"Lynx" Panama Hat | Review

During the Panama Canal building, the workers were suffering from the burning sun. It was decided to purchase a lot of straw hats that would protect neck, head, and ears from the heat. In honor of the Panama Canal opening and to show the gratitude, the straw hat was named panama hat. This hat model soon attracted the attention of Europeans and Americans and became very popular. Also, this hat got attention of the military professionals. In the 1940s, Israeli army began to use panama hats as a sun protection, and soon they became a very useful item of Israeli uniform. In the USSR armed force, officers and soldiers were wearing panama hats in the hot climate regions, there was even a special official decree adding this element to the uniforms of southern military units. American infantrymen were using military panama hats in Vietnam, Soviet paratroopers – during the Afghanistan war, British special forces professionals – in Iraq. 

Soldiers invited many ways to use this hat model during the combat operations:

• To carry grenades and cartridges
• As a gag for captured spy
• As a potholder during cooking on the open fire
• As a handkerchief
• As a water container, when there are no other options
• To carry the ground during the mine installation
• As a balaclava under the helmet

"Lynx" panama hat is developed by 5.45 DESIGN company for tactical missions in the mountain and forest landscapes. It protects the head from various harmful factors, such as sun beams, sharp objects and branches, when a soldier is walking through the difficult forest area. Since human eye easily detects objects of correct shape, such as head, another panama hat function is to make a head silhouette less defined. Panama hat is available in A-TACS FG original print, which camouflages in both visible and IR spectrums. 50% cotton and 50% nylon fabric allows using this panama hat in a temperature range from +10°С to +25°С.

"Lynx" panama hat design fits closely on the head, which is convenient in the active dynamic conditions. In order to prevent the hat loss during the strong wind, it is equipped with a special adjustment cord that can be placed under the chin or around the nape. Panama hat brims are sewn under a small angle. They have wavy shape and low profile, so they don’t limit the view and still shade the face. There are special slots all over the hat that enable mounting of camouflage materials: branches, grass, etc.

This panama hat also features Velcro panels of the same color for identification patches and IR beacons. They are located in the back hemisphere, so accidental detection from the enemy side is eliminated. All the surfaces that touch the head are made from the moisture absorbing fabric. Small side slots guarantee additional ventilation. Convenient, multipurpose and durable "Lynx" panama hat can be used in various situations, both during tactical missions and outdoor activities.