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Best winter hats 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]
Last Updated September 1, 2023
I’m Willow Willard Lawson. My friends call me “stone” and it just kind of stuck. Here are the best winter hats for 2018 – based on my own expert opinion, feature sets, prices, and overall popularity.
Just read here for my top 3 recommendations. Why are these 3 winter hats on top of my list? Well read on… What I would like you to remember as you browse my website is that I don’t work in the industry so the reviews I have are based on good old fashioned honesty.
Best winter hats of 2018
Many models on the market may be confusing to a person who is shopping for their first time. Here are my top picks with detailed reviews, comparison charts and buying guides to help you purchase the perfect item for your needs. You can make a choice based on the my list as you shop. There is a wide range of products available on the market today, and below I have reviewed 3 of the very best options.
Test Results and Ratings
| Rank | №1 | №2 | №3 |
| Product |  |
 |
 |
| Total | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Ease of use |
5 points
|
5 points
|
5 points
|
| Versatility |
5 points
|
5 points
|
4 points
|
| Performance |
4 points
|
4 points
|
4 points
|
| Price |
5 points
|
4 points
|
4 points
|
| Awards |  |
||
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the winter hats by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
№1 – Faux Fur Pom Pom Beanie by Brook + Bay – Stay Warm & Stylish this Winter – Thick
| Total: |
4.8
|
Why did this winter hats win the first place?
The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack. I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing! I am very happy with the purchase. It is definitely worth its money. The product is top-notch! I also liked the delivery service that was fast and quick to react. It was delivered on the third day.
5
|
5
|
4
|
5
|
№2 – Paladoo Slouchy Winter Hats Knitted Beanie Caps Soft Warm Ski Hat
| Total: |
4.5
|
Why did this winter hats come in second place?
Managers explained me all the details about the product range, price, and delivery. This is a pretty decent product that perfectly fitted the interior of our office. The material is pretty strong and easy to wash if needed. I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money.
5
|
5
|
4
|
4
|
№3 – Vmevo Wool Cuffed Plain Beanie Warm Winter Knit Hats Unisex Watch Cap Skull Cap
| Total: |
4.3
|
Why did this winter hats take third place?
It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment. We are very pleased with the purchase — the product is great! This price is appropriate since the product is very well built. It is inconvenient to use due to the size. I am going to get something different next time.
5
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
winter hats Buyer’s Guide
Rules for Headgear
Most men own at least two options: a thick, practical cap for day-to-day existence outside in the winter, and a more formal, less-warming dress hat for short walks between transportation and a dressy setting like work or theater.
Felt Dress Hats
Various styles of dress hat (fedoras, homburgs, bowlers, etc.) come in thicker felts for winter wear. Some modern styles have incorporated a semi-circular ear warmer in the same color as, or in a complementary pattern to, the hat, that is either tucked up inside the crown or detachable, allowing the basic dressy style to be retained without sacrificing ear protection.
Acrylic
Acrylic hats can be an excellent wool substitute and certain blends are exceptionally soft. Acrylic is also lightweight, making it a popular fabric. For those who love wool but unfortunately may experience some allergic reactions to the fabric, acrylic can be an excellent substitute. Acrylic hats keep their shape and are highly elastic. They are warm, soft, hold color well and are both stain and wrinkle resistant.
Fur or Faux Fur
Fur and faux fur are hats can really accentuate a ski look. Some manufactures are using fur accents to add sophistication to traditional ski hats. This particular detail is very popular among the posh ski crowds because it gives a nice fashion-forward look. Additionally, fur and faux fur may be found on the inside of hats as an extra warm liner.
Headbands
Another choice for headgear are headbands. Headbands are typically made from the same materials as hats and are mainly used to keep your ears warm because they do not cover the rest of your head. These are not as warm as wearing a hat, so they are typically reserved for warmer, sunny skiing days. The upside to wearing a headband is that your hair doesn’t get crushed, so transitioning your ski look to an après ski look becomes much easier.
Castelli Estremo WS Skully
What they say: Maximum warmth while allowing vapour to escape with warmer fabric for comfort and warmth.
