Solo piping headwear?

[Bram]

I tend always to wear a glen, unless in black tie.

[el gaitero]

"Have I missed any?"

I didn't realize we had photoshopping back in the day......

[pancelticpiper]

...the band bought a bunch of pith helmets, which nobody likes the look of.

Back to the topic, a pith helmet would not be a good look for a solo gig, in my opinion, unless in a remake of Gunga Din.

We had a band that wore those!! It was back in the late 1970s as I recall.

Seems like they wore them in competition, guessing from this photo. I wonder what the judges thought.

It's odd that they're wearing a purely civilian tartan along with Boer War style helmets and tunics.

Also at that time diced hosetops and spats would have been worn.

[pancelticpiper]

Here's the original uniform that band seems to be inspired by.

Note a bit of crossover with the "playing the pipes on the wrong side" thread.

[North Idaho Piper]

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.

My old band wore Balmorals which is what I thought these were. I've never heard of a hat called a "Mackie". Where did you buy your hats?

Thanks, Karl

[pancelticpiper]

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

We have a solo competitor/piping judge here who has been known to wear a pirate hat at competitions.

(9) John Partanen Plays A Pirates Life for Me - YouTube

I've never seen him in full pirate getup like that. When he's judging he wears an ordinary kilt outfit, but with a pirate hat.

BTW his version of that tune is horrid. I don't know why pipers insist on putting in tons of wrong notes.

[pancelticpiper]

My old band wore Balmorals which is what I thought these were. I've never heard of a hat called a "Mackie". Where did you buy your hats?

Thanks, Karl

I bought them from Mackie

Robert Mackie is a firm in Scotland which has made Balmorals and Glengarries for the British army and for civilian use since 1845.

They recently announced that they have ceased bonnet production. There's a thread in this Beer Tent forum that goes into the details.

Robert MacKie is closing their headwear division [BUT...] - Bob Dunsire Bagpipe Forums

Here are the labels on both of my recently bought Mackies.

Old Mackies, like your old band probably wore, just had the "made in Scotland" label with the size etc. Usually but not always these labels had the Mackie thistle logo.

Only recently did Mackie start adding a 2nd label with the firm name.

Here, in a Balmoral, the added Mackie label appears more or less in the middle. Note the "made in Scotland" size label lacks the Mackie thistle logo.



Here, in a Glengarry, the added Mackie label is sewn into the binding ribbon that goes around the entire bonnet. Note the "made in Scotland" size label includes the Mackie thistle logo.

[Pablopicasso420]

For those of us who just can't bear the idea of the marching mushroom look,

Marching mushrooms vs. angry bakers? I'll take the 'shroom any day!....anything but a glen! I hates 'em. They are the most useless hat on the planet. Hot in summer Cold in winter. No shade and burnt or frozen ears. I simply cannot understand the appeal. Also, I keep mine in the drum case so the damn thing is ready and flat when I need it!

[piper909]

Here's the original uniform that band seems to be inspired by.

Note a bit of crossover with the "playing the pipes on the wrong side" thread.

Quite the interesting photo. Do you have any information about it? It's strange. A&S sporrans, but not the pattern the pipers wore. Two patterns of hose tops. Two distinct types of headgear. Center piper looks very awkward and left side piper is playing corrie-handed but everybody's fingers are in relative sync. Soldiers in the background in various bits of uniform. This poses questions!