I tried wearing a possum fur beanie this weekend on a windy, 36* ridgewalk, and while camping in a bivy around 40*. The beanie is by far the most comfortable I have ever worn, but as others have noted, it's worthless when a wind is involved. The wind cuts right through, and chills my ears even though there is a doubled layer of fabric over them.

This leaves me in an awkward position.

Having a large head typically means that I can't comfortably fit into the Windstopper watch caps that everyone else wears. These seem to be the lightweight method of keeping a head warm. The possum fur appealed to me since it is double layered, stretchy, and thus would comfortably fit over my head. What now? I've heard people recommend the Integral Designs Primalid, but I'm worried that this won't fit either, even though they do offer a 'large' size. Do any companies make these watch caps in larger sizes? Surely someone else on here has a large head with a lightweight, warm, beanie.

Second: Can anyone compare the warmth of using a thin watch cap with windsopper fabric with another thin balaclava to wearing a thicker beanie only, like the Primalid?

Edited by vaporjourney on 03/30/2008 18:52:09 MDT.

I have a 7 7/8 hat size. The Golite Polarguard fits fairly well. Have you checked out Wintergreendesigns.com? Their XL is actually too large for me

I have the Outdoor Research Novo cap from Bunny in the Gear Swap. It is a very light cap, great into the 20's or even a little colder when moving, sweat moves right thru it. Any colder and the hood from my R1 Hoody goes up, and colder than that my softshell hood goes up.

I have a Texas size noggin that the BPL Sweats cap looks like a Yamaka on me.

Eric,
The ID Primalid comes in an extra large size and the website sizing guide will help you determine if it will fit you or not. I recently got a Primalid hat (large size) and find it very warm and comfortable.

http://www.integraldesigns.com/product_detail.cfm?id=769&CFID=151727&CFTOKEN=18649868&mainproducttypeid=1

But is the Primalid too warm to hike in? I find it hard to justify carrying two different hats. Too bad a bandana just isn't warm enough while hiking. Am I expecting too much?

If it were windy and 36 degress I probably wouldn't find it too warm althought this is a warm hat that I'd use more around camp and while sleeping. I generally find that supplex ball cap is all I want while hiking and cover up with a hood when windy & cold.

Another alternative for you might be to get a windstopper ear band that you could wear under the possum down hat.

Being blessed / cursed with a size 8 head I sympathise with you. My usual hat for hillwalking is a Paramo cap ( http://www.paramo.co.uk/en-gb/garments/detail/index.php?pgc=NIKWAXANALOGYCAPACCESSORIESUNISEX ) which just fits nicely - although I notice that they've made a few changes recently, so it might be worth trying one on if you can. Not a watch cap, but very soft and comfortable.

It's windproof, waterproof and reasonably warm (less so than the Lowe Alpine Mountain Cap, which I find too warm for general use), as well as being considerably more breathable than most hats with a membrane and having rather handy fold-down ear flaps.

Edited by bigjackbrass on 03/31/2008 10:56:51 MDT.

Hi Eric,
I take a size 7 7/8 in headwear. My solution is a Mountain Hardwear Transition Featherweight Dome(Windstopper membrane, weight 1 oz), with a MH Powerstretch balaclava(weight 1.75 oz) in reserve. To date I have only had to use the balaclava for sleeping when the temperature dips into the low 20's, and I have hiked in some pretty cold windy weather(Sierra and Cascades). It's a combo worth considering. The Dome pulls down over my ears quite nicely, BTW.

My mother is English from Cheltenham. I wonder if thats where I got my oversized noggin and my tendency to eat to many pastries.