A Myth Debunked

[Tomasso]

The myth: That a disproportionately high percentage of body heat escapes through a hatless head.

The myth is thought to have arisen through a flawed interpretation of a vaguely scientific experiment by the US military in the 1950s

The report is a little stale but it's news to me.

 

[Neophyte]

One less reason to wear a hat...I choose to disbelieve .

 

[fmw]

It has always seemed to me that those of us who have a full head of hair probably lose very little heat through the head. My appendages feel cold before anything else, particularly fingers and toes. I don't know whether feeling cold has anything to do with heat loss but it seems logical that it would - at least in terms of the surface area involved. There are plenty of reasons to wear hat besides keeping warm.

 

[fluteplayer07]

Well, if every other part of my body is covered except for my head, than it makes sense that it's the area losing the most heat. Sounds like some researcher forgot to test the experiment with other appendages. And if I'm outside with no part of my body covered, then worrying about where exactly the heat is being lost from sounds like the least of my worries. And there you have two of the most important tips for surviving. Being thorough, and being clothed.

 

[scottyrocks]

I just know that when its cold and I dont wear a hat my head and body get cold. When I do wear a hat my head and body stay warmer. And when its warm to hot my whole body gets warmer when I have a hat on my head.

 

[hatophile]

I like wearin' 'em anyway, so I don't pay much mind to what the research says.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

I always thought that claim was a bit suspect. After all, every organ that generates heat is in the trunk of the body. The brain does not generate as much heat as the trunk of the body. Anyway, good to get the facts but it won't affect my interest in hats wither way.

 

[Blackthorn]

Well, that's it then. I'm getting rid of all my hats.

OK, not so much.

 

[Midwest Boater]

okay so what % of your style is lost from a hatless head?

 

[Rat Pack]

I feel warmer with a hat on, thats good enough for me.

 

[danofarlington]

The myth: That a disproportionately high percentage of body heat escapes through a hatless head.




The report is a little stale but it's news to me.

I can accept that less body heat escapes through the head than previously estimated. What worries me though is that thoughts will escape from my head unnecessarily in cold weather. If I wear a hat, I will have a greater chance of keeping these in, it seems to me. So I'll continue hat-wearing even in the face of the temperature evidence.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

I can accept that less body heat escapes through the head than previously estimated. What worries me though is that thoughts will escape from my head unnecessarily in cold weather. If I wear a hat, I will have a greater chance of keeping these in, it seems to me. So I'll continue hat-wearing even in the face of the temperature evidence.

... any tin foil liners in them thar hats??

LOL

 

[dnjan]

... any tin foil liners in them thar hats??

LOL

Separate issue. Topic relates to heat loss, not extra-terrestrial probing ...
(and the foil only works if it is properly grounded)

 

[danofarlington]

... any tin foil liners in them thar hats??

LOL

It's a blessed relief when I can find it. But I can't get the right thickness at the grocery store.

 

[danofarlington]

Separate issue. Topic relates to heat loss, not extra-terrestrial probing ...
(and the foil only works if it is properly grounded)

You are correct! My apologies--on to the Extraterrestrial Thread. If someone could please point me in the right direction.

 

[suitedcboy]

Heat loss, heat gain, etiquette. I just like wearing my hats, A LOT!

 

[MikeBravo]

In my current job we occasionaly go into freezers operating at -35 degrees

I am fairly confident that if I stayed in there with nothing on my head I would die

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

Separate issue. Topic relates to heat loss, not extra-terrestrial probing ...
(and the foil only works if it is properly grounded)

Now, extraterrestrials with fedoras, that's some photos we need.

 

[Blackthorn]

I feel warmer with a hat on, thats good enough for me.

My very thought.

 

[dnjan]

Dennis Rodman with a fedora???

Please no!