Your cold-weather wardrobe isn't complete without one.
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IN COLD weather seasons, beanies become the icing on the cake for your wardrobe. As winter hats, the best beanies for men will warm your head and ears on those Baltic days while offering you an easy style solution on bad-hair days. Our editors have done extensive research and hands-on testing on over 40 beanies since 2020, wore them through cold weather seasons in different outdoor occasions and regions in the States, and assessed each hat by its warmth, fit, design, quality, and overall comfort. We narrowed down our list to the 15 best beanies to help you find the perfect one.
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The best beanies for men should be made in materials that provide insulation like wool, cashmere, alpaca, and cotton to keep you warm. In addition, the best beanies for men need to come in a snug fit that feels comfortable on your head all day. Lastly, whether you're hitting the slopes or navigating the urban jungle, the best beanies for men will cater to your usual environment.
Below are the 15 best beanies for men, tested and picked by our editors and real-life buyers. The Huckberry Beanie and Mack Weldon’s Tech Cashmere Hat are our best picks for everyday fits. Peter Millar’s Cashmere Rib Beanie and Everlane’s Alpaca Beanie are buyers’ best overall recommendations for warm winter beanies.
Made in Japan, this classic fisherman beanie’s wool-blend fabric will ensure your noggin’ stays warm. For a fail-proof look, try this marbled navy colorway with a printed button-down and a solid contrasting tee underneath—you’ll be best dressed for casual Zoom meetings.
Crafted from a blend of soft acrylic and warm wool, we love that the Huckberry beanie is warm enough for winter cold in the city (or even in Alaska, as one of our writers tested out) but also breathable for shoulder season weather in fall and spring. Combined with the stretch of the material, we found that this beanie will fit most types and shapes of heads. None of our testers has reported any itching by the way, and all commented on how stretchy, soft, and thick it is for colder days. It is also very well designed—no unsightly seam sticking out.
Overall, the Huckberry beanie is delightfully soft, made of a perfect blend of comfort and warmth, and the fit is snug without feeling restrictive. No frills, no dangly things—just a warm, stylish, durable beanie.
What Do Buyers Say: "Love this knit hat. Nice and warm. Stretchy and snug but not too tight. Will not squeeze your ears," says one huckberry.com customer.
This single-cuff logo hat by Carhartt has been around for years and is still perfect for all your cold-weather ‘fits. It's truly the classic amongst all classics. Seriously, every man should own at least one in his lifetime. The look is classic and versatile for different occasions or outfits, and the quality is long-lasting and dependable.
Out of all the beanies we’ve tested, Carhartt truly has the best roll-up, ribbed-knit style. We especially love how snug the acrylic rib knitting cuff fits on our heads—not too tight or loose. Better, the acrylic materials have kept us warm against elements in the fall and mild winter, and kept us dry during outdoor activities and daily commutes since the acrylic is breathable. Overall, we found it tough enough to ward off wind, snow, and rain.
The only thing is that the acrylic isn’t too heavy-duty at insulation, so this beanie probably won’t accompany you to the North Pole. Still, for daily urban jaunts, Carhartt’s beanie is ready for anything.
What Do Buyers Say: "It is functional, comfortable, and built to last. It is a simple, no frills, warm hat," says one amazon.com customer.
The best kind of thermal regulation is natural thermal regulation. Mack Weldon’s beanie uses the perks of both cashmere and merino wool to do the trick—the material is richly soft, naturally breathable, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, odor-resistant, and warm. It has in fact kept us warm and dry in some nasty weather in the city as well as in the backcountry. The fabric, by the way, is really high-quality: our tester has used it for two straight days during a snowstorm in NYC in late Jan 2022, and it has kept me warm and snug.
Our tester also found that it is not too large so you can wear it with the brim fold or not, but we did find that it is on the shorter side so if you want it to completely cover your ears it might be too short, especially if you have a large or long head, though once we angled it correctly, problem solved (still, you might run the problem of it slipping off your ears).
What Do Buyers Say: "Very good quality and has kept me warm and dry in some nasty weather. But for the price, it darn well better. It looks good too," says one mackweldon.com customer.
