The 5 Best Bluetooth Beanies

If you didn't realize that the future has arrived – and that it is indeed strange – let this article serve as case in point. Bluetooth beanies have begun to hit the market en masse. Rather than buying earbuds and a beanie separately, the thinking goes that you can kill two birds with one purchase by snagging yourself one of these beanies. As it stands, the best ones available are of middling quality, both in terms of their electronic components as well as the fabric materials used. With that said, if you're not too concerned with having studio-quality sound, nor do you demand to have the warmest beanie in town, then the five options we've gathered here might be just fine for you. We've ranked them based on all relevant criteria, including sound quality, warmth, cost value, and reliability.

Rotibox Outdoor

You've Got a Friend in Me

Rotibox's Outdoor beanie is reasonably priced, moderately good-sounding, and breathable while still retaining heat well.

Best Overall

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Available in dozens of colorways, Rotibox’s Outdoor beanie has won the adulation of Bluetooth beanie-seekers everywhere, due in part to its stylish design. As well, its appeal comes from the fact that it actually works. Many competitors sell caps that barely work, or if they do, they sound so terrible that their wearers end up giving up on them and using them strictly for their warmth. That’s not to say this thing is the warmest beanie you’ll ever don, but its 100% acrylic construction does lend it some warmth during those winter months. However, acrylic isn’t the most breathable fabric, so if you’re looking to use this for activewear, expect to do some sweating.

Pros:

Up to 6 hr battery life
Headphones remove easily when it’s time to wash
Won’t lose its elasticity too easily

Cons:

Muddy sound quality
Stereo balance cannot be adjusted

Tenergy Wireless

Sing to Me, Tenergy!

Tenergy's snazzy beanies will have you listening to your tunes in style while your fellow passerbys are none the wiser.

Best Style

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Sure, it might be easy to write these beanies off as tacky or tasteless, but look a bit closer and you’ll find a few companies doing some pretty enticing design work. By blending the tech convenience of a Bluetooth beanie with the keen eye of a stylist, Tenergy’s Wireless beanie really does hold its own against other, non-Bluetooth beanies. Choose from four different colors: black, airy blue, dusty cedar, or spicy mustard. Each is unique enough to stand out (well, except black, of course), but not obvious enough to shout to the world: “I’m a Bluetooth beanie!” A feature we really like with this one is the rechargeable port inside the unit which you can utilize without taking the headphones off.

Pros:

Soft inner lining
Makes for a great present
2 year extended warranty

Cons:

Default boot volume is piercing
Headphones feel a bit uncomfortable on ears

Pococina Winter Knit

Ain't No Slouch

Coming it at less than the price of a pizza, the slouch-style Pococina offers a hip design for those on a budget.

Best Budget

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Well, well, well. You went and assumed that Bluebooth beanies existed in some upper echelon of the techwear industry, didn’t you? Did you expect you’d be able to nab one for what amounts to an hour’s worth of minimum-wage work? Probably not. This 100% washable, USB-chargeable slouch-style knit cap makes for a great gift for a friend or loved one, or – let’s be honest – for yourself! Whether you’re using it to walk your pooch during a frigid night, put it on as you stroll through the city, or don it as you make laps around the track in the chillier months, this one’s not half bad given the price it’s sold at.

Pros:

Fairly warm
12-month warranty
Great gift for children and teens

Cons:

Bass distorts at loud volume
Sizing issues abound

Zukn Stereo

It's a Warm Knit, isn't Knit?

Made with materials of a higher quality than its competitors, Zukn's beanie offers superior warmth and sound quality.

Best Warmth

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Let’s face it: when it comes to beanies equipped with Bluetooth earbuds, you get what you pay for. The Zukn Stereo may be costly, but it’s probably going to last longer than a $10 beanie. And, more importantly, it’ll likely provide sound quality of a caliber that you’ll actually be able to enjoy, rather than accepting mediocrity from a cheap pair. This one comes with headphones that feature the latest Bluetooth codec: 5.0, which optimizes the time it takes for your headphones to connect to your device as well as ensuring that the connection stays strong while the device is in range.

Pros:

Up to 8 hours of playback time
Warm acrylic and polyester blend
Unisex design works for all

Cons:

Still a bit overpriced

Tenergy Wireless Pom-Pom

If the iconic pom-pom style entices you, Tenergy’s take on it is perhaps the best in class. Aside from allowing you to listen to music and podcasts, this one can handle hands-free calling while you’re on the go. True, others may eyeball you for talking to the inside of your winter knit, but what do they know? Come on, folks, it’s 2020. Others with good eyesight might realize that your beanie isn’t just another beanie when they see the panel display on the hat’s lateral side. The panel’s control buttons allow you to pause, resume, or skip the current track, as well as answer (or reject) calls and make adjustments to the volume level.

Pros:

2 year extended warranty
Offered in four attractive colors
Range goes up to 33 feet
Material is very soft

Cons:

Volume is a bit lacking
Sound doesn’t isolate well

Frequently Asked Questions

What factors should I take into account when selecting a Bluetooth beanie?

There are a few factors you’ll want to consider while you shop around. First, there’s the beanie’s comfort. This is perhaps the most important quality. Your beanie might look good, sound great, and keep you warm as a bundled baby, but if the darn thing is uncomfortable, let’s face it: you’re not going to wear it. Included with comfort are the beanie’s breathability and its warmth. Warmer doesn’t always equal better. If you’re an athlete, you may want something that won’t retain too much heat to mitigate your sweating.

Next, there’s the technical side, which has to do with the unit’s hardware. Are the headphones of a decent quality? Do they have a long battery life? And is the Bluetooth codec out of date? All these are important – especially the headphones’ sound fidelity.

Then, of course, there’s the matter of cost value. Yes, it’s easy to find a cheap Bluetooth beanie, but what kind of fabric is it made with? Consider not just the fabric’s heat-retention abilities, but also its durability and how easy it is to wash and care for.