www.pistildesigns.com
Pistil answers the season-long quandary: what makes the perfect winter hat? This boutique knit-centric company hails from Hood River, OR—so they know a thing or two about bad weather. That first-hand experience shows in the Fergus. The 100% Lana Cotta boiled wool hat fits snug and comfortably on your head (nothing baggy about this beanie), and boasts a fleece inner lining to keep your forehead and ears armored against the elements.  Better still, the earthy stripe graphic strikes the perfect balance between boring and gaudy. One tester hasn’t taken the thing off in months (even when an unseasonable East Coast winter often made the hat look more like a fashionable affectation than a pragmatic accessory).

www.coldavenger.com
Some days seem too cold (or hot) to venture outdoors. Neck warmers work to a point, but if you pull them up over your mouth and nose, they inevitably inhibit breathing and steam out whatever eye protection you’re wearing. One option is the ColdAvenger Pro Soft Shell Face Mask. Made of lightweight Polartec Wind Pro the fleecy material regulates temperature and wicks sweat. A built-in ventilator gives you room to breathe, and humidifies cold, dry air. While skiing in 45-mile winds, zero degrees, and blizzard conditions, one tester reported that he was the last person left on the slopes; everyone else had headed for the lodge. While our testers loved the ability to keep their faces warm and comfortable, without compromising their ability to inhale and exhale, female testers wished for a color other than “Darth Vader” black or the adventurous-only-by-comparison gray.

chaoshats.com
Two Pom Poms are better than one, especially if you only have to buy one hat! Pom poms are the new “IT” hat fashion statement—frivolous and fun, and we love the fluffy four-inch poms that come with the Double-D  Beanie. The hand-knitted acrylic beanie fits snug without being tight and has a soft, textured weave.  A buttonhole loop on the top allows you to pick your choice of poms, pink for a monochromatic pallet or purple for a when you wanna let your freak flag bounce behind you, for example.  Just remove one pom and attach the other. Voila, a different hat! In a sports world dominated by the extreme (read: serious) we toast this tribute to devil-may-care fashion. Hot chocolate and marshmallows not included.
Comes in white (with extra pink pom-pom), pink (with extra purple), black (with extra pink), and blue (with extra lime)


www.chromebagsstore.com
So you bought your bike helmet based on its lightness and breathability, and those vents served ya well…until the temps get a bit brisk.  The gear-obsessed might start shopping for cold-weather helmets. But as much as we love your impulse, we suggest you top yourself off with Chrome’s new Chuey Custom cap. Modeled after the trad cycling hat, the Chuey fits snug, with a short, stiff brim that offers a splash of bona fide fashion. Functionally, the cap fits nicely under a helmet, and that diminutive brim actually makes a huge difference in shielding yourself from the elements. The cotton has been treated so that’s nearly windproof, which gives it a bit more weather protection. Butif you’ve got a large head, you’re out of luck—there’s only one size (though a bit of elastic at the back offers some give). More unpredictable? Each hat is hand-made, with brim fabric sporting whatever bit of stylish pattern happens to be on hand. Personally we think it’s great to have a bit of individuality and unpredictably in an industry that typically strives for assembly-line perfection.

www.headsweats.com, 2 ounces
The fashion buzz? Hats are IN. For the outdoorsy crowd, hats are not only a great way to accessorize, but they provide invaluable protection from the sun.  At just 2 ounces, the Dry Visibility Hat is a super lightweight baseball-style cap with an easy-to-adjust sizing strap and a soft, sweat-absorbing, cushioning inner band.  The polyester shell material is waterproof, windproof, and machine washable.  While the bill is rigid, the cap part of the hat squishes down to the size of a bandana, so it easily stows in a pocket or pack.  Best of all, the cap has highly reflective stripes and logo—garnering it a rating of “high visibility” according to the European Standard, EN71 (Europeans have ratings for nearly everything). We like the neon yellow as it’s cheery and bright, but the caps is also available in both black and white.