Best Ski Hats of 2022

Updated on January 11, 2022

Winters on ski slopes demand hats for warmth. Hats perform a vital function in helping the body conserve heat, protecting your ears from frostbite, and guarding against dangerous wind chills. Our goal at The Adventure Junkies is to help you choose the best ski hats to keep you safe and cozy, so you can enjoy powder turns rather than huddling inside the lodge near a fire.

Ski hats use fabrics to fight against the elements. You’ll need to choose a hat based on those elements you are likely to encounter. We’ll give you an overview of the best ski hats on the market, taking into account choices for style, fitted hats to go under helmets, full head coverings for ultra cold temperatures, or headbands for sunny spring days.

For more of our top ski gear recommendations, check out the Best Ski Gloves. 

Quick Answer – The Best Ski Hats

Mountain Hardware Dome PerignonView at BackcountryTurtle Fur BalaclavaView at AmazonPolar BuffView at REIColumbia Trail SummitView at AmazonThe North Face EarbandView at Backcountry

Comparison Table – The Best Ski Hats

For the best experience turn your device horizontally

Reviews – The Best Ski Hats

Mountain Hardware Dome Perignon

Specs

Best For: All aroundFabric: Polartec® Windbloc® ear band, outer textured twill fleeceStyle: Beanie

BEST FOR ALL AROUND WEATHER PROTECTION

DESIGN: Fitted plain beanie with full ear coverage

PROS: Wind protection, quick drying, fits under a helmet

CONS: Sizes run small

View at Backcountry

Turtle Fur Balaclava

Specs

Best For: Ultra coldFabric: Polyester, spandex, fleece acrylic with Polartec® Windbloc® face maskStyle: Balaclava

BEST FOR SINGLE-DIGIT, SUB-ZERO, OR FRIGID WIND CHILL DAYS

DESIGN: Full coverage for head, face (except goggle opening), and neck with breathing holes for mouth and nostrils, unisex

PROS: Breathing holes and nostril opening prevent moisture buildup, moisture wicking, fits under helmet, blocks wind

CONS: Mouth holes and nostril openings can let cold in, design looks like Darth Vader

View at Amazon

Polar Buff

Specs

Best For: Ultra coldFabric: Upper 100% microfiber polyester with Polygiene® Active Odor Control, neck 100% Polartec® 100 microfleece™Style: Tube

BEST FOR SINGLE-DIGIT, SUB-ZERO, OR FRIGID WIND CHILL DAYS

DESIGN: Unisex 29-inch tube with two-way stretch for covering neck, face, and head; upper portion is microfiber while neck portion is fleece

PROS: Breathable, odor control, fits under helmet, flexible design to wear as a face mask, hood, balaclava, or cap

CONS: Tube can be too narrow and constrictive for some people

View at REI

Columbia Trail Summit

View Women’s Version

Specs

Best For: UnderhelmetFabric: 91% polyester Omni-Heat and Omni-Wick, 9% elastane thermo fleeceStyle: Beanie

BEST FOR UNDER HELMET

DESIGN: Low profile fitted cap, ponytail opening in back of women’s version

PROS: Quick drying, moisture wicking, stretchy

CONS: Tight fit, runs narrow

View at Amazon

The North Face Earband

Specs

Best For: Warm weatherFabric: 100% polyester fleece with FlashDry™Style: Headband

BEST FOR FOR WARM, SUNNY DAYS

DESIGN: Unisex headband contoured wider around ears

PROS: Quick-drying, breathable, will easily stuff in pocket, fits under helmet

CONS: May not fit everyone, does not cut wind

View at Backcountry

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SKI HATS

FABRIC

Hat fabrics make a difference in their function. Fleece, wool, and polyesters supply the best head protection, providing both warmth and breathability. Even when wet, they still perform the job of retaining body heat.

Fleeces and polyesters are quick-drying materials. They will dry overnight hanging on an indoor rack or hook. Many fleeces and polyesters also have moisture-wicking properties that conduct sweat to the outer fabric where it can evaporate.

For snow sports, avoid wearing hats made from cotton yarns or fabrics. Cotton fibers soak up and retain water rather than wicking it away. Wet cotton also conducts body heat away from the head.

SPECIALTY FABRICS

Some fabrics have added features other than warmth and breathability. These can include fabric treatments that inhibit odor buildup or layers that cut the wind.

For example, Polygiene®, a fabric-finishing treatment of silver chloride, prevents the buildup of bacteria that causes odors. Polartec® Windbloc® or Windstopper® are layers of material that cut the chilling effect of wind and repel water.

