A merino wool beanie is the first thing I pull on when my helmet comes off. I got mine from a market, and it comes with me everywhere I go traveling or hiking. When it comes to merino, the best pick is a 100% merino cuff beanie, which is soft on the forehead plus warm on a cold walk. Merino is a fine, soft wool, and it still feels warm when it gets a little damp. That counts on a -25°C (-13°F) day in Canada, when your ears are the first thing to feel it.
Winters in Canada taught me that layering is what gets you through. On my head, I always wear a cashmere or merino wool hat, with a lambswool scarf or merino buff. I don’t wear a beanie under my helmet, though. Mine goes on after the slopes to warm up in the chalet and in the car.
We picked 7 merino wool beanies, starting with the Minus33 Cuff Beanie for its 100% merino knit and fold-up cuff. The range runs from a sport beanie to a heavyweight for the coldest days. For the fiber itself, see our merino wool guide.
Our Top Merino Wool Beanies at a Glance
- 1Minus33 100% Merino Wool Cuff BeanieCheck price
- 2Smartwool Merino Sport 250 BeanieCheck price
- 3ACUSHLA 100% Merino Wool BeanieCheck price
- 4Minus33 Expedition Heavyweight Merino BeanieCheck price
- 5TOP-EX Australian Merino Wool BeanieCheck price
- 6Minus33 Midweight Cuff Pom BeanieCheck price
- 7Smartwool Thermal Merino Colorblock BeanieCheck price
How the 7 Compare
| Beanie | Merino | Style | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minus33 Cuff | 100% | Cuffed watch cap | Everyday winter |
| Smartwool Sport 250 | 100% | Cuffed, 250 knit | Active days |
| ACUSHLA | 100% | Double-layer cuff | Windy days |
| Minus33 Expedition | 100% | Heavyweight | Extreme cold |
| TOP-EX | 100% | Roomier fit, 3 sizes | Big heads |
| Minus33 Pom | 100% | Midweight with pom | Town and après |
| Smartwool Colorblock | 100% | Two-tone thermal | A bit of color |
The 7 Best Merino Wool Beanies
Minus33 100% Merino Wool Cuff Beanie
We gave the Minus33 Cuff Beanie the top spot because it gets the basics right. It’s 100% merino, it has a fold-up cuff and it’s made for men and women. The folded cuff gives you a double layer of knit over your ears.
It’s the classic watch cap shape, or a toque, as we’d say in Canada. It looks the part with a ski jacket or a wool coat. The cuff adds bulk, so it won’t sit flat under a helmet.
- Material
- 100% merino wool
- Style
- cuffed watch cap
- Fit
- men’s and women’s
- Best for
- everyday winter wear
Smartwool Merino Sport 250 Beanie
Smartwool’s Merino Sport 250 Beanie is the choice for days you’re moving. Think winter hikes, snowshoe loops or a cold run. It’s 100% merino in Smartwool’s 250 weight and has a cuff to fold over your ears.
Smartwool has made merino gear since the 1990s, so it’s a name you can trust on a hat you’ll wear every day. We did notice that it’s lighter than the heavyweight picks here. On the coldest days you’ll want a hood over it.
- Material
- 100% merino wool
- Weight
- 250 (midweight)
- Style
- cuffed
- Best for
- hikes and active winter days
Looking for the Merino.tech beanie? It lives in our merino base layer guide.
ACUSHLA 100% Merino Wool Beanie
The ACUSHLA beanie is the pick for windy days, because it’s knit as a double layer of 230 g/m² merino. That’s two layers of 100% merino around your whole head, not only at the cuff.
It’s a close-fitting watch cap for men and women, with a cuff to fold over your ears. However, we want to point out that ACUSHLA isn’t as well known as Minus33 or Smartwool, so you’re buying on the specs more than the name.
- Material
- 100% merino wool
- Knit
- double layer, 230 g/m²
- Style
- cuffed watch cap
- Best for
- windy days
Minus33 Expedition Heavyweight Merino Beanie
The Expedition is Minus33’s heavyweight merino beanie, and it’s the one to grab when the forecast drops well below freezing. It’s 100% merino, like every pick here, just in a much thicker knit.
This is the hat for long days outside: ice fishing, a winter camp or the walk home from a night ski. On a mild day or in a warm café, it’ll come straight off. It will be way too hot.
