also wear some type of headwear, whenever I perform on the Highland Pipes. For me, it is always a Glengarry.

I think any type of head wear, will enhance the look, and make the event seem a bit more formal, in a good way.

[Billy Boy]

Jens, I can't completely agree with "any type of headwear, will enhance the look, and make any event seem more formal."

Hats which I believe make any event seem less formal: baseball hat, cowboy hat, beanies with propellors on top.

Have I missed any?

[Jens Olsen]

Jens, I can't completely agree with "any type of headwear, will enhance the look, and make any event seem more formal."

Hats which I believe make any event seem less formal: baseball hat, cowboy hat, beanies with propellors on top.

Have I missed any?

Well, when I said "any type", that was not specific enough
what I meant, was any type of headwear that is usually worn with highland dress. That being Glengarrys, Balmorals, and types like that.

[pancelticpiper]

"Have I missed any?"

[Billy Boy]

That is some wild 'n whacky headgear, panceltic! Astonishing.

Buddy sporting the ancient bonnet certainly thinks it's most formal. Sure would keep the sun and rain off the head.

[johnsog]

Someone in our band wore a really shoddy-looking straw hat for hot-weather parades until the band bought a bunch of pith helmets, which nobody likes the look of. We agreed that the temperature must be at least 90 before those are dusted off for a parade and, until then, we wear glens. For those of us who just can't bear the idea of the marching mushroom look, we are permitted to dispense with the lid and go bare headed. Back to the topic, a pith helmet would not be a good look for a solo gig, in my opinion, unless piping/drumming as an extra in a remake of Gunga Din.

[Andrew Evans]

bagpiper pirate.png
lots of options for headwear - depends on the gig

[EquusRacer]

For those of us who just can't bear the idea of the marching mushroom look, we are permitted to dispense with the lid and go bare headed. Back to the topic, a pith helmet would not be a good look for a solo gig, in my opinion, unless piping/drumming as an extra in a remake of Gunga Din.

We had pith helmets years ago. Actually, I found the rather hot.

As for sans lids, we, like many of you, will be playing on SPD and inside a crowded establishment. I'm calling for no lids. Besides, some in our band (especially many of the females) love wearing silly headgear, like green antennae. Yes, a case can be made that it's disrespectful to our uniform; but the gig is silly enough; and I don't care, other than not wanting to have (and possibly losing) caps.

[piper909]

Wow, I thought I was the only one who'd once marched in a band that had pith helmets (aka solar topees; foreign service helmets). generally this was only done once a year, for July 4 parades (in Austin, TX) when the PM wanted a "military" look (so also, white spats and dice hosetops). With khaki shirts and Royal Stuart kilts. I kinda like the look myself, definitely gives off that vintage military vibe, but the helmets often didn't fit people well and tended to roll around on your sweaty head and become a nuisance and that bass drone was always knocking it askew. So all in all not a practical headgear for pipers. (I have similar thoughts about the "Tommy helmet", how did those pipers in battle order keep the rim of the steel pot from scuffing up their bass drone?)