When the temperatures drop, many of us can hear the voices of our mothers admonishing us to wear a hat. The warning was often backed by an explanation that we could lose as much as half of our body heat from an uncovered head. While Mom wasn’t off base about it being a good idea to wear a hat in frigid weather, the idea that heat loss is greater from your head than other parts of your body is a myth.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a 2008 study showed that an adult only loses about 10% of their body heat by not covering your head. In fact, you lose heat in direct proportion to the amount of exposed skin. So, 10% roughly matches the head’s percentage of your body’s total surface area. You would lose heat in the same way if your legs or arms are uncovered. No one area of the body sheds significantly more heat than any other.
Interesting, however, is that children do, in fact, lose more of their body heat through their heads. This is true because children’s heads are larger in proportion to their bodies as they’re growing. So it’s always a good idea to keep their little noggins snugly under wraps when outside in the cold.
So where did the myth about profound heat loss from an uncovered head originate and why did we all believe it? The experts suggest that the answer lies with an old U.S. Army Field Manual. In its pages, was the estimate that soldiers could lose 40-45% of their body heat through an unprotected head. But that logic would suggest that a person who’s wearing only a hat and nothing else would lose about the same amount of body heat as a bare headed but fully clothed individual. You don’t have to test that comparison to know that wouldn’t be accurate.
But even if we don’t lose most of our body heat through our head as that told myth would have us believe, it is still best to wear hats and/or earmuffs in frigid winter months. While our moderate temperatures here in South Coastal Georgia don’t provide the threat of frostbite that comes when the mercury dips into single digits and below, keeping your head and ears covered will go a long way in conserving your body heat when you’re out in the elements.
What are the best hats for winter weather? Hats that cover your ears. They should fit snugly and not be too loose or too tight. Materials like merino wool, fleece, and polyester, are good because they wick away sweat. Fleece lining provides excellent insulation. Don’t worry, there are plenty of cute winter hat options out there, so listen to Mom regardless of the myth.
