Heads up: best winter beanies

Posted by Melanie van Zyl on 6 May 2015

Ever heard that up to 40% of your body heat can be lost through your head? Old wives’ tale or not, you won’t be afraid to head outdoors with one of these great winter beanies.

What to look for

Make sure it fits properly and consider what activity you want to use it for. Are you looking for a small, lightweight hat to shove into your backpack or a bigger warmer one to sit around the fire? A simple Buff is great because you can wear it in so many ways, but deliberate over the ventilation properties and special features before you buy.

Basic beanies

1. First Ascent Powerstretch Beanie

R199, firstascent.co.za

First Ascent Powerstretch Beanie - Getaway Magazine

A traditional thermal four-paneled hat set to beat the outdoor cold, this beanie is a firm favourite of many outdoor enthusiasts. It’s made from thin fleece, has great wicking ability and will fit easily beneath a helmet or hood so it’s a good choice for skiing or rock climbing.

2. Navy Aztec Bobble Beanie

R130, markham.co.za

Navy Aztec Bobble Beanie - Getaway Magazine

This knit, turn-up beanie is a simple, but beautiful winter warmer. It’s designed to be a men’s hat, but is suitable for women too.

3. Pippa Knitted Beanie

R140, capeunionmart.co.za

Boasting a blue and beige colour scheme, this ladies’ Aztec-inspired print and stretchy ribbed design makes for on-trend outdoor headwear.

4. K-Way Renn Primaloft Beanie

R250, capeunionmart.co.za

K-Way Renn Primaloft Beanie - Getaway Magazine

The all-new Renn Primaloft Beanie WILL keep you warm. Primaloft is an excellent insulator and is used in sleeping bags. That’s right, this is a sleeping bag for your noggin.

5. Trail Chunky Knit Beanie

R80, mrpsport.co.za

Trail Chunky Knit Beanie - Getaway Magazine

This dark-coloured knitted beanie is a basic buy that will serve you well this winter and won’t look dirty next season.

Warmest ears

1. First Ascent Fleece Ear Muff

R130, sportsmanswarehouse.co.za

First Ascent Fleece Ear Muff - Getaway Magazine

This fleece-covered headband includes extended ear-covers that will keep you warm and looking good. The earmuff keeps hair from blowing into your face and fits snugly. It’s great for cycling, skiing, hiking or your average day about town if you don’t want to get too hot. It says one size fits all, but it may be too small for some – the elasticated band is quite tight, so try it on before you buy.

2. First Ascent Fleece Ear Muff

R129, trappers.co.za

This First Ascent Fleece Earmuff from Trappers is also a great buy at R129.

3. Kimberly Faux Furr Headband

R120, poetrystores.co.za

Kimberly Faux Furr Headband - Getaway Magazine

And this Kimberly Faux Furr Headband from Poetry is bound to turn heads.

4. Cape Storm Lima Beanie

R200, outdoorwarehouse.co.za

Cape Storm Lima Beanie - Getaway Magazine

This soft Entropy knit, fleece-lined beanie will keep your head and ears snug thanks to the extended flaps. The autumn colours are great too.

5. Herringbone Trapper Cap

R225, woolworths.co.za

Herringbone Trapper Cap - Getaway Magazine

It clips under the chin and covers your ears comfortably. You can also pin up the faux fur sides, but unfortunately the hat doesn’t sit very well when folded up. It’s a bit bulky to pack into a small backpack, but if you’re off on an overland adventure or heading into the chilly Drakensberg this is your guy.

Best Buffs

You should never leave home without a Buff. They are small, easy to carry and inherently useful (just ask the crew of Survivor, they’ve used them in the US for 26 seasons).

1. Cyclone Buff

R420, capeunionmart.co.za

The Cyclone Buff is an awesome piece of gear and the ultimate skiing companion because of its built-in soft shell wind resistance. It works as a scarf keeping wind off your chest or as an open-face balaclava keeping your ears warm too. The top half of the buff is made with softer, lighter material that scrunches or stretches as you require, while the bottom half is fleece-lined and topped with a Wind Stopper coat. It’s still breathable, very, very comfortable and extra long to cover your head, face and neck areas.

2. First Ascent Beanie Muff

R139, firstascent.co.za

First Ascent Beanie Muff - Getaway Magazine

Incredibly affordable, this useful tubular fleece closes at the top for wearing like a beanie or opens to pull over your head to wear as a scarf and protect your mouth and nose.

3. Hood Buff

About R450, adventureinc.co.za

The inverse of the Cyclone Buff: the head area is coated with soft shell wind resistance and the bottom piece is softer and thinner. The Buff includes a built in hood, which can be tightened around the chin, while offering the same breathability as the Cyclone. The neck portion also has double layers and provides excellent insulation. Depending on your needs, both the Hood and Cyclone Buff are extremely useful for activity in cold temperatures and you won’t regret buying one.