Multifunctional tube scarves, shemaghs, neck scarves and cooling scarves from BCB International – rugged, versatile and always ready. Whether as sun and dust protection, as a neck warmer or for neck cooling on hot days: here you will find the right scarf for every use. Shipped from our Swiss warehouse, with personal advice.
A tube scarf replaces neck warmer, headband, hat and face cover in one.
The classic cotton shemagh protects against sun, wind and dust.
Cooling scarves with an evaporation effect lower the felt temperature at the neck.
BCB International supplies the British Army – proven field toughness.
A good scarf is one of the underrated pieces of outdoor gear: light, packs away small and useful in countless situations. From protection against sun and dust in the midday heat, to a quick neck warmer on a cool mountain morning, to neck cooling on a summer trek – depending on its design, a scarf performs very different jobs. In this category we bundle shemaghs, tube scarves and cooling scarves from BCB International, a long-established British supplier from Cardiff (Wales) that has equipped armed forces and outdoor professionals for decades. The range is continuously expanding.
Which scarf is right for you depends mainly on climate and area of use. Here are the most important use cases at a glance.
The tube scarf, called a headover at BCB, is the most versatile scarf of all. As a seamless tube you wear it as a neck warmer, headband, hairband, hat, balaclava or face cover – simply pull it up or fold it as needed. The BCB Headover in olive (MOD) comes in British military colour and is ideal for hiking, hunting and any activity where a discreet shade is required.
The shemagh is a large, square cotton scarf with a long tradition in hot, dry regions. Loosely wrapped around head and neck, it protects against sun, wind and swirling dust while still letting air reach the skin. The BCB Shemagh in olive/black is large enough to be tied in many ways and is just as suitable for travel as for tactical use.
A cooling scarf uses evaporative cooling: soaked with water, it releases coolness to the neck over hours without dripping. The BCB Neck Cooling Scarf in khaki is the ideal companion for summer hikes, garden work or long cycling tours in the heat – just dampen, wring out and put on.
Especially in the Swiss Alps it can get noticeably cold even on summer mornings. A tube scarf rolls up to disappear into a jacket pocket and is instantly to hand on the climb up to the alp or during a summit break. That keeps your neck warm without having to carry a whole scarf.
Subdued colours such as olive, khaki and black are no coincidence: they blend with the surroundings and avoid reflections. Here shemagh and headover serve at once as camouflage for the bright face, as protection against insects and as a warmer in the twilight hours of a stalk.
BCB International, based in Cardiff (Wales), is one of the best-known suppliers of survival and field equipment in Europe. The company supplies the British Army and other NATO forces and is known for well-thought-out, field-proven products. The MOD designation on individual items refers to the specification of the British Ministry of Defence. At Swiss-Sale.ch you will find a growing selection of BCB scarves as well as many other BCB survival items.
| Product | Type | Material | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCB Headover Olive (MOD) | Tube scarf | Synthetic, breathable | All-rounder: neck, head, face |
| BCB Shemagh Olive/Black | Scarf (square) | Cotton | Sun, wind & dust protection |
| BCB Neck Cooling Scarf Khaki | Cooling scarf | Polymer insert | Neck cooling in heat |
The range is continuously expanding – you will always find the current selection in this category as well as on the brand page of BCB International.
To keep your scarf working well for a long time, it is worth a look at material and care.
| You want... | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| ...a scarf for as many situations as possible | BCB Headover tube scarf |
| ...protection against sun, wind and dust | BCB Shemagh olive/black |
| ...refreshment on hot days | BCB Neck Cooling Scarf |
| ...a lightweight neck warmer for the mountains | BCB Headover tube scarf |
| ...subdued colours for hunting or tactical use | Shemagh or headover in olive/khaki |
| ...a practical gift for outdoor fans | BCB Headover or shemagh |
As a Swiss outdoor retailer we only select products we are convinced by. You get personal advice – by phone, by email or directly in our showroom in Menzingen ZG.
Here you can find all products from BCB International. Matching warmth and protection items are available under Headwear and Gloves, as well as the full range under Clothing & Warmth.
A shemagh is a large, square cotton scarf traditionally worn in hot, dry regions. Loosely wrapped around head and neck, it protects against sun, wind and dust while still letting air reach the skin. It can be tied in many ways and is popular both for travel and tactical use.
A tube scarf is a seamless fabric tube you can wear in many ways: as a neck warmer, headband, hairband, hat, balaclava or face cover. You simply pull it over your head and arrange it to suit. This very versatility makes the headover the all-rounder among scarves.
A cooling scarf uses evaporative cooling. You soak it in water before use, wring it out and put it around your neck. As the water evaporates, a pleasant cooling effect arises that lasts several hours depending on the temperature. Once the cooling fades, you simply dampen the scarf again.
The shemagh is an open, square cotton scarf that is tied and mainly protects against sun and dust. The tube scarf is a closed tube of elastic synthetic fabric that needs no tying and is especially quick to convert into a neck warmer, hat or face cover.
Yes. A tube scarf protects against headwind and cold at the neck while cycling and can be pulled over mouth and nose if needed. On hot days a cooling scarf provides refreshment at the neck. Both are light and do not get in the way under a helmet.
We mainly carry subdued outdoor colours such as olive, khaki and black. These shades are discreet, dirt-resistant and well suited for hiking, hunting and tactical applications.
As a rule, yes. Most scarves and neck tubes can be washed at low temperature. Avoid fabric softener and let the scarves air-dry so that material and function are preserved as long as possible. Always check the care label on the individual product.
Very much so. A tube scarf rolls up to disappear into a jacket pocket and is instantly to hand during a cool summit break or early in the morning on the alp. It warms the neck without being as bulky as a classic scarf.
Yes. Subdued colours such as olive and khaki blend with the surroundings and avoid reflections. Shemagh and headover serve at once as camouflage for the bright face, as insect protection and as a warmer during a stalk at twilight.
BCB International is a long-established British supplier based in Cardiff (Wales). The company supplies the British Army and other NATO forces with survival and field equipment. The MOD designation on individual items refers to the specification of the British Ministry of Defence.
Yes, a quality tube scarf or shemagh is a practical and comparatively affordable gift for anyone who likes to be outdoors. The scarves are universally usable and need no size specification.
Yes. All items from the scarves & neck gaiters range are available from our warehouse in Menzingen (ZG) – no waiting time, no customs fees. Free shipping within Switzerland and Liechtenstein on orders over CHF 100. Personal advice in our showroom or by phone on +41 41 755 34 33. If you are not satisfied, our 30-day voluntary return right applies.
Shemaghs, tube scarves and cooling scarves from BCB International, shipped from Swiss stock. Advice on +41 41 755 34 33 or info@swiss-sale.ch.