Camping

As soon as the temperature starts to drop, quite rightly, the majority of hikers cease to worry about “hat hair” and think instead about “warm hair”, after all, warm hair means a warm head, and for a warm head you need a warm hat.

Image by Maxi Walton via Flickr

Woolly bobble hats have been all the rage for decades and can still be seen in playgrounds up and down the country every day from September/October right until the following April. Moms do like to make sure that Junior won’t get cold at playtime, and very often supplies not only a bobble hat which is designed to fit him until adulthood, but also a matching scarf (tied up so that he doesn’t actually trip over it, it’s obviously much longer than he is at the moment) and a set of matching mittens on the requisite piece of string and threaded through the sleeves of his winter jacket (for him to grow into). The majority of hikers do forego the matching scarf and mittens, but many a woolly bobble hat can still be seen wobbling along a hiking trail as soon as the leaves turn yellow and start to fall off . . . I wonder whether they’re the same ones which they have eventually grown into!

Warm hiking hats are, however, available in a variety of different styles . . . bobble optional.

What a great idea, if your favorite hat doesn’t have a bobble (pom pom), then why not make your own and add it to the top.

• Beanie hats . . . that’s what they call lots of them these days (excuse me for not explaining the reason why). Anyway, these are skull type caps which are either knitted or made from lovely warm fleece fabric. Either way just so long as they keep your head warm whilst making sure that you don’t overheat and get sweaty, they do a great job.
• Sherpa Style Earflap hats – do a very fine job of keeping you warm . . . those Sherpas know a thing or two about hiking and climbing in the cold you know, so who better to design a hat to keep you nice and warm whilst you’re out on a winter hiking expedition. They also look pretty trendy, especially the ones with the snazzy designs.
• Woolen fabric western style hats are also popular amongst the hiking community. They generally hold their shape well, even in the rain (and the brim protects your face and neck from the raindrops) . . . and just like the other warm hats which we’ve already mentioned, you can squish them into your backpack until you need them and they’ll (allegedly) bounce back into shape as soon as they are released.
• Trapper style hats are great fun too, as well as being excellent at keeping your head, ears and neck warm on even the coldest winter hikes. They generally have a lovely fleece or wool lining to keep you extra cozy, and the ear flaps can be fastened up when they’re not needed, or fastened securely under the chin when they are.