There Are More, Here Are 10 Uses A Bandana Serves
1- Rag
One of the best and arguably most common uses for a bandana is as a general rag. They are great for removing sweat, wiping down pots & pans and as a napkin as well. If you have to wipe off mud or dirt off of your face or body, bandanas are your friend. Pretty much any use a rag covers, a bandana will as well.
2- Coffee/water filter
As was discussed in a separate piece on brewing coffee in the backcountry, the bandana can be used as a coffee grind filter. In the same way it can also serve as a basic water filter to remove larger particles in a pinch. You should never rely on a bandana as the sole filtration method but it can be used in an emergency.
3- Signaling device
Brightly colored bandanas can be signaling devices if you are in a desolate area. It is usually a good idea to keep bright orange, green and blue bandanas with you for different situations. There isn’t likely a location that these colors will all blend in with simultaneously.
4- Marker/flag
To keep track of where you are going or have been a bandana can be perfect. You can tear pieces from it for multiple markers. To make your location or home camp, they are usually square shaped and can resemble or be used as a flag for others to see. Basically, they stand out of the green, brown, earth and white tones that are often found in nature.
5- Char-cloth
This one applies to cotton bandanas only. Any piece of cotton cloth can be made into char-cloth. Char-cloth is a material that is great for rapid starting of fires in wet areas. The cloth is heated until it goes through a process of chemical change called pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of a veritable based material. After this conversion, the resulting char-cloth is a great fuel that burns slow and at very low temperatures. The slow burning fuel is ideal for fire starting.
6- Tourniquet
Keeping one from bleeding out on the trail can easily be a matter of life and death. As tourniquets are not always part of backpacker’s medical kits, improvising one can be necessary. You can use a belt, shirt or bandana for this purpose. It is important to restrict blood flow when treating certain types of wounds as they may lead to bleeding out and death. It is also a good idea to carry a mini Sharpie or permanent marker to note the time of application on the tourniquet when applied.
7- Bandage/wound dressing
This use mirrors the tourniquet point above but the basic idea is to keep pressure on an opening of the body. The bandana itself can be used as a bandage for soaking up fluid and for keeping it in place. A clean bandana is ideal but any type will do if the occasion arrises where resources are limited.
8- Carrying pouch
Carrying small things such as food (in foraging), kindling or wood (in fire building) or dirt/building materials (in shelter making) call for a vessel of some type for easier transport. Wrapping a bandana around a pile of sticks can make what was a two hand job only require one, or even none at all. You are likely able to carry more food in a wrapped bandana than you can with your two hands. The same goes for earth or even rocks for building up a fire ring. This is another very good use of a regular old bandana.
9- Head cover
To protect yourself from the exposure or to stay comfortable, a bandana can keep the top of the head or sides covered. Keeping cover from the sun, rain or other elements will help you stay healthy and strong when outdoors. This will also help keep your internal temperature lower which will reduce the amount of resources your body requires to function properly.
10- Cooling neck wrap
By soaking a rolled up bandana in water and wrapping it around your neck, you can slightly cool yourself off on a hot day. The water will slowly evaporate through the layers and maintain a lower temperature until dry. Also, when it does dry eventually, it will soak up any perspiration from your body as it rolls down your neck and face.
Other Things To Keep In Mind
If you plan on carrying multiple bandanas for different uses and purposes it may be wise to have different colors. By differentiating the colors, you remove confusion over which bandana was used for what purpose. You probably don’t want to use the same bandana as a handkerchief that you use to wipe down pots and pans. Keeping them clean can make them last longer, they are not expensive and have many other purposes than those listed here. Everyday you will find yourself in need of something a bandana can be used for, why not have one?
