A sauna hat is a soft cap of felted wool that keeps your head from overheating, so you can relax in the heat for longer. Heat rises, so on the top bench your head sits in the hottest air in the room, often 175–212°F (80–100°C) in a traditional sauna, while your feet stay much cooler. The wool slows how fast that heat reaches your head. You’ll see them on sauna benches across Scandinavia and in the banyas of Eastern Europe.
For me, it started in Sweden. Late one fall at Ribersborgs Kallbadhus, the open-air bathhouse in Malmö, I went from a hot wood-fired sauna straight into the cold sea and came out feeling great. I noticed people around me wearing felt sauna hats and thought: I need to try one of those.
Here are the 7 wool and felt hats we’d pick today, from soft merino to thick 5 mm felt, plus a few tips on choosing one and keeping it fresh.
DIVELUX kindly sent us two of their hats; as always, what we write is our own take.
At a Glance
- 1SAUNOM Premium Merino Wool Sauna HatCheck price
- 2DIVELUX Premium Sauna HatCheck price
- 3ASKOLD Checkered Wool Sauna HatCheck price
- 4Halsa Wool Felt Bucket Sauna HatCheck price
- 5PetriStor Ukrainian Wool Sauna HatCheck price
- 6SAUNOM Natural Wool Sauna HatCheck price
- 7ASKOLD Classic Felt Sauna HatCheck price
Wool Sauna Hats Compared
| Hat | Wool | Shape | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAUNOM Merino | Soft merino | Classic | Soft feel |
| DIVELUX | Thick felt, 4–5 mm | Bell or Panama | Hot saunas |
| ASKOLD Checkered | Felt, 2–2.5 mm | Checkered | Budget |
| Halsa | Thin felt, 2 mm | Bucket | Modern look |
| PetriStor | Wool felt | Ornament | Gifting |
| SAUNOM Natural | Classic wool | Classic | Second hat |
| ASKOLD Classic | Felt, 2–2.5 mm | Finnish bell | Plain look |
The 7 Best Sauna Hats
SAUNOM Premium Merino Wool Sauna Hat
Soft merino felt is why this is our top pick and the hat our readers choose most. It feels smooth against your forehead and ears instead of scratchy, which you notice when you sit in the heat for 15 minutes at a time.
Merino felt is lighter and softer than classic wool felt, so it suits regular sauna-goers who put comfort first. If you like the top bench of a very hot Finnish sauna, the thicker DIVELUX below insulates more.
- Material
- 100% merino wool
- Fit
- One size
- Best for
- Soft feel and regular sessions
- Care
- Hand wash in cool water, air dry
DIVELUX Premium Sauna Hat
At 4–5 mm, this is the thickest felt on our list, about twice most hats here, which is exactly what you want in a hot, dry Finnish sauna. DIVELUX sent it to us just as we started this update, and in our hands it looks very well stitched and well made: the felt is dense and even, you can clearly see and feel the natural wool fibers, and there’s a little loop to hang it on a hook to dry.
It has the traditional bell shape that comes down over your ears and the back of your neck, fits heads up to 24 in (61 cm) and comes in about 10 colors, including a white Panama style with a brim. Each one is handmade in Ukraine. A few buyers mention the felt wearing thin over time, so that’s the first thing we’ll watch when we take ours to the saunas in Austria this December.
- Material
- 100% natural wool felt, 4–5 mm
- Fit
- One size, heads up to 24 in (61 cm)
- Style
- Bell with scalloped edge, or Panama style with a brim
- Best for
- Hot Finnish saunas and banyas
- Care
- Rinse in cool water, hang to dry
Prefer a brim? See the white Panama style on Amazon
ASKOLD Checkered Wool Sauna Hat
It’s one of the lowest-priced hats here, and the 2–2.5 mm felt is light enough that it doesn’t feel bulky on your head. The grey and white check adds a bit of character without turning it into a novelty.
Thinner felt insulates less, so it suits a gym, hotel or spa sauna better than the hottest top bench. A few buyers mention a strong woody smell and loose fibers at first, so give it a cool rinse before your first session.
- Material
- 100% wool felt, 2–2.5 mm
- Pattern
- Grey and white check
- Best for
- A first sauna hat on a budget
- Care
- Hand wash, air dry
Halsa Wool Felt Bucket Sauna Hat
The Halsa is the one to pick if you don’t want the classic bell shape: a soft wool felt bucket hat that looks closer to everyday headwear, which also makes it an easy gift.
