Gear

Lowe's Mountain Cap is great, I imagine the numerous knock-offs that have appeared from, errr, just about everyone should be fine too.  I like the Lowe as it has a wired peak, others may prefer a baseball-style peak.

The peak keeps out sun/snow/rain and the whole thing is windproof (many/most are waterproof), so allied with your Buff and optionally a balaclava and/or windproof face mask you're ready fro just about anything.

Pete.

Montane do a baseball cap with primaloft in it. Perhaps better than a down hat for UK climes. Tried one on and thought the one size fits all hat was a bit small. I have a relatively small to medium head so I think anyone with a big head might find it small.

I've had a Lowe ALpine mountain cap for nigh on 20 years now. I now find it too warm for walking in only for sitting around at lunch stops and the like. Perhaps that is best for you. Get a size up and you can wear another hat underneath. Not a good look but if you are in upland areas you don't need to be like the cool kids just warm.

Another thing is the army surplus headovers. The army do a nice line in buff like things in wool that are more substantial than the buff merino ones. They have more fabric around your neck than buffs so should be warmer too. Also good for pulling over your head blalclava style if it gets really shitty. I know you have a neck wear sorted but just thought it might be of interest as it is also of use for your head as well as neck. Also very cheap too. IIRC about £8 from certain places like endicotts. (not a cammo clothed army wannabe but makes note of cheap versions of civvy stuff from time to time).

Hoods will - a properly protective one will cut wind chill dead rather better than even a well designed hat.

Obviously if your only thing with a hood is your shell jacket then you'll need warm stuff underneath it. (and sort of well fitting fleece stuff.). Well and some don't like wearing hoods.

The merino/possum beanies that Chocolate fish sell are hugely warm for beanies, but clearly no real wind resistance etc.

Peter - did you add a cord to your LA mountain cap for strong winds?

Yes.  I did it a slightly unorthodox way with a piece of shock-cord and a cord lock on the loose end hung off one of the ear-flap loops.  Most of the time it just tucks up behind the cinch strap at the back; to deploy one pops the cord-lock through the loop on the other flap and just pull the shock-cord to the desired tightness.

Hoods... good ones will keep most of everthing out, but to do that they have an effect of cutting you off from the environment you want out there to be in.  You can't hear as well and vision is tunelled.  Which I don't like if I can get away with a hat.  A mountain cap under a hood gives you a better peak andstill keeps your head warm.

Pete.

Peter Clinch wrote (see)

Peter - did you add a cord to your LA mountain cap for strong winds?

Yes.  I did it a slightly unorthodox way with a piece of shock-cord and a cord lock on the loose end hung off one of the ear-flap loops.  Most of the time it just tucks up behind the cinch strap at the back; to deploy one pops the cord-lock through the loop on the other flap and just pull the shock-cord to the desired tightness.

Good idea Peter and Matt. Might do that myself if you don't mind me copying your design.

BTW has anyone noticed some peaked caps funnelling the cold wind onto your forehead? I used to always wear the LA MC and never had any problem until I started wearing it again after a long break last winter. I find it too warm really and stopped wearing it as winter was a bit milder until last winter. So I got it out then noticed the cold wind was funnelled onto the face and part of the forehead that the cap didn't cover. It happened at different angles to the wind direction too. Perhaps its because my cap is slightly too large. I was too big for the medium and too small for the large which I got. Funny how there is a gap in the size range. Or is this just me noticing this?

I got the montane beannie. It is not a thick one or a windproof one. In fact it is warm enough around the side of the head where the fleece lining is but the top "dome" is just a thin layer of knitted wool/acrylic blend fabric that is to the outside of the lining fleece as well. That means it is close fitting and stretchy which allows it to be pulled nicely down over the ears unlike a lot of snug fitting beannies such as a lot of the TNF ones (which are generally thicker knitteed wool/acrylic blends without the fleece lining part). Also it is not windproof but IMHO/IME it is not too hot for higher activity walking at pace or uphill and with a hood over it. I also wear the LA mountain cap over it when stationary which nakes it a good stationary combination. BTW why can't you layer up on your head as well as everywhere else on your body? I even put my VR jacket hood up over that for even more warmth. That hood is not as snug or windproof as a hardshell hood but it does add a lot of warmth.

Another thing is that if you keep the rest of your body warmer then the head is also kept warmer even without the truly warm hat being needed. Perhaps getting a nice montane extreme or resolute smock for warmth or even a really high weight of fill primaloft smock to go over everything with a nice hood on it. Also the neck needs care too. Which the OP says is covered well. It is the whole system that keeps you warm. BTW it is not actually supposed to be true that most of your heat is lost through your head, it is head, shoulders and neck although you lose heat all around you in wind. Not really sure how heat is mostly lost and not sure anyone has really measured it properky in the field. Just head is not the only part to keep warm.

Can't say I've ever noticed a cold forehead problem.  The reason I like the wired peak on the Lowe is you can mould it to whatever works then and there, including completely out of the way.

BTW why can't you layer up on your head as well as everywhere else on your body?

You can.  I do.  Total bastard cold setup is Polartec 100 fleece balaclava with a Mountain Cap over the top and a Powershield face mask filling up the gaps (and then goggles for the other gaps I need to see out of).  That can be downgraded by leaving bits off or using thinner stuff (like a Buff rather than the balaclava) just like any other layering setup.

Pete.

A good old fashioned wooly balaclava.

Wish i still had mine

Another vote for the Lowe Alpine Mountain Cap.  They are incredibly warm and fit really well, though I've also added a string to mine.

I also wear a Mountain Equipment headband, as I find my ears are the things that suffer most.  If I'm moving quickly this is often all I need on my head, as I generate a lot of heat on the move.

My son swears by one of those wollen Andean type hats that are multiple colours and have long dangly bits off of the ear covers, but then he is very fashion conscious and would wear anything if it is seen as cool by those with less than 20 winters behind them.  He also doesn't suffer with the cold much.