Dubbed the "favorite chunky sweater, but for your head," this warm beanie is everything we could want and more in colder times. Made with airy alpaca wool, it also features a hint of stretch for the coziest fit imaginable. Its tall fit will also really top off your wardrobe.
Our tester found that Everlane’s alpaca beanie is incredibly soft and well-made down to the stitches, though it could be a bit large and roomy for guys with less hair. However, for men with a lot of hair, it offers plenty of room. It's not tight at all and will slide easily into our tester’s hair and ears without ruining his styled coiffure. Since it’s made in alpaca, it is, of course, warm but we didn’t find it too warm and too hot, so our tester wears it indoors as well when he feels like it. We also love that the material doesn’t itch.
What Do Buyers Say: " This one is the perfect weight and it's soft and fits my head and hair comfortable so much that I wear it inside and outdoors constantly," says one everlane.com customer.
It'll fit over your head snug like a cap when times for keeping warmth and comfort as close as possible. And since it's made in merino wool-blend fabric, you'll also feel the softness and get thermal regulation up top.
Initially, we thought this Lululemon beanie would run small, but it in fact fitted our noggin like a glove because the fabric is strategically knitted to maintain a closer fit and feel thick—and thus warm. But it’s not tight or suffocating at all. The fabric is super soft but lightweight (it almost has a silky feel to it). And since it’s merino wool, it is breathable, moisture-wicking, and thermoregulating, so our tester loves wearing it during his outdoor jog or activities.
What Do Buyers Say: "It’s a healthy balance of being close fit but not tight at all! Very comfy and warm," says one lululemon.com customer.
Naadam is on a mission to make the “world’s fairest cashmere” by cutting out the middlemen who stand between herders and retailers. The result is a slew of top-quality, sustainable knitwear for a fraction of the price you’d pay elsewhere that our tester found to be heavenly soft. If our word alone isn’t enough, consider that thousands of satisfied customers have given this beanie a 5-star rating. That’s a win-win for everyone—well, except those middlemen.
Our testers ranked the softness of Naadam’s cashmere beanie as “heavenly” and agreed that it is the perfect beanie for winter and cold weather. Overall, it’s soft, warm, and not too tight. You can roll up or roll down for lots of style flexibility while always indulging in the softness of cashmere which is thicker (but only midweight instead of heavy) and comfier than what we imagined. With ridiculously long strands as well, it’ll last like no other natural fabric hat out there.
What Do Buyers Say: "Extremely soft with a really nice feel to it. Delightfully light and not very thick," says one naadam.co customer.
This is the most versatile beanie we’ve tested by far: it is everyday-friendly while being able to do it all, for commuting to the office, roaming the park, or hiking in the wild. The fit on our tester’s head is perfect, and ideal for those who don’t want all the extra material and bagginess that some beanies offer. (And if you did feel a little too tight at first, it will stretch out to fit your head over time!) While the fabric is made in recycled wool and nylon, it is very warm and smooth (so it also is a little scratchy after long-term wear, but it will certainly keep your noggin warm for years on end). We also found that it’ll dry out pretty quickly after wearing it out on a misty morning or during a drizzly day and that even when wet, the beanie has kept the warmth going for us. If you’re bold, we don’t think that Patagonia’s beanie has the softest wool against your head, but it is definitely not itchy at all.
What Do Buyers Say: "This is my second Brodeo beanie. I love them. Comfortable, fits well and quality materials that warm and breathe well," says one patagonia.com customer.
Seafarer cotton knits just look and feel cozier than any other cotton knit. Period. And in a double layer, it'll really seal in the warmth.
Style-wise, Buck Mason’s Seafarer Beanie dons a classic, vintage design inspired by the U.S. Air Force beanies and is knitted from a 9 gauge rib knit made of homespun cotton with slub texture. We love its classic, adjustable fit that doesn’t feel too loose for men with short hair or bald head, or too tight for men with long hair. Its double-layer construction also delivers adequate warmth, although since it’s made in cotton, we found that it really isn’t as warm and insulating as beanies made in wool or cashmere. But the soft cotton fabric does ensure comfort.
The Seafarer beanie is also quite versatile as our tester concludes: whether you're on the go in the city or lounging around, it will keep you looking great and feeling cozy.
