Men's Lightweight Shemagh Tactical Desert Scarves

Second one I've owned. First one finally ripped after over 2 years. Possibly my fault, won't be so aggressive tugging at the new one. Its 100% cotton, so it'll shrink bit after wash and dry...to a perfect size IMO. Pro tip-the "tan" color will fade after each wash to where it eventually becomes an "off-white"'ish color. I like it. The white on is exactly that, white. A bit loud for my taste. Pretty darn reasonable for $11 shipped as of 12/17/25.

Is not for cold climate, but it offer breathability and protection for the sun. I love the color. Quality is very good and it feel nice on your neck. I used is as intended but it can be use as a towel, as a pillow in a plane, you named it.

Was exactly as promised

One of better ones you can use.

I own several shemagh that have seen plenty of field use. Since the uptick in the need for facial coverings, I decided to order a few more. I usually purchase from military surplus stores or places that allow me to physically inspect the product before purchase. These will be worn regularly after all and I would like to know the comfort and make which is typically “shopped” in the images online — like getting a Big Mac and realizing it looks sad compared to the one you see on the menu. That said and more to the point, these scarves look nice. I would recommend sticking to the black and white. I ordered a white, tan, and green. The tan bled into everything else on the first wash and came out... wrinkled? Its size compared to the other two laid out is about half the size due to the wrinkling. They were washed as recommended and air dried, but the tan threads still shrunk while the black ones didn’t. There were also several loose threads or threads somehow connected to the other end of the scarf, but still loose? It is without a doubt easy to tell these are mass produced with little quality assurance on the back end. The white scarf is the best. It held up to the wash (now slightly tan) and feels comfortable. If you would like a good, high-quality shemagh, try the military surplus locations or look for ones hand made in countries that more commonly wear them. My other three were made in India or Pakistan. They are by far superior to the Rothco scarves.

I travel frequently for business and this is a great piece of lightweight gear to give you that added bit of warmth on a blustery day. It is also good if you need to catch a nap on an airplane. The traditional head and neck tie blocks out light so you can snooze. Alternatively in a window seat, it can be folded into a pillow to cushion your noggin from the airplane wall. If you are a "Hitchhikers Guide" fan, this is very nearly the towel with endless uses. Cleaning up spills, an arm sling, bandage, tourniquet, you name it.

Great way to beat the heat and stay out of the sun.

This is my third Shemagh and now I can compare it with the regular Rothco and also one from Army Universe. This one is Foliage Green - which is more a gray with a tint of green, a very nice, camouflage color. It actually smelled nice but I washed it anyway, like all new clothes. I was surprised that the water stayed clean unlike the other two Shemaghs which I had to wash twice and rinse a few times. There were a few loose threats and minor mistakes in the pattern. It is supposed to be lightweight but I hardly noticed a difference. It is soft, like the other Shemagh from Rothco and it is the largest of the three with 43" x 43" So, I have learned that there is very little difference in the quality of the Shemaghs from India or Pakistan. In the future I will select a Shemagh by price and color. Added after purchasing two more and experience with washing. I liked the lightweight Shemagh better and purchased 2 more. If I need a scarf to keep me warm, there are wool or acrylic scarves. I used the Shemagh in warm weather where I can also dip it in water to keep me cool. After I washed the Shemaghs and put them in the dryer, they shrunk to 27" x 37" But that is no problem. They don't actually shrink, they just crinkle up. All you need to do is iron with a steam iron - or use a spray bottle to get them lightly wet and then iron. They will be back to full size in a minute. Also - I bought the black and white Shemaghs because I wanted to dye them in a color of my choice. I used Rit Dye which is always an experience for me because the end result will always surprise me. I used Denim Blue. The first scarf turned very dark, almost purple. I rinsed it and put the second scarf in rinse-water and it is now a denim blue color.