Under Armour ColdGear Infrared Fleece Storm Beanie

This is a very comfortable and warmer than average beanie for outdoor activities. It has a fleece exterior and a polyester/elastic inner layer that claims to wick moisture. The hat is very stretchy and comfortable. I'm not sure it actually wicks moisture any better than regular fleece. It does the job, and I have found myself reaching for it on colder days

Beanies are one of those things that seem to accumulate. One reason is that they are small and constantly getting misplaced, so having a lot of spares is helpful. Another is that they are relatively inexpensive gift items for people who like the outdoors. Finally, their qualities actually do vary enough that having different kinds can be useful.

This "cold gear infrared" fleece hat is super-comfortable because it is very stretchy and has a smooth lining. It's worth being careful with Under Armour hats as some of them use cotton blend materials. Bad idea for cold weather. This one is fortunately a polyester/elastane blend. 

The lining definitely adds warmth and a small degree of wind resistance — though this is definitely not a wind-resistant hat overall. The lining purports to contribute to the wicking properties of the hat, but I couldn't tell much difference between this and other fleece hats. The lining does add some warmth — this is one of the warmest beanies I own. 

I have used this hat often for day hikes and winter workouts since receiving it as a gift for the holidays. It does a better than average job shedding snow and snow melt, it is on the warm side, and it wicks about as well as any fleece hat, but not necessarily any better. Given that this winter has been colder and windier than average, I have used this hat more than I anticipated, and I freely recommend it. 

Plus, if you ever stumble into a snowdrift, someone might actually see you if you get the obscenely bright neon yellow color!