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Is the Mad Bomber the greatest extreme cold weather survival hat?

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January 20, 2026, 09:55 PM
parabellum
Is the Mad Bomber the greatest extreme cold weather survival hat?
https://www.amazon.com/Mad-Bom...0060YEM04?th=1&psc=1

Discuss!
January 20, 2026, 09:58 PM
fischtown7
Never had that one, but a similar one and those things get the job done. I would wear it but only when temps get below 20 Fahrenheit otherwise too warm for me.
January 20, 2026, 10:04 PM
DennisM
Don't get me started.

Too late. I'm started.

Warm. So-warm-I-Almost-Feel-Like-Taking-Off-This-Parka Warm. Warm enough that even a bald dude like me can have a smile on his face at -5. Decent wool socks and a Mad Bomber, and not much else matters in the way of wardrobe.

Problem for me is, there's no way I can pull it off without looking certifiably insane and being simultaneously mocked by the wife, friends, and co-workers. So: If hats were a religion, this one would be mine. Unfortunately it's a religion I'll forever practice in secret.

Look for seriously old versions. At some point "Imported" stopped meaning "Canada" and speculating about what the actual fur-source might be makes me... sad.
January 20, 2026, 10:05 PM
Rightwire
Have a few different versions of that hat, absolutely agree. Required cold weather gear.




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January 20, 2026, 10:07 PM
old rugged cross
I have a real beaver fur trapper hat that is most likely hands down the warmest cold weather hat to be had.
Now, whether it is something you might wear is another question all together. Wink



"Practice like you want to play in the game"
January 20, 2026, 10:11 PM
sigfreund
I have never been impressed with the idea of the large fur panel on the front of hats like that. Other than looking cool, I don’t know what its function is. With the fur being exposed it would tend to hold falling snow which would melt and become wet when going inside.

Some old military hats of a similar design had a front panel that was not insulated (for use under a helmet?) and could be folded down like a visor, but I can’t tell if that’s even possible with that one.

A visor like this model’s is useful to help a little at least with blowing snow, and sometimes the sun shines even in cold weather.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR...kZXRhaWwy&th=1&psc=1

Are hats with less insulation warm enough? Even though the outdoor experts would have us believe that we lose something like 900% (Roll Eyes) of our body heat through our head, that has been my experience. Plus, it is definitely possible to be too warm in winter weather, especially if exercising at all, and then what? Take it off? What replaces it, and where do we carry it?

Added: In my experience with lots of cold weather, there are two most important concerns. Keep the ears warm with some sort of fold down flaps, and protect the neck, especially the back.* The latter is best accomplished with a hood and a neck gaiter (“buff”). Hoods can be folded back and down if not needed and a gaiter is easily removed and stuffed in a pocket.
* One of the things the Nazis found with their human subject experiments.




6.0/94.0

“I can’t give you brains, but I can give you a diploma.”
— The Wizard of Oz
January 20, 2026, 10:27 PM
DoctorSolo
Just imagine how they farm and harvest the rabbit fur. At scale.

At least they are honest about the source of the fur. My wife bought our daughter some cute boots on amazon and the materials were listed as 100% synthetic. Our dog, our lovely weimeraner(pure hunter) ATE them.

Come to read the reviews and a couple of people had the same thing happen and the boots were suspected to be non-synthetic, rabbit in fact.

Thems Chineses are a bunch of jokers they is... Do you think they eat the rabbits?
January 20, 2026, 10:28 PM
LS1 GTO
Get the olive green one and whenever you wear it (like, always) address your wife as ’bombardier’

In the market is the best place to do your initial test[pilot] run. Smile

But be carefully prepared, if she is a fast thinker she might respond to you as the waist gunner. Big Grin

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LS1 GTO,






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January 20, 2026, 10:30 PM
Icabod
Growing up in Vermont we worn them. The laces broke so out Moms sewed a strip of elastic as a replacement. We called them “ Trooper hats” as the State Police worn them.
The Army has these the Sentinels at the Tomb or the Unknown wear them.