What we say: With a band made from Gore’s Windstopper X-Free fabric, the Estremo WS Skully does a fine job of keeping your noggin snug, forming a protective chill-proof barrier that wraps itself around your forehead and over your ears.
This is a good thing as these are the areas many riders complain suffer the most when riding in colder conditions.
The rest of the cap is made from a fleecy, elasticated material called ‘Warmer Fabric’ which isn’t windproof (because it’s used in places where it doesn’t need to be, as long as you’re wearing a helmet over it) but it is highly breathable, offering a comfortable – if somewhat close – fit.
Castelli reckons this is suitable for riding in temperatures between 5-10°C, but we reckon it’d still serve you well in temperatures below that.
The Italian firm also bills this as a skullcap, despite it not quite fitting the accepted description of that on account of a wee flap at the back of the cap.
Acting almost like a reversed peak, this serves to protect the exposed part of your neck between what would ordinarily be the bottom of the cap and the top of your jacket.
Castelli DifesaCap
What they say: For the most extreme riding conditions, the Castelli Difesa Cap is the item you’ll reach for to make riding a bit more bearable.
With full windproof coverage on top of the head and ear flaps, it traps in warmth and doesn’t let it go.
What we say: Difesa is the Italian word for defence and it’s an apt name for this bit of headgear.
The initial impression this cap gives is that it’s too thin to be of much cop when temperatures drop, but the entire thing is constructed from the same material Castelli uses on its rightly celebrated Gabba jersey – Gore’s Windstopper fabric.
Meaning this will protect you against both the wind and rain while also being highly breathable. It can be worn like a regular casquette, with its traditional cycling cap visor working to keep the rain out of your eyes, but there is also a fold-down panel made of Thermoflex fabric which can be deployed when the wind starts to bite that’ll keep your ears from falling off.
Reflective piping around the sides and detailing embedded in the Castelli label to the rear complete the package.
Craft Active Extreme 2.0 WS Hat
What they say: Thin and lightweight skull hat with wind-protective Windstopper panel at front that keeps your head dry and warm during workouts in chilly and windy conditions.
What we say: Swedish firm Craft was set up in the 1970s to produce base layers with keen wicking abilities, so it’s no surprise to discover that its Active Extreme skull cap is made from a highly breathable ribbed polyester mix which is easily the thinnest we looked at here.
But because of this it also offers very little protection against the rain. There is, however, a highly effective windproof panel at the front made from Gore’s excellent Windstopper fabric to keep icy headwinds out, while the cut of this cap ensures that most of your head, including your ears and the back of your neck are protected against chills.
Trakker is well-known for producing a great value winter bundle and this is the latest incarnation of exactly that.
Consisting of a jacket, zip-in fleece and trousers, it not only performs well but looks the part too.
The heavyweight jacket and fleece will keep Baltic conditions at bay. Add the trousers into the equation and you have an out-and-out winter all-rounder.
Thermal lined pockets, chunky and reliable zips, high collars, reinforced knee sections and a draught-excluding rear on the jacket complete the impressive spec on what is an outstandingly good value three-piece set.
WYCHWOOD PUFFER GILET CAMO
Keeping your core warm is key to enjoying, and not just enduring, winter sessions as it’s the middle area which acts as the boiler room for the rest of your body.
This well-insulated, sleeveless jacket does just that, and in performance terms it stands up to garments that cost considerably more than this.
The down-like 3M Thinsulate inner provides warmth and can be compressed for ease of transport.
Three zipped pockets – two external and one internal – and a high-quality zip complete the basics, with the waterproof and wind-resistant outer providing further performance tech.
PROLOGIC HERITAGE THERMO SUIT
An out-and-out winter suit which features a heavily-insulated jacket and salopettes, each packed with features.
The jacket has a high collar, peaked hood, storm-sealed pockets to the front, adjustable cuffs, insulated side pockets and quality two-way zips.
The salopettes have reinforced knee sections (a great addition) and the bottom gusset and Velcro adjusters help make for a snug fit around chunky winter boots.
