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Let’s face it, top hats and sweatbands have come and gone, but beanies are one style of headwear that’s here to stay. Beanies are comfortable, practical, and better yet, fashionable. With today's huge variety of colors, shapes, and designs, you really have no excuse to make a beanie-style blunder. Beanies have come a long way not only in the variety of styles available but also in the fabrics used to make sure your head and ears stay cozy. From sporting activities and snow shoveling to corporate workwear and nights out on the town, there is a beanie to suit every purpose and occasion. To help you choose the greatest beanies in 2024 for a warm and trendy winter look, we’ve listed some of the most popular picks for the season.
Detailing the Leading Beanies of 2024
Carhartt Beanie — Best Overall
Key Features
- Stretchable rib-knit acrylic beanie
- Cuffed design with no closure
- Carhartt label on the front cuff
- 39 Colors for men and women
Although this knit cuffed-style beanie is usually marketed towards men, women are rocking the style all the same. Carhartt must have picked up on this trend, since they offer 39 colors, including black, blue, pink, and more. These beanies are designed as one-size-fits-all with a stretchable 100% acrylic design. However, you can check the sizing chart for specific dimensions when placing your order to make sure this hat will fit your head. The style is great to be worn casually, and for outdoor winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, or sledding.
NEFF Beanie — Runner-Up
Key Features
- Cuffless ribbed knit design
- Can be worn straight or folded to form a cuff
- Available in 40 colors
- Suitable for men and women
These unisex beanies are available in 40 fun colors, ranging from bubblegum pink and tennis-ball green to trendy charcoal and black. The pull-on closure hats are cuffless. The lack of a cuff makes these beanies very versatile: you can fold them over to create a cuff, or you can keep them uncuffed for a slouchy look. Neff’s beanies are ideal for moderately cold conditions. Since they can be styled to suit any occasion, you can pair them with nice or casual outfit types. The soft acrylic design is lightweight with a ribbed knit texture and a small Neff logo on the front.
Vgogfly Beanie — Honorable Mention
Key Features
- 65% Acrylic blend with 35% wool
- Available in 19 colors
- Suitable for men and women
- Elastic closure with a fuzzy inner lining
- Stylish basket knit design
These ultra-stylish unisex slouchy beanies are not only trendy–they will keep your head nice and warm on cold weather days. They are designed with an elastic closure for a snug fit and feature a soft interior lining around the forehead. Offering a great deal of stretch, the slouchy shape fits most head sizes and can be worn with your hair loose, or tied up and tucked under your hat. Slouchies are usually worn with casual outfits but can be incorporated into a more buttoned-up look if styled correctly.
Furtalk Beanie — Contender
Key Features
- Stretchy acrylic knit design
- Can be worn cuffed or unfolded
- Available in 17 different colors
- Suitable for men and women
Furtalk’s stretchy unisex beanie is made from 100% acrylic material. The material offers warmth and loads of flexibility, allowing enough stretch for almost any size head. The beanie is ideal for casual wear and outdoor activities. It features a cuffed design, however, the cuff can be unfolded for a longer, slouchier look to cover a high bun or ponytail, or for extra length to pull over your ears. Conveniently, this hat is also machine washable.
Top Level Beanie — Also Consider
Key Features
- Suitable for men and women
- High-stretch 100% acrylic
- Cuffed knit design
- Available in 17 colors
Top Level’s unisex cuffed beanies are available in a range of 17 colors from bright green, white, and orange to soft pink and black. The 100% acrylic plain knit design has high stretchability, making it suitable for almost any size head. It’s an ideal accessory for casual wear and outdoor activities. The hat fits over your ears to keep you snug while working outside, skiing, or hiking. The bright color options ensure you stay visible in hazy weather conditions.
How to Find a High-Quality Beanie: A Buyer's Guide
Choosing the right beanie is as much about style as it is about comfort and functionality. In other words, don’t wear your multi-colored animal-themed beanie to your job interview. There is no reason to forego elegance for comfort. With the wide variety of beanies available on the market today, you can find a hat to fit any occasion. Some beanies are made with specialized materials for certain sporting activities, while others are made with soft and fuzzy fabrics for casual wear. Use this guide to the top beanies of 2024 to ensure you choose a hat that will keep you snug and warm but won’t leave you scratching your head all day.