What Do Buyers Say: "Seafarer knits just look and feel cozier than any other knit beanies. This black option feels both masculine and fashion-forward to boot," says our tester.
A cool-weather essential, Peter Millar’s rib knit hat is fully crafted from luxurious cashmere for essential warmth, comfort, and style. In our testing, we found that it is rather lightweight but definitely warmer than the Merino wool hats we have tried on from this list. The feel overall is great and not too bulky, but we did think that it could be a bit smaller to feel even more snug on our heads (however, for men with a lot of hair, we think the fit is just right).
In addition, since it’s made in cashmere, we found that this beanie is far less itchy than the other wool options we’ve tried on. Our testers also found that the outer of the fabric will shed off the water on lightly snowy or rainy days, but the interior will absorb sweat, making this beanie a versatile option to have on your head when you’re traveling outdoors.
What Do Buyers Say: "Very comfortable! It's not too bulky but warm at the same time. My husband loves it. The only hat he actually cares to wear," says one petermillar.com customer.
Made in a 50/50 blend of cashmere and merino wool, this Brooks Brothers beanie is all about balance between warmth and breathability, style and comfort. Our tester found that it’s lightweight and warm enough for normal winter days, smooth to the touch, easy to put on, soft, and thinner than expected. We even found that it is good for braving the wind.
Fit-wise, we love that it is a good size even for our tester with a larger-than-normal head, and overall this beanie is not too snug but not floppy either. In terms of versatility, we think that is great for casual wear, daily outings, and easy traveling.
One thing to note: when uncuffed, there is a bit of a seam that is visible, but just on the cuff section. But overall, this Brooks Brothers beanie has great quality, craftsmanship, comfortable size, and reasonable price, and the product received is exactly as described.
What Do Buyers Say: "Perfect for cold outdoor wear. Lightweight and warm enough for normal winter time. Feels wonderful. It is not small and good for most heads," says one brooksbrothers.com customer.
SmartWool manages to usher in all the natural benefits of merino wool—breathable, moisture-wicking, quick-drying, temperature-regulating, odor-resisting—in a reversible, lightweight beanie. Our tester found that the style is great for everyday wear, and the fit will work for most heads, even if you have long hair since it is quite roomy but not too baggy. We also love that it is perfect for traveling and outdoor activities, from chilly walks in the fall to winter snow sports, since it’ll keep you cool and dry and feeling fresh. At just $30 too, it’s the everyday beanie to stock up with. Our tester also loves that, in addition to being reversible, it is very stretchy, so you can wear a headband under it when it’s too cold to handle outside. Having worn this beanie for hiking and everyday uses, he also certifies that it is not at all itchy.
What Do Buyers Say: "This is now my go to bike commuting hat. Fits comfortably under my helmet, keeps me warm in very cold temps but doesn't make me sweat too much," says one smartwool.com customer.
The North Face’s Jim Beanie is a classic and delivers what it does 100%. The fleece feels soft, smooth, and divinely cozy, and it will keep your head warm and comfortable when those temps take a nose dive. The fit is just right—not too loose and not too snug, and not bulky at all. We found that it fits well on most heads too. Made from a soft and cozy yarn blend of polyester fleece and wool, this beanie feels comfortable against our skin and is easy to care for, while providing excellent insulation for our head and ears, against both the cold and the wind. Its classic design is versatile enough to wear with almost any winter outfit. The beanie is available in a range of colors, allowing you to choose one that matches your personal style. We also found that it works well during high-intensity activities like hiking or jogging since it’ll stay on our heads.
What Do Buyers Say: "They hit snug without being tight and making your head feel like it's in a vice. The fleece lining really puts it over the top. This is my 3rd TNF hat in the past 10 years and there is a reason why I buy these and no others," says one zappos.com customer.
This beanie has everything you can dream of to keep you warm in the cold: an insulating wool-acrylic knit plus a soft sherpa lining on the inside. All in all, this is a beanie that you’ll wear outside to beat the frosty temps, but also indoors to keep extra toasty by the fireside.
