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11 Best Beanies for Men
You may have heard the rumor before that all of the heat from your body escapes through your head when it isn’t covered. Although this is not true in the straightforward sense (the heat from our bodies does not simply rush out our top when we go outside hat-less in the cold), there is no denying that the proper winter beanie can go a long way towards making you comfortable so that the great outdoors isn’t off-limits just because it’s the wintertime.
But is it just a matter of picking any beanie off the shelf and adding it to your wardrobe? For the fashion-forward among us, we know choosing what to wear on top of our heads requires more thought than this. In this article, we will present an overview of the best beanies on the market in terms of quality, appearance, and effectiveness — because we’re looking for the whole package.
Best Buy
1. Patagonia Fisherman’s Rolled Beanie
Patagonia has made quite a name for itself over its nearly 50 years in existence, going from a brand that was predominantly marketed towards professional mountain climbers to a sportswear company that’s commonly seen on outdoorsy types and city dwellers alike. And there are plenty of good reasons to feel positive about supporting Patagonia — the company donates a portion of its profits to environmental causes and is well-known for being a company that’s transparent in its social practices.
That’s a lot of introduction for one simple beanie, but the Fisherman’s Rolled Beanie is pure Patagonia. Made out of a 100% polyester material that features itch-free yarn, this hat will help you ward off the wind and the cold while offering a classic, vintage look.
2. Outerknown Cashmere Beanie
Outerknown is a relatively new player on the sports scene and is the brainchild of Kelly Slater, who is widely renowned as the greatest professional surfer of all time. Outerknown prides itself not only on offering quality fabrics and clothing items but also on a unique commitment to sustainable practices.
While cashmere may be a fabric type generally reserved for sweaters, there is something to be said about having one of the world’s softest kinds of materials on your ears. This reimagined cashmere beanie from Outerknown maybe a luxurious purchase, but with this in your possession, it’s safe to say you’ll never spend another winter with cold ears. The best part? The cashmere this beanie is made from is 100% recycled!
3. Neff Daily Beanie
What would a list about trendy beanies be without at least one entry from Neff Headwear, easily the world’s best-selling beanie brand of all time (or so we think?). With nearly 20 years in the business, Neff Headwear has made a name for itself not only in the world of snowboarding and skateboarding but also across mainstream culture as a high-quality choice for casual, youthful apparel.
The daily beanie from Neff is inexpensive and multipurpose. It comes in a wide variety of colors and can be styled to go with a wide variety of outfits to fit any mood. It’s also made of notably soft yarn and can comfortably fit any head size. It’s obvious to see this was a product of years and years of attempting to perfect the perfect beanie.
4. Bricks & Wood Heavy Knit Beanie
Bricks & Wood is an apparel company based in Los Angeles that takes its inspiration from the South-Central neighborhood where it got its start. It focuses on simple and timeless items it calls “rarewear” — i.e., clothing items that stand out and have the ability to hold memories. Many of its clothing items are high-quality solids ready-made for a capsule wardrobe.
This beanie from Bricks & Wood is described as a “heavy knit”, which gives it a flattering and comfortable tight fit on the head. Handmade in Portland, Oregon, this cotton beanie comes in a classic red color and looks best when paired with a casual pair of jeans or a button-up.
5. Carhartt Acrylic Watch Hat
The acrylic watch hat from Carhartt is most likely another example of a beanie you’ve often seen worn on heads — the heads of fashion-minded individuals that is. This simple beanie comes in a variety of colors and features one simple Carhartt logo on its front. Its acrylic material gives it a predictable, snug fit, and people love it! After all, they’ve given it 1,433 reviews with an average rating of five stars.
Carhartt has a deceivingly long history many shoppers may not be aware of. It got its start in 1889 in Dearborn, Michigan, where it is still headquartered. They are best known for their work clothing, including fire-resistant clothing, as well as their wind-resistant and snag-proof work jackets.
