The cold nature of the mountains in winter makes owning a good ski hat essential. Not only do the finest hats for skiing and snowboarding make you look stylish, they also perform a number of vital functions for the wearer. Beanies and bobble hats, for example, help the body to conserve body heat in and around the ski resort. This is something which helps to keep the wearer warmer for longer when the temperatures are dropping low. These kind of hats can also shield your ears from frostbite, and provide a protective layer between your head and nasty wind chill. With the help of our guide to the best ski hats, you’ll be better placed to stay warm and comfortable on and off the slopes this snow season.

Best Ski Hats For Winter

• Armada Staple Beanie
• BUFF Rutger Hat
• Burton Rcy Waffle Beanie
• Burton Recycled All Day Long Beanie
• Fjällräven Byron Beanie
• Fjällräven Pom Beanie
• Haglofs Fisherman Beanie
• Mammut Haldigrat Beanie Hat
• Montane Brew Hat
• Napapijri Foli 3 Beanie
• Rab Essential Beanie
• Patagonia Brodeo Beanie
• Tentree Kurt Beanie
• The North Face Reversible Banner Hat
• Vans Core Basic Beanie

Needless to say, none of these ski hats will protect your head from impact injuries. To safely protect your brain in the mountains this winter, please check out our guide to the best ski helmets. Many of these ski hats will fit under a helmet, meaning it’s possible to experience the best of both worlds.

Armada Staple Beanie

Material: 100% Acrylic

Price: £25

BUY HERE

Created by some of the most significant names in the history of modern skiing, Armada is a brand that has a rich ski heritage. Back in the early 2000s, a new generation of skiers were ripping up the rulebook and reinventing what skiing could be. Drawing on influences from the world of skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding, JP Auclair, Tanner Hall, JF Cusson, Julien Regnier, and Boyd Easley joined forces with Chris O’Connell and videographer Eric Iberg to map out a revolutionary new path. They’ve put out some elite-level skis over the years, but as this is a hat roundup we’ll settle for shining a light on the Armada Staple Beanie. Make it a staple in your wardrobe. It’s ace.

BUFF Rutger Hat

Material: 70% Acrylic / 30% Recycled Polyester

Price: £16

BUY HERE

BUFF has an excellent record when it comes to shielding skiers and snowboarders from cold weather. This, the Rutger Hat, is a continuation of that long and noble tradition. It will protect your head and ears when the temperature really starts to drop, and will deliver on the style front when you’re working your way from resort bar to resort bar. The dreamy comfort levels this hat serves up are the icing on the cake. 

Burton Rcy Waffle Beanie

Material: 100% Recycled Polyester

Price: £30

BUY HERE

This is a hat that’s begging to be up in the mountains this winter. Everything about it has been put together with the idea of embracing snowy days in mind. Recycled poly yarns and a chunky waffle knit join forces here to give the hat a soft feel, while the fold-up cuff allows for effortless styling. That shade of ‘Calla Green’ definitely won’t be to everyone’s liking, but we think it’s pretty cool. When it comes to making top-level snow gear, things don’t really get much more consistent than Burton. Their beanies are super reliable.

Burton Recycled All Day Long Beanie

Material: 100% Recycled Polyester

Price: £22

BUY HERE

On the surface, this just looks like your classic beanie. Dig a little deeper though, and you’ll discover that it’s made from 100% Recycled Polyester. A sustainable twist on the classic beanie formula is becoming increasingly commonplace these days, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give credit where credit’s due. We’re fond of this stylish effort from Burton. It looks classy, and has some nice eco-friendly credentials. Double win. 

Fjallraven Byron Beanie

Material: 100% Wool

Price: £35

BUY HERE

Made from 100% Merino Wool, we reckon this ribbed knit beanie – with its leather Fjallraven logo front and centre – is one of the best winter hats around. Every aspect screams quality, and there’s a sense as soon as you put it on that you won’t need to replace it for a very long time. Take it on your ski trips this winter.

