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A bearskin is a tall fur hat worn as part of the ceremonial uniform of several regiments in the British Army, most notably the five regiments of Foot Guards.
The standard bearskin is 18 inches tall, weighs one and a half pounds and is made from the fur of the Canadian black bear. The fur is purchased by the Army following the cull of black bears by the Inuit, which keeps their numbers under control. In recent times, attempts have been made to produce a version with synthetic fur, with little success due to the effect of the weather.
Traditionally, the bearskin was the headgear of grenadiers, and is still worn by regiments of grenadiers in various armies. However, following the Battle of Waterloo and the action in which they gained their name, the Grenadier Guards were permitted to wear the bearskin. This tradition was later extended to the other two regiments of Guards (Coldstream and Scots). Fusilier regiments also wear the bearskin as part of their ceremonial uniform. The bearskin should not be mistaken for the busby, which is a much smaller fur cap.
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