At home in Scotland, we have a saying: “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” It’s a mantra I tend to live by because most of my favorite pastimes take place outdoors. Whether I’m climbing mountains or out with my camera in search of wildlife, a warm hat is one of my cold weather essentials. I’ve also packed them for trips to chilly destinations including the Yukon and the Norwegian Arctic, and tend to favor versatile styles that can be dressed up or down to suit a multitude of different scenarios from hiking to sightseeing.
I especially love fabrics like Merino wool and cashmere that offer impressive warmth while keeping bulk to a minimum. To help you find your new favorite winter hat, we tested a variety of styles out in the real world. From fashionable fleecy bucket hats to beanies designed especially for athletic pursuits, discover our favorite winter hats for all cold-weather travelers.
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Warm yet breathable, practical yet stylish, this versatile beanie is a solid all-around hat for every winter activity.
Several seasons after purchasing the Smartwool Isto Retro Beanie, it remains our go-to pick for winter fun. This unisex hat is made from a single-layer, cable knit Merino wool and recycled nylon blend, combining the unique benefits of both fabrics. The lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking properties of Merino make the hat ideal for active pursuits like hiking; while nylon adds a level of durability that has seen our beanie retain its shape even after years of wear and washing.
Above all, we love it for its warmth, comfort, and ability to stretch just enough to stay securely in place over the ears. In terms of aesthetics, the beanie makes a statement with a chunky ribbed cuff and an oversized pom-pom. Three tonal stripes add interest to your look, with colorways ranging from emerald green and twilight blue to practical, goes-with-everything black. One size fits all, and when it’s due for a refresh you can throw it in the machine on a cold cycle before laying it out flat to dry.
The Details: One size | Merino wool and nylon | 5.3 ounces
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Made from 100 percent acrylic rib knit, the unisex Carhartt Knit Cuffed Beanie was first designed in 1987 as a workwear staple, but has since become as much a fashion statement as a practical choice for warding off the winter chill. This classic style is our favorite beanie as it pairs well with most winter outfits, sports an iconic Carhartt patch, and a fold-up cuff that increases versatility by giving you the option of wearing it long or short.
Benefits of acrylic as a beanie fabric include affordability, travel-friendly wrinkle resistance, and lightweight warmth (although admittedly, it’s not as well-suited to extreme cold as wool or cashmere). Above all, we love how easy the beanie is to care for — simply throw it in a cold wash and tumble dry on low. Choose from a veritable rainbow of solid and heathered colors to suit all tastes, from navy to bright orange or violet.
The Details: One size | Acrylic
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The Lush Fleece Stomp Bucket Hat from Turtle Fur is a 90s-inspired fashion statement that’s as fabulous as it is fun. We love that it’s more stylish than a standard beanie, making it ideal for aprés ski or for outdoor socializing and urban commutes. The looser fit is ideal for those with bigger hairstyles, helping to avoid that slightly crushed, hat hair vibe. Best of all, the sustainable, 100-percent recycled polyester fleece is just as soft and cozy as it looks.
This hat is also surprisingly warm, with a level of breathability that makes it practical for brisk walks if not for proper athletic pursuits. The fit can be adjusted slightly using the tab installed along the inside rim. Our bucket hat has held up well after several seasons’ use, including packing it for the occasional ski trip. The style is meant for both men and women, with colors ranging from black to crushed mint or luscious pink.
The Details: One size | Recycled polyester | 3 ounces
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The Aritzia Cashmere Hood is made from jersey-knit, 100 percent Grade A cashmere verified for ethical sustainability by The Good Cashmere Standard. We love it for its unbelievable softness, its breathability, and the fact that it stretches to fit over a ponytail. We keep ours rolled up in our purse during winters in New York City, where it takes up minimal space and provides an easy extra layer whenever the wind picks up or temperatures plummet.
The neck part is long, with a rolled bottom edge that keeps it securely in place when tucked into the neck of your sweater. It’s naturally slouchy, easy to style, and comes in a range of neutral colors designed to look good with anything. Choose yours in black, white, gray, taupe, or dark olive. Whichever you go for, drawcords allow you to wear it loose like a hood or cinched for balaclava-level warmth.
The Details: One size | Cashmere
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The Jacquard knit, fully lined Kari Traa Rose Beanie is crafted from 100 percent Merino wool for a lightweight, breathable feel that is nevertheless exceptionally warm. It’s also naturally moisture-wicking, provides insulation even when wet, and odor-resistant. We’ve worn ours through four Iowa winters, for everything from cross-country skiing to running errands. It’s become a go-to, both for its warmth and its non-itchy, non-constricting fit.
The fact that it sits fairly loosely is great for long-term comfort and for avoiding hat hair. We also love that the beanie is thin enough to wear seamlessly under a ski helmet. It’s instantly recognizable by its Nordic-inspired, all-over snow crystal pattern and comes in two color choices: black/white or pale blue/purple. You can even pair it with Kari Traa’s matching base layers. The beanie is machine washable, but must be dried flat.
The Details: One size | Merino wool
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Warm, stylish, and impossible to ignore, this eye-catching hat is sure to turn heads.
The opposite of subtle, the Cynthia Rowley Snow Bunny Trapper Hat is designed to be the focal point of your winter outfits with all-over faux fur made from plush polyester. It’s also one of the warmest hats we own, protecting the forehead, ears, and back of the neck from the cold. If the weather’s really bitter, you can use the snap button on the ear pieces to secure it under your chin. A smooth, itch-free lining makes it comfy to wear for extended periods.
