Legionnaire hat

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Australian tennis player Marc Polmans wearing the hat Australian Open 2020 (49837297901).jpg
Australian tennis player Marc Polmans wearing the hat

A legionnaire hat, or legionnaires hat, is a wide-brimmed style of hat with a flap designed to provide sun protection for the forehead, ears, neck and shoulders. [1] [2] Known for having a neck flap or a "cape", [3] the wrap-around Legionnaire's hat is most commonly used in Australia. [4] Originating with the French Foreign Legion in the 19th century as a boxy flat cap, the hat was designed to provide maximum protection from the sun, featuring a cap with a brim to shield the face and a flap covering the neck, offering comprehensive protection against sunburn and heat-related illnesses. [5] [6]

Contents

History

French Foreign Legion troops in Morocco wearing a similar hat Fflmorocco.png
French Foreign Legion troops in Morocco wearing a similar hat
A type of legionnaire hat with a fine mesh panel designed to cover the face Legionnaires hat.jpg
A type of legionnaire hat with a fine mesh panel designed to cover the face

The Legionnaire hat, named for the French Foreign Legion—a military unit founded in 1831, originated from the need for effective protection against intense desert sun exposure. The French Foreign Legion was particularly active in North African desert regions, where high temperatures and limited shade posed significant health risks. The hat's extended rear flap was designed to shield the neck from sunburn, helping to reduce heat-related illness among soldiers. [5]

Originally developed for military use, the Legionnaire hat has since become widely adopted in civilian life. It is now commonly worn during Australian summers by outdoor workers, recreational users, and schoolchildren, and is often associated with sun-safety awareness. Modern versions typically feature detachable neck flaps, adjustable cords, and lightweight, breathable materials. Many are manufactured with high ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) fabrics, making them well suited to Australia’s strong sun, while moisture-wicking properties in some designs improve comfort in warm or humid conditions. [5] [7]

Design and use

A legionnaire hat provides coverage for the top of the head, as well as the ears, nose, forehead, chin, cheeks, and the back of the neck. [8] [4] Noted for its distinctive design and functional utility, the hat is produced in a variety of natural and synthetic fabrics, some of which are suitable for use in or near water. [9] In Australia, where sun-safety education is introduced at an early age, the Legionnaire hat is commonly included in school uniforms. [10] [11] Its design provides broad sun protection, particularly for the neck and ears, helping to protect children's sensitive skin. Consequently, it is widely regarded by parents as a practical and essential item for children during summer. [5]

Variants of the legionnaire hat include designs with a removable neck flap and an integrated face covering or scarf, resembling a balaclava. The mask, or mesh panel, of a foldable legionnaire hat is neck gaiter-like and features ventilation holes to allow drinking, while additional openings promote efficient heat dissipation. [12] Depending on the design, the hat may be referred to in markets and in the literature by other names, such as flap cap, Sahara cap, desert cap, fishing hat, and foldable sun cap. [13]

Culture

The association with the French Foreign Legion, together with the hat’s distinctive design, has led to its presence in popular culture. The hat's cultural reception has varied, being described as “ugly,” “daggy,” and “cool.” [3] [11] The legionnaire hat has appeared in films, literature, and fashion, where it is often used to evoke themes of adventure, romance, and mystery. [5] A legionnaire-style kepi with flaps is worn by Gene Hackman's character in March or Die (1977) and by Jean-Claude Van Damme's character in Legionnaire (1998). [14] [15] Furthermore, the legionnaire-style hat with flaps is worn by characters in films and other media depicting the French Foreign Legion, including The Foreign Legionnaire (1928), Trouble in Morocco (1937), Adventure in Sahara (1938), Beau Peep (1978–2016), Beau Geste (1982), The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977) and The Mummy (1999).

In 2016, Triple J hosts Matt Okine and Alex Dyson launched a campaign to reintroduce the legionnaire hat. [16] In 2021, the hat was featured in season two of I Think You Should Leave , which includes a skit devoted to a fedora version of it, in which a character mockingly describes it as "a fedora with safari flaps in the back." [3] Tennis player Marc Polmans wore the hat at the 2020 Australian Open, where it was described as "flapping about like a millinery version of a tragic 1980s mullet" by The New Daily reporter Linda Pearce. [17] In 2024, Field magazine listed the legionnaire hat as the best for sun protection, providing maximum coverage with a full-length flap that shields the neck and offers enhanced UV protection with UPF 50+ fabric. [18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bártolo, Paulo Jorge da Silva; Jorge, Mateus Artur; Batista, Fernando da Conceição; Almeida, Henrique Amorim; Matias, João Manuel; Vasco, Joel Correia; Gaspar, Jorge Brites; Correia, Mário António; André, Nuno Carpinteiro; Alves, Nuno Fernandes; Novo, Paulo Parente; Martinho, Pedro Gonçalves; Carvalho, Rui Adriano (2009). Innovative Developments in Design and Manufacturing: Advanced Research in Virtual and Rapid Prototyping. CRC Press. p. 684. ISBN   978-0-415-87307-9.
  2. ↑ Creasey, Joel (2017). Thirsty: Confessions of a Fame Whore. Simon & Schuster. p. 37.
  3. 1 2 3 Reddinger, Robbe (June 2, 2023). "The Legionnaire Hat: So Uncool It's Cool (& Perfect for Running)". Believe in the Run. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  4. 1 2 West, Josh; Kaminski, Anna; Perrin, Monique; Rawlings-Way, Charles; Waters, Steve; van der Knijff, Glenn (2024). Lonely Planet Best Day Hikes Australia. Lonely Planet. p. 32.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Story of Legionnaire Hats: More Than Just Sun Protection". Radicool Australia. August 29, 2025.
  6. ↑ Slevin, Terry (2014). Sun, Skin and Health. CSIRO Publishing. ISBN   9781486301164 . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  7. ↑ Rajan, Renita (2024). Sunscreens for Skin of Color. Springer Nature. ISBN   9789819731954 . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  8. ↑ Hamblin, Michael R. (2013). Yingying Huang (ed.). Handbook of Photomedicine. Taylor & Francis/CRC Press. ISBN   9781439884690 . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  9. ↑ Barrow, Mary Mills; Barrow, John F. (2005). Sun Protection for Life: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Healthy and Beautiful Skin. New Harbinger Publications.
  10. ↑ "Preschool". Rockhampton Regional Council . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  11. 1 2 Matheson, Melissa (23 February 2016). "Comment: 'Just wear the dress' - what happens when you force a girl into a school uniform". SBS News . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  12. ↑ "4 in 1 Sun Protection Adapt‑A‑Cap UPF 50+". SunSafe Australia. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  13. ↑ Hunt, Alan (28 March 2025). To Die in Oslo. Troubador Publishing Ltd. ISBN   9781836281863.
  14. ↑ von Tunzelmann, Alex (25 February 2010). "Legionnaire: cancan, sand and a bland Van Damme". The Guardian . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  15. ↑ Taylor, Peter Shawn (2 January 2020). "March or Die, Canadian‑Style". C2C Journal. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  16. ↑ Willis, Olivia (19 November 2016). "Slip, slop, slack: Why you need to step up your sun protection game". ABC News Australia . Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  17. ↑ Pearce, Linda (21 January 2020). "Australian Open: Hard work and enthusiasm, the cap fits Marc Polmans". The New Daily. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  18. ↑ Mateo, Ashley (26 February 2024). "11 Best Running Hats of 2025". Field Mag. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
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