I'm bald. When it's cold out, my head gets really cold. All you lucky people with hair, that's insulation. My attic has no insulation. So, I buy lots of warm hats. Fleece, knits, whatever. I spent a fair amount on this beanie. It's a standard knit (brushed acrylic) for everyday use. Like many knits, this began to pill rather quickly. Those in textiles call these bobbles. My mother always called them pills. Pills look pretty lousy and this hat is already looking pilly. I paid for the Dakine label. On the plus side, it will continue to keep my head warm, it's holding up well from a structural standpoint, and it keeps strangers from bothering me since I look like a longshoreman when I wear it.