A knit hat, in conjunction with a warm coat, is your main line of defense against the biting cold of winter. Though many knit hats are made from acrylic yarn, natural fibers like wool, alpaca, mohair and cashmere are a worthier investment: they’re water resistant and moisture wicking, breathable and incredibly warm. Any of these versatile options will keep your head warm and your style on point through the cold season.
Colorful Standard Merino Wool Beanie
Best Overall Beanie
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 $35.
Price: $35
Industry of All Nations Alpaca Beanie
Best Upgrade Beanie
Alpaca weighs less than cashmere, is just as soft and even warmer. This one from Industry of All Nations is au naturale and uses just the natural color of the fibers itself to get its varied tones. No nasty dyes here.
Price: $80
Uniqlo Heattech Knitted Cap
Best Affordable Beanie
Uniqlo's famed Heattech fabric has been the stuff of winter undergarment legend and its use in a beanie just makes sense.
Price: $15
USN Wool Watch Cap
The surplus standby is adopted by the military thanks to its all-wool materials and solid build. It's also damn cheap.
Price: $11
Neff Daily Beanie
Your skin won't feel anything softer than Neff's Daily Beanie. At least, not for anything in the same price point.
Price: $16
Carhartt Watch Hat
This all-acrylic beanie is a staple on the jobsite and in hip neighborhoods thanks to its value, warmth and street cred.
Price: $17
J.Crew Cotton Beanie
If you need a beanie that doesn't irritate your skin and is warm without suffocating your noggin, an all-cotton beanie might be what you're after. J.Crew's version is what you're after.
Price: $40
Outerknown Fisherman Beanie
Outerknown's seaside rendition takes after classic fisherman watch caps with a traditional cable-knit style. It's calculated blend of merino wool and organic cotton balances warmth with softness.
Price: $48
Rototo Bulky Watch Cap
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.
Price: $48
J. Press Shaggy Dog Cuffed Hat
You can think of a beanie like sweater for your head. That's exactly what J. Press did when it turned its famed 'shaggy dog' sweaters and into a head warmer. It's made in Scotland using Shetland wool that's brushed for more texture than the average wool beanie.
Price: $60
Drake's Classic Lambswool Hat
As per usual, the Drake's take on the beanie is high quality and classic. Made from super soft lambswool, this ribbed beanie is simple enough to pair with any outfit.
Price: $70
Polo Ralph Lauren Thermal Stitch Beanie
The waffle knit and smidge of cashmere make this a most decadent dome warmer.
Price: $68
William Lockie Cashmere Beanie
Using the fresh waters of Scotland to make these cashmere beanies is a serious flex. Not only that, these are knit by a company that's been in the knitting business for almost a century and a half.
Price: $85
Chamula Double Cuff Fair Isle Beanie
To get something especially wintry, with enough chunk to best Campbell's thickest stew, Chamula is what you're after. It's hand-knit by Mexican artisans using thick merino wool yarns made even thicker thanks to the doubled cuff.
Price: $75
Alex Mill Cashmere Beanie
This beanie has been in the Alex Mill rotation season upon season for several reasons. It comes in a dozen dialed-in colors, it's buttery soft and is a perfect shape.
Price: $95
Nanamica Gore-Tex Infinium Beanie
Gore-tex? In a beanie? You bet. Nanamica's tech-forward beanie uses Gore-Tex Infinium technology which works up a three-part magic trick that stops wind, resists rain and somehow remains breathable.
Price: $105
Grei Animal Cozy Beanie
Hand-loomed using Italian wool and alpaca, this imitation shearling is cozy through and through. It's an absolute unit of a beanie that's enough to cover a conehead or selfishly double up on a human head.
Price: $175
Naadam Double-Layer Beanie
Naadam serves up a double portion of cashmere with its extra roomy beanie made from pure Mongolian cashmere.
Price: $195
