11 Finest Winter Working Hats | 2025 Picks

For each jogger who switches to the treadmill when the temperature drops, there’s one other who breaks out their base layers and braves the chilly to log their miles. If that sounds such as you, a great hat ought to be a part of your ensemble. “Working within the winter with out correct head safety can result in warmth loss and can make that run loads much less snug,” Gemma Ward, a Street Runners Membership of America (RRCA)-certified coach and a runner coaching and merchandise specialist at New York Street Runners, tells SELF.

She provides that the perfect winter working hats are fairly spectacular multitaskers—they’ll assist you keep heat whereas stopping you from overheating (and having to cope with a sweaty head). So, whilst you definitely can put on any previous hat in your out of doors runs, one which’s particularly designed for motion will hold you extra snug in the long run. When you’re able to degree up your headwear, you’ve come to the precise place. We spoke to working consultants about find out how to discover the precise hat in your winter runs and bought their takes on the perfect ones you should buy.

Our prime picks

Finest General: Smartwool Thermal Merino Reversible Cuffed Beanie
Runner-Up: The North Face Oh Mega Beanie
Finest Funds Decide: Levi’s All Season Leather-based Emblem Patch Beanie
Cutest: Tracksmith Varsity Runner’s Cap
Finest Headband: Ondo On a regular basis Merino Wool Headband
Finest Ponytail-Suitable Beanie: Smartwool Merino Sport Fleece Coaching Beanie
Finest Pontytail-Suitable Brimmed Hat: TrailHeads Fleece Ponytail Hat
Finest for Sweat: New Steadiness Sport Efficiency Trucker
Finest Splurge: Arc’Teryx Grotto Toque
Most Versatile: Buff Unique EcoStretch
Finest Balaclava: The North Face Freedom Fleece Balaclava

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What must you search for in a winter working hat?

Your hat ought to be made of cloth that retains warmth however nonetheless breathes (bonus factors if it’s machine-washable), Ward says. As SELF has beforehand reported, Merino wool is a good choice for chilly climate activewear as a result of it naturally regulates your physique temperature and wicks away moisture.

Ward says artificial materials, like polyester, fleece, and spandex, may also have sweat-shedding properties and can hold your head a lot heat too. Simply attempt to keep away from hats solely made from cotton, which may sop up moisture and make your head chilly, she says.

As a lot as we love a slouchy beanie, a working hat ought to match carefully round your head—comfortable sufficient that it gained’t shift or fly off, however not so tight that it pinches you, Ward says. She additionally recommends taking the hat’s protection into consideration: Does it go over your ears? Does it shield your neck from the coolness? When you’re heading out into frigid temps, a bit of further cloth can go a good distance.

Relying in your private preferences and typical working circumstances, design parts like waterproofing, windproofing, reflective particulars, or ponytail compatibility could make a great hat actually distinctive. These options might be more durable to seek out, to allow them to assist you slender down your choices as you browse.

Store the perfect winter working hats

Able to gear up for wintry runs? Longtime runners and coaches say these top-performing hats are the perfect of their class. (Oh, and don’t overlook some gloves.)

Finest General: Smartwool Thermal Merino Reversible Cuffed Beanie

Smartwool

Thermal Merino Reversible Cuffed Beanie

Professionals

Light-weight but heat
Temperature-regulating
Adjustable cuffed size
Machine-washable

Cons

Some Smartwool reviewers discovered that it’s not very stretchy

A favourite of Katie O’Reilly’s, a runner and supporter of Ladies on the Run Worldwide, Smartwool’s Thermal Merino Reversible Cuffed Beanie ought to hold most winter runners from freezing. It’s cuffable, so you possibly can modify the size to your liking; it’s made totally of Merino wool; and its double-layered design holds warmth, however doesn’t add bulk.

In truth, some REI reviewers had been stunned to seek out how skinny—but heat—this beanie was (which is the perfect of each worlds for winter working hats). That additionally makes it simple to roll up right into a pocket for those who resolve to go hat-free in the course of your run—a perk that Ward at all times likes to have in her headwear.

Runner-Up: The North Face Oh Mega Beanie

The North Face

Oh Mega Beanie

Professionals

Thick and heat
Adjustable cuffed size
Machine-washable

Cons

Not very sweat-wicking
Pricier than our general decide

A chunky, cable-knit beanie is a wintertime staple, and this one performs nice on chilly climate runs, Brittany Kenst, a coach from Ladies on the Run Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, tells SELF. It’s made to insulate your head and has a comfortably roomy (however not outsized) match. Learn: It’ll keep on and lock out the chilly, even on windy days.

“Good and heat, and loads of area for all my hair,” one reviewer for The North Face wrote. “And let’s not overlook heat.”

Finest Funds Decide: Levi’s All Season Leather-based Emblem Patch Beanie

Levi’s

All Season Leather-based Emblem Patch Beanie

Professionals

Beneath $30
Obtainable in 21 colour choices
Adjustable cuffed size

Cons

Doesn’t successfully block wind

One SELF contributor’s neon inexperienced Levi’s beanie is each an ideal accent and a motivational merchandise: “Because it will get darkish so early within the winter by me, the brilliant colour helps with security (and brings a bit of enjoyable to one thing I do not actually get pleasure from—working, haha),” she says. “[It also has a] good stability of heat with out overheating.”

The All Season beanie feels smooth and heat, though some Amazon reviewers seen that it let the wind in. But when spending rather less and staying extremely seen (simply look at how that neon pops!) are your priorities, that is nonetheless an ideal choice.

Cutest: Tracksmith Varsity Runner’s Cap

Tracksmith

Varsity Runner’s Cap

Professionals

Trendy, however made for efficiency
Very heat
Regulates temperature
Doesn’t retain odors

Cons

Colorways are likely to promote out
Model recommends hand-washing solely

The lovable, collegiate vibes of Tracksmith’s Varsity Runner’s Cap caught our eye, however its efficiency is why UESCA-certified working coach and frequent SELF contributor Jennifer Heimlich repeatedly wears it on winter outings.

“I really like the load of this beanie for sub-freezing temps—it is heat however gentle sufficient that I do not overheat,” she says. “Plus, it would not get smelly (even when I do get tremendous sweaty)!” She provides that she’s by no means seen any tightness or pinching whereas sporting the Varsity Runner’s Cap, both—no brow indents right here.