Gear Review: Black Diamond Dome Beanie

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For high-output activities like skinning, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and ice climbing, a thick and toasty hat can be overkill. Enter the diminutive Dome Beanie, a slim, 100-percent polyester skull cap that kept our tester’s noggin warm from Chilean Patagonia to the Colorado Rockies. “It has a soft, cotton-like feel, but wicks sweat efficiently so I never got chilly while working hard,” he says. “Plus, it fits snugly under a climbing or ski helmet, which came in handy during an unexpected squall when I was scaling Lincoln Falls near Breckenridge, Colorado.” Another tester loves the versatility; he wore the Dome during winter training runs and packed it on high-country trips (even in summer) to stave off chills during nippy evenings. “It’s also a comfortable hat to wear in your sleeping bag at night—not too hot, not too bulky,” he says. $19; 1 oz.; one size; blackdiamondequipment.com