Return of the Aluminum Helmet

Bamboo steamer insert?
Collandar liner?
Pop up turkey rack?
The possibilities are endless.

Good for you, thinking out of the box like that.
:D
 
That's just a construction hard hat...right? Do you know how much it weighs? I wonder if you could use it as a not quite parabolic dish solar cooker?
 
Years ago I used to work for the USFS. We were always forced to wear those things into the woods. But as soon as we were away from the road we would strap them to the outside of our pack. It was always comical for everyone involved to keep coming up with new reasons why we returned with the suspension but no helmet. :o

To each his own, but I wouldn't be caught dead wearing that thing in the woods of my own free will. Nor would I hook a pot onto my belt and have it slamming into my back and legs all day. That's just silly. If you can't fit everything into your pack you need a bigger pack and if your pack is to heavy your carrying too much shizz. Its not that difficult folks.
 
I like it (not that I would wear it often - not much for big hats), and great thinking. People make fun of me too when they find out I turn my hair into rope from my brush, but are amazed at how strong it is. Keep it up!

I guess the people repellant feature is a bonus too!
 
cuphead said:
Lol, its a great idea, but I couldn't picture myself running into ppl wearing that thing on the trail. ppl would think I'm trying to keep UFOs from reading my brainwaves :D
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I think you've been listening to George Nory Coast to Coast to much, If anything with the Sun hitting that thing from a Mile away they'll think there seeing Bright Shiny Flying Saucer's going through the Wood's !

benchmadebob said:
Not trying do ne a buzzkill but i heard aluminum istch the bestthing to cook in.
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I dont know where you heard that from ? From everything from TV Dinner's to Cookie Sheet's, Aluminum Foil 'You Name It"

I kinda like It, It look's like the same Safety Hat's the Forestry Worker's where, I think It would be Great In Hardwood Forest also "Protection From Falling Nut's !" I like your Stove Idea, But on the Noodle's you should stir them where they seperate so they dont stay In a square block and If you follow direction's you add the seasoning packet after Boiling then stir Good and let them sit for 5 Min. and Enjoy, It could also serve as a Bowl, And like you said It'll hold Water for Cooking or getting Water to put out Camp Fire's "If there's a Water source nearby, I'd try some Fried Fish, Bring a small container of Cooking Oil and Catch some Fish "Fish Fry" I think It might even be a good Shovel In loose Soil ? There's quite a few use's for a Hat like that, I like that "Good Idea" !
 
I really like your thinking!

Another use for the hat: Gold panning! Although it's probably a bit deep to be really good, it would probably do the job.

I used to have a 15" gold pan strapped to back of my rucksack when distance hiking. It got used for soaking my feet at the end of the day, washing and shaving the next morning and, surprisingly, panning for gold in Scottish streams!

It would likely have made a good wok, but I never thought of that at the time. It would have looked a bit silly on my head though and if I wasn't carrying a large rucksack, there would be nowhere convenient to carry it.
 
I like the hat and think it is a good idea except now your hard hat will look all scorched up and your head will smell like Ramen noodles. Does it make the aluminum softer of affect it's shape? I guess as long as there is enough water in it, it should be OK.
 
I think it's pretty dang cool. When I first went in the national guard we still had the old steel helmets (as opposed to kevlar which we got later) and I used that thing for carrying hot water to shave with, as a hammer and a seat. Really pretty versatile. Thinking outside the box. Thats a good quality to have.
 
vjb.knife said:
I like the hat and think it is a good idea except now your hard hat will look all scorched up and your head will smell like Ramen noodles. Does it make the aluminum softer of affect it's shape? I guess as long as there is enough water in it, it should be OK.
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If you just rub a thin layer of dish soap on the outside of the hat before putting it on the fire the soot will all rub right off without any effort. Another solution would be carrying a folded sheet of aluminum foil in my pack that I could cover the helmet with. With regards to the interior...if you're near a water source to get the cooking water in the first place then you'll be able to get more to clean up afterward!

The heat has had no ill affect on the shape, and would have had to get pretty damn hot to do so. They don't make all of that ultra-light aluminum cookware without reason. :)
 
The best thing is it only cost me $4.00 off the 'bay with $10.00 shipping. Came out the same as a Mora! :D
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
IThe heat has had no ill affect on the shape, and would have had to get pretty damn hot to do so.
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Fact is it doesn't take a great deal of heat to affect the temper of aluminum, so while the shape of your helmet may not be changed, its protective qualities may be diminished.
 
Which is why I didn't get it for the protective qualities. ;)

This is a vintage hat, which means it's not protective enough to meet current standards. Furthermore it was considered a light-weight at the time! These were actually qualities I was looking for--a lightweight hat I could cook in. And even if softened I suppose it'll still do more to protect my noggin' than a regular hat would, though that isn't a concern for me. :)
 
Man, if it's working for you, by all means go for it. Glad to see you didn't get discouraged. Rock on you goofy bastid! :D
 
That actually looks like a pretty good idea. The Japanese use a dome shaped grill to cook BBQ. The original ones were the helmets of the Mongol warriors who washed ashore after the fleet was wiped out by a typhoon. (Kamikaze) So the local name for lamb BBQ is "Gengis Khan".

Because of the dome shape the grease runs down the sides and colleted in the brim where they put some sauce and veggies.
 
Good job with the para cord liner. What does the overall weight come in at?
 
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