Cold Weather Hat

What kind of hat(s) do you wear in cold weather?

For the most part I wear a Tilley Winter Hat (wool with brim). I wear glasses, and when it snows I HATE getting my glasses wet, thus the brim is important to me.

I also wear a Carhartt knit cap when needing to keep ears warm over a longer time.

I bought a Kromer Rancher Cap last year (like their famous Kromer Stormy Cap, but the Rancher has more insulation and bigger ear flaps) BUT I have a giant head and even the largest size available is a bit too tight. I bought a wooden had stretcher and need to wet down the cap and try stretching it a bit. I hope it works.

For cold days, I have a Wigwam Mills worsted wool watch cap that I wear.... It's one size fits all, but it's still a little tight (I haven't worn it that much yet to stretch it out) but it's very warm.

To keep the sun off me, I sometimes wear a Boonie Hat made by Rapid Dominance. This had folds up real well, but keeps it's shape. It's good for rainy days as well and is part of my rain-day weather kit.

Outdoor Research Wind Warrior is very warm if you don't need a brim.

My Father In Law gave me a Chicago style hat which I've nearly worn out.

Looks like a British sports car driver's cap ("Grand dad cap") but it has earflaps that can be brought down to cover ears and more of the back of the head. The flaps are tucked up inside when not needed.

My parka also has an insulated hood and I carry a neck fleece for those really cold days.

I like some combination of a balaclava helmet, worn in various configurations, and a parka hood, especially when a brim is needed.

I have a neck fleece that I carry in my day pack, I love it. My Carhartt coats both have hoods as well, and they are very warm. I always have a pair of thinsulate gloves available.

now in its 4th season of almost daily use when cold

http://ilbob.blogspot.com/2011/12/broner-farm-and-fleet-hat-update.html

While I love the Tilley for summer, my winter head cover is the proverbial toque. Mine is a dual layer wool outer with thinsulate liner. Picked it up for $2 at a bargain bin and the warmest head covering I have. To improve on this, add a balaclava then put on the toque and then flip up your parka's hood!

I understand the fur lined toques with ear flaps (trapper hat) also work great -- a bit expensive though. Women's version

Usually fleece.

I have a Countycomm WX Warrior Beanie. I love it because its warm and folds down very small. It lives in my jacket pocket at all times.

To keep rain/snow off my glasses, I wear a ballcap. For additional warmth I wear an army-issue Polartec fleece beanie. If more warmth is needed, I'll raise the hood on my jacket/parka or hoodie. I bicycle to & from work every day, regardless of weather. I'm from the Chicago 'burbs and learned early how to dress for winter.

Layers, layers, layers...

Merion wool buff. Most of the time around my neck or in my pocket, but will sometimes be pulled over my head. Either to augment my other hat or as my sole hat.

Wool cap.

And a good hood on my outer shell jacket.

These three go on and off all the time, alone or in combination, responding to changes in wind, temperature, precipitation/snow drift and if I need to cool down a little.

i) Laksen Knitted CTX wool hat.

http://www.swillingtonshootingsupplies.co.uk/store/product/8229/Laksen-knitted-Ctx-hat/

ii) Secolux Ventile® All Weather Cap.

http://www.secolux.co.uk/ventile-all-weather-cap.html


iii) Berghaus Goretex XCR Mountain Cap.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Berghaus-Mens-Mountain-Gore-Tex-Lined/dp/B004BX8W8Y

Depending on the weather and conditions.

+ 1 on the Tilley winter hat. To get longer life out of it, add a set of the behind the head earmuffs to the ear flaps.

EMS fleece watch cap, double layer.

I have been doing really well with just basic and cheap poly beanies. Nothing fancy except for the ones I buy with brands logos i desire. But in all honesty I am only using them in the teen temps and I am generally highly active outdoors. Very little standing around or walking.

Bringing this old thread to life just to keep the Tilley hats all in one place.