COMFORT

An itchy head from a wool hat makes a ski day miserable. If you choose a woolen fabric for your hat, be sure it has a fleece band sewn on the bottom inside where it covers the forehead and ears. That fleece will prevent direct contact of the itchy wool with your skin.

Some wool blends or fine woolen yarns are non-itch. Usually rough woolen yarns will cause itching. Try the hat on in the store to test the itch factor.

TEMPERATURES

Consider where you will ski to choose the appropriate hat. For instance, in North America, southern ski areas often see balmier, sunny daytime temperatures. Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico are places where thinner or lighter weight hats may work.

Northern ski areas can plunge to arctic-like, sub-zero temperatures. With bouts of frigid days at ski resorts in the Northern Rockies, New England, Upper Midwest, Alaska, and Canada, thicker or full coverage hats are the better choice.

Elevation also plays a factor in temperatures. Higher elevation resorts in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana can be colder and windier while lower elevation ski areas may see less severe weather.

Some hats work well in extreme cold temperatures. Balaclavas, for instance, have head, face and neck protection that minimizes exposing skin to frostbite. Thinner hats can work for warm, spring days.

WIND

Strong winds often accompany winter storms in the mountains (and storms bring the fresh snow skiers love). Your choice of hat should take wind chill into consideration.

How does wind chill feel on the slope? If you are skiing in 10 degrees Fahrenheit with a 20 mph wind, the temperature will feel more like -9 due to wind chill. Even in a mild breeze, the act of skiing downhill with speed creates a wind chill effect.

Some hats will prevent the wind from cutting through the fabric to freeze your head and ears. Fine woolen knit hats naturally cut the wind better than fleece. Some outdoor companies make hats with special wind-cutting fabrics, such as Polartec® Windbloc®.

UNDER HELMETS

Many skiers prefer to wear hats under their helmets, especially at colder ski resorts. However, with limited space under the helmet, you must opt for thinner hats. For a minimal layer under the helmet, a jersey-type skullcap provides additional warmth without bulk.

For extremely cold days, balaclavas or long tube hats fit under helmets. They add a layer under the helmet, plus protect the neck and face. Best of all, this pairing covers all exposed skin between your ski jacket and helmet while also closing off places for cold and snow to enter your clothing.

Most thin beanie-style hats fit well under helmets. If you plan to wear your ski hat under a helmet, avoid pom-pom or large tassel toppers that don’t fit under helmets. As an option, you can snip the toppers off.

GOGGLES WITH HATS

How to wear your goggles with your hat is a matter of personal taste and comfort. The goggle strap can go under the hat, but most skiers tend to put the strap over the hat to prevent the strap from tangling hair.

Placing the strap over the hat also helps hold layered hats in place when wearing a balaclava topped with a beanie. For frigid wind chills, some balaclava-cut hats cover the nose, which covers the face to the edge of the goggles. This snug fit between the balaclava and goggles prevents any facial skin from being exposed to frostbite.

LAYERING

Just as you layer clothing on your body for warmth management, you can also layer hats. Skullcaps and balaclavas can fit under beanie-style hats for ultra cold temperatures. Thin beanies can go under heavier knit hats.

When you hop on the first chair in the morning, two layers of hats can fend off cold on your frigid first runs. In the afternoon when temperatures warm up, you can stuff one hat in your pocket to layer down.

HEADBANDS

Headbands that cover only the forehead and ears provide minimal protection. They are not functional for cold weather skiing. However, they are an option for sunny, warm afternoons with temperatures high above freezing when a hat might be too hot.

Pair headbands with sunglasses rather than goggles. Headbands also work under helmets for added ear protection.

FASHION

Ski hats need not be simply for function. They can be chic and trendy. With a little shopping savvy, you can find warm hats in colors to match ski parkas, neck gaiters, gloves, and even skis.

Some skiers use their hats to bring humor to the slopes. When riding the lift, you may see someone below carve a turn wearing a hat topped with a shark fin, stuffed animal head, or pigtails. It won’t be just kids, but adults, too. It’s all about having fun on the slopes.

READ MORE

For more of our top skiing gear recommendations, check out these popular buyer’s guides:

Downhill Skis

Ski Boots

Ski Bindings

Ski Poles

Ski Pants

Ski Jackets

Ski Goggles

Ski Helmets

TweetPinShare2EmailFlip2 Shares