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.