Hats

Recent Hat Reviews

Sherpa Adventure Gear Renzing Hat

An extremely well made beanie that excels in cold conditions. If you live in the mountains, or walk in the mountains, there's about a 104% chance you've got a substantial stash of beanies. Some are probably for function and others might be for style. For me, the Renzing (and most Sherpa beanies) hits on both. I have an older version and I believe they come with just one band now. I like the look. More 'working' than "relaxing." And while I'm not big into logos I like this one. Subtle. SAG beanies… Full review

Mountain Hardwear Docklands Reversible Beanie

100% Merino wool is the SHIZ!!! Comfort across a wide range of temperatures, merino wool is my first choice for what's next to my skin—caps, sweaters and base layers. Mountain Hardwear is my favorite apparel line and I've many, from down jackets to pants, shirts, and sweaters to prove it. Full review

Outdoor Research Helios Sun Hat

Makes me look like a mature fisherman. I forget I'm wearing it. I've worn billed baseball type caps for decades and thought I'd try something different. This looked like it was worth a try and it is now my favorite hat. If it's not on my head, then it's hanging on my bedpost. Super light and packable fisherman style crush hat for great shade from the sun. I checked OR's fit guide and measured the circumference of my head to get a perfect fit. I don't cinch the headband drawstring, but find that… Full review

Toad&Co Americano Hat

The Americano Hat from Toad&Co is an attractive, lightweight, crushable Panama-style hat that provides excellent ventilation and protection from the sun. The Americano Hat from Toad&Co is an attractive, lightweight, crushable Panama-style hat that looks as good in town as it does on the trail. Even more important than looking good, it also protects your face from the harmful rays of the sun. I have a problem when I hike. I overheat unless it’s quite chilly out. In Sonoma County (Northern… Full review

Black Rock Gear The Original

The comfort, weight, and warmth have me grabbing this hat before any of my others. I'm starting to miss my old head covers; I don't see them much any more. Don’t let the price tag deter you. It has become my go-to hat for all sorts of outings. Because this is a cottage company out of Seattle, you will pay a few extra bucks to keep things made in America. That said, I use my down hat so much that I’ve gotten the price tag's worth of use out of it and then some. I can’t say that for all of my… Full review

Eddie Bauer Goose Down Face Mask

A well thought out and useful piece of equipment for really cold weather. I found this beautiful piece of history in a local thrift shop. At first glance, it looked rather peculiar. I knew it had to be old since I hadn't seen anything like this in recent history. After having inspected it, I realized that this was a functional piece of winter gear. The mask is filled with high quality goose down. The material is a tight weave windstopper fabric. The back half of the mask is an elastic material that… Full review

Jack Wolfskin Stormlock Shapka

Heavy winter hat made for extremely cold weather. Offers circular protection from the wind. While this hat has the traditional design, the materials are modern and top-tier. Has limited use due to its warmth. I purchased this hat about five years ago for use on occasions when the temperature drops far below -10°C (14°F), and my other hats offer very little protection against cold wind. I wear a black head band beneath the hat for better protection The name of this model means simply “a hat”… Full review

Ridge Merino Balaclava

A full face balaclava that is a strikes a nice balance between light weight, comfort, and warmth. Fit: I have a rather large, bald head, measuring 24 1/4 inches or 61.6 cm or 7 3/4, depending on which measurement you use. Generally speaking, I fall outside of the “most” category when hats are labeled as “one size fits most.” In addition, I have a prominent (i.e. big) nose, which combined with a big head, make balaclavas that fit comfortably hard to find.   Ridge Merino’s balaclava fits… Full review

Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat

With the wide brim all the way around and the back flap, constructed of UPF 50+ soft nylon fabric, with multiple sizings and an adjustable strap in the back to help it fit your specific head, and a chin-strap to keep it on, this is the most comfortable and functional sun hat for kayaking or canoeing, hiking or trekking, or even gardening or yard work, that I've found. My dermatologist said that I needed to get a sun hat with a wide (3.5+ inch) brim and made of UPF protective fabric. The Sunday Afternoons… Full review