The 17 Best Beanies for Women to Keep You Comfy and Cute All Winter Long
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The best beanie is one that can last for years and years without pilling, pulling or unravelling, all while keeping your head toasty and comfortable. It’s a lot to ask of such a small swatch of fabric, but a good winter hat is essential for building out your ultimate winter wardrobe. In our search for the cream of the crop, we asked our friends, family, coworkers and even readers like you to weigh in on which styles and brands are best for keeping our domes warm in all kinds of weather. Turns out, everyone has pretty strong feelings about their favorite hats. Read on for 17 of the best beanies for women to buy (and wear!) in 2024.
The Best Beanies for Women at a Glance
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1. Carhartt Knit Cuffed Beanie
This beanie is so popular that it’s constantly selling out or on backorder, but according to PureWow’s wellness director, Sarah Stiefvater, this hat is worth the wait. “I can’t stop wearing this beanie. I love wearing the ultra-bright neon color in contrast with my mostly black wardrobe,” she says of the Brite Lime shade she owns. “It’s also super comfy and warm and just 20 bucks. A total no-brainer.” In fact, this beanie has a wide breadth of fans, from fashion editors to construction site workers, thanks to its classic design, supreme warmth/breathability and phenomenal price point. So if you see a color you like in stock, don’t hesitate to add to cart before someone else gets there first.
2. Top Level Beanie
Looking for a budget-friendly option you can keep in your purse or car without worrying about it getting wrecked? Opt for this Top Level beanie. According to more than 20,000 five-star reviewers, it’s warm, flattering and comfortable, but tends to feel a bit long if you don’t cuff it. At just $8 apiece (down from $15), you can invest in a few different shades to match every winter coat hanging in your closet.
3. 66 North Bylur Soft Lambswool Hat
Icelandic brand 66 North is all about creating high-quality outdoor gear that will keep you warm and comfortable, no matter the weather. This particular cap is made from cozy lambswool, which stays warm even when wet, but also has a fleece lining for bonus protection from the cold. It also comes in a chocolate brown hue (with the same knit detailing), but we have to say we’re partial to this wintery white for a true cabincore vibe.
4. Everlane The Cashmere Beanie
All of Everlane’s sustainably-minded clothes, shoes and accessories are top-of-the-line, and this cashmere hat is no different. “This is one of the softest, most comfortable beanies I’ve ever purchased. Great price for the quality,” writes one reviewer. And if you’re worrying that the cashmere might be a bit itchy, don’t—multiple shoppers say it’s super soft and won’t leave your forehead itching even if you wear it for hours at a time.
5. Colorful Standard Merino Wool Beanie
Wool has the wonderful quality of maintaining warmth even when wet, making a wool cap a particularly good option for wetter climates. This Colorful Standard design is made from 100 percent extra-fine recycled merino wool and is also dyed with environmentally-friendly methods, for those interested in sustainability. Plus, it comes in every color a gal could want, so you can stock up on multiple options to rock all winter long. A word to the wise, however—don’t put this cap in the dryer or that lovely natural wool will shrink a lot.
6. The North Face Salty Lined Beanie
“Normally I’m in the ‘100 percent wool or bust’ camp when it comes to winter gear,” says senior food editor Katherine Gillen, “but I actually like that this one is acrylic because it doesn't get that wet barn animal smell if it gets snowed/rained on while you're wearing it.” The North Face’s acrylic material also has the added benefit of being machine washable, and there are two depths to choose from depending on your head size and whether or not you need the cap to cover your ears. The Salty beanie also has a jersey lining, to protect against the potentially itchy knit and comes in a wide range of fun colors.
7. Sh*t That I Knit Motley Merino Wool Beanie
“My mom got me this beanie for Christmas, and I’ve been wearing it almost every day when I walk the dog,” writes one reviewer. “I love the pretty, handmade cable-knit pattern and the merino wool keeps me super warm.” Plus, all of Sh*t That I Knit’s products are handmade by artisans in Lima, Peru, and the pom pom is actually removable. In fact, when you go to buy, you can opt to add extra faux-fur or yarn poms to your order so you can swap them in or out to fit your mood. (P.S. There are also matching mittens, $90, to the look.)
8. Barefoot Dreams Cozychic Beanie
Made from the same material as Barefoot Dreams’s mega popular (and Chrissy Teigen-approved) throw blankets, this hat is insanely soft. Which is part of the reason why PureWow’s executive editor, Dara Katz, wears hers on the reg. She explains, “It is so soft, so cozy, so absolutely perfect for wearing inside and never leaving your house. (Also extremely warm for when you do need to go outside to walk the dog.)”
9. Acne Studios Face Logo Wool Beanie
“This is the quintessential fashion-girl hat,” says PureWow’s previous fashion director, Dena Silver. “It’s kind of status-y since that glum-looking face has become synonymous with the Stockholm-based brand Acne Studios.” In other words, it’s practically begging to be featured on the ‘gram. Oh, and the 100 percent wool material—Responsible Wool Standard-certified wool, we might add—will keep you nice and warm.
