Cosy accessories for winter walking
We’ve tested and selected the best winter accessories to keep you warm at every budget.
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Words by Jen & Sim Benson
If you’re looking for a winter addition to your walking wardrobe, you can’t go wrong with cosy hats, gloves and socks. In this review we’ve tested and selected the best accessories to keep you warm at every budget.
Balancing warmth with breathability is essential for winter walking kit, and few fabrics do this better than Merino wool. The benefits of Merino, with its super-fine, itch-free fibres, go beyond its comfort and thermoregulating properties too. When produced in an ethical way – look for the Woolmark, Responsible Wool Standard or other guarantee of responsible production – it has a lower carbon footprint than synthetic fabrics, and biodegrades naturally and harmlessly at the end of its life.
With use, however, wool can become misshapen or damaged, and it’s not the quickest-drying fabric. Manufacturers often mix it with a small amount of synthetic material like polyester or polyamide (Nylon) to improve its durability and drying time, along with elastane for extra stretch. Polyester on its own makes great value fleecy hats, gloves and insulation, and can be recycled repeatedly. Acrylic is another synthetic fibre often used in place of, or in addition to, natural wool. Unlike wool, synthetic materials will shed microplastics, especially during washing.
Hats
Trekmates Annat Beanie £14
A lightweight, quick drying and great value beanie made from soft feel Polartec polyester microfleece. The hem dips down to add extra coverage over the ears and around the back of the neck. Available in two sizes to fit most heads.
Jack Wolfskin Real Stuff Beanie £18
Comfortable, light and simple in design, this Polartec fleece beanie is soft, quick drying, lightweight and packs small without sacrificing warmth. It’s good value and responsibly made using recycled polyester to Fair Trade standards.
Helly Hansen Cozy Beanie £25
Cozy by name, this lovely chunky cable knit beanie is also cosy in use. The mixed synthetic fabric has added cotton for comfort. It’s warm, soft and stretchy with a deep cuff that adds ear protection or unrolls to cover the neck. The marled knit looks great in all the colourways. Best for cold, dry conditions.
Buff Knitted Beanie Tatik £29.95
This cool bobble hat features an eye-catching mountain scene design. The recycled polyester/elastane mix fabric is stretchy and soft feeling, and the turned-up cuff keeps your ears toasty.
La Sportiva women’s Terry Beanie £31
Knitted from a thick, polyester yarn with a soft and cosy fleece lining, this chunky-knit bobble hat is available in four fun colour options. It looks and feels great, and has a much quicker drying time than a wool hat of the same weight.
BAM Beanie Hat £32
Made from 100% RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) wool, this beanie is warm, stretchy and cut a little bigger than most, so it fits larger heads without feeling restrictive. At the end of its life send it back for recycling as part of BAM’s 73 Zero Take-Back Scheme. Available in a wide range of colours and some great patterns.
Woolpower Helmet Cap 400 £32
Designed to be worn under a helmet, this handy hat also adds a cosy layer of insulation under a hood, adding extra warmth for minimal bulk and weight. Made in Sweden from a soft, terry looped merino/polyamide mix fabric, and cut to extend over the ears and neck, it’s a brilliant, functional beanie that gets a lot of use.
Craghoppers Gaddings hat £32
This classic knitted beanie is a fairly heavy mix of wool and polyester, with a double layer construction and deep, turned up cuff. It’s toasty yet still breathable and dries much faster than an all-wool fabric. Part of the National Trust collection, meaning 10% of net sales go to supporting the Trust’s conservation work.
Buff Knitted Beanie Nilah Camelia £34.95
Made from a Merino wool/synthetic mix fabric, this chunky, cable-knit hat is responsibly made in Spain. It’s super soft and cosy and available in a great range of pastel or bolder block colours.
Sherpa Vastu Hat £40
The Nepali-inspired pattern and chunky traditional knit looks great and excels in cold weather. Made from lamb’s wool, it’s warm and durable but a bit scratchier than Merino, so there’s a recycled polyester fleece lining for extra comfort. Made in women’s cooperatives in Nepal, where Sherpa provides flexible employment opportunities.
Haglofs Mountain Cap £50
Waterproof mountain caps are warm, highly protective, and often more comfortable than a hood. The peak keeps the sun and rain out of your eyes and ear flaps increase protection, or pop out of the way. Great on its own or extra protective under a hood, the Mountain Cap is made from a bluesign-approved recycled polyester shell with a cosy fleece lining.