Fjallraven Pom Beanie

Material: 100% Recycled Polyester

Price: £38

BUY HERE

Made from 100% recycled polyester, the Pom Beanie is everything we’ve come to expect from (almost) everyone’s favourite Swedish outdoor brand in recent years. It’s functional, incredibly well-made, oozes Scandinavian style and will hold its own in the big outdoors. The pompom on top of the hat means you’re not going to wear this under a ski helmet, but if you need something to keep your head warm around the resort and on lengthy hikes in the snow look no further.

Haglofs Fisherman Beanie

Material: 80% Wool / 20% Nylon / OEKO-TEX Certified

Price: £36

BUY HERE

It’s no secret that Haglöfs are one of our favourite outdoor brands. Founded way back in 1914 by Wiktor Haglöf, we’re huge fans of this Swedish label’s vibe. With over 100 years in the game now, it feels like a bit of an understatement to say they’ve got some experience when it comes to producing clothing and equipment (we’ll say it anyway). 

This Fisherman Beanie ticks all the right boxes as far as we’re concerned. Firstly, it looks incredibly cool. Some people say that stuff isn’t important in snow hats, but these people are liars. Secondly, the wool blend used here means it has all the right credentials to keep your head warm this winter. Thirdly, it’s OEKO-TEX Certified and this means the textiles used are free from harmful chemicals. This great beanie is available in Tarn Blue and Grey Melange.

Mammut Haldigrat Beanie Hat

Material: 50% Merino Wool (RWS) / 50% Acrylic

Price: £32 

BUY HERE

Ski tourers looking for a hat to keep their head warm this winter can’t go wrong with Mammut. The wool-acrylic blend used in this Haldigrat Beanie is a lovely combination of comfort and functionality. It’s lightweight and, because of the wool’s natural antibacterial properties, capable of keeping stinky odours away even after a number of long days touring. The wool, you’ll be pleased to know, is sourced from suppliers who care about animal welfare and meet the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). This means no mulesing, a process that involves cutting skin from the backside of an animal without pain relief. This Mammut hat is comfortable, will keep your head warm in mountainous terrain, and won’t look out of place when you’re winding down at the après sessions.

Montane Brew Hat

Material: 50% Merino Wool / 50% Acrylic Wool

Price: £21

BUY HERE

Styled in a classical way, this lightweight ribbed wool blend beanie with hem turn-up will do a great job for skiers this winter. Montane are clearly experts when it comes to producing gear for mountain sports and this hat, in its own small way, underlines this idea nicely. Made from 50% merino wool and 50% acrylic wool, it will keep your head warm but not in a stuffy and uncomfortable wanner. Certified mulesing-free, and rocking natural antibacterial properties, there’s a lot to like about the Montane Brew Hat. It looks cool, and has the practical characteristics required to be useful in the backcountry. 

Napapijri Foli 3 Beanie

Material: 100% Acrylic

Price: £32

BUY HERE

Founded in Aosta, in 1987, Napapijri are a fashionable outdoor brand that have really branched out in recent years. Their Foli Beanie backs up the idea that good things can happen when designers keep it simple. No frills, no wild patterns, no oversized logos; just a quality, well-made, beanie that’s available in Black, Green Lichen and Grey Melange. The Napapijri Geographic badge is, we think you’ll agree, a nice touch.

Rab Essential Beanie

Material: 100% Recycled Polyester

Price: £18

BUY HERE

Rab knows a thing or two about keeping people warm in the outdoors. They’ve built their reputation on producing technical clothing that will consistently deliver in mountainous terrain. Rab, it’s worth pointing out, is now a climate neutral company. Their positive and proactive approach to the environment is evident in the fact this excellent winter hat is made from 100% recycled polyester. Stylistically speaking, we’re loving the retro badge, narrow rib knit, and rib turn-up on this one.

Patagonia Brodeo Beanie

Price: £35

Material: 70% Recycled Wool / 25% Recycled Nylon / 5% Other Fibres

BUY HERE

Nothing tells people you love the mountains, and the big outdoors, quite like wearing a Patagonia hat. The Patagonia Brodeo Beanie is made from wool and recycled nylon, and has been certified as being all good on the Fairtrade front. This means you can wear your trendy new ski hat safe in the knowledge that nobody was exploited during its creation. We’re also big fans of the mountain illustration on this product’s badge, and think you will be too.