We all want simple and useful pieces of gear, comfortable and look cool too.
A Shemagh or scarf was not really linked to the description of ”comfort” in my head before. My thoughts were simples: it got a good look I admit, but what the use? Extra clothing equal more body heat and that is something I got enough at this time of the year… hell was I wrong.
It was summer, doing regular paintball, objective: take an enemy fort. I looked around at the building’s windows and doors. Seem I could run in if I hurry and wait for a good timing in the firefight. So getting up and running for the entrance, I did not see this shooter hiding in the shadow behind the first-floor window. I took one hit near the jugular vein the other bull-eye in the Adam’s apple. It was one of the rare time paintball made me drop to my knees. It was so painful plus it would not stop bleeding. I felt dizzy for the following hours after the incident.
During the dinner break, one of my teammates handed me a white a piece of cloth. He said, ” I think you now know why I wear that.” I replied that it could not hurt to try or in this case hurt less. So for the rest of the day I had my first try at what I thought ”a piece of crap” hanging around my neck… and well, it was much more comfy than I believed. Sure it retained some of my body heat but in winter, it does an excellent job, and you can actually use it the other way around in hot temperature by pouring a good quantity of water on it. It will keep your neck wet and so keep your upper-body cool.
Red Shemagh not really discrete but sure look cool and it doing the job
And weeks later the reason I included a shemagh in my equipment happened again. During a military simulation, I was filming and going back to the neutral zone to take a break. I took a turn in a hallway and on his reflex mode, a player said hi by unloading a burst of bullets in my neck…And no pain in fact all paintball that hit my shemagh bounced off and none actually burst. I was happy not having to relive my last experience.
As my friend who gave me my first Shemagh, I will repeat his wise words ” I think you now know why I wear that.”