Klättermusen Heid Light/Brim Beanie £50
Knitted using a mix of 80% GWS-certified Merino wool and 20% recycled polyamide, the Heid is light, warm and great on its own or under a hood. The brim version features a stiff peak to help protect the face from wind and light rain; the Light, without the brim, is lighter and packs away smaller.
Fjällräven Bergtagen Mountain Cap £55
A cap is great for everyday sun, wind and rain protection. The Bergtagen Mountain Cap adds cold weather performance, with a Merino jersey lining that pulls down over the ears for extra warmth and makes the cap far more secure in windy weather. When it’s warmer or for casual use the band tucks away into the cap. The main fabric is Fjällräven’s G-1000, a tough organic cotton/recycled polyester mix which can be waterproofed with wax. Available in two sizes.
Gloves
Keela Sticky Polartec Gloves £29.95
Polartec Hardface microfleece has a dense outer weave for weather protection and a soft, brushed inner for warmth and comfort. Stretchy, durable and quick drying with grippy silicone patterns on the palm, they’re good everyday winter gloves, which could also be excellent liner gloves in colder weather.
Trekmates Stretch Grip Hybrid Glove £30
Warm without compromising on dexterity, these gloves combine an insulated, wind-resistant back with a thin, fleece palm. The result is a warm glove that enables use of a phone, compass or zip. Made from durable polyamide with grippy dots on the palm and touch screen compatibility approved by our teenage daughter.
Montane Protium Stretch Fleece Gloves £30
Made from a lightweight polyester grid-fleece, these stretchy, breathable gloves are ideal for year-round walking and everyday use, or as a liner glove in colder weather. The pre-curved boxwall finger construction offers optimal comfort and precision which, combined with touch-screen compatible finger and thumb tips means you’ll rarely need to take them off.
Craghoppers Gallus Glove £32
A double layer construction combined with a Merino wool/polyamide/acrylic blend means these gloves offer a great balance of warmth, comfort and durability, and they dry quickly, too. A good everyday glove, touch screen compatibility in the thumb and first two fingers works but isn’t as slick as some.
Woolpower Wrist Gaiter 200 £32
These lovely and innovative sleeves cover the wrist and part of the palm, keeping you warm without restricting finger usage. Also comfortable under gloves/mitts for extra warmth. Responsibly made in Sweden from Woolpower’s lighter (200 weight) Merino mix fabric with a comfy terry knit construction.
Smartwool Popcorn Cable Glove £38
Smartwool’s take on a classic knitted glove looks great with fun colours, a chunky knit and jacquard patterning. The merino, polyester and polyamide mix fabric feels soft and woolly but dries more quickly and isn’t itchy like a traditional woollen glove. They are stretchy but only available in one size, and probably a bit big for small hands.
Woolpower Mittens 400 £42
These warm mitts are made from a 70% Merino wool mix with a snug terry loop inner, best suited to cold, dry conditions, although they will keep you warm when wet. Great to pull out on a break and wear over other gloves for some extra warmth, they’re a favourite for cold bothies or camp evenings. Ethically sourced wool, made in Sweden.
Helly Hansen Lifaloft Overmittens £50 www.hellyhansen.com
Mitts are warmer than an equivalent glove but limit dexterity. These clever mitts feature a flap to free your fingers if you need to use zips or your phone, and can be paired with a glove in really cold conditions. The Lifaloft insulation is warm, light and packs down small, while the shell and fleecy palm are durable polyamide. Adding considerable warmth for their weight, they’re a favourite for cold winter walks and emergency use.
Rab Storm Glove £55
In cold, wet weather these warm, waterproof, protective gloves are a must. With a durable polyamide shell, textured reinforced palm, Porelle® Dry waterproofing, fleecy inner and warm polyester insulation, they’ll keep your hands warm and dry. Adjustable cuffs tighten to keep water out and warmth in, and the fingers are cut slightly curved for comfort.
Outdoor Research Stowe Aerogel Glove £60
Primaloft Aerogel provides warmth with minimal bulk, so it’s perfect for gloves. They are warm, packable and cut to maximise dexterity. They’re lightweight yet durable, with a weatherproof outer and a soft fleecy lining. A bit of stretch adds unrestrictive comfort, while a silicon grip palm and touchscreen compatible thumb and forefinger make them ideal for use with phones and navigational devices.
Klättermusen Gevar mittens £80
Perfect to pop on over a pair of lighter gloves when the cold sets in, these insulated mitts add instant, luxurious Primaloft warmth for very little weight or bulk. The deep-pile fleece liner feels cosy and the outer is weather resistant, while handy details include reflective stitching and hang loops. Made from 100% recycled polyester, they’re also easily recycled when worn out.
