Outdoor Research Spitsbergen Hat - Waterproof & Windproof Winter Beanie for Men & Women - Warm Fleece Lined Cold Weather Hat for Skiing, Snowboarding & Outdoor Adventures

This hat keeps my ears nice and warm during the wind and chill of 4,000 foot mountains. It is made of a heavy wool and has a headband built into it to keep the wind out further. It does make it mildly difficult to hear, but there are holes near the ears to help remedy that. The only thing that I dislike about this hat is that it is almost too warm. When hiking I sweat and it builds up around the headband because the material is non-wicking. While not a deal-breaker, it does add some frustration when you have to remove the hat to wipe away sweat every so often. I would certainly recommend to those who spend time in cooler weather, but not to those who plan on being physically active in cooler weather.This is the warmest hat I've ever owned, and pulled me through the coldest week in Chicago this season. I would recommend it for days with -20 windchill. However, the polyester band, while very warm, is tight over my ears (my hat size is huge) and after a few hours needs to be adjusted so it sits comfortably again.On a less important note, this hat has given me the worst hat hair I've had in a long time. My normally wavy hair was crushed flat against my head, and nothing I did could revive it. Not as important as staying warm in the freeze and snow, but given the choice, I wouldn't wear this hat to parties.It's warm and I like the brand. It's kind of small. I have to push it down a lot. And I don't feel like I have a larger than average head. Kind of disappointed.I bought the zin/trillium colored hat. In the picture it looks purple, but when it arrived I realized it is more of a burgundy :( it is also way bigger than I expected! I am a woman with a larger head than average and I can still pull it down over my nose. Good for cold weather I suppose but I wanted just an everyday hat. Although the product is not what I expected, it is extremely warm and very well made. The fleece lining prevents any itch from the wool and it is very comfortable.I purchased this hat because I love Outdoor Research products, especially their gloves and hats. They are an innovative company with great people. I also like the Gore Windstopper liner used in it because it works and is more breathable than other windproof fabrics. All that said, this hat was a disappointment. The styling is hip and attractive but it isn't as functional as it looks.The hat runs tight around the ears, so much so that I had to stretch it out to make it comfortable, which broke some of the stitching. It does not have stretch. OR did not use Windstopper liner on the entire interior of the cap... it just has a windproof ear band around the lower hem of the cap. Since the rest of the cap is a typical knit, the top of my head gets cold in windy conditions.I appreciate the small detail that OR put into this hat by punching holes in the liner next to the ears to improve hearing while wearing it. But really, it doesn't do much and they missed the boat on making a truly warm hat.So I own several beanies. For a bald guy with no natural way of keeping your dome warm, it is important to find the right form of insulation. And for me, this hat hugs my head with the right pressure to keep the wind out, and is large enough to keep the cold off my ears (a hat is not much good to me if it doesn't cover my ears). It also has an internal band of Windstopper for that additional barrier against the cold wind. And if that wasn't enough, it is made of one of nature's best insulators - wool. Not itchy wool, but warm, soft and cozy wool. I highly recommend this beanie.I liked the liner that blocked the wind on the lower part of the hat. A bit expensive and, of course the price dropped within days of my purchase.Would recommend. I bought 3 outdoor research beanies to replace one I shrunk in the wash. This is my favoriteThis is a well made hat and looks good too. It's comfortable to wear and great quality. Pure wool too!GoodLa descrizione diceva taglia unica ma non imaginavo fosse cosi grande, ho lavato a temperatura alta a posta per farlo diventare più piccolo ma comunque è ancora grande.