This is a proper suit which will keep you warm and dry in any weather the winter can throw at you.
It’s well made and features a range of well-thought-out extras.
Look after your kit
That means keeping it clean, washing it regularly (follow the instructions), and reproofing it as needed. Don’t use fabric softener, because it clogs the pores of your clothing.
High-tech, breathable clothing made from fabrics like Gore-Tex and eVent usually needs to be regularly washed and recoated with Nikwax or similar products. That’s because these fabrics often have a durable outer shell that protects the waterproof, breathable membrane beneath them, and this needs to be reproofed regularly. The new Gore One is an exception to this rule; this material — used in Gore, Casetelli and 7Mesh jackets — actually improves with washing.
If your jacket is made from something like Epic Cotton, it needs to be tumble dried regularly to remain water-resistant. If you do damage your clothing, patches can be bought for Gore-Tex kit, and many manufacturers will repair damage. Some even do it for free.
Alps & Meters Classic Pom Hat
Established in 2014, Alps & Meters is a new brand that focuses on making a few high-quality pieces for cold temperatures. And when we say “a few,” we mean a few. The brand only has nine pieces on offer, and the Classic Pom Hat is one of them. Made out of 100% lambswool (and available in a variety of colors), the hat is coated with DuPont Teflon water repellant, and has a secret zipped pocket underneath the hat’s cuff to store a key, cash, or a credit card.
A Brief History of Hats
What can we say about hats that hasn’t already been said? Historically, hats have been worn to mark social status or military rank. Straw hats have been used and made for hundreds of years by farmers to block the sun all over the globe. Hats became a common part of American culture through baseball and military use. Now that you know about the history of hats, on to the fun part.
BALL CAPS
As a general rule, if it has a front facing brim and panel construction, it is a ball cap. There are many different types of ball caps based on how they adjust to your head and how they are constructed. These include fitted, snapback, strapback, flexfit, trucker and 5-panel styles.
FITTED HATS
Measure your dome and buy accordingly. These hat sizes are usually the circumference of your head, in inches (5/8″, etc. Fitted hats are standard baseball caps, made from cloth triangles and topped with a fabric-covered button called a, yes, this is the real word, squatchee.
SNAPBACKS
Snapbacks got their start in sports during the 1950s but declined as fitted hats became more popular. It wasn’t until the ’80s and ’90s that snapbacks blew up in the hip hop scene and they gained popularity across the hat-wearing world. They use plastic snaps to adjust the diameter (size) of the hat. Snapbacks can generally be found on truckers, baseball, and old school Starter style hats.
Trucker
Trucker hats were originally used by truck drivers and farmers. Why? They were generally cheap giveaways by agricultural companies and are breathable by nature: good for working outside, which actually translates well to snow and action sports. Truckers are made with mesh and foam instead of the sweat-magnet called cotton and are generally snapbacks.
Wrap up and roll out
100% waterproof and insulated with 40g of Thinsulate, these gloves are great at keeping you warm – but are also breathable. The ribbed cuff provides a close fit while the slimline design and thinner palm increases the sensitivity for riding. All of this is combined with Tredstep’s Wet-Tec for grip in all conditions.
Tredstep Polar H2O glove
We also really rate the Tredstep Polar H2O glove. It’s a fantastic option for all-weather riding as it is crafted from an Air Fibre stretch back synthetic suede to increase sensitivity. On top of this, Tredstep have used 40g of Thinsulate insulation, an extended cuff and a breathable membrane to retain the warmth without making the gloves too hot.
SealSkinz All Weather Riding Gloves
These lightweight, technical all-weather gloves are a good choice for slightly warmer winter weather (SealSkinz have given them a a warmth rating of out of 5). They use SealSkinz patented three-layer technology and feature extended, stretch cuffs for heat retention. At the same time, they are very dextrous with a pre-curved, reinforced design on the fingers which allows consistent contact with the reins.
Washing a Quilt
How long you can keep your quilt is also influenced by how many times have you washed it in a year? Generally, polyester quilts of all types are washable and ideally should be washed at least 2-times per year! Why? Just like any other bedding item, they do capture dust, mites and particles of skin.
