Men's Hats: A Discussion Thread, Questions, Opinions, Suggestions...

[Miles R.]

So with the winter coming up, what hats do you normally break out to stay warm?

I wear the same felt fedoras from autumn through spring. I don't feel the need for anything else on the coldest days. On such days it is not in the crown of the head that I feel the need for additional protection but in the neck, the ears, and the back of the head. These I protect with scarves, Ear Pops, and turning up my coat collar, respectively.

 

[JJ Katz]

So with the winter coming up, what hats do you normally break out to stay warm?

I also mostly wear the same felt hats as in autumn but I do have a cheap, market stall light grey hat that is in a particularly thick wool felt and is good for what passes for a very cold day in southern England.
I’m considering a panel cap this winter; something tweedy.

 

[Luigi_M]

All good solutions against winter cold, except

Ear Pops

which are ...

 

[Miles R.]

All good solutions against winter cold, except

which are ...

Will you please express what you mean in words?

 

[madhat]

Will you please express what you mean in words?

Ear pops is probably a local term that doesn’t translate for him. I certainly have never heard the term, but I assume you’re referring to ear muffs or a head band of some sort.

 

[Luigi_M]

Will you please express what you mean in words?

Ear pops is probably a local term that doesn’t translate for him. I certainly have never heard the term, but I assume you’re referring to ear muffs or a head band of some sort.

I too guess that ear pops are something like what @madhat says and, while I think that a scarf or a raised collar are some smart and viable option against cold, I'm not so sure I'd wear ear muffs in public.

 

[Miles R.]

I too guess that ear pops are something like what @madhat says and, while I think that a scarf or a raised collar are some smart and viable option against cold, I'm not so sure I'd wear ear muffs in public.

They are bandless ear covers. https://www.earpops.com/page/about

 

[madhat]

They are bandless ear covers. https://www.earpops.com/page/about

View attachment 1487841

Interesting concept. Those would actually work well for my chilly/windy morning runs when it’s still to warm for a balaclava or beanie

 

[Miles R.]

Interesting concept. Those would actually work well for my chilly/windy morning runs when it’s still to warm for a balaclava or beanie

Keeping the wind off is their main strength. When the temperature gets below about 20 ºF, they are better than nothing, and will keep your ears from being frostbitten, but you'll still have cold ears. They are easy to put on and take off, but one needs to take care in bending the plastic shell that makes them "pop" into place, as it eventually wears out and breaks. I discovered them by chance in Marshall Field's in Chicago (R.I.P.) about thirty years ago and have been wearing them ever since. [Edited to add: I mean buying and wearing pairs of the product, not wearing the same pair!]

 

[Nobilis Animus]

I also find that the ears are the worst part of it. Normally it doesn't bother me so much if I'll not be spending too long outdoors, but for extra cold days I still favour hats that will cover the ears such as toques or fur ushankas.

On other days I do like tweed flat caps. What I really wish is that winter hats would come back for the ladies - there used to be such stylish choices.

 

[Zapasman]

Sombreros Signes, in the Valencia Region. 20km from here. Still enjoying the the sea and the sun here!.

 

[suuteebird]

 

[madhat]

View attachment 1499169

Turned out nice!

 

[suitedcboy]

View attachment 1499169

That is a great hat. Great proportions, color, and everything about it! Tell us about it, please.

 

[suuteebird]

That is a great hat. Great proportions, color, and everything about it! Tell us about it, please.

Thank you. It is the Manhattan model in carbon color by Optimo in Chicago.