I don't like to wear hats, either. Normally it's just a hooded parka for me.

If it's really cold, meaning below 0F, it'll be wool watch cap plus hood. If there's a strong wind plus sub 0F, I'll switch to the fleese OR balaclava. That actually makes cold wind almost fun, but if worn in normal weather would probably prompt a visit from the local SWAT team.

This Carhartt is my favorite:

http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/store...tegoryId=10902#

If it gets cold, fold down the ear flaps (which also cover the back of your neck). If it gets really cold, fold down the face mask that is sewn/tucked inside.

The cap below is a close second. It's long enough that you can pull it way down so it covers the back of your neck.

http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/store...ategoryId=10902

A very plain and not very thick wool cap, similar to the "USGI navy wool watch cap" I think, except thinner and not with the tacticool lock... Perpetually used together with a very thin wool buff around my neck.

Don't forget the hood! My wool cap will not keep the strong wind out, so up goes the hood. The hood is uninsulated, but blocks the wind.

This simple, plain and thin setup works very well for me in a wide range of temperatures and activities. It will take extreme cold and/or wind to make me put on anything more.

Either a Lowe Mountain hat or a Goretex boonie hat.

Lowe hat for cold wet raining.
Goretex hat if it's just wet.

I wear glasses. I get a trifle tempermental when it's raining and water starts runing down my glasses and off the end of my nose.

Whoa! There are wool buffs!? (Speeding off to Google!)

Wow! 27 Bucks. Hmm, I think I'll have to get one of those, but I think I'll wait until Holiday Shopping is done. Great! Thanks MostlyHarmless!

To be true, mine isn't exactly a "Buff" product but it is the easiest way to describe it. I bought mine last year, I don't think Buff started making wool buffs until this fall... Buff prices where I live are highly inflated (and they're quite a fashion thing), so I try to stay clear of those anyway.


A wool buff is one of those garments that are so simple and genius that it is hard to understand why more of these aren't manufactured....

My favorite winter hat is a Akubra "Snowy river" it´s pretty much an all weather hat. If I expect more than a couple of hours in the rain I choose my Australian waxed cotton hat. Those two kept me warm and dry so far.

Much of this depends on what you define as "Winter". Hereabouts that means temps between the teens and -30F, not counting windchill.

My favorite winter hat is a thick homemade wool hat. Has to be custom made because of my Charlie Brown sized head, the "one size fits all" types do not fit all!

If it gets much colder due to wind chill then the hood of the parker goes over the hat.

Having just come back from a 2 1/2 days of survival and awareness training I learned that my favorite winter hat-type will not do. It has been a brimmed, insulated hat with turn-down insulated ear flaps with either a chin strap or fastener to a jacket.

But I discovered that a brim seriously compromises my ability to see, and reinforces a habit of rarely looking above eye level. And, of course, ear flaps compromise my sense of hearing.

The instructors seemed to wear either nothing or tightly woven wooolen caps, but I think my brain bucket would welcome something more substantial and capable of converting to more complete coverage in conditions were hypothermia threatens. I am going to re-visit buffs and some high-tech balaclavas.