The Best Beanies for the Coldest Days of the Year

A beanie, in conjunction with a big, warm coat, is your main line of defense against the biting cold of winter. Scientists may have debunked the long-held myth that “40-50-percent of heat escapes from the head,” but wearing one certainly won’t hurt. They’ll keep your ears from crystalizing and crumbling off, your hair from catching falling snowflakes and, your forehead from facing the brunt of a frozen breeze.

Beanie Styles

Your chosen style will determine how the beanie fits. If it’s a fisherman beanie, for example, it’ll run small, sitting at or above the ears, not below the lobes. A watch cap, on the other hand, will cover most of your ears.

Fisherman

Fisherman beanies were popularized in various navies and then by Jacques Cousteau, the ocean explorer. They are typically worn above the ears, mostly because they’re knit that way — to be small and versatile. But some folks roll or fold theirs, turning a standard Watch Cap (see below) into a tiny beanie.

Want one? Find a fisherman beanie that suits you in our guide to the style.

No Fold

Close your eyes. Think of the 2000s — when men wore their beanies unfolded, long but pulled back to their hairline (like a hair net). This is the no fold style. It’s easy to wear, it completely covers your ears and it doesn’t need much adjusting. Nowadays, they’re rare, but they’re still out there — look at Naadam’s, for example.

Watch Cap

Most beanies we know today descend from Watch Caps, standard issue in the American Navy. They have a thick cuff that’s folded and a sizable crown, which fits most heads thanks to its elasticity.

Bobble

Bobble beanies come with a circular poof atop the crown. Lore says it was put there, so deck workers made others aware of their head height, making accidents less likely.

Beanie Materials

Cotton

Most cotton beanies are woven tightly enough to keep the cold out. Needless to say, they won’t be as warm as a wool beanie, but they’ll do. And they’re machine washable. If you put a wool beanie through the wash, it’ll never be the same: it’ll shrink or pill and probably stay that way.

Wool

Wool beanies are the warmest but also the easiest to break from its original form. They’re a delicate accessory, which means you need to wear yours — if it’s a fine cashmere, for example — with care, depending on the knit.

Acrylic

Acrylic fabric is the cheapest option, and it can be equally as insulating, albeit less breathable. You can find an acrylic beanie for under $15.

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Best Overall Beanie: Colorful Standard Merino Wool Beanie

• $40.00 at us.colorfulstandard.com

• Country of Manufacture: Portugal
• Fit: Unisex watch cap
• Material(s): 100% recycled merino wool
• Sizes: One siz

Colorful Standard’s the best way to top off your fit. It’s perfectly proportioned, made in Portugal with Italian superfine merino wool for a silky touch and comes in every color you could conceivably want. Oh, and it’s just $40.

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Best Upgrade Beanie: Drake’s Donegal Ribbed Merino Beanie

• $90.00 at drakes.com

• Country of Manufacture: Scotland
• Fit: Watch cap
• Material(s): 100% merino wool
• Sizes: One size

As per usual, the Drake’s take on the beanie is high quality and classic. Made from super sturdy (and naturally antimicrobial) merino wool, this ribbed beanie is simple enough to pair with any outfit but strong enough to stand out when necessary.

Amazon

Best Affordable Beanie: Carhartt A18 Watch Hat

• $18.00 at Amazon
  $20.00 (10% off)

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: High top watch cap
• Material(s): 100% acrylic
• Sizes: One size

This all-acrylic beanie is a staple on the job site and in hip neighborhoods thanks to its value, warmth and street cred. Grab one in one of over 10 colors. Some users say it’s slightly itchy due to its synthetic fabric, while others say the beanie slides upwards on the head due to a tightened crown.

Learn more about Carhartt’s best-selling beanie in our dedicated review.

Patagonia

Best Sustainable Beanie: Patagonia Fisherman’s Rolled Beanie

• $39.00 at Patagonia

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Fisherman’s
• Material(s): 100% recycled polyester
• Sizes: One size

Trust the outdoors professionals at Patagonia to make a beanie capable of withstanding event the coldest weather — at a fair price. Their Fisherman’s Beanie comes rolled in almost a dozen colors, each cut from 100-percent recycled polyester.

Todd Snyder

Best Japanese Beanie: Rototo Bulky Watch Cap

• $48.00 at Todd Snyder

• Country of Manufacture: Japan
• Fit: Watch cap
• Material(s): 80% acrylic, 15% nylon, 5% wool
• Sizes: One size

For those looking to jack some Marvin Gaye style (honestly, who isn’t?), try Rototo’s made-in-Japan beanie. It’s got a lofty knit that’ll have you feeling like your head is in the clouds.

Filson

Best Watch Cap: Filson Ballard Watch Cap

• $30.00 at Filson

• Country of Manufacture: U.S.A.
• Fit: Watch cap
• Material(s): 100% acrylic
• Sizes: One size

High-vis orange isn’t the only hue Filson’s Watch Cap comes in, but it’s a classic. Choose from several others, each with its own retro-tinged text logo — a dealbreaker for some.

Huckberry

Best Fisherman Beanie: Heimat Deck Hat

• $61.00 at Huckberry

• Country of Manufacture: Germany
• Fit: Fisherman
• Material(s): 100% virgin wool
• Sizes: One size

Heimat is a German brand with heritage references and a Ralph Lauren flair. The founder did a stint there and translates naval designs into new-age, roll-cuffed beanies.

