I hate wearing a hat unless it's absolutely necessary (as in definite frostbitten ears if I don't necessary), but when I do I generally go all-out and wear my old GI Nomex CVC balaclava. I've never needed to wear the Jason mask underneath while snowshoeing, unlike some of my time up in the TC hatch while in the army.


These feel like they have some sort of plastic vapor barrier inside them, and the yoke (or whatever it's called) that goes down over your shoulders and allows your coat to hold it in place is nice as well.

On rare occasions I will wear a beanie, but I'm very warm-blooded (I'm comfy snowshoeing down to around -10-15F or so with no hat and just silkweight polypro base layer, 150-weight merino wool shirt, rain pants, and medium weight wool gloves) and by the time I need a hat it's cold enough for my entire head to be in danger of frostbite.