The best beanie overall
The North Face Shinksy Beanie is a winter hat you don't have to think about — attractive, warm, and reversible with two different knits on the exterior and interior sides. It has a hip, slouchy fit that looks good with just about every style of jacket from a puffer to a wool peacoat.
According to the brand's product description, this hat is "ideal for riding the park, or après at the lodge." Or, you know, commuting to work in below-freezing temperatures. Made of 100% acrylic, it's machine washable and comes with the brand's famous lifetime warranty attached.
The hat is highly rated by North Face shoppers, with a 4.8 out of 5 rating on the brand's website based on 276 reviews. "This hat is simply amazing. Very stylish and warm. I need to order myself about 3 more colors and I'll be set for winter. Definitely recommend," writes one reviewer.
"I can't think of anything negative to say about this beanie," says another. "It holds up well when washed, color did not fade, fits well, looks great on my head, keeps me warm."
Pros: Reversible, chunky knit, machine washable, slouchy fit, unisex
Cons: Might be too slouchy for smaller head sizes
The best affordable beanie
Carhartt, a brand that has been around for over a century, was originally known for its workwear. It still is, but in the last several years it has experienced a resurgence among fashion's it crowd. These beanies are an affordable way to stay warm while looking cool.
If you're anything like me, you lose at least one hat per winter. It doesn't really make sense to invest a lot of money in a beanie that will inevitably end up left behind in the back seat of a cab or dropped from your pocket on a crowded street.
The Carhartt Acrylic Watch Hat seems like a great compromise. I can definitely afford to buy one or two each season, and I wouldn't lose too much sleep if it happens to go missing. Which, let's face it, it probably will.
This fold-over beanie comes in just about every color under the sun, including plain black and driftwood green. A small Carhartt logo patch in the front center adds visual interest, giving the hat a vintage look.
Pros: Affordable, lots of color options, snug fit, unisex
The best cashmere beanie
We're fans of Naadam's eco-friendly and affordable cashmere here at Insider Picks. The brand's Signature Ribbed Cashmere Beanie is the perfect luxury winter hat. Made of 100% Mongolian cashmere, it's medium-weight, soft, and breathable.
The hat is certainly an investment, but there are some special features that make the price tag seem more reasonable. It's wrinkle-free, odor-blocking (no more sweaty scalp smell collecting in the top of your hat), and designed for minimal pilling. You can fold it at the brim for a tighter fit or wear it loose.
The Signature Ribbed Cashmere Beanie comes in eight versatile colors and is one-size-fits-all, designed to fit both men and women. It boasts the same high-quality material as the brand's other wares and a "Heavenly Soft" designation. Gear Patrol rated it one of the best cashmere hats for men.
Pros: 100% Mongolian cashmere, eco-friendly, wrinkle-free and odor-resistant, unisex
Cons: Dry clean or hand wash only
The best pom-pom beanie
If you like your beanies with more visual interest, the Patagonia Vintage Town Beanie is a great pick. It has a cool oversized pom-pom detail on the top and comes in a selection of subdued vintage-y color options and striped patterns.
Made of a soft, eco-friendly recycled wool and nylon blend, this pick is both warm and stylish. It's also a great option for shoppers who value transparency. You can actually read about the suppliers that helped make your hat via Patagonia's Footprint Chronicles website feature. The brand also provides information about the fabrics used in the production of the beanie.
I also happen to think this is one of the coolest looking hats on this list, thanks to the quirky pom-pom detail and the unique color options. As with all Patagonia merchandise, the hat comes with an Ironclad Guarantee that allows you to return items or get them repaired.
Insider Picks writer Amir Ismael has previously recommended the Vintage Town Beanie in a round-up of winter hats for men, though I'd consider this style (and really most beanies) to be unisex.
Pros: Made of recycled wool and nylon, Ironclad Guarantee
The best high-tech beanie
The Tenergy Wireless Bluetooth Beanie Hat has a built-in Bluetooth headset that connects to your smartphone, so you can be that person who makes everyone on the street do a double-take trying to decide if you're talking on the phone or just talking.
The hat claims to have "a wireless range of up to 33 feet" and to run for up to six hours (you charge it with the USB cable that comes in every order), so you can make phone calls and listen to music on the go. It's also pretty stylish considering it houses headphones inside, with a chunky cable knit design that comes in six colors. The lining is polar fleece.
One of the cleverest details is the control panel, which takes the form of a leather patch on the brim of the hat. From a distance, it looks like any other vintage-look label, but up close you notice the volume buttons and play/pause button. Below that is the port for the USB charging cable.
Pros: Rechargeable, beanie is lined, comes with USB cable, 2-year extended warranty
Cons: Need to remove headphones before washing
Check out our other buying guides for cold weather gear
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The best winter boots for womenTo test these boots, we dunked them in a tub filled with icy water and tried to make them slip on patches of ice. We wore them on cold days to see how warm they were and stepped into deep puddles on rainy days to test water resistance. We walked for miles on snowy stretches of sidewalk in New York City and waded through snowbanks in Central Park to vet these boots. Here are the best women's winter boots.
The best winter coats for menA good winter coat will keep you warm and dry even when the snow is falling and the wind is howling. A great winter coat will keep you warm, dry, and looking good, too. Here are the best winter coats for men.