10. lululemon Run for It All Beanie
Just because temperatures are dropping doesn’t mean you have to press pause on your neighborhood runs. And thanks to lululemon, keeping your head and ears warm doesn’t have to mean switching up your signature ponytail either. This fitted, water-repellant beanie has a small slit at the back specifically designed for threading your hair through. Our reviewer writes, “I was worried this would not cover my head totally, but it does and it’s warm without making my head too hot (like a good beanie should). Love running with this cap!”
11. Kari Traa Tikse Beanie
If you’re on the hunt for a beanie you can slip on under your ski helmet for bonus warmth without an additional bulk, look no further. The moisture-wicking wool is super stretchy and has a brushed inner lining to prevent any itching or scratching. It’s also long enough to cover your ears, but not so long that you’ll be annoyed by bunching or flapping fabric at the top should you decide to pull it back once you’re warmed up.
12. Patagonia Coastal Cable Beanie
PureWow’s sales and deals editor, Destinee Scott, recommends this textured knit beanie for anyone whose ears are always just a little too cold, even while wearing a hat. The reason is a hidden fleece headband tucked under the hem, which gives extra protection from Jack Frost and helps wick away sweat so you won’t overheat. “I love that the inner headband wicks moisture which keeps my hairline from soaking when I'm on the move,” Scott raves. (P.S. There are even more colors to choose from on the Patagonia site.)
13. Jaxmonoy Wool-Cashmere Beanie
For those who like a slouchier fit, we highly recommend this super-soft and versatile beanie by Jaxmonoy. More than 600 five-star reviewers rave about how soft the material is, plus, because the fabric is on the thinner side, you can cuff or roll the hem to switch up the fit if you like. (P.S. Don’t let the fact that this beanie isn’t made from a chunky knit fool you into thinking it’s not warm—multiple reviews mention that it keeps their ears nice and toasty all the same.) The only downside is that it needs to be either hand washed or dry cleaned.
14. Sézane Paul Beanie
“I have been buying Sézane’s beanies for years,” says senior director of special projects and royals, Rachel Bowie. “The colors are so great and the price point isn’t terrible considering they last for multiple seasons. I’m actually devastated because I seem to have misplaced a hot pink one I’ve worn for years somehow.” Indeed, the alpaca wool material is incredibly soft and quite durable, so you won’t need to be nearly as precious with this beanie as a cashmere style. There are also lots of colors to choose from, including neutrals like black and white, as well as bright yellow, Kelly green and wisteria purple (above).
15. Le Bonnett Classic Beanie
We gave this beanie the superlative “Most Eco-Friendly,” but it also earns the title of “Most Color Options” with a whopping 40 different colors for you to choose from. The classic style is made of lambswool and Caregora (a rating earned by meeting both European animal welfare standards and the even stricter “Animal Welfare Code of Recommendations for the welfare of livestock”), and because it’s made of only natural fibers, it’s also fully biodegradable. Per senior editor Dana Dickey, “I’m obsessed with this mustard yellow beanie. It’s wool and angora and just keeps me so warm. And the color, which I thought I couldn’t wear, actually goes with everything because it goes with nothing and it’s a great bright yet classic color that cheers up any gray day.”
16. Icewear Skrúður Wool-Blend Nordic Hat
For that après ski vibe, Fair Isle is the way to go, and this Icelandic wool topper is as practical as it is cute. Made from 65 percent wool and 35 percent nylon, it’s both breathable and warm to keep you comfortable in all sorts of conditions. Plus, there are 11 cute color combos to choose from, so you can find one to perfectly match your ski jacket or simply your ski lodge ensembles.
17. L.L.Bean Katahdin Pom Hat
This vintage-inspired beanie is another one of Silver’s favorites, and it was the fun, colorful graphics (an OG design from 1988) that initially caught her eye. “I also love how the logo is huge, because it feels ironic, but L.L.Bean is truly the best,” she says. Indeed, this fun cap isn’t just stylish—it’s also made from a super-soft, very warm material that won’t leave you feeling itchy after just a few minutes wear.
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What Are the Different Types of Beanies?
Because, yes, there are multiple styles out there for you to consider. First there’s the fisherman, which is a shorter, cuffed style designed to fit snugly over the head and above the ears (think Jacques Cousteau or Steve Zissou). Then there’s a longer, no-fold beanie which was most popular in the early 2000s, with folks wearing them pulled back almost to the hairline and the excess fabric left drooping down the back. But the most popular style is the Watch Cap. This is likely what you think of when you picture a beanie—a cuffed knit cap that covers the ears for warmth. With lots of designs, the cuff can also be folded down for a longer beanie style as well. Oh, and let’s not forget about pom-pom beanies either, which feature a puffy decorative bobble at the top and can look like any of the previously mentioned silhouettes.
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Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
