Hats<The Real McCoy's TIGER BOONIE HAT / ADVISOR KHAKI

The TIGER BOONIE HAT / ADVISOR is a variation of the HAT, JUNGLE that was issued to the U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam conflict.

The origin of the boonie hat can be traced back to fisherman's "bucket hats," constructed of wool or tweed. By the late 1930s, the U.S. military had adopted a wide-brimmed design, inspired by bucket hats in the form of the Denim Army Hat, better known as the Daisy Mae and later in Olive Drab HBT as part of the P41 Uniform.

The design remained mostly unchanged until the U.S. military officially issued what became known as boonie hats in 1967, designating them as "hat, jungle, with insect net.". The Viet Cong had a very effective wide-brimmed hat of their own which likely encouraged R&D by the U.S.. It was at this time the construction of the hat was refined to include screened vent holes, drawstring, and foliage ring – a tape/band encircling the base of the hat, purposed for attaching foliage as a means of camouflage.

Special forces like the MACV-SOG and Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols adopted the hat, personalising it with slogans and insignia, as they famously did with Mitchell Camo helmet covers.

Designed for hot and humid climates, the Boonie offers superior comfort and protection against rain and sun. The wide brim provides concealment, breaking up the wearer's silhouette. Modifications such as cutting the brim shorter or adding inside pockets for documents were common, reflecting the boonie's adaptability to various combat scenarios.

As the ‘Hat, Jungle’ was adopted by a broader range of servicemen, the nickname ‘Boonie’ took hold, likely derived from the Tagalog word for Mountain — "bundok,", as with the ‘Boondocker’ name for FIELD SHOES, N-1 that came into use around the same time.

The origins of Tiger Stripe camouflage trace back to the French 'lizard' pattern, also known as Tenue Du Leopard. The pattern is often credited to the Vietnamese, due to the Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps making subtle changes to the lizard camouflauge and using it to reflect the thick jungle conditions and intense tropical heat of Vietnam, by incorporating bold black stripes over shades of green and brown.

The Tiger Stripe pattern gained significant recognition during the Vietnam War when it was unofficially embraced by the U.S. Armed forces. Many young servicemen opted for the Tiger Stripe over the official issue ERDL pattern. USMAAG advisors were even authorised to wear the combat uniform of their Vietnamese units, leading to the production of many uniforms by local tailors. This diversity in production explains the myriad variations seen in the pattern.

Among the various tiger stripe iterations, the Advisor Tiger Stripe emerged as a mid-war pattern in Vietnam, prevalent from 1968 until the conflict's conclusion. Widely utilised by LRRP/Ranger Units, SF, SOG, CIDG, and ARVN units, they earned the moniker "Gold Tigers" due to their characteristic fading into golden tones and purple-blacks. This particular pattern stands as a testament to the adaptability and practicality of military attire in responding to the unique challenges posed by different theatres of operation.

In recreating this iconic camouflage pattern, we have hand printed and dyed on to a dense cotton twill fabric, achieving an authentic weight and overall atmosphere. Era accurate details include screened vent holes, drawstring adjuster and foliage ring.