Socks
Gandys Haworth Socks £18
These chunky-knit socks are proudly made in small batches in West Yorkshire. With underfoot and behind-heel cushioning, a more relaxed weave through the top of the foot and the ankle, and a soft 80% wool blend fabric they’re warm, comfortable and long-lasting. Available in a range of colours, 10% of every Gandys sale funds children’s educational projects around the world.
1000 Mile All Terrain sock £14
Double layer socks reduce friction and shearing between skin, shoe and sock – a great choice for those who struggle with blisters. Made from a mixed synthetic fabric for durability, stretch and quick-drying, they feature arch support and a more open weave on the top of the foot for better temperature regulation. Sold with a one year or 1000-mile Blister-Free Guarantee.
BAM Twist Walking Socks £20
Made in Portugal from a mix of sustainable, fast-growing bamboo, Merino wool, recycled polyamide and elastane, these are soft and comfortable with cushioning under the foot and an unrestrictive knit around the ankle. Great for everyday use.
Buff LW Merino Wool Crewe £22.95
These lightweight, Merino mix hiking socks feel great to wear, with cushioned toes and heels, arch support and a left/right foot specific cut. A lighter-weight sock they’re best suited to use as a liner sock in cold weather or as a standalone year-round choice.
Bridgedale Midweight Merino Performance Boot £24
A classic, midweight, boot-height walking sock, this is a great choice for general, year-round walking. Plush underfoot and heel cushioning, thinner venting panels on the upper foot, and a protective but not restrictive ankle combine for outstanding comfort. The Merino wool and synthetic fabric blend balances effective heat and moisture management with excellent durability. Made in the UK.
Smartwool Everyday Cozy Popcorn Cable Crew Socks £28
Perfect to pop on after a walk, or for cosy, comfortable feet at any time, these Merino wool mix socks are also great for long walks, with full underfoot cushioning and seamless construction. The soft, cable-knit patterned jersey looks great and is made in the US.
Bridgedale Heavyweight Merino Comfort Boot £28
Designed for winter walking and expeditions where warmth, comfort and durability are key, these Merino/synthetic mix fabric socks are knitted in the UK. There’s extra cushioning under the foot, cushioned ankles with unrestrictive cuffs, and a lighter, more ventilating knit over the top and under the arch of the foot. A great choice for big winter days in the hills.
STOX Merino Hiking Ankle Socks £29.99
Stox are measured in calf and shoe size, offering graduated compression designed to aid circulation and reduce fluid accumulation in the foot and lower leg. In use they feel very supportive and comfortable, slightly tighter than a normal walking sock but not restrictive. The sock is a Merino blend with a nicely cushioned toe, heel and underfoot section.
Darn Tough Vangrizzle Midweight Boot £32
These comfortable midweight, four-season walking socks have a cushioned, terry loop construction under the foot, behind the heel and around the ankle, adding protection where it’s needed while maintaining breathability elsewhere. Made in Vermont from a Merino wool and synthetic blend, they’re guaranteed for life.
HJ Hall Technical Rambler Comfort Top Thermal Wool Sock £17
This updated version of the classic Rambler Sock is approved by the Institute of Podiatrists. Wooltech, a 47% wool fabric blend, is soft and warm, combining the thermoregulation properties of wool with the durability of polyamide. The knit is fully cushioned underfoot, with arch and ankle support and a looser, non-restrictive calf. HJ Hall donate 50p to the Ramblers for every pair sold.
Darn Tough Hiker Full Cushion Midweight Boot £34
Proudly made in Vermont, Darn Tough socks are guaranteed for life; if they’re not the longest lasting socks you’ve ever owned, return them for another pair. These full cushion socks are a soft, terry loop fabric throughout, which, combined with the high percentage of Merino wool (66%) creates a warm and comfortable winter walking sock. Great for colder weather or long expeditions when footcare is a priority.
Woolpower Socks 800 £35
If you’re after the warmest socks for the coldest conditions, look no further. Woolpower’s heaviest weight, high loft terry knit fabric uses 70% Merino for superior warmth and cushioning. Made in Sweden to Oeko-Tex 100 standards, the benchmark in textile safety from yarn to finished product.
STOX Merino Hiking Compression Socks £41.99
These knee-length socks offer graduated compression, designed to stimulate circulation and reduce fluid accumulation in the foot and lower leg. In use they’re supportive but not restrictive and, thanks to the lightweight Merino wool blend fabric, warm but not too hot. With a left/right specific cut for the best fit, plush cushioning underfoot and a more open knit over the arch and up the leg for extra breathability, they’re a great choice for longer days or those who find their feet and ankles swell when walking.
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