An inherently utilitarian accessory, the beanie is fortunately not a difficult item to pull off. The right beanie for men will strike the ideal balance between being cosy and stylish, making for the perfect winter head topper.
The key to pulling off a beanie is thinking of it as an elevated winter wardrobe staple, rather than a style statement in itself. If your beanie is overly baggy, extending several inches past your head, and looks like you’re trying to smuggle something past airport security à la an early 2000s David Beckham, you’re likely doing it wrong.
If you’re feeling a little lost on the beanie front, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about how to wear a beanie for men.
Already know how to wear a beanie? Jump ahead to discover the best beanies for men.
What is a beanie?
A beanie is a brimless knit hat, designed to sit snugly on the wearer’s head and provide warmth during the colder months. Traditionally made of wool, beanies now come in a variety of fabrics like acrylic, cashmere, cotton, and fleece.
Types of beanie styles for men
Cuffed beanie
A failsafe option, the cuffed beanie is a versatile classic, favoured by workmen, athletes, and hip-hop enthusiasts alike. The cuff provides additional warmth and protection to your forehead and ears and should be worn so that the cuff sits about halfway down your ears. Alternatively, if you favour a more relaxed look, a cuffed beanie can be worn higher up to add some bulk around the crown of the head.
Fisherman beanie
Likely the beanie style with the most hipster connotations, the fisherman beanie has become a popular go-to option for the street style crowd. Originally designed for (wait for it…) fishermen, the fisherman beanie features a turned-up cuff and is a shorter style worn above the ears.
Although it doesn’t provide as much warmth as other beanie varieties (due to the ear exposure), the fisherman style ties in well to the workwear-inspired look that’s currently popular within men’s fashion, pairing well with workwear items like chore coats, shirt jackets, and classic work pants.
Slouchy beanie
Careful, this is where the beanie starts to veer into dubious territory. An uncuffed, relaxed style, a slouchy beanie is a definitively casual option, pairing well with streetwear and off-duty attire. The trick to pulling off a slouchy beanie is to exercise restraint with the additional material atop your head; less is definitely more here.
High top beanie
Popular with the streetstyle crowd, the high top beanie differs from its slouchier cousin, with the high top crafted from a firmer material and adding extra height at the crown of the head, rather than slouching downwards.
Bobble hat
While traditionally not the manliest of styles, the bobble hat is no longer relegated to children’s wear. To style as a grown man, steer clear of overly patterned, colourful varieties and stick to neutral tones. And definitely don’t opt for anything with more than one bobble.
How to wear a beanie for men
Like any good versatile accessory, a beanie for men can be styled for a myriad of occasions. Here’s some beanie outfit inspiration for (almost) every dress code.
Casual
At its essence, the beanie is a casual item, allowing it to work well with both streetwear and weekend looks. Team a cuffed or fisherman beanie with a hoodie, t-shirt and chinos or slim-cut jeans for an easy, pared-back cool weather-appropriate look. Alternatively, pair a neutral slouchy beanie, high top hat or graphic cuffed beanie with streetwear staples like bomber jackets, sneakers, lace-up boots, and graphic sweatshirts for a streetstyle ready look.
Smart casual
Commuters get cold too, with the beanie making for a simple way to protect your head during the cooler months while travelling to and from work or to meetings. For office-appropriate attire, opt for a woollen or cashmere classic cuffed beanie in a neutral colour. Steer clear of all-black outfits to avoid looking like the security detail to a celebrity; black suits work well with grey or navy beanies, while brown and tan suits look smart with camel, tan, red, or burgundy options.
For the ideal smart-casual look, switch out your traditional button-down shirt for a roll neck or turtleneck for a play on textures, or opt for a woollen overcoat in lieu of a suit jacket. If you’re feeling a tad more daring, try styling your office look with a black, beige, or grey bobble beanie.
Workwear-inspired
The practical, utilitarian nature of the beanie goes hand-in-hand with workwear dressing. Either a cuffed or fisherman beanie is best suited to the functional aesthetic, teaming well with work pants, chore coats, shirt jackets, multi-pocket coats, and denim.
