ASKOLD 2pcs Sauna Hats Wool, Banya Hat for Men and Women (White and Grey)

The felt hat looks like a costume until the first ladle hits the stones. Steam rises, the hottest air gathers under the ceiling, and on the upper bench that is exactly where heads are. In a guided round the pours come one after another, which is why hats are a familiar sight at Aufguss sessions. This ASKOLD pack holds two bell-shaped hats in 100% wool felt, one white and one gray, each with a loop on top for hanging.

The maker lists the felt at 2–2.5 mm and gives proper measurements: 9.4 in (24 cm) wide, 9.1 in (23 cm) tall and 23.2 in (59 cm) around, which it puts at US hat size 7 3/8. It is one size, so it sits deep on a smaller head. The maker says the hat keeps head and hair from overheating; the practical point is simply that many people find the heat easier to sit in with a covered head.

Tip: Offer the hats at the door and say what they are for – a first-time guest will not ask, and will be glad of one by the second pour.