Wool and feather-based Quilts will need dry cleaning and a good airing occasionally. It is recommended to dry clean once you have finished with these products for the season and before you put them away.
GSM and filling
Quilt thickness or density is measured by ‘gsm’ (grams per square metre). The thickness of the filling and the type of filling determine how warm the quilt is.
You will also find a corresponding relationship on price and quality with gsm. Cheaper quilts have a lower gsm generally whereas more expensive quilts have a higher gsm.
A number of quilt manufacturers also use a ‘high loft’ (equivalent to 2-blankets, 450 gsm), ‘light loft’ (equivalent to 1-blankets 300gsm) or ‘super loft’ (equivalent to 3-blankets 500gsm) rating. This is to help customers in determining warmth factor. ‘Light Loft’ is therefore a suitable summer blanket and high/super are more for cooler nights.
Polyester vs Microfibre Quilts
Synthetic quilts are another name for Polyester quilts and are the most popular around due as they are not expensive. They usually have a cotton stitched cover with a polyester filling. Some of these polyester quilts even have a treated polyester filling for allergy sufferers. Cheaper polyester quilts are around 150-250gsm level (ie an average amount of filling). Polyester these days is much more breathable than of old. There’s nothing wrong with a budget polyester quilt for Summer although of course, it isn’t going to last as many years as more expensive microfibre variants.
Microfibre is a type of synthetic and is the result of a different and newer manufacturing technique. Microfibre is definitely one of the wonder fabrics of modern day (see our Buying Sheets/Doona Cover Guide where Microfibre is explored in more detail) as they are generally easy to care for, breathe just like cotton and dry quicker.
Microfibre quilts also exhibit greater characteristics of fluffiness feeling more like a ‘luxury’ feather/down product as they to have a higher gsm filling eg 300gsm+. Microfibre quilts are filled by blowing in a fine denier fibre to give the effect of being filled like ‘down’. Obviously microfibre quilts will be a little more expensive than your standard polyester range but are great purchases for warmer months.
Dacron is a trademark (brand) of polyester made by DuPont and commonly used worldwide by many manufacturers especially as filling for upholstery and bedding. A number of quilt manufacturers use this and it makes for an excellent value quilt.
Eco fill Quilts
There are a few Australian manufacturers producing very innovative quilts using eco-friendly fills like recycled plastic or euculyptus or bamboo fibre. For those seeking an environmentally sound choice, you can’t go past these types of quilts and they perform the same job and more in keeping you warm and cosy. They have greater advantages of anti-allergy properties and minimise bacteria because of their natural inherent properties of the fill and fabric. In environments of high moisture/humidity, these are just perfect as standard cotton fabric can breed mould.
Luckily the answer is no.
I don’t know about you, but I like to prevent cold wind from blowing down my neck and into my coat on bitterly cold days. Scarves are the perfect solution, not to mention cozy and stylish (and they don’t need to be made of wool). Check out some of my vegan picks below…
C O A T S
Animal materials to watch out for… alpaca, angora, calfskin, camel hair, cashmere, fleece, fur, leather, mohair, pashmina, shearling, sheepskin, silk, suede, wool.
Cougar Serge
Animal materials to watch out for… alligator skin, calfskin, fleece, fur, kangaroo skin, leather, shearling, sheepskin, snakeskin, suede, wool.
I WANT MY FREEBIE!
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How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the winter hats by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
Final Word
First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.
Most important, have fun and choose your winter hats wisely! Good luck!
So, TOP3 of winter hats
- №1 — Faux Fur Pom Pom Beanie by Brook + Bay – Stay Warm & Stylish this Winter – Thick
- №2 — Paladoo Slouchy Winter Hats Knitted Beanie Caps Soft Warm Ski Hat
- №3 — Vmevo Wool Cuffed Plain Beanie Warm Winter Knit Hats Unisex Watch Cap Skull Cap
Questions? Leave a comment below!
Chatting about winter hats is my passion! Leave me a question in the comments, I answer each and every one and would love to get to know you better!