What Type of Material Is Best for a Beanie?
Synthetics
Synthetic materials such as fleece and polyester are great options for outdoor activities and sports. They provide warmth, comfort, and good insulation to block the wind. They are also lightweight and fit fairly tightly so they don’t slip off while you’re in action. Another good thing about the snug fit of synthetic material is that it is ideal to wear under a helmet for sports such as cycling or snowboarding. Many of these sports-specific beanies are designed to be moisture-wicking so that sweat evaporates quickly to keep you both dry and warm.
Traditional knits
Traditional hand-knit beanies made from non-performance wool or acrylic are some of the most popular types of winter hats because of their casual designs and coziness. Natural fibers, including wool, maintain thermal qualities even if they get wet. This is why they are a good option if you’re out in the snow or rain. Cold weather gear made from natural fibers can, however, be heavy, a little bit itchy, and not as snug-fitting as other types of materials.
Merino wool
Merino wool is ideal for cold-weather outdoor clothing. It is more expensive than other types of material but offers the comfort of synthetics combined with the warmth of natural materials.
Beanies containing a blend of merino wool and synthetic fibers are a great way to reap the benefits of wool, without the hefty price tag.
Fleece and liners
If you just love the fuzzy-looking head warmer but don’t want to be scratching your head all day, make sure your beanie is lined on the inside. This is a great solution that provides warmth, style, and comfort, allowing you to wear any type of material without having to worry about your head getting itchy. Merino wool, fleece, cotton, and polyester are all ideal liner fabrics. They are used to line the entire inner cap, or as an inner headband. Liners also give your hat a longer life as the added material prevents stretching around the headline
Special Features
If you are looking for a head warmer for a specific activity such as skiing or a long bus commute, you may want to consider the following features to find the best hat to fit your specific needs.
Ear covers
Whether you are skiing, snowboarding, or just building a snowman, having a warm hat that covers your ears can make the cold weather a lot more bearable. Some beanies have long tassels under the ear flaps to hold them in place. These tassels can either be tied up under the chin to keep the flaps over the ears, or tied above the head to lift the ear flaps when it starts to warm up.
Visor
Beanies with a visor look almost like a baseball cap. If you like wearing a cap but need the extra warmth, this is a great all-in-one solution. Visors can block sunlight on bright days and also keep your beanie slightly elevated above your eyes, allowing ski goggles to fit flat against your face without compromising on warmth.
Headphones
Smart beanies have built-in Bluetooth headphones incorporated directly into the hat. They can connect to your smartphone or MP3 player without any cords getting in the way. These are great for long commutes or if you enjoy listening to music while running, walking, or hiking.
Types of Beanies
Cuffless
Cuffless beanies don’t have a bottom that folds over and instead have a plain, flat pull-on design. They are a timeless fashion piece and can go with a variety of different casual-style outfits.
Cuffed
A cuffed beanie features a folded piece around the head. Some varieties can be unfolded to be worn as a cuffed or cuffless hat. These generally offer a good stretchy fit and are great for outdoor activities as well as casual wear.
Fisherman’s hat
A fisherman beanie sits higher on the head, leaving the ears exposed. Some versions have a narrow cuff while others are cuffless. They bring a sense of style when pulled off correctly and are intended to provide a trendy look. Because fishermen's beanies don’t cover the ears, they are not intended to be worn for outdoor sports.
The slouch
A slouchy beanie is long, leaving extra room at the top end to hang off the back of your head. It is very much a casual-wear item. This type of beanie will cover your ears and most of your forehead.
Pom-pom hat
The pom beanie is worn mostly by women and kids and features a puffy pom pom at the very top of the hat. These hats keep you looking cozy and casual while also providing warmth. The hats can be cuffed or uncuffed and usually cover most of the ears.
How to Choose a Beanie Style to Match Your Outfit
Your hair type and outfit style can both play a role in the type of head warmer that will suit your look best. Classic snug-fitting hats are the most versatile and pair well with short and long hair, as well as smart-casual outfits. Men and women with curly hair will benefit from wearing roomier hat styles like slouchies or high-tops. Most beanies offer a casual look, but can be dressed up with a well-styled outfit or street-savvy ensemble.