- Material
- 100% merino wool
- Weight
- heavyweight
- Best for
- extreme cold
Cold neck too? Our merino neck gaiter guide covers the other half of the gap.
TOP-EX Australian Merino Wool Beanie
The TOP-EX beanie is the pick if most hats sit too tight on you. It’s 100% natural merino from Australia, in a roomier fit than a standard one-size hat. It comes in 3 sizes: Medium-Large, Large-X-Large and X-Large-XX-Large.
It’s a plain everyday beanie that works in town and on the hill. With that said, a roomy hat can feel loose on a smaller head, so check the size chart before you order.
- Material
- 100% natural merino wool
- Origin
- Australian merino
- Fit
- roomier, in 3 sizes
- Best for
- bigger heads
Minus33 Midweight Cuff Pom Beanie
Minus33’s Cuff Pom Beanie is the fun one on this roundup. It’s a 100% merino cuff hat with a pom pom on top, in colors like true red or a cream snowflake knit. It will be a nice hat for photos skating, at après ski or at a Christmas market.
It’s a midweight knit, so it’s warm without being heavy. The catch: the pom on top means it won’t go under a helmet or a snug hood, so there are better hats for that use case.
- Material
- 100% merino wool
- Weight
- midweight
- Style
- cuff with pom pom
- Best for
- town and après ski
Smartwool Thermal Merino Colorblock Beanie
Smartwool’s Thermal Merino Colorblock Beanie is 100% merino in a two-tone knit. It’s for anyone who wants a warm hat with a bit more color than plain black.
It’s a unisex, one-size hat from a brand that knows merino. The trade-off is a bit tricky. One size won’t suit every head, so if hats run tight on you, look at the TOP-EX above.
- Material
- 100% merino wool
- Style
- two-tone thermal knit
- Fit
- unisex, one size
- Best for
- a bit of color on gray days
How We Picked
For me, a hat is the last layer of a Canada winter: base layer first, jacket over it, and a cashmere or merino hat on top every cold day. So we came to the conclusion to pick beanies you’ll wear all season, from everyday cuffs to a heavyweight for the real cold. For me, a beanie has to sit right on my head: not only does it look better, but it keeps the warmth in more too.
All seven are 100% merino, because a hat sits right on your forehead and ears, where soft matters most. After that it came down to range: a sport weight, a double layer, a heavyweight, a roomier fit and a pom pom for fun. Here’s more on how we choose gear.
What to Look For in a Merino Wool Beanie
Weight: A midweight knit is enough for town and most evenings after skiing. A heavyweight or double-layer beanie is for the coldest days, and it’s too warm for a mild one.
Cuff or no cuff: A cuff folds a second layer over your ears, which helps in the wind. A plain skull cap is slimmer and fits under a hood more easily.
Fit: Most merino beanies are one size with plenty of stretch. If hats always feel tight on you, look for a brand that sells sizes.
100% merino or a blend: 100% merino is the softest against your forehead. Many “merino” beanies are blends with acrylic or polyester, so read the material line, not just the name.
The rest of your kit: A beanie is one piece of a warm setup. Add merino wool gloves and a merino wool scarf, and you’ve covered the spots that feel the cold first.
FAQs
For most people, yes. A 100% merino beanie is softer on the forehead and still feels warm when a little damp. Blends with acrylic or polyester often cost less, but they can feel scratchier against the skin.
Yes, merino beanies are warm for their thickness. A midweight cuff beanie is enough for most winter days in town. For real cold, pick a heavyweight or double-layer knit.
Most people find merino beanies soft, not itchy. Merino fibers are much finer than regular wool, so they bend against the skin instead of prickling. If your forehead is very sensitive, stick to 100% merino.
A thin one can work, but a thick or cuffed beanie can change how your helmet sits, so check the fit first. I don’t wear one under my helmet myself. Also mine goes on after the slopes after night skiing.
Hand wash it in cool water with a wool wash, or use a gentle wool cycle if the label allows. Press the water out in a towel and dry it flat, away from the heater. Hot water and the dryer can shrink merino.
Merino is a finer, softer wool, however merino beanies usually feel smoother and lighter. Regular wool beanies are often thicker and a bit scratchier, but tough. Our wool beanie guide covers the other wools.