The hat’s bulkiness may be a downside for some, making it difficult to stash in a purse or pack without taking up too much space. We tend to choose it when heading somewhere we can keep it within reach when not in use — like a restaurant or friend’s house. Having said that, we’ve also found that it’s sufficiently breathable to wear inside for short periods without overheating. Available in black, ivory, or a gorgeous burgundy, it must be hand washed and hung out to dry.
The Details: One size | Polyester
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Breathable polyester fleece, easy care instructions, and reflective accents make this the ideal winter running hat.
The TrailHeads Fleece Ponytail Hat offers the same benefit as a regular baseball cap for active sports like hiking and running — namely, a visor to keep the sun out of your eyes on the trail. However, its thermal polyester fleece construction makes it a great option for winter sports, providing warmth and breathability in equal measure. An added touch of spandex provides four-way stretch for freedom of movement and a secure yet unrestrictive fit.
Special features range from a moisture-wicking, elasticated sweatband to a drop-down fleece panel that protects the back of the neck and ears on chilly days. We particularly like that the panel can be folded up to prevent overheating as you work up a sweat. Similarly, the ponytail cutout can be closed when you want to wear your hair down; alternatively, there’s a men’s version without the cutout. All seven colors include reflective accents for nighttime visibility.
The Details: One size | Polyester and spandex
Others We Liked
We’ve tested over a dozen winter hats and, while some of them we liked, they didn’t quite measure up to our absolute favorite styles.
Umeepar Winter Faux Fur Fuzzy Bucket Hat: This hat (a statement piece meant to be paired with dressier outfits) impressed us with the warmth and softness of its faux fur. If we had one complaint it would be the lack of stretch or adjustability.
Turtle Fur Merino Watch Cap: We really liked the breathable Merino construction of this stylish hat, however it may be too lightweight for deep winter temperatures.
Travel + Leisure
Our Testing Process
We tested over a dozen winter hats from beanies to bucket hats to determine the best and warmest styles for all travelers. We began by evaluating each hat’s material, design, and overall construction before donning our hat and heading out into the cold. We wore our hats in the middle of winter around the country from Oregon to New York in all types of weather situations.
During the testing period, we also packed each hat in commuter bags, purses, ski bags, and more to carry them with us on our winter adventures. We evaluated which hats were easy to pack, arrived safely and wrinkle-free, as well as which hats we would pack again. After wearing each hat, we also washed them following care instructions to determine their durability and long-term quality.
Tips for Buying a Winter Hat
Prioritize warmth
Although the old adage that we lose most of our body heat through our head is not actually true (it was debunked by scientists who found that we lose heat at the same rate all over our bodies, in proportion to the amount of exposed skin), it is certain that wearing a hat can make a big difference when it comes to keeping warm in the cold. If that’s your goal, be sure to prioritize warmth by choosing insulating fabrics, double-layered styles, and a snug, air-trapping fit. Of course, the level of warmth required will depend on your destination: a hat for a winter trip to New York City will not need to be as warm as one for an expedition to Antarctica.
Looking at the sizing options
Although some may come in a range of sizes, most beanies, toques, and other similar winter styles are marketed as one-size-fits-all. That’s because they’re made from stretchy fibers capable of expanding or contracting to fit people of all shapes and sizes. That’s not to say that all one-size hats will fit everyone perfectly. I have a fairly large head and, therefore, tend to favor styles with a cuff that can be rolled down to provide extra coverage should the hat come up a little short. When shopping online, read reviews and size guides carefully to get an idea of the fit.
Think about packability
Most winter hats take up minimal suitcase space, but you should also consider how they’ll fit into a smaller daypack or even into your jacket pocket. I know that when I’m hiking, I often start with my beanie on, but have to take it off as the incline gets steeper and I start to exert myself — or as the sun comes out. I can rarely be bothered to take my hiking pack off to stow the hat, so I like styles that roll up small enough to fit in my pocket. If packability is a priority, Merino offers the best bulk-to-warmth ratio out there.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the best material for winter hats?
The best material for a winter hat depends on what you want it for. For running, hiking, or any other active pursuit, Merino wool is ideal because it regulates temperature (keeping you warm when stationary and cool when you start to get hot), wicks moisture, and is naturally odor-resistant. For city style and warmth, I love cashmere, a luxury fabric that’s both softer and more insulating than regular wool. Regular wool remains a solid choice, however, offering ample warmth and breathability at a much more affordable pricepoint than cashmere. Fleece is my go-to for extreme cold, while cotton and acrylic hats are great from a practical perspective — unlike most wool hats, they tend to be machine washable for easy maintenance when traveling.
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How do you wash a winter hat?
Washing guidelines vary considerably from one brand of winter hat to the next and depend mostly on the materials used. You should always check the care label carefully for specific instructions. As a general rule, most wool and cashmere hats are hand-wash only and should be reshaped and laid out flat to dry. Merino wool and fleece can often be machine washed on a delicate and/or cold cycle, but should not be tumble dried. Cotton and acrylic hats tend to be heartier and can cope with a warm wash cycle and tumble drying on a low heat.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
Jessica Macdonald lives in Scotland where she spends her free time climbing mountains in all seasons — making a winter hat an essential part of her wardrobe. She’s also packed them for cold-weather trips to places like the Yukon and the Norwegian Arctic. She also utilized testing results to determine which winter hats were the warmest and best options for travelers.
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