Rapha Winter hat

While England can’t boast the coldest winters in the World, it’s still more than cold enough for many. And with up to half of your body heat being lost though your head, wrapping up is still vital. Even more important with how vented many of today’s helmets are.

So, stepping up to the challenge of keeping your ears warm, Rapha’s Winter hat is a classically stylish alternative to other head insulation approaches. It’s much like a cycling hat, but with extended sides to cover your ears and lower head. It’s made (in Italy) from brush-backed Sportwool fabric (70% polyester, 26% wool, 4% elastane).

It’s a beautifully soft fabric, and just the right thickness to slip unnoticed beneath your cycling helmet. It’s also the right thickness to keep your head and ears more than toasty for the coldest mornings we’ve been out in yet. And we’ve not suffered any excessive overheating either, and in case you should work up a sweat the hat is lined with mesh to quickly remove said sweat.

The seven panel design gives a good fit and it really becomes unnoticeable after five minutes riding. Just the small visible peak a reminder, though it can be flicked up out of the way, ideal for head down moments.

Verdict

For those long training rides in the freezing cold, or commuting to work, keeping your head warm is essential. There’s nothing worse than cold ears, so do them a favour and invest in a Winter hat.