The best beanies for men in 2024
When shopping for the best beanies for men, it’s important to consider how and where you’ll be wearing said beanie. Destined for the slopes? You’ll want to keep those ears warm — look for longer cuffed beanies (that cover the ears) crafted from 100% wool. If wool isn’t to your liking, a fleece-lined beanie will also keep you warm.
If you’re looking for a stylish topper to elevate everyday city outfits in fall and winter, a knit beanie in a wool and acrylic or cotton blend will suffice, ensuring you look cool without overheating. This is the realm where one may go full hipster and opt for the less practical, ears-out fisherman beanie.
To simplify the process of selecting the right topper, we’ve put together our favourite beanies for men — and indicated whether they’re best for fashion or actual cold weather use (although who’s to say the twain shan’t meet?).
1. Fusalp Nyx Beanie
Finding a happy medium between keeping your ears warm and not obscuring your vision, the Fusalp Nyx Beanie is our platonic ideal of the best beanie for men. Its understated design is accented by the French ski brand’s signature tech badge, while the addition of 10% cashmere into the otherwise wool fabrication adds a luxurious softness for a comfortable feel against the skin.
Price: $230AUD
Style: cuffed, classic fit
Material: 90% wool, 10% cashmere
Best for: cold weather wear, snow sports
2. Everlane Organic Cotton Chunky Beanie
Once known for its radically transparent approach to pricing, American fashion brand Everlane has steadily been pivoting towards the sustainable quiet luxury space. In plain English? The brand does some decent basics in neutral tones. While we’d look elsewhere for quality wool and cashmere options, the Everlane Organic Cotton Chunky Beanie fits the bill when it comes to a good everyday beanie for city slickers. Knitted from 100% organic cotton it’s warm without being too warm and has a snug fit with a little stretch. It covers the tops of the ears but doesn’t go down too low, giving it a fashion-forward aesthetic.
Price: $77AUD
Style: cuffed, borderline fisherman
Material: cotton
Best for: street style, fashion, not-too-cold days
3. Uniqlo Heattech Ribbed Beanie
Want to keep your noggin warm but find pure wool too itchy? The Uniqlo HeatTech Ribbed Beanie proposes a happy medium between warmth and comfort, with the Japanese retailer’s signature lightweight HeatTech technology working to wick sweat away from the skin and provide insulation, keeping your head warm (and itch free). The Uniqlo Heattech Ribbed Beanie comes in a plethora of shades, however we’re partial to the cream and red. Its understated ribbed design is both classic and contemporary, with the stretchy fabric moulding to suit all head shapes and sizes. And, at less than $20AUD, it’s a solid value proposition.
Price: $19.90AUD
Style: cuffed, ribbed
Material: 80% acrylic, 10% nylon, 9% wool, 1% elastane
Best for: street style, cold weather wear
4. Carhartt Scripter Beanie
One for the streetwear kings. The Carhartt Scripter Beanie is an uncuffed, slouchy beanie style destined to top the bonces of the most dedicated hipsters, streetwear gods, and f*ckboys. Made from a finely knit cotton blend, it works on days when you want to keep your head semi-warm—think early fall—while exuding major inner-city hipster energy. For best results, pair with an overpriced cold brew and a chore coat.
Price: $39.95AUD
Style: slouchy, uncuffed
Material: 48% cotton, 47% acrylic 4% nylon, 1% elastane
Best for: street style, transitional wear
5. The North Face Salty Lined Beanie
Ears out for the fish! This dockworker style beanie is a slightly more practical riff on the fisherman beanie, with The North Face Salty Lined Beanie just covering the tips of the ears (and thereby ensuring it doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall off your head at any given time) while retaining the heritage blue collar style. Plus, it has a jersey lining for extra comfort (not to mention a The North Face patch logo to flex on the Uniqlo wearers above — not that they care).