“ The work of destruction is quick, easy and exhilarating; the work of creation is slow, laborious and dull.
January 20, 2026, 10:58 PM
Schmelby
I had an Uncle Buck hat. Company provided us one every year. They were warm! I have some in the garage somewhere. I can't get the John Candy quote out of my head! "A lot of people don't like this hat"
January 20, 2026, 11:07 PM
old rugged cross
quote:
I have never been impressed with the idea of the large fur panel on the front of hats like that. Other than looking cool, I don’t know what its function is. With the fur being exposed it would tend to hold falling snow which would melt and become wet when going inside.


SigF your knowledge is lacking but nice try.
I have worn it in windy -30 and it was toasty warm.
Also heavy wet snow it does just great. Sheds water like a a duck does water.



"Practice like you want to play in the game"
January 20, 2026, 11:26 PM
400m
I’m not sure what brand I have but yes I have one with rabbit fur. Just like old rugged cross, mine has been worn in roughly -30° weather. It did the job. Very thankful for that.
January 21, 2026, 12:32 AM
ScooterX
I just received a similar version this week from my wife.
And it works marvelously! Way better than any sock cap.
My only dislike and this is minor, I can’t hear as well obviously when
the ear flaps are down. Sound from behind me at the gas station I couldn’t pick up.
But walking the dog at night is way better, I m not telling the dog to hurry up anymore.
January 21, 2026, 01:07 AM
sigmonkey
USAF B-9B
AKA “Commie Cap”.

Wore it many times, Iceland, West (I said West) Germany.




"the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא עוד
January 21, 2026, 04:25 AM
mrvmax
I’m sweating just thinking about wearing that. I doubt I would ever be cold enough to wear that unless I move north. I have been cold enough before though where I wish I had had one of those.
January 21, 2026, 04:35 AM
PHPaul
Abso-damn-lutely!

Only thing that even comes close is a military insulated helmet liner.

Used to wear one or the other when blowing snow on my open station John Deere.

Of course now, with my heated/air conditioned cab (MuWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!) on the Cabota, it's unnecessary...




Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent.
January 21, 2026, 04:36 AM
Hound Dog
Those are awesome. Had a real rabbit fur one I wore out. I have a replacement, but it is still nice even though it has fake fur.

I agree with others - it can be too warm (Colorado, mid 20s, shoveling my drive - I had to remove it because my head was sweating).



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January 21, 2026, 07:02 AM
Paten
How do you know which size to order?
January 21, 2026, 07:47 AM
sigfreund
quote:
Originally posted by old rugged cross:
SigF your knowledge is lacking but nice try.

“There is no ‘try,’ do or do not do.” Wink

As someone who has lived for 30+ years at a location where truckers are required to carry tire chains from September through May and in an earlier life went through arctic training and spent a good part of an Alaska winter at the Army’s Arctic Test Center where –30° was considered a little too warm for some tests, I actually have a fair amount of experience and knowledge about the subject.

But as you are evidently more knowledgeable than I, please explain the purpose of the large fuzzy panel on the front of the bomber hat—and especially if it is fixed in position. What does it do for us besides provide an appropriate appearance? It makes no practical difference to me other than to satisfy a bit of curiosity because I know how to stay warm while conducting firearms training at night in subzero temperatures, but perhaps I would change my opinion about the hat if I knew that.

(The “Discuss” request, BTW, was why I decided to say anything about the subject.)




6.0/94.0

“I can’t give you brains, but I can give you a diploma.”
— The Wizard of Oz
January 21, 2026, 07:54 AM
MNSIG
I haven't found anything I like better. I keep them in all my vehicle winter kits. I don't use them for typical outdoor activities because, as others have mentioned, they are a bit warm for anything where you are active. Stranded on the side of the highway or sitting still on an open deer stand is where they shine.

sigfreund: I have lived in MN my entire life. Where I grew up in Northern MN, it was not at all unusual to see -30 with an occasional -50. Mad Bombers were common. Having said that, I have no idea what the front fur is supposed to accomplish.