6. Incotex Ribbed Virgin Wool Beanie
Incotex is a brand best known for their trousers, but that doesn’t mean this is the only clothing item they carry. Spun from comfortable and warm virgin wool, this ribbed beanie is designed to fit tightly on your head for a trendy look. To make things even better, it’s handmade in Italy.
In fact, Incotex is known for working with specialty manufacturers in Italy who focus on well-made basic garments, from shirts to jackets and beyond. They are well known for making luxury goods at reasonable prices. There is no reason to think an accessory from this brand would be anything but of the highest quality and would likely last you for many years to come.
7. Filson Watch Cap Beanie
Filson is an apparel company catered towards customers who love the outdoors headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Although perhaps less common than a brand name such as The North Face or Helly Hensen, Filson has been around for more than 120 years when it had its origins as an outfitter for prospectors that were headed towards the Klondike Gold Rush.
With the Watch Cap beanie from Filson, buyers receive a very warm hat that is made from American wool. It even comes with an adjustable cuff, a rarity among most fashion beanies. Many who choose to purchase this beanie see it as a very good investment for its comfort and quality.
8. Tenergy Wireless Bluetooth Beanie
Ladies and gentlemen, we are officially living in the future! It is now possible to purchase a beanie that has wireless Bluetooth capabilities. Never again will you go on a walk and have to make the difficult decision between listening to music or freezing your ears off!
Of course, you could simply put earphones in — but earphones are not a practical solution for many people whose ears don’t fit comfortably under a beanie or fall out during the middle of an active workout. The best part about this beanie — aside from the fact that it’s a hat that plays music — is it actually looks really great on your head, which means it can bring you the best of both worlds.
9. Acne Rib Knit Beanie
Acne Studios, or Acne, is a Swedish fashion company that is well known for its high-end clothing and accessories, with an emphasis on denim. As a company from a northern country, it’s no surprise their clothing line includes practical and fashionable winter accessories, such as this classic rib knit beanie.
Coming in a variety of colors from navy and grey to black and cream, this beanie features a soft 100% wool rib knit pattern that will effectively keep your ears warm all winter long. It also stretches to fit heads of all sizes and comes with a subtle but notable logo patch in the middle of the hat.
10. Le Bonnet Beanie
Le Bonnet is a sustainable clothing brand that proudly offers 100% biodegradable clothing and accessories. All of this company’s clothing is handmade in Scotland from techniques that have been learned by generation after generation. And these techniques must be doing something right, as this company’s factory has been making these beanies for nearly 200 years!
Le Bonnet beanies come in a variety of colors and are of such high-quality you can easily buy just one and use it for life.
11. Will + Bear Tasman Beanie
Will + Bear may be known for their wide-brimmed hats, but this Australian company also makes a wonderful beanie. What’s even better is this brand has a focus on crafting sustainable products. Not only do they make their fashion out of natural and biodegradable materials, but they’ve also committed to planting 10 trees for every hat sold.
The Tasman Moss beanie comes with an understated pom pom on its top and is made from 100% wool sourced from Australia. This unisex design can fit a wide variety of head sizes.
Beanie FAQs
A beanie, also known as a “tuque,” “woolly hat” and “sock cap,” is a type of knit hat that’s generally made out of wool. It’s commonly worn during the colder months when it is used as ear protection. However, it can also be a strategic fashion accessory.
The best way to wear a beanie is any way at all — that’s what makes this wonderful hat so versatile! While a beanie looks most at home when paired with a winter jacket (elegant or sporty), a beanie also looks great with a casual outfit featuring a pair of jeans.
You can certainly wear a beanie with any kind of outfit — there are no rules governing this! However, if you want our opinion, we would say beanies generally look best when worn with other clothing designed for colder weather, such as a jacket or sweater. As far as beanie fit goes, you will likely want to aim to have it fall somewhere between “tight” and “loose.” A beanie that’s too tight may look awkward, and of course, a beanie that’s too loose could fall off the head. Beanies look especially great when paired with scarves.