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The 7 best beanies for men: Our top picks this winter

Look great and stay warm this cool season

Mark McKee
By
Man on a mountain
Luke Pamer / Unsplash

When it comes to a solid hat wardrobe, there are all kinds of different styles and types to choose from. Whether you are trying to channel your inner adventurer with a fedora, emulate your favorite athlete with a ball cap, or something in between, you can always find a good occasion to wear a hat.

Of course, one of the more prominent hat styles you should be looking at for your collection is a beanie. This type of headwear is ideal when you want something low profile to cover up your unkempt hair. And beanies are functional for when the weather starts to turn cold. I don’t know if you have looked outside recently, but the weather is starting to turn. So now may be the time to pick up one of the best beanies for men.

Man in the woods warming his hands
Sorin Gheorghita / Unsplash

How to shop for a good beanie?

Picking the right beanie for you may seem pretty simple, but there are a few things you should consider when shopping. First off, if you are planning to wear one in a situation that is work parallel (obviously not in the office), then you should go with something straightforward like a traditional cuffed beanie. These are the types that others call a stocking cap.

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If you’re planning to wear these in casual situations, then you can do something more like a slouchy beanie, something with a roomier crown that hangs off the back of your head with extra room. If you are going somewhere in between, a cuffless beanie (sometimes called a watch cap) or a fisherman’s beanie (cuffed with a shallow crown so it doesn’t cover your ears) is the right choice for you.

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Hoping to find the best beanies for men? Then look no further than the top options we’ve listed below.

Carhartt beanie on a man
Carhartt

Carhartt Acrylic Watch Hat

From the construction site and the campground to the city streets, the Carhartt Acrylic Watch Hat proves its versatility and warmth with 100% acrylic rib knitting and folded cuff stamped with a Carhartt patch. There aren’t many better places to go for something that will stand the test of the outdoors.

Man wearing Huckberry beanie
Huckberry

Huckberry Beanie Cap

The simply named Huckberry Beanie Cap comes from the design team at the much-loved retailer, and although it’s simple in name, it’s not so simple in design and build. That’s because the Huckberry Beanie features Japanese-made construction and a very agreeable price.

Man wearing Filson Watch Cap
Filson

Filson Watch Cap Beanie

The Filson Watch Cap Beanie is stitched with American-sourced virgin wool and branded as discretely as it battles the elements. From the brand that wants everyone to get out of their office buildings and homes and experience nature, it endeavors to provide everyone with the gear to let them do it. This beanie is the right one for you if that’s your mission.

Man wearing Coal FLT Watch Cap
Coal Headwear

Coal FLT Recycled Polylana Knit Beanie

Lightweight and stitched to be worn year-round, the Coal FLT Recycled Polylana Knit Beanie is a low-profile, eco-friendly knit to top off your everyday attire, whether urban or forested. If you want to experience the world while saving it, this beanie gives you the opportunity to do both at the same time.

The North Face Jim Beanie
The North Face

The North Face Jim Beanie

The North Face is one of the best brands on the planet for anything cold-weather-related. So when we say it has some great cold-weather beanies, you can trust that your noggin will be warm and cozy. Here’s a non-bulky-looking beanie for you. The Jim Beanie is a classic-fit wool beanie with a soft fleece ear band for extra comfort, meaning it can fit snugly on your head.

Smartwool Thermal Merino Reversible Beanie
Smartwool

Smartwool Thermal Merino Reversible Beanie

Smartwool is a company that understands how to use the benefits of wool to get the best out of its products. From warmth to dryness, to comfort, and finally, to style, this beanie is one of the best you will find. Not to mention, it’s reversible, so it will always fit your look.

Man wearing King & Fifth Beanie
King & Fifth

King & Fifth Cashmere David

If you ever scream out the Seinfeld quote, “Of COURSE it’s cashmere,” then we can be friends. Cashmere is one of the most luxurious fabrics on the market, and it’s perfect for your sweaters, sport coats, and overcoats. King & Fifth had the brilliant idea to put it on your head as well. The company claims it’s the best beanie ever made; we are having a hard time arguing the point.

Man in a beanie looking over a city
Levi Jones / Unsplash

How should a man wear a beanie?

As far as knit hats for men are concerned, there is a multitude of ways you can wear your beanie cap. The beanie cap, first and foremost, is designed to cover the head, ears, and forehead from blustery winds. One ideal way to wear a beanie would be to pull it snugly over your ears and forehead. That being said, you can also flip up the cuff to expose your ears while still covering up any hat hair once you step inside (while this is an eye-catching move on the streets, it’s best to avoid it during a blizzard).

The beanie cap can be worn with just about any of your other gear picks, from a durable parka, a denim shirt, and chore pants to slim blue denim, a waxed trucker jacket, and your favorite henley. The beanie cap can be worn further back on the forehead and the top of the head, but this isn’t as functional as keeping the top half of your noggin warm through colder days. Consider it a reliable option as far as your rotation of men’s hats is concerned.

Man in a watch cap and watch
Brian Lawson / Unsplash

Should guys wear beanies?

If you ask us, a guy should wear a beanie when it suits him, but especially in the cold and chilly depths of colder months. Indoors, wearing a beanie can be trickier (especially if your thermostat is cranking), but a beanie is one of the most functional accessories a man can own. After all, while a wool ball cap might look cool, it’s not going to provide the same coverage in a blizzard as one of your favorite knit hats for men.

A guy should absolutely wear a beanie when the weather takes a turn for the worse, but as we mentioned, it can also be repurposed into a bit of a fashion accessory indoors with the cuff folded up. It’s best to wear a beanie the standard way before branching off into that territory, though. When you want to try out a new look, consider finding affordable men’s hats before you dip your toes into the water (figuratively).

Man in the snow wearing a beanie
Paige Cody / Unsplash

Are beanies bad for your hair?

It’s a question that bears asking before you pull the trigger on one of the best beanies for men: Are beanies bad for your hair? Experts say that beanies certainly can be used as a stop-gap to cover up a bad hair day, and of course, they can also be used to fight off the chill.

That being said, even the best beanies can have some unwelcome side effects. A beanie can impact a well-coifed hairstyle, of course, and beanies also prevent your scalp from breathing if worn to excess. Wearing a beanie that’s too tight or too hot could cause your head to overheat, stressing the hair follicles and potentially leading to hair loss.

However, if you’ve found the right beanie cap and are wearing it a proper amount, giving your hair time to air out now and again, this shouldn’t be a major problem. Now that you’ve sorted through some stellar beanie picks, all you’re missing is the best scarf for men.

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Mark McKee
Mark McKee
Contributor
Mark is a full-time freelance writer and men's coach. He spent time as a style consultant and bespoke suit salesman before…
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