Cashmere is often associated with luxury and rightly so. Originating from cashmere goats in northern India this natural fibre has many qualities that make it an ideal choice for headwear.
Cashmere hats provide good insulation, are lightweight, breathable and water resistant. They are also very comfortable due to the softness of the natural fibres. They are, however, significantly more expensive than regular wool hats.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of cashmere hats.
Pros of cashmere hats
There are a significant number of highly advantagous attributes of cashmere hats:
Soft
This is certainly one of the main pros associated with cashmere. The fine hairs of the cashmere goat are woven together to make an extremely soft and versatile fibre. In fact they are regarded as one of the softest fibres available.
To give you an idea of just how fine these fibres are we can compare them to human hair. The average diameter of a cashmere fibre is less than 9 microns, compared to a human hair that can range up to 181 microns. (Source)
It is this fineness that makes cashmere hats so soft and comfortable to wear. When compared to standard wool hats, which can be itchy, cashmere hats stand out for their comfort.
Lightweight
Cashmere fibres are relatively unique in that they are hollow. This hollow structure makes cashmere relatively very lightweight compared to other yarns used to make hats. Simply put, you get more protection from the elements with less bulk than fabrics like wool.
Check out these popular cashmere hat options on Amazon.
Warm
Cashmere has similar qualities to wool when it comes to warmth. The insulation qualities of cashmere are effective at trapping heat. Cashmere goats live in a very cold environment in winter months so it should come as no surprise that cashmere fibres offer great protection from the cold.
Breathable
Cashmere is very good at regulating heat due to its porous nature. The natural fibres will allow your hat to breathe. So, if heat builds under your hat some of the hot air will escape. This quality keeps you warm while also preventing sweating. For this reason a cashmere hat can be ideal for those that are more active.
Water resistant
Cashmere, as with wool, has a relatively high saturation point meaning that it can hold moisture without losing its ability to retain heat. Cashmere while good protection against damp conditions will become saturated in heavy rain. For this reason cashmere is not suitable for heavy rain.
Cons of Cashmere Hats
Price
With cashmere far less common than wool it is typical to see prices at least double. While this may be worth it for those craving the softest of materials, it nevertheless can be regarded as a luxury rather than a necessity.
Pilling
Pilling is noticeable as the little bobbles that appear on your cashmere hat caused by friction. Whilst this is more likely to happen with lower quality cashmere garments it can happen to any cashmere hat. Tools such as cashmere combs can be used to remove pilling.
Final Thoughts
Cashmere hats are considered some of the finest and regarded as superior to wool for its softness and lightness. If you don’t mind paying more for this luxury then cashmere hats can be well worth it.
