Bandanas: The Swiss Army Knife of Cloth

Bandanas get a thumbs-up from me any day of the week! A simple piece of cloth with a rich history, whether you're a seasoned outdoorsman, a boy scout, or hiking through the woods, never leave home without one. It could just save your life!      

Every season folks practice archery, sight in rifles, rough up slates, try various diaphragms so they sound less like dying ducks, tune calls, grab two compasses, GPS, first aid, etc. For all the bells and whistles flooding our minds, they forget one thing, as did I and remembered as I was getting settled in my favorite hunting spot. No, it wasn’t the latest upgrade for onX Hunt, which I thank every year for putting me in contact with kind neighbors willing to share their land. There’s my promo, wink, wink.

The bandana is probably the most overlooked piece of survival equipment that could literally save a life. Our grandparents hunted simply: plaid jackets, Dickies or blue jeans, their rifle and one or two quality knives, and a handkerchief or bandana. While that last item may seem of obvious use while reminiscing, it was standard. There’s plenty of good reasons cowboys and soldiers carried bandanas and why you should, too.

The bandana is the Swiss army knife of cloth. Its function can be as simple as keeping bugs out of your mouth, dust out of your nose, or a headband to keep sweat out of your eyes. But with a variety of sizes and colors comes the myriad treasure trove we should revisit, and not just for hunting. Whether you’re planning a fishing trip or a hike in the woods, include several bandanas to have on hand.

           Surprisingly, the bandana has quite a history unknown to most. Bandanas, or handkerchiefs, are thought to have originated from South Asia and the Middle East in the late 17th Century, with bandana coming from the Hindi word bā?dhnū or badhnati, meaning “to tie” or “tied bound cloth”. By the 18th Century, the word became Anglicized by Portuguese as “banannoes”, referring to cotton handkerchiefs.

           Martha Washington, by recommendation of Benjamin Franklin, made this cloth popular after having an image of her husband, George Washington, printed on handkerchiefs even with a British ban on textile printing in place. John Hewson, the printmaker, was happy to oblige as an act of defiance to British law.

           The most common iconic print is that of paisley, thought to have originated in the Scottish town of Paisley, where many paisley fabric was produced. Contrary to popular belief, it’s been determined the origin was probably Kashmir, which was once part of the Persian Empire. The design, or “boteh” as it was called in Persia, has several meanings, such as bush, thicket, bramble or herb. Other cultures describe it as a palm leaf, cluster of leaves, a flower bud. The boteh design dates back two thousand years ago where it reached India, referred by them as “buta”.

           The woven cloths with buta prints were imported into Europe and worn by women as shawls and showed great status. Demand outweighed supply, and many European (particularly English and Scottish) companies began producing their own similar shawls. The teardrop design was known in France as “tadpoles”, in Wales as “Welsh pears”, and in America as “Persian pickles”.

           The traditional Turkey red varied in process, but most manufacturers bathed the cloth in a combination of sheep’s dung, madder root, bullocks’ blood and urine. The odd combination produced the highly valuable color that wouldn’t fade in sunlight or repeated washings. Otherwise known as colorfast, this term would not be made popular until 1916. The white dots were produced by a bleaching process where chlorine was forced through perforated lead plates.

           West Virginia coal miners in 1921 wore red bandanas as a unifying symbol of demanding unions and workers’ rights, hence the popularization of the term, “redneck”. And who could forget Rosie the Riveter, with her red bandana in her hair on the iconic World War II poster.

           Throughout the centuries, this piece of cloth has maintained not only political stature but a handy sporting item everyone should carry. Lightweight and taking up very little room in a pocket, bag or tied to a person, you have at your disposal (literally, when used as toilet paper) an item with no less than a hundred uses and counting. Regardless of the dyeing process, they are colorfast and will not fade, as evidenced by several that have survived a few generations and runny noses.

           As an essential for first aid, they can be made into slings, wound covers when sterile bandages are not handy, or skin protection for preventing or covering burns. Strips of the cloth can be used as tinder for campfires or to pack large wounds that will require suturing, or strips for cordage to bind materials together for a makeshift shelter.

           In the event of uncontrolled bleeding, they can be used as a tourniquet. For serious injuries, like a femoral artery laceration, the bandana can be wadded up and stuffed into the wound and covered with another and tied tight, slowing bleeding even when it seeps through to the surface, known as “strike through”. Better to lose limb than life. Also, if bitten by a poisonous snake, acting as a tourniquet, the bandana can slow the flow of venom to the heart until medical assistance arrives or can be found.

In the case of hypothermia, they can be soaked in hot water and placed upon the chest to help warm a person’s core, as a neck or mouth cover, or as ear muffs to prevent further heat loss or frostbite. For hyperthermia, dipped in cold water and placed on the head or back of the neck can bring about relief and straight thinking.

           Tied about the head, they can keep out dust for breathing, under a hat to protect the neck from sun exposure, a napkin or towel at camp, to scrub kitchenware, or simply to blow one’s nose, as was one of the initial uses. I remember clearly my grandfather having a handkerchief in his back pocket and occasionally being the recipient of a helping hand as a child. In the event of an eye injury, it can be tied much like a patch.

           For dehydration, a person has only to collect dew in a clean bandana and ring it into their mouths, such as when tied about the knee and walking through tall grasses. It can be used as a primary filter for water, with layer upon layer adding more filtration. While some things will get through, like Giardia, it’s best to be hydrated and increase your survival than to succumb to a slow and horrible death when a simple solution was at hand all along.

When in search of food, a spit net can be made where minnows are around. Simply submerge the bandana and spit on the water’s surface. When minnows are attracted to the topwater salivary secretion, they can be hauled up for protein or used for fishing if traveling with an emergency fishing kit. I carry one in an empty mint tin. Even if it isn’t an emergency situation, I still have a means of testing waters for the occasional lunker when I leave my poles at the homestead.

           Other uses include cracking nuts, making edible acorn meal, or as an oil lamp wick. The list goes on and on, but for all the bells and whistles and advertisements, this trusty piece of equipment may be the Leatherman of the textile world and shouldn’t be forgotten. Inexpensive and lightweight, it should be a mandatory accessory for any outing and who knows, you may be surprised, the one time you remember to bring it may be the time you never leave home without one. Be safe and I’ll see you in the woods!