The Winter Hat is one of the most essential items for keeping warm all season long. Filson’s Watch Cap Beanie earns the top spot as the Best Men’s Winter Hat of the year. The hat is as good as it gets to keep warm as well as remain functional whether in the field, working in the yard, or heading to work.
Why Filson’s Watch Cap Beanie is an Essential Men’s Winter Hat
When living in an area of the world that sees temperatures dip below 40 Fahrenheit, a winter hat is one of those accessories that is a must have to stay comfortable and ensure you’re not heading back indoors before the job is done. It’s not uncommon for temperatures across the US to be cold enough to have the hatless of the world heading back for warmer pastures after as little as 20 minutes. With the Filson Watch Cap Beanie and a well layered outfit it’s more than reasonable to stay outdoors hours after the sun goes down on a brisk day.
There are a ton of different types of winter hats on the market and there are no shortage of cheap, mass-produced options that might look the part but could never stand up to the quality of Filson’s cap.
Only one material stands the test
Most people don’t think twice about what goes into producing a hat. A lot of people end up deciding on style, a fluffy pom on the top, their favorite sports team logo, or if the brand claims to handle extreme weather. It’s very easy to understand what consistently outperforms other materials – wool. Filson’s site lists the cap as having 100% wool sourced entirely from the United States. I’m not claiming wool from the US vs other countries’ to be a landslide. But I am confident saying wool will always perform better than other materials on the market. Cheaper products such as cotton, polyester, or nylon don’t compare.
Every where you look there are mass-marketed, cheap materials being thrown together claiming they have the latest stretch technology, are the most stylish, and whatever other buzz words they can dream up. Filson does one thing – consistently prove their wool products work.
Making the best men’s winter hat is no small task
Think for a moment about the amount of hats available on the market. Even if you just think of beanies, there are endless options to choose from. Amazon alone probably has millions. Every clothing brand, outdoor shop, and Etsy entrepreneur can likely send a beanie to your doorstep in a matter of days. Being the best among that amount of competition is virtually impossible. But I’m still convinced. Have I tested every single product on the market? Of course not. But the Filson Watch Cap Beanie checks every box.
We’ve covered materials. Let’s talk about looks. Filson offers 5 colors and I think they’ve nailed every single one of them. From the blaze orange suitable for hunting requirements, to the beige-ish sawdust, and the classic red. Each one of these colors can be worn in the field or to the office. Yes, blaze orange to the office is a great way to stand out on the bus or the street. What’s even more impressive, yet slightly unassuming, is the casualness of the colors. They don’t shine, they don’t fade, and they do look awesome. Non-shining materials are essential for hunters, so I don’t list that without reason.
It feels wrong not to mention another glaring benefit to wool. It’s versatility when wet is unmatched. Now wet can mean a variety of things – sweaty, snowy, or outright drenched. Wool is said to maintain 40% of its warmth when wet and I can surely attest to that. I’ve donned the Filson Watch Cap in a pouring, freezing rain commuting home from work and I’ve worn it on a rain and snow winter hunt. Both times I can truly say my head didn’t feel nearly as cold as I would have guessed beforehand.
The Best Men’s Winter Hat shouldn’t be your most expensive item
I’ve purchased many hats over the years. When I was younger I surely reached for the cheapest hat I could find only to be disappointed when it wears out after one season. Or just plain freezing. Filson’s Watch Cap comes in at $50 at the time of this writing and I think that is more than reasonable. Wool isn’t easily produced, yet it provides so many benefits above the other materials available. Coming from a titan of workwear and harsh weather brand like Filson, that price point fits. Hell – Mr Porter has an almost identical hat available for a cool $590. Good luck finding me in line to pay for that knitted deception.
You will love the Filson Watch Cap
I’ll be honest with you, I have two of these hats. One for what I call ‘casual’ wear and another for more intensive activities. I walk the dog a few times a day no matter the weather. From November until almost April I wear the Watch Cap pretty much ever day. Morning walks as the sun comes up with the dog, evening hunts below freezing, or just running errands. This hat keeps its shape extremely well. It looks just as new and fits just as snug as the day I got my first one over 18 months ago. I’ll continue to write about winter ready clothing as I see fit. But I don’t foresee myself finding a better winter hat.