Just in -- TBC1 Tec-wool Ball Cap
It's a typical ball cap but the material is mostly wool and it has ear flaps. I take a walk each morning with the dog and on days like we've had recently I wear a ball cap under a fleece hoodie (If it's raining, the rain coat hood is over that. The ball cap keeps the hoodie up where it belongs rather than covering my eyes. When I saw the Tilley ball cap it was instinctive and automatic. Next thing I knew Tilley had sent me an email confirming the order; they ship very fast.

Needless to say, it's on my head and very comfortable. I haven't tried the ear flaps yet, but I'm sure they work.

PS: Edit to add that I wore the Tilley ball cap on my morning walk, cold and wet from a T-storm last night. It's definitely warmer than the poly-cotton cap I have been wearing. Not as warm as one of my OR Wind Warrior (pg 1 of this thread), but warm for a ball cap. I still haven't used the ear flaps though and those may bring it closer to the OR WW beanie, but that's built for much colder climates than SOCAL.

Here is my cold weather hat:

https://www.varusteleka.fi/pictures/3381357d7e6c14d154.jpg

https://www.varusteleka.fi/pictures/3381357d7e6c0de395.jpg

Outer fabric 70/30 polyester/cotton. Fleece-lining.

That's virtually the same hat I wore in Korea ("frozen Chosen") when I was in the military a looong time ago. Really good headgear for low temps...

The "frozen Chosen" hat looks a lot like the Russian ushanka fur hat. The ushanka may be big, but it's definitely warm. There is a reason that people in such a cold country wear it!

I think the Fin's know how to keep their heads warm!! That hat is awesome. Wish I could find one large enough for my big ol' mellon head.

A good friend of mine is going to St.Petersburg this summer, and a ushanka was the one thing I requested when she asked if there was anything she wants us to bring home. I've got a decent knock-off that I wear on particularly frigid days, but given the opportunity, I'm going for the real thing!

I just ordered an M43 Feld Mutze hat which should be perfect for cold Louisiana winter days!!

I have a similar wool hat for not-so-cold weather. https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/sarma-classic-sky-m27-field-cap/34330
uploading pictures

Exactly what I ordered. I also have the Swiss Garrisoncap/jeep cap/ski cap, also made of wool.

Yeah, accommodating my giant noodle is a challenge also. If my brow is exposed to the wind, the hat is no good to me.

Interesting to see the old style trapper hats come around again. Below -20C, fashion be damned. Interestingly, you can still get the old style wool hats in some country supply stores, so they never exactly went away. Somebody out there still knows what works in the field.

I also found an oversize trapper-style hat made of polyester fleece at such a store. They breathe so well, and pass moisture through. It's in my car for howling cold windy parking lots where I need to walk a few blocks and arrive without toque-head but with ears (frost never sleeps).

I have this one and it works pretty well:

http://www.carhartt.com/products/carhart...1-Headwear-A202

I have a larger head and it is a tad on the tight side, but works. The pull down face mask is nice when things get really cold, although it does fog up the glasses when in use. I'd call it a compromise hat. It's small enough to easily fit in a coat pocket so you always have it with you, yet still warm enough for all but the worst days.

Sometimes, I also pull out this one:

http://www.carhartt.com/products/carhartt-winter-layering/Acrylic-Watch-Hat-A18

This hat is much bigger than the one above. Pretty gigantic, actually. But it pulls down really low past the ears, it is thick, and keeps you warm.

If it is really really cold, I have an old Woolrich hat (no longer made). It's a trapper style hat, insulated with down and fur edges. The ear flaps wrap way down under your chin, and the back comes down to your shoulders. Can't beat it for warmth and comfort. None of that freezing snow blows down the back of your neck with this style hat.

I like the omni heat material in some of the Columbia hats. I can feel the difference in similar weight hats I own with and without the material.

http://www.columbia.com/search?q=Omni+heat+hat


I don't find the omni heat gloves to be warm enough.

http://bring-the-kids.com/does-columbia%E2%80%99s-omniheat-technology-really-work/


The bolded text= that is what I think the writer get it wrong. Baselayer is supposed to be the sweat wicking layer, not warming layer. A warming insulating layer goes on top of baselayer.