Price: $39.95AUD
Style: cuffed, borderline fisherman
Material: 100% acrylic (lining: 100% polyester jersey)
Best for: street style, transitional wear
6. Naadam Signature Cashmere Ribbed Beanie
Ethical brand Naadam is known for its pure Mongolian cashmere sweaters, extending the material to its head toppers. The Naadam Signature Cashmere Ribbed Beanie is a deliciously soft, warm option, with a slightly baggy, high-top silhouette. It can be worn pulled down over the ears or bunched up at the head to achieve that signature streetwear aesthetic.
Price: $145AUD
Style: cuffed, high-top
Material: 100% Mongolian cashmere
Best for: cold weather wear, snow sports, street style
7. Paul Smith Merino Wool Signature Stripe Beanie Hat
Who said practical had to be boring? Knitted from warm and breathable 100% merino wool, the Paul Smith Merino Wool Signature Stripe Beanie Hat features the British designer’s statement all-over striped pattern. It has a classic fit with a cuffed silhouette, keeping your head and ears warm during the winter months while adding charm to otherwise neutral outfits.
Price: $255AUD
Style: cuffed, classic fit
Material: 100% merino wool
Best for: cold weather wear, snow sports, street style
8. Acne Studios Embellished Face Logo Beanie
Trust the Scandi streetwear specialists at Acne Studios to know how to stay warm in style. The Acne Studios Embellished Face Logo Beanie adds a little flair to the humble beanie by way of the Swedish brand’s face logo rendered in rhinestones emblazoned across the front. Crafted from chunky wool, it has a slightly high-top fit with an oversized cuffed bottom. Don’t be put off by the pink hue (and the ‘female’ designation…skulls are skulls, after all); you can pull it off. If not, there’s always red.
Price: $330AUD
Style: cuffed, high-top
Material: 100% wool
Best for: cold weather wear, snow sports, street style
9. Patagonia Brodeo Beanie
A cuffed beanie with a timeless silhouette, the Patagonia Brodeo Beanie is a versatile staple that’s equally suited to those traversing the concrete jungle as it is to those hiking up mountain ranges. Made of a wool and recycled nylon blend, its thick knit is comfortable and slightly stretchy, meaning it’ll mould to the shape of your head. And, should you encounter any inclement weather, the wool blend is quick to dry.
Price: $69.95AUD
Style: cuffed, classic fit
Material: 70% recycled wool, 26% recycled nylon, 4% other fibre yarn
Best for: cold weather wear, hiking, office goers
10. Canada Goose Arctic Toque
Dually suited to office goers and avid skiers, the Canada Goose Arctic Toque keeps the chill out with its 100% merino wool construction and cuffed finish that covers the ears. This iteration is a high-top variant, designed to add a little bulk towards the top of the head. Alternatively, if you spot someone on the street whom you don’t want to talk to, you can pull it all the way down so it obscures your eyes and nose.
Price: $400AUD
Style: cuffed, high-top
Material: 100% merino wool
Best for: cold weather wear, snow sports
11. Drake’s Chamula for Drake’s Multi Serape Knit Cap
British haberdasher Drake’s is adept at executing practical staples with streetwear-friendly, heritage flair. Take the Drake’s Chamula for Drake’s Multi Serape Knit Cap, for example. The wordily named head topper is handmade in Mexico by homegrown brand Chamula’s network of local artisans, with merino wool hand-dyed and hand-spun to make each beanie. The multi-coloured stripes are a traditional Serape design, while the bobble contributes to the playful aesthetic.
Price: $195AUD
Style: cuffed, bobble detail
Material: 100% merino wool
Best for: cold weather wear, street style, hiking
12. Asket Ribbed Wool Beanie
Anti-fast fashion brand Asket knows the power of a good beanie. With the brand hailing from Sweden, Asket is well-versed in cold weather wear, making its Ribbed Wool Beanie a hardworking staple. Knit from pure merino wool, it’s designed to hold its shape over time and works to keep out the chill. It’s a thin, lightweight style and comes in a quintet of neutral hues (we’re partial to the burgundy and brown melange), allowing to to pair well with casual ‘fits and smart casual attire alike.
Price: $75AUD
Style: cuffed, classic fit
Material: 100% merino wool
Best for: cold weather wear, street style, office wear
Words by Theo Rosen
