High-Visibility Winter Headwear

As temperatures begin to drop, you might find yourself grabbing a hat on your way out to work. While any type of hat will keep you warm throughout a cold workday, only a high-visibility hat offers an extra level of protection on a potentially hazardous jobsite. With bright colours and reflective accents, you can’t go wrong by improving your ability to be seen this winter.

High-visibility winter beanies

Beanies are a staple of cold weather. These are your typical, tight-fitting knit hats made with a flexible design. Beanies hold tight to your head to help stop the release of heat while protecting you from the elements. High-visibility beanies like the ML Kishigo 2826 Knit Beanie have a single lower ridge, while others such as the Tough Duck Reflective Knit Beanie have a folded ridge. There are a variety of styles to choose from, most of which sport reflective striping to further enhance your visibility. Beanies are an affordable, simple and effective method of staying warm all winter long.

High-visibility balaclavas

Even though you might not recognize the name, you’ve probably seen or used a balaclava before. The unique yet simple design of a balaclava offers coverage for your head, face and neck. Similar to a ski mask, high-visibility balaclavas have eye openings, but no opening for the mouth. Ideal for frigid temperatures and fast winds, the balaclava will protect your head and face in any environment. The long neck tucks effectively inside the collar of your jacket to prevent drafts of cold air. Many different styles of high-visibility balaclavas are available, from simple knits to Thinsulate and Fleece Lined versions.

High-visibility aviator hats

Aviator hats? Weren’t those the hats used by World War II pilots? Surely they were, and for good reason — they work. High-visibility aviator hats can vary in design, but they generally have the same purpose: keeping your head and ears as warm as possible. These hats are lined with warm, insulative materials and feature large flaps on each side, which usually tie under the chin. They feature a reinforced brow that offers extreme warmth for the most brutal weather and reflective accents, to give you that extra bit of confidence in low-visibility working conditions. The Tough Duck High-Visibility Thinsulate Aviator Hat is a great example for under US$20.

High-visibility hard-hat liners

Hard-hat liners aren’t necessarily new technology, but they’ve come a long way. If your job requires a hard hat, you owe it to yourself to have a warm, protective hard-hat liner during the coldest months of winter. High-visibility hard-hat liners come in a variety of types and styles, but they all have one thing in common — they feature loops or rungs designed for the head strap on your hard hat. Once attached to your hard hat, these liners deliver extra protection while ensuring your hard hat is secure on your head. It’s the best of both worlds. One of our favorites is the Ergodyne N-Ferno Winter Liner with Thinsulate.

Before choosing your high-visibility winter headwear, be sure to consider your work environment, general winter-weather conditions (temperature, wind, precipitation) and budget. You might decide to have more than one product for normal days and another for extreme cold. For example, if you’re working in an area with icy winds, you’ll probably fare best with full face protection. For wet environments, polyester-lined headwear will be more beneficial over simple knit products. The goal is to be as warm, safe and comfortable as possible, so you can focus on doing your job.

Stay warm out there!

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Brooksville, Florida, Hi-Vis Supply is the leading e-commerce store of high-visibility gear and apparel, including safety vests, shirts, pants, jackets, hard hats, gloves and much more.