The trade-off: a bucket shape covers less of your ears and neck than a bell, and the 2 mm felt is on the thin side. It’s happiest in a warm spa sauna rather than a very hot one, and some buyers mention the stitching coming loose within a couple of months.
- Material
- 100% natural wool felt, about 2 mm
- Style
- Bucket hat
- Best for
- A more modern look
- Care
- Hand wash, air dry
PetriStor Ukrainian Wool Sauna Hat
The PetriStor hat is made from 100% wool with a blue Ukrainian ornament on the felt, so it looks like a gift rather than a piece of kit.
It’s a classic pull-on style. If you’re buying for someone who already owns a plain hat, this is the one that feels special.
- Material
- 100% wool felt
- Design
- Blue Ukrainian ornament
- Best for
- Gifting
- Care
- Hand wash, air dry
SAUNOM Natural Wool Sauna Hat
This is the classic wool version of our #1 pick, for anyone who prefers traditional felt over merino. Classic wool felt is usually a little firmer and holds its shape well.
It makes a good second hat to rotate while the other one dries, or a matching hat for a partner. A few buyers say it runs small, so if your head measures more than about 23 in, the DIVELUX (up to 24 in) is the safer pick.
- Material
- 100% natural wool
- Fit
- One size
- Best for
- A second hat or a matching pair
- Care
- Hand wash, air dry
ASKOLD Classic Felt Sauna Hat
The plain version of the ASKOLD hat: the same 2–2.5 mm wool felt in a simple Finnish bell shape, with no pattern.
Pick it if you want a quiet, classic hat that goes with any towel. Like the checkered version, it’s best for everyday saunas rather than very hot ones.
- Material
- 100% wool felt, 2–2.5 mm
- Style
- Classic Finnish bell
- Best for
- A plain, classic look
- Care
- Hand wash, air dry
How We Picked These Hats
We looked for hats made from 100% wool or merino felt, because that’s what actually keeps the heat off your head. From there, it came down to the details you notice on the bench: how thick the felt is, how it fits and how easy it is to rinse and dry. We skipped anything with synthetic blends and leaned toward hats plenty of sauna lovers already swear by. The two DIVELUX hats are our newest additions, and we’ll update this guide once they’ve seen a winter of sessions.
What to Look for in a Sauna Hat
A sauna hat is a simple thing, but a few details make a real difference once you’re on the bench. If you’re putting together a full sauna kit, our guide to what to wear in a sauna covers the rest.
- Wool felt, not knit. Felt is wool pressed into a dense sheet that traps air. A knit beanie, like the ones in our wool beanie guide, is great on the trail but lets heat straight through and gets soggy in a sauna.
- Thickness. About 2 mm suits a gym or spa sauna. 4–5 mm suits a hot Finnish sauna or banya.
- Merino or classic wool. Merino feels softer; classic sheep’s wool felt is usually firmer and holds its shape. For everyday merino beanies, see our merino wool hat guide.
- Shape. A bell covers your ears and the back of your neck. A bucket hat looks more like everyday wear but covers less.
- Fit. Most are one size. If you have a large head or lots of hair, check the listed head size (DIVELUX lists up to 24 in / 61 cm).
- Care. Rinse in cool water after a session, squeeze gently and hang to dry. Never machine wash or tumble dry wool felt; it shrinks.
FAQs: Sauna Hats
It slows how fast your head heats up. Hot air rises, so your head sits in the hottest part of the sauna; a felt hat lets you stay comfortable for longer.
It covers your hair from the hottest air, which many people find more comfortable. If your hair or scalp is sensitive to heat, it’s worth asking your stylist or doctor too.
Not really. Sauna hats are unisex, so pick by fit and shape. If you have long or thick hair, or a head over about 23 in (58 cm), go for a roomier bell shape like the DIVELUX, which fits heads up to 24 in (61 cm).
Yes. Wool felt handles steam well, and it works in an infrared sauna too, though you may notice less difference there because infrared heats the air less.
Many makers, including DIVELUX, recommend wearing it dry, because dry felt insulates best. Some people dip it in cool water for a cooling feel in very hot saunas.
Wool felt insulates far better in high heat. Cotton is lighter and works for short, cooler sessions.
