Barbour Stanhope Trapper Waxed Hat Review
I have owned and used the Barbour Stanhope Trapper Waxed Hat through winters in Northern England, and it remains one of my favourite cold-weather hats for dog walks, easy hikes and generally being outdoors when the weather is miserable. It is warm, blocks wind extremely well and gives much more protection around the ears and back of the neck than a normal peaked cap.
The Stanhope is also unusual because it doesn’t look like technical outdoor gear.
It has the traditional Barbour waxed-cotton look, but underneath you get fold-down fleece ear and neck protection that turns it into a genuinely warm winter hat.
Mine has had a fairly hard life.
I even accidentally put it through the washing machine, which is about the worst thing you can do to a waxed Barbour product.
I have re-waxed it since and it is still usable, but it has never quite been the same.
Despite that, I still really like the hat.
QUICK VERDICT
Best for: Dog walking, country walks, fishing, shooting, gentle winter hiking and everyday cold-weather use.
What I like: Very warm with the flaps down, excellent wind protection, good rain resistance and much more stylish than most technical winter hats.
What I don’t like: Breathability is limited during hard exercise, sizing felt slightly snug at first, and the wax finish needs occasional maintenance.
Would I buy it again? Yes. For cold, wet British winter weather it is still a very useful hat.
Barbour Stanhope Trapper Hat Specifications
- OUTER: 100% waxed cotton
- FABRIC WEIGHT: 6 oz waxed cotton
- LINING: Barbour tartan-lined crown
- EAR FLAPS: Fold-down polyester shearling-style fleece trim
- DESIGN: Diamond-quilted waxed outer
- PEAK: Short, stiffened front peak
- COLOUR: Olive
- SIZES: S, M, L and XL
- PRODUCT CODE: MHA0044
- CARE: Sponge clean only
Barbour currently still sells the Stanhope, although you may see it described as the Stanhope Sporting Cap, Stanhope Hunting Hat or Stanhope Trapper Hat depending on the retailer.
The underlying MHA0044 design is essentially the same waxed winter cap with fold-down ear protection that I have been using.
Warmth
This is where the Stanhope earns its keep.
With the ear flaps folded up, it feels like a warm waxed cap.
Drop the flaps and it becomes something much more substantial.
The fleece covers:
- Your ears
- The side of your head
- Part of your cheeks
- The back of your neck
That makes a massive difference in strong wind.
I have worn mine in temperatures around -10°C and remained perfectly comfortable.
Obviously the exact warmth you feel depends on wind, activity and how warm you naturally run, but I have never thought this hat lacked insulation.
In fact, the more common problem is getting too hot if I wear it while working hard.
Wind Protection
Waxed cotton is excellent at blocking wind.
That is one of the reasons this hat feels warmer than its thickness suggests.
A knitted beanie can allow cold wind to push through the fabric.
The waxed outer of the Stanhope creates a much more effective barrier.
With the ear flaps down, very little exposed skin remains around the sides or back of my head.
In cold, gusty weather that is when I appreciate the hat most.
Rain Resistance
Waxed cotton is naturally well suited to British winter weather.
The Stanhope isn’t something I would describe as a technical waterproof hat with taped seams and a waterproof membrane.
But for:
- Drizzle
- Showers
- Wet snow
- Short periods of rain
it performs very well.
Water beads on the waxed surface instead of immediately soaking into the fabric.
The short peak also keeps a surprising amount of rain away from your eyes.
If I knew I was going to spend hours in torrential rain, I would have a waterproof hood over it.
For normal winter weather, the waxed cotton does exactly what I want.
Breathability
Breathability isn’t one of its strengths.
That isn’t necessarily a criticism.
The entire point of this hat is to trap warmth and block wind.
The waxed outer does that very effectively, but it also reduces airflow.
I have marks on mine where sweat has dried after wearing it during more strenuous activity.
That is why I wouldn’t choose the Stanhope for:
- Running
- Fast uphill hiking
- Ski touring
- Other high-output activities
For those, I would rather have a lighter merino or synthetic hat.
The Stanhope is better when the pace is lower and the weather is worse.
Think:
Cold dog walk rather than mountain race.
Fit and Sizing
I bought mine in a size Large.
When it arrived, I thought it was slightly too tight.
It wasn’t painfully tight, but it definitely felt snugger than I expected.
After wearing it for a while, the fit eased slightly and I actually grew to like it.
A trapper hat benefits from a close fit because you don’t want strong wind lifting it from your head.
That said, if you are between sizes I would pay attention to the actual measurements rather than simply ordering whatever size you normally buy in jackets or T-shirts.
Current retailer sizing for the Stanhope is approximately:
- Small: 55 cm
- Medium: 57 cm
- Large: 59 cm
- XL: 61 cm
Measure around the widest part of your head before buying.
That is much more reliable than guessing.
Comfort
Once mine had broken in slightly, I found it very comfortable.
The interior is much softer than the waxed exterior suggests.
