A bearskin is the tall, imposing fur hat worn by British Foot Guards, made from Canadian black bear fur (approx. 18 inches tall), while a busby is a smaller fur cap, often with a dangling cloth bag, worn by other units like the Royal Horse Artillery. The key difference is size and the regiment that wears them: bearskins are the iconic tall caps of the Household Division, whereas busbies are shorter and associated with hussars and artillery.
The busby should not be mistaken for the much taller bearskin cap, worn most notably by the five regiments of Foot Guards of the Household Division (Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards).
The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery soldiers' busby is considerably smaller and lighter than the King's Guards ceremonial bearskin cap, worn much less frequently and for shorter periods of time.
Currently we have no plans to end the use of bearskins. Bear pelts that are used are the by-products of a licensed cull by the Canadian authorities to manage the wild bear population. Bears are never hunted to order for use by the MOD.
From a distance they appear identical, but there are ways to distinguish between the regiments:
Battalion. A battalion is a regimental sub-unit of infantry amounting to between 500 and 1,000 soldiers. It normally consists of a headquarters and three or more companies.
The Gurkhas are a unique unit in the Army with a reputation of being amongst the finest and most feared soldiers in the world. The Royal Gurkha Rifles are Infantry are manned by Nepali soldiers and officers; and British officers, it is this blend of cultures that makes the RGR unique.
Trapper hats, popular for their rugged style, signature ear flaps, and no-nonsense ability to keep your head warm in the most punishing winters, have a long history as the go-to headgear for those who work outdoors and in freezing temperatures.
The sharp increase in price is explained by the MoD as the result of a change in the "contractual arrangements" for the caps, which are all made from the fur of bears hunted in Canada. The cost of the caps worn by the King's Guard rose from £1,560 each in 2022 to £2,040 in 2023.
The bearskins are designed to cover the eyes of the soldiers slightly so that they stand more upright.
There are no bathroom breaks, ever.
What if they're unable to hold their business and really need to go, you ask? They simply just do it anyway, right there on the spot. The thick woolen pants are supposedly able to cover any trace of the “accident.” We're not so sure about the smell though.
And also, with proper care and refurbishment, a bearskin hat can last for over 100 years. They are typically used for ceremonial duties and are maintained by the military. Each bearskin hat is made from the pelt of a Canadian black bear, and the hats are often used by multiple individuals before needing replacement.
In the 21st century, the bearskin cap is retained by select military units as a prominent element of their ceremonial and full dress uniforms. Soldiers of the British Coldstream Guard and Italian 1st Regiment "Granatieri di Sardegna" in full dress uniform wearing bearskins.
The regimental capstar is worn over the piper's right eye and is topped by a blue hackle. A green cloak with four silver buttons is worn over the shoulders and is secured by two green straps that cross over the chest. In "Walking-out Dress", the Irish Guards can be identified by the green band on their forage caps.
Bearskin caps were introduced by the British Army following the Battle of Waterloo (June 1815). The idea was to make the soldiers appear taller and more intimidating when in combat. Today, five of the British Army's foot guard regiments wear bearskin caps.
This rug will leave the black bear's head with its mouth open. However, if you need the finished product shipped to you, the price will increase. Additionally, adding a backing material or a leather edge will cost extra. In other words, give yourself a budget of $2,500 to $3,000 for your taxidermy black bear rug.
“Some bears, especially females, can be quite old but never get very large—100 to 125 pounds at 15-plus years.
Ushanka is not a part of national costume. It's just a common type of hat, easy to produce and good at low temperatures, so wearing it could not be offensive.
George Lindsey as Goober Pyle wearing a typical whoopee cap. The style of cap is also referred to as a palookaville cap, Kingpin, button beanie, felt crown, or Jughead hat.
THE MOLLY is a soft and super flexible hat. This is our own interpretation of a classic bucket style hat, but with a more oversized look. Available in Faux Fur for a fun and furry bucket hat look, plus a variety of unique fabrics from wool to velvet to vegan leather.
Neither SAS nor SBS is definitively "more elite"; they are equally elite but specialized, with the SAS focusing on land/air and the SBS on maritime/amphibious roles, both part of the UK's UK Special Forces (UKSF) and sharing the same rigorous Joint Special Forces Selection process, with SBS adding extra maritime training like swimmer-canoeist skills. Think of them as the Army's and Navy's top-tier counterparts within the same elite special forces framework.
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