Hats

A hat does two jobs at once in a hunter's outfit. The wide brim shades your eyes from low sun and steers rainwater away from your collar, while wool felt slides silently past branches where a synthetic jacket hood would rustle. This category holds five models from Harkila, Blaser, Browning and Hubertus: from classic felt with a leather band to a waterproof camo hat for wet days.

Why a hunter needs a hat

A hunting hat protects your head from rain, wind and direct sun, and at the same time covers the pale outline of your forehead and face, the first thing a deer's eye picks out. Wool keeps its warmth even when damp, so long motionless hours on a high seat stay bearable on a cold autumn morning. The brim also kills glare: it throws shade over your face and your binocular eyepieces, so you see more when glassing against the sun. On a driven hunt the same head cover becomes part of hunting etiquette. A feather is pinned to it, and after a successful shot a sprig is worn on it. One piece of gear works equally well when stalking through wet forest and when standing in the closing line of the hunt.

Hat types in this category

The range consists of five models: classic wool and felt hats in earth tones, a soft merino option and a waterproof camo hat for heavy rain. All of them are built for hunters, so the colours stay muted, the profile sits low and the fabrics are chosen to make no sound when you push through brush, keeping your position hidden.

Wool felt hats

The Harkila Metso (shadow brown) is a pressed wool felt model with a leather band. Felt naturally sheds drizzle and holds its shape well, and you can fold it into a backpack pocket when needed. The dark brown shade blends with autumn forest and the timber of a high seat.

Merino wool models

The Blaser Merino wool (dark brown) is made of fine, soft merino. The fibre does not itch even on sensitive skin, helps keep your temperature even and picks up odour slowly, which matters when game downwind is testing every unfamiliar scent.

Classic wool hats

The Browning Wool Classic (green-brown) is a traditionally cut wool model for the hunter who wants one head cover for the whole season. The greenish-brown tone works against both forest and open-field backgrounds, and wool warms on dry and damp days alike.

Waterproof camo hats

The Blaser Drain HuntTec camo hat is built for days when the rain does not stop. The camo pattern breaks up the outline of your head while stalking, and the water-resistant construction guides drops downward so they do not run behind your collar during a long sit.

Traditional models with a feather

The Hubertus hat with a metal feather continues an old hunting tradition. A metal feather does not wear out like a natural one, so the model suits everyday hunting as well as a formal line-up or a hunting club event.

How to choose

The key criteria are size, material and colour. A loose hat falls off when you climb a high seat ladder or duck under spruce branches, while a tight one starts pressing after a couple of hours of sitting still. The material decides what weather you can wear it in, and the colour decides who spots whom first.

1. Measure your head at its widest point and compare it with the maker's size chart. Some models are sized in exact centimetres, for example 57.
2. Pick merino or thicker wool for the cold season, and felt or a waterproof hat for rainy weather.
3. For stand hunting and stalking, choose brown and green tones or camo that breaks up your silhouette.
4. Check the brim width: a wider brim covers you better from rain and sun, a narrower one gets in the way less when you bring the rifle stock to your cheek.
5. If you travel a lot, choose foldable felt that can be packed in a rucksack without permanent creasing.

Care and field advice

Wool felt lasts many seasons if you dry it naturally after a wet hunt, away from a radiator or campfire. Heat shrinks wool and the hat loses its size. Bend a soaked brim back into shape by hand and leave it to dry on a flat surface. Brush off dust and needles with a soft brush, working with the nap. At home, hang it up or rest it on the brim so the crown is not crushed. Before a drive, check that it sits firmly: a hat falling off at the wrong moment means noise and a lost chance.

Brands

Four makers are present in the category, and all of them have their roots in hunting. Harkila is a Scandinavian hunting clothing maker known for gear built for northern weather. Blaser is a German hunting equipment company whose HuntTec line is aimed at active hunting. Browning carries a long gunmaking history and applies the same thinking to clothing. Hubertus keeps to the classic European tradition of hunters' headwear with a feather.

If you need a different type of head cover, see our hunting caps and knitted beanies for the cold season. More accessories are listed under other head covers. If you are unsure about size or model, write to us and we will help you choose.