The shape of the crown sits naturally around my head, and the fleece ear flaps feel good against bare skin.
There are basically three ways I wear it.
Flaps Fully Up
This is how I wear it most often in cool rather than freezing weather.
It behaves like a normal warm peaked cap.
Hat Pulled Lower
When it gets colder, I pull it down farther so the edges cover the tops of my ears.
That often gives me enough extra protection without unfolding everything.
Flaps Fully Down
This is the proper winter mode.
My ears and the back of my neck are enclosed and the difference in warmth is immediate.
I particularly like having those options because conditions can change significantly during one walk.
Style
The style is one of the big reasons I bought it.
Most very warm winter hats fall into one of two camps:
- Technical outdoor gear
- Huge furry novelty trapper hats
The Stanhope sits somewhere in between.
It is unmistakably Barbour.
The olive waxed cotton, quilted pattern and tartan details give it a traditional British country look.
I can wear it:
- Walking the dog
- Camping
- Fishing
- On an easy hike
- Into town
without looking as though I have just returned from an Arctic expedition.
I also like this style for bushcraft-type clothing. See my guide to the best bushcraft hats for other options.
The Short Peak
The peak deserves mentioning because it is part of what makes the design practical.
It is long enough to help with:
- Low winter sun
- Rain
- Snow
but not so long that it dominates your field of vision.
I prefer this to a winter beanie when it is raining because the peak keeps drops away from my eyes.
It also gives the Stanhope much more of a cap-like appearance when the flaps are folded away.
Waxed Cotton Maintenance
Waxed cotton needs maintenance.
That is part of owning it.
As the surface gets used, folded and rubbed, the wax gradually wears away.
Areas that see the most contact eventually stop beading water as effectively.
I use Barbour Thornproof Dressing to re-wax mine.
You don’t need to constantly coat it in wax.
I reproof it when the fabric starts looking dry or absorbing water instead of allowing it to bead.
Do Not Put It in the Washing Machine
I know this from experience.
I accidentally put mine through the washing machine.
The hat survived.
The wax finish did not.
Hot water and detergent remove the wax that gives Barbour fabric its characteristic weather resistance.
I re-waxed mine afterwards and got it usable again, but it has never been exactly the same as it was originally.
Barbour’s current care instructions for the Stanhope are simple:
Sponge clean only.
I would follow them.
If the outside gets muddy, let the mud dry and gently brush or wipe it away.
Don’t treat waxed cotton like a normal cotton baseball cap.
Can You Re-Wax the Barbour Stanhope?
Yes.
The same principle used to maintain a waxed Barbour jacket applies here.
The process is roughly:
- Make sure the hat is clean and dry.
- Warm the wax until it becomes soft.
- Work a small amount evenly into the outer cotton.
- Pay particular attention to areas that look dry.
- Remove obvious excess wax.
- Allow it to settle and dry properly.
Because a hat is much smaller than a jacket, you don’t need much product.
I would rather apply a thin even coat than completely saturate it.
What I Like Most
The best thing about the Stanhope is the feeling of protection once the flaps come down.
You suddenly have:
- Warmth
- Wind protection
- Rain resistance
- Ear coverage
- Neck coverage
- A peak protecting your eyes
from one fairly compact hat.
I also like the fact that it doesn’t scream “technical outdoor gear”.
There are plenty of situations where I want practical clothing without dressing head-to-toe like I am climbing Everest.
What I Don’t Like
There are three real downsides.
It Runs Quite Warm
This is not a hat I enjoy wearing while sweating hard uphill.
The Fit Was Snug at First
Mine loosened slightly and became comfortable, but I would measure your head before ordering.
The Wax Needs Maintaining
If you want a zero-maintenance synthetic waterproof hat, waxed cotton probably isn’t for you.
The need to re-wax it is part of owning Barbour gear.
I don’t mind that because I like the material.
Who Is the Barbour Stanhope For?
I think it works particularly well for:
- Dog walkers
- Farm and estate use
- Fishing
- Shooting
- Country walking
- Cold-weather camping
- Easy winter hiking
- Anyone who dislikes beanies
It is much less suited to:
- Running
- Fast mountain ascents
- High-output winter sports
- People who want something machine washable
Is the Barbour Stanhope Still Available?
Yes.
This surprised me slightly considering how long I have had mine.
Barbour still lists the Stanhope under product code MHA0044, and UK retailers continue to sell the same basic waxed-cotton trapper design.
Is the Barbour Stanhope Worth It?
I think so.
It isn’t the cheapest winter hat.
But it has lasted me years, and the underlying design hasn’t really needed to change.
You get:
- A proper waxed-cotton outer
- A warm fleece-trimmed ear flap
- A useful peak
- Good cold-weather protection
- A traditional style that doesn’t date particularly quickly
The fact that Barbour still sells essentially the same hat years after I bought mine says something about the design.
Final Verdict
The Barbour Stanhope Trapper remains one of my favourite hats for cold, miserable British winter weather.
It isn’t what I wear for hard exercise.
It isn’