Best Hats for Cross Country Skiing
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Hats, headbands, ball caps, buffs, you probably want something on your head while cross country skiing. Head coverage is second only to your core in terms of keeping you warm. And while hat preference is mostly user-specific due to style, color, fit, fabric, and look, there are some suggestions I can make to point you in the right direction. I’ve broken this article into a few categories: performance, touring, cold, kids, and women’s specific.
The Best Performance Hats
Performance is subjective but let’s just assume if you’re reading this you’re planning on sweating and working hard while skiing. You want to move at a good clip. You are also likely interested in other endurance sports like running or cycling. You’re looking for a hat that’s both warm and moisture wicking since you’re probably going to work up a nice sweat. Depending on how hot you run, here are some options:
For those more furnace than human, you likely prefer a headband. I know I do. I like the Swix, Craft, or SKIDA headbands. They’re all essentially a thin strip of lycra. Some add a fleece interior but honestly that’s too much for me. Here is a nice Swix one: https://amzn.to/4agJ9mU
For those with normal heat outputs you probably want a thin hat that sheds moisture. These Craft Lumen hats do just that: https://amzn.to/4q1CLoa
For my cold headed, Jack Nicholson in The Shining, people you probably want a normal, wool/synthetic hat. Swix makes a wide variety of these. Here is a classic Swix beanie with a bunch of color options: https://amzn.to/45rhI7i
Pretty and Warm Hats for Touring
Listen, this is all about staying warm while you catch glimpses of majestic peaks and snowy valleys. You’re not going for a full fur trader look but you’re not not going to wear some fur somewhere. Here is a list of options on a scale of walking on skis to walking near people on skis to just going to sit in the lodge and find some cocoa.
If you’re touring and just want to look the part, SKIDA hats are the most nor-dork look you can achieve. They’re also quite cute and offer a variety of nice patterns. Here is one of their best sellers: https://amzn.to/4k5467J (more SKIDA hats can be found on their website: https://skida.com/ )
If style and warmth are your main priority, the Swix Gunde is a classic. It’s dripping in that vintage Norwegian look: https://amzn.to/4jYNa2N
Finally, if you want to really, really, lean into the Scandavaian thing, and you’re over the age of 45, you might be able to rock this beautiful Dale of Norway hat: https://amzn.to/49FOAM2
Extreme Cold Calls for Combos of Hats, Buffs, and Balaclavas
Not to be confused with baklava, a balaclava is a full neck, head, and chin covering that just leaves a hole for your face. It’s what non-skiers use to rob convenience stores. It’s what you will use to ski when it’s below zero. Buffs are just a tube of fabric that can be combined with a hat or headband achieve a similar affect to the balaclava. Some combination of these is what you need when it’s so cold that almost every other part of your body has at least two layers on it. The objective is to cover your head, neck, chin, and ears since anything sticking out will get frost bite. When it’s this cold you also need to put Dermatone or tape on your face so it doesn’t get completely wrecked from exposure to cold wind.
Buffs are my preferred option when I need face coverage. You can pull it up or down easily while moving; you can breath through it; you can use it as a headband or a hat; you can event tie in a bow and throw it over your shoulder like a continental shoulder, no, too far, but the point is, it’s very versatile. Here is a nice lightweight, merino wool, buff: https://amzn.to/3Ny4mQz
Balaclava options on Amazon kinda suck. You don’t want one that’s too thick. You also don’t want one that doesn’t stretch as you don’t want it covering your mouth, unless you’re into creating a giant ice chunk on your face. Here is a nice option from GORE at Gear West: https://www.gearwest.com/products/gore-windstopper-balaclava
Kid’s Ski Hats That Won’t Be Immediately Ripped Off
Taking a kid cross country skiing is a complete gamble but if you can ensure their hat stays on their head, they are going to have a better time. Feel free to wade into more casual hats here, especially for the younger guys. You potentially want a chin closure, maybe some comically placed ears, some buttery soft fabric, and an array of colors that might satisfy the gremlin. Here are some options:
If you want to stick with the nordic theme, here is a nice Swix hat: https://amzn.to/4q5UriH
This Obermeyer hat is super soft, stays on my kid’s head, and has cute ears: https://amzn.to/4q0TZCe
If cute colors are your only desire, look no further than this North Face hat: https://amzn.to/45vCJh2
Fashionable Nordic Hats for Women
When my wife goes skiing she wants to know how to look cute while cross country skiing and what the best cross country ski outfits are. Unfortunately, neither of those circumstances are possible because the sport is for nerds. However, if you want to make an attempt, I’d suggest you look at the following brands and hats.
SKIDA - This Vermont-based brand is mentioned above but worth calling out again. It’s a woman founded brand and caters to making cross country skiing look fashionable. Check them out here: https://skida.com/
NORDJORK - If you want style and pizzaz, this is your brand. I know nothing about them but there is a lot of pink and a some wacky colors. You can find these kooky kids here: https://www.nordjork.com/
ODLO - Norwegian/Swiss brand that’s more style and fashion forward than the traditional Swix or Craft stuff. You too can be sleek and elegant: https://www.odlo.com/
MALOJA - These new kids on the block offer muted colors and a brand that’s now embedded into the Birkie and US Biathlon. Find them here: https://www.malojaclothing.com/
Note, some of these offer hats, some don’t. I’m mostly listing them here to give you outfit and inspiration options. Hats are just a piece of the pie. Go nuts and try your hardest to make skiing cool-ish.