Learn more about Heimat’s heritage beanies in our explainer post.

Quince

Best Cashmere Beanie: Quince Cashmere Beanie

• $30.00 at Quince

Quince serves up a healthy dose of luxury with its ribbed beanie made from pure Mongolian cashmere. It’s super soft and extremely affordable cashmere and a customer favorite. Transparency is emphasized in every piece from the brand, meaning better quality at an easier-to-understand price. It runs short in length, though, and is very thin, according to users.

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Best Merino Wool Beanie: Ribbed Beanie in Pure Virgin Wool

• $105.00 at woolrich.com

• Country of Manufacture: Italy
• Fit: Watch cap
• Material(s): 100% virgin wool
• Sizes: S, M, L

Woolrich specializes in outdoor gear — namely parkas, jackets and cold-weather accessories. Its merino wool ribbed beanie is big enough to fit comfortably on most heads, and it won’t stink with repeat wear — merino wool is naturally anti-odor. It’s quite pricey, though, and may be too much for a single hat.

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Best Fair Isle Beanie: American Trench Wool Fair Isle Beanie

• $80.00 at americantrench.com

• Country of Manufacture: U.S.A.
• Fit: Bobble beanie
• Material(s): 100% superfine lambswool
• Sizes: One size

Fair Isle always feels festive, which makes it perfect for the winter months. American Trench’s high quality option is made from lambswool with a 2.5 inch ribbed cuff.

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Best Wool-Hemp Beanie: Walla Walla Beanie

• $38.00 at jungmaven.com

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Unisex watch cap
• Material(s): 55% hemp, 45% merino wool
• Sizes: One size

The ribbed cuff on Jungmaven Walla Walla Beanie helps to keep your ears warm, while the blend of merino wool and hemp give it a distinctive softness. . The hemp makes it machine washable and easier to care for than 100% wool caps, and it can handle a wash and dry cycle. Grab it in white, black, navy, or gray.

Everlane

Best Cotton Beanie

Best Cotton Beanie: Everlane The Organic Cotton Chunky Beanie

• $48.00 at Everlane

• Country of Manufacture: Hong Kong
• Fit: Watch cap
• Material(s): 97% organic cotton, 1% elastane, 2% other fiber
• Sizes: One size

Everlane’s chunky beanie is made from soft organic cotton and ribbed for maximum warmth. It’s a good size, too, making it right for most heads, and the color assortment is hard to beat. The chunky beanie also has spandex for extra stretch over your dome, ensuring the perfect fit. The Everlane logo on the fold isn’t flattering, though…unless you’re an Eminem fan.

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Best Military Beanie: Genuine Issue 100% Wool Watch Cap

• $12.00 at mcguirearmynavy.com

• Country of Manufacture: U.S.A.
• Fit: Watch cap
• Material(s): 100% wool
• Sizes: One size

This is the watch cap that comes to mind when we think of military-standard beanie. The Genuine Issue 100% Wool Watch Cap is made in the U.S.A. and is as cheap as can be, with pure wool that’s ultra stretchy and far from itchy. Grab it in one of many colors or get a three-pack for rotation.

Huckberry

Best Basic Beanie: Huckberry Beanie

• $28.00 at Huckberry

• Country of Manufacture: Japan
• Fit: Watch cap
• Material(s): 83% acrylic, 14% wool, 2% nylon, 1% spandex
• Sizes: One size

Online retailer Huckberry also sells it own beanie emblazoned with a tiny little tree logo. Made in Japan from a blend of materials, these are hard-wearing but also good-looking.

Amazon

Best Department Store Beanie: The North Face Salty Dog Beanie

• $28.00 at Amazon

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: Watch cap
• Material(s): 100% acrylic
• Sizes: Short, regular one size

The Salty Dog Beanie is The North Face’s best-selling hat — and for good reason. This simple beanie is from loose-weave soft acrylic fabric with a logo that can be worn offset or straight on.

Todd Snyder

Best Recycled Cashmere Beanie: Todd Snyder Italian Recycled Cashmere Beanie

• $398.00 at Todd Snyder

• Country of Manufacture: Italy
• Fit: Watch cap
• Material(s): 95% recycled cashmere, 5% wool
• Sizes: One size

Cashmere beanies aren’t cheap, but you can find one for a little less if it’s recycled. Not for resale, per se, but made from recycled materials — like Todd Snyder’s example here. It’s made from 95 percent recycled cashmere and 5 percent virgin wool, and it comes in several colors. Some users say it runs small.

Nordstrom

Best Designer Beanie

Rag & Bone Addison Wool Beanie

• $43.00 at Nordstrom
  $95.00 (55% off)

Most designer accessories are a ripoff, because they’re cheap products brands can mark up and move. Rag & Bone’s beanie is an exception, though. It’s made from almost entirely from wool and it’s the right size for small and big heads alike. Plus, it comes in a bunch of colors.

rag & bone

Best Designer Beanie: Addison Beanie

• $95.00 at rag & bone

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Fit: High top watch cap
• Material(s): 89% wool, 9% nylon, 2% spandex
• Sizes: One size

Most designer accessories are a ripoff because they’re cheap products brands can mark up and move. Rag & Bone’s beanie is an exception, though. It’s made from almost entirely from wool, and it’s the right size for small and big heads alike.

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