Description

What is a Bana?

A Bana is McGovern and Company’s seamless tube bandana, the same general category of accessory as a Buff. It is a single loop of stretchy 100% recycled microfiber polyester, about 20 inches long and 10 inches wide when laid flat, with no stitched seam to chafe. Printed around the tube is a topographic map design of the Black Hills National Forest in greens, tans, and earth tones, with the forest name and US Forest Service shield.

You can wear it at least a dozen ways. Pull it over your head and wear it as a neck gaiter on a cool morning hike. Twist it once and it becomes a headband. Pull it up over your nose and mouth as a face cover in wind or dust. Stretch it across the crown of your head as a beanie or do-rag. Roll it down your arm as a wristband or sweat band. The same piece of fabric handles all of these because there is no seam and the fabric has four-way stretch.

What the design shows

The map printed on the Bana covers the Black Hills National Forest, which spans about 1.25 million acres across western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. You can pick out landmarks as you rotate the tube: Black Elk Peak (7,242 feet, the highest point east of the Rockies), Pactola Reservoir, Spearfish Canyon, and the main Forest Service road corridors. It is a design, not a navigation tool. There is a note below the map that says maps are not intended for compass orientation, and that note is there for a reason.

Specifications

NOTE: The map on this product is a decorative illustration. It is not intended for compass orientation or backcountry navigation.

Who is this for?

Hikers and trail runners in the Black Hills. A Bana takes up almost no room in a pack and pulls its weight on any trail that crosses a sunny ridge or a cold canyon. Pull it up when the wind kicks at Roughlock Falls or the sun hits exposed granite near Black Elk Peak.

Cyclists and motorcyclists who ride the Black Hills backroads. The tube fits easily under a helmet as a liner or around the neck as a wind block. It blocks dust on forest service roads and keeps a sunburn off your neck on a long afternoon.

Anyone who bought the last one and lost it. These get misplaced, forgotten on trailhead benches, and chewed by dogs. They also get used every week. At under $20, the replacement is easy.

How the Black Hills National Forest works

Black Hills National Forest is managed by the US Forest Service, which is part of the US Department of Agriculture. That is a different agency from the National Park Service. The forest covers about 1.25 million acres, most of it in South Dakota with a smaller section in eastern Wyoming. Within its boundaries are Black Elk Peak, Pactola Reservoir, Sylvan Lake, Spearfish Canyon, and thousands of miles of hiking, cycling, and OHV trails.

Most of the forest is public land open for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting in season, and off-highway vehicle use on designated routes. There are also three wilderness areas with stricter rules. Before you head out, check current conditions at the Black Hills National Forest website.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a bandana or a neck gaiter?
It is a seamless tube, which means it is closer to a neck gaiter or Buff than a traditional square bandana. The word “Bana” is McGovern and Company’s name for this product style. A square bandana is a flat piece of cloth that you tie; a Bana is a pre-formed tube that you pull over your head.

How many ways can I wear it?
At least twelve. The most common are neck gaiter, headband, wristband, beanie, balaclava, face cover, do-rag, ponytail scrunchie, hair tie, scarf, and ear warmer. McGovern and Company’s product packaging illustrates these styles. Experiment.

Will it fit a child?
It is sized for adults. On a child, it will slide. For kids, look for a youth-sized tube bandana.

What does UPF 35 mean?
Ultraviolet Protection Factor 35 means the fabric blocks about 97 percent of UV radiation. It is similar to SPF for sunscreen, but for fabric. UPF 30 and above is considered “very good” UV protection. This keeps your neck and the lower half of your face from burning during a full day outdoors.

Is the fabric really lens safe?
Yes. Microfiber polyester at this weave is soft enough to clean sunglasses and prescription lenses without scratching. Shake off any grit first. A Bana is not a substitute for a proper lens cloth, but it is fine for a quick wipe on the trail.

How do I wash it?
Hand or machine wash. Skip the fabric softener (it coats the fibers and kills wicking). Do not bleach. Do not iron. Those are McGovern and Company’s care instructions for the Bana line. If the tag inside the tube says something different, follow the tag.

Is the map accurate enough to use for navigation?
No. The map is a decorative print meant to celebrate the forest and show general landmarks. It is not surveyed for navigation and should not be used with a compass. For actual navigation, use a National Geographic Trails Illustrated map or the USDA Forest Service map of the Black Hills.

Does buying this support the Black Hills National Forest?
Yes. BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.

Where can I pick one up in person?
At the Black Hills National Forest Visitor Center at Pactola Reservoir, and at the BHPFA visitor center stores at Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument. Stock varies by season and location.

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• Browse all Black Hills National Forest merchandise
• About the Black Hills National Forest
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