Best Bandanas for Your EDC

There are valuable tools in every toolbox, quite literally – but what about in your menswear wardrobe? Your hard-working chambray shirt, your rugged leather boots, your trusted pair of selvedge denim – those are all tools in their own right. And yet, the best bandanas actually fit the bill even better than those essentials, and the right one is a crucial addition to your everyday carry. In the same way you put on a tough field watch, pack your favorite pocket knife and grab a sturdy canvas bag to head into the great outdoors, consider adding a bandana to your rotation. Typically made from cotton, cotton blends or performance fabric, the best men’s bandanas function as a general catch-all. They also serve as a useful tool for keeping dirt and grime off your face on a hike. The right one even functions as a cleaning cloth, as a face cover or as a way to keep the sun off your neck. And yes, the best bandanas have an iconic history all their own. After all, it’s been exactly 40 years since Bruce Springsteen famously sported a red bandana onstage and hanging from the back pocket of his blue jeans on the cover of his seminal LP Born In The U.S.A. But back to the present day. Within your bag itself, use a bandana to wrap or store your watch, a pen and pocket notebook or other gadgets – if you can dream it, the right bandana can prove useful. And back in the city, you can substitute a bandana (a clean one, please) in place of a pocket square – provided the aesthetic is more casually rugged (think: With a linen chore coat or an unlined sport coat, rather than black tie). RELATED: Best Sunglasses for Men The best bandanas are so useful, in fact, that you might find it worthwhile to bring along more than one. It doesn’t hurt that they’re trending right now, as all things Western wear continue to invade every space, but like the best tools, the best bandanas have stood the test of time – and there’s no time like the present to buy one of our favorites. Cantonment Opti Set It’s sometimes best to go straight to the source if you want to upgrade your everyday carry – in this instance, Cantonment is obsessed with the versatility of the bandana, or kerchief. It’s the brand’s flagship product, and comes in sets of two, each of which pay homage to diverse fields like watchmaking, automobiles and music via stylish prints. Beyond that, each kerchief is made from super-soft, fast-drying cotton, and comes with a distinctive toggle strap for easy hauling. $56 at Cantonment.com  Line of Trade Road Trip Edition Bandana A bandana has roots as varied as its many uses, with the handy accessory often popping up in the pockets of hardy roadtrippers, riders and ranchers. Line of Trade’s printed bandana pays homage to those roots and then some, using a soft blend of linen and rayon for durability and comfort. It comes in two stylish shades, and is available for a low price from the in-house brand at Bespoke Post. $20 at BespokePost.com  Wazoo Tracking Bandana The best bandanas for your everyday carry are downright useful any way you fold, carry or store them, but what about a rugged kerchief that takes things a step further? For adventures in the great outdoors and far afield, Wazoo developed an innovative bandana printed with 21 of the most common North American animal tracks. It’s an especially useful tool for hunting, hiking and camping, and the print even looks stylish enough as an accessory alongside an indigo denim jacket back in town. $15 at BespokePost.com  Mister Bandana Buckskin Rider Bandana Some of the most recognizable bandanas over time have been printed with Western motifs or Americana-inspired designs, and you can leave it to the aptly named Mister Bandana to incorporate a bit of both into its offerings. This 100% cotton number is lightweight yet durable, and it’s crafted with care in the United States. $43 at MisterBandana.com  Taylor Stitch Bandana in Dark Blue Floral The bandana resides in both the world of form and the world of function. When worn around the neck as a kerchief, say, beneath the collar of a chambray shirt, it becomes a next-level style move. That’s what Taylor Stitch likely had in mind with its handsome bandana, an organic cotton option you can use to mop your brow just as easily as you can wear it in pocket square form. The blue floral print is also eye-catching and versatile. $35 at TaylorStitch.com  Levi’s Multi-Purpose Bandana It’s no surprise that a company with distinct workwear roots like Levi’s – a brand that helped bring the blue jean to the masses in the United States – churns out classic pieces like an ever-helpful bandana. Take your pick from a vast array of colors (not unlike Levi’s jeans), and use the paisley pattern to add some flair to everyday denim looks. $12 at Amazon.com  MISSION Cooling Bandana The best bandanas can seemingly hop from universe to universe – from the hiking trail to a music festival, for instance. What do both of those scenarios have in common? Long hours in the sun, so MISSION’s cooling bandana, with its performance fabric and quick-drying design, works perfectly in both situations (and beyond). Whether you use it as a face covering, a headband or a catch-all, don’t leave home without it. $14.99 at Amazon.com  Carhartt Lightweight Neck Gaiter A gaiter and a bandana, while not quite the same on the surface, land in the same “ballpark,” so to speak, of accessories for your everyday carry. For maximum coverage across your face, neck and back, or as a helpful headband of sorts, Carhartt designed this surprisingly stylish option. It boasts UPF protection from the sun, while the FastDry technology helps keep you cool, and the design can even be used as a foldable storage solution in your pack when not being worn. $14.99 at Amazon.com  Tough Headwear Large Bandana What’s more classic than a black bandana? A red bandana, perhaps (thank you again, Bruce Springsteen), but Tough Headwear gets the details right on this rogue-ish black bandana. Soft polyester construction dries more quickly than a standard cotton option, while the pattern is quite literally tough, strong and eye-catching. Want a simple bandana to upgrade your daily carry? Consider this affordable pack. $4.99 at Amazon.com  B53 100% Cotton Bandana The best bandanas have their uses far afield all across the globe, but it seems fitting that you can find some options still made in the United States, and made with the spirit of the open road. The classic cotton bandana in a classic selection of colors is hardly ever out of place as far as both casual style and rugged functionality are concerned. Consider this fairly priced set a prime addition to your EDC. $19.99 at Amazon.com  You Might Also Dig: Top Swimwear Trends for MenBest Men's Sandals for SummerBest Short Shorts for Men