Fun fact: did you know that you can make a water filter from a shemagh scarf? Well, you’ll need a few other things, but the scarf will be a part of it.
Here’s your list of essentials:
- A knife
- A shemagh scarf
- A plastic water bottle
- Some coarse pebbles
- Some gravel
- Sand
- And powdered charcoal (you can make this from the old dead coals of a fire)
Now let’s get into it.
Table of Contents
The Process
Fortunately, making a water filter using a shemagh scarf and some other odds and ends is easy enough.
First, cut the bottom off of the plastic bottle and turn it upside down. Lay the shemagh scarf in the bottom so that everything else will be laid on top of it.
Get some charcoal from your recent fire and grind it up. Layer this over the shemagh scarf.
Then, get some sand and pour that in a layer over the charcoal. After the sand, pour some gravel in, and finish with some pebbles.
When you’re ready to use the filter, pour water into the bottom of the bottle (which is now the top).
The pebbles and gravel will catch coarse debris, and each layer will catch slightly finer and finer debris until only relatively clear water drips out at the bottom.
The shemagh scarf serves as the final screen to filter out anything that the pebbles, gravel, sand and charcoal didn’t catch.
But there’s one more thing you need to do.
There’s One More Step
After filtering your water, it’s a good idea to boil it. This will kill any harmful microbes in the water, rendering it safer for use.
Remember, though, this filter is only effective for removing certain impurities and will not be effective at removing any dissolved toxins, which boiling will also not remove.
Big News: This Is Only One of Many Uses for a Shemagh Scarf
Now that you know (from a high level) how to make a water filter using a shemagh scarf, here’s the good news. You can use the same shemagh scarf for a million and one other things, including:
- As a blanket
- As a pillow
- As a tourniquet
- A basket for gathering or bundling supplies
- As a dust mask
- For signaling
- For camouflage
- A bandage for wounds
- A ground cloth
- Among many other uses
This short post only covers some of the utility afforded by this wonderfully versatile piece of survival gear.
But, basic at it is, it paints a good picture of the utility of this simple but highly effective piece of clothing.
Where to Get One
Thinking your survival pack could use a shemagh scarf? You might be very right. You just need to know where you can get one.
Start your search online at Fatigues Army Navy. They carry a wide range of survival gear and tools and they have a whole collection of shemagh scarves.
Check out their online catalog; you’ll be well on your way to improvising some of the solutions covered in this article in no time.
For more information about Utility Belt and Camo Shirt visit: Fatigues Army Navy & Surplus Gear Co.