Made in 100% wool, this is the classic beanie that you’d want to wear 24/7 this winter. It is soft and warm, light, and not itchy at all. We also found it extra stretchy, and even if you’ve got a huge noggin or a lot of hair, it’ll fit snugly.
This might be hands-down the warmest winter hat you'll ever find. Made with triple layers of merino wool, this toque even comes with internal pockets that can retain heat to keep your head completely snug even in the most demanding climate.
Comfort: The best beanies for men stay comfortable on your head throughout the day, 24/7. That means they must be wearable: soft, smooth, warm, and don’t itch. As such, the best beanies for men are often made of materials like wool or merino wool, cashmere, cotton fleece, or acrylic blends that provide warmth, softness, and breathability. (If you live in a colder climate, prioritize beanies with excellent insulation properties like wool, cashmere, and fleece.)You should thus avoid coarse fabric and also embrace stretch in beanies courtesy of the rib-knitting that makes the beanie thick and cozy.
Fit: Taking into consideration the depth of the beanie, the width of the opening, as well as the adjustability of the roll-up cuff, The best beanies for men should be both one-size-fits-all but also fit just right on your head—not too tight or loose. More importantly, the fit of the beanie should not shrink or loosen after extended periods of wearing, and be able to maintain its shape for a long time.
Wearing beanies for men the right way will really round out your outfits. To do so, you need to first find a beanie that is well-fitting, and one that suits your style—from classic to slouchy to cuffed. You should also coordinate beanies with your fits by harmonizing the color of your beanie with the rest of your outfit for a cohesive look (or use a beanie as a pop of color). Additionally, play with different angles and positions of the beanies—straight on your head, slightly tilted to the side, or pulled back.
And leverage your hair too: if you have longer hair, consider letting some strands peek out from under the beanie for a relaxed and casual vibe; if you have short hair, the beanie can sit lower on your forehead.
Which Brand Has the Best Beanies? Many menswear and outdoor clothing brands are known for producing high-quality beanies that combine comfort, style, and durability. Carhartt also offers the most popular beanies on Amazon that are warm, affordable, and built to last. Brands like The North Face, Canada Goose, and Patagonia make top-notch winter beanies that are designed for cold weather conditions. Lululemon and Mack Weldon are our favorites for everyday beanies that combine tech-backed performance and versatile styles. For casual beanies, Everlane, Naadam, and Buck Mason are customers’ favorites.
Why Is Everyone Buying Carhartt Beanies? Carhartt's beanies have gained immense popularity for several reasons. One, they’re rugged and durable, as expected of the workwear brand. Secondly, they’re warm, thanks to the insulating properties in the acrylic blends. Thirdly, they’re versatile and can easily transition from daily travels to hiking to casual outings. The workwear, utilitarian aesthetic with the iconic logo is also a nice touch. But perhaps most importantly, the fact that a Carhartt beanie only costs about $20 and yet is arguably the best beanie of all time is what really makes buyers love it.
Is It Healthy to Wear a Beanie All the Time? Having a beanie over your head for a long time and constantly might have some implications for your hair and scalp health. Specifically, wearing a beanie all the time can limit air circulation to your scalp which could potentially make dandruff worse or prevent hair growth. Friction from the beanie against your hair may lead to breakage and damage as well. And if the beanie is not clean or if you sweat while wearing it, it could cause acne on the forehead. Hence, you should always take a break from wearing beanies on a beanie-wearing day to let your scalp breathe, not to mention clean your beanies appropriately.
Our review on men’s beanies involves hands-on testing, buyers’ opinions on Reddit as well as from real life, and in-depth analysis on the product to find the pros and cons of some of the best beanies for men in the market, so you can find the right one. We’ve spent hundreds of hours testing each beanie to find the 15 best that are as stylish as they are warm and comfortable.
If you’re still not quite sure which one to spend on, here are our shortened recommendations. For everyday options, Huckberry Beanie and Patagonia’s Brodeo Beanie are great ones to start with since they’re cozy and versatile. For something warmer, Peter Millar’s Cashmere Rib Beanie and Mack Weldon's Tech Cashmere Beanie are your best bets. For beanies that can accompany you on outdoor activities and travels, Merino wool beanies by Lululemon and SmartWool are our picks.
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