L.L. Bean Mad Bomber Hat

Frankly, I'm skeptical of products that have "mad" in their name (or "bomber," for that matter). Makes me think of teenage snowboarders—who aren't exactly known for their discriminating sartorial tastes. But LL Bean's "Mad Bomber" just may be the exception to the mad hatter rule. It's a cap that can truly handle everything from cool to cold. It warded off hypothermia in frigid camping temperatures outside of Durango, Colorado, where I used it during a mid-October freeze, and then it kept me cool during an early winter night out on the town in Santa Fe (where hipness is more important then thermal insulation). My head has never felt so warm, and I've only rarely felt so burly.

Made from 85 percent wool and a nylon shell, and trimmed with plush rabbit fur, aggressive earflaps and plaid design, this hat is not to be worn around the faint of heart or style: it's an attention-getter that would easily fit in Hunter Thompson's wardrobe.

Wear it to Hunter's old haunt, Woody Creek Tavern, just outside of Aspen, this winter and if you're not mistaken for Dr. Gonzo himself, you'll likely be asked if you're a lumberjack, a hip-hop artist, or a Russian wrestler.

Or, my favorite: "Are you sick?" It was an understandable question: I was drinking a beer inside a bar with an enormous hat on. "No," I responded. "Just cool." $36; www.llbean.com

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