A winter hat has one main job — keep heat in — but the best one for you depends on how cold it gets, how much coverage you want, and how you like to look. Here are the styles that actually keep you warm, and when to choose each.
Beanies: the everyday choice
A knit beanie is the simplest, most versatile winter hat. Wool and wool-blend versions hold warmth well; a cuffed fit gives you a double layer over the ears. It packs flat, works with any coat, and suits almost everyone.
Shop beanies and knit hats.
Trapper hats: for serious cold
When it is genuinely freezing, a trapper hat wins. Fold-down ear flaps block wind, and a soft faux-fur lining traps heat around your head and ears. This is the style for snow, wind, and long spells outdoors.
See our trapper and bomber hats.
Bomber and aviator hats: warmth with structure
Bomber-style hats give you similar warmth to a trapper with a slightly sharper, more structured look. Leather and cotton versions with a soft lining balance insulation and style, so they work in the city as well as on the trail.
Balaclavas: full coverage
For the coldest days, cycling, or winter sports, a balaclava covers your head, neck and most of your face. Worn alone or under a helmet, it is the most complete cold-weather cover you can get.
Browse balaclavas.
How to choose
- Everyday cold: a wool beanie.
- Deep cold and wind: a faux-fur-lined trapper.
- City warmth with structure: a bomber or aviator.
- Maximum coverage: a balaclava.
Fit and care
A winter hat should sit snug enough to stay put in wind without pressing. For sizing, measure around your head above the ears. Let a damp hat air-dry rather than putting it on a radiator, which can distort the shape, and follow the care note for wool or lined styles.
Stay warm: explore beanies, trapper hats and more in the winter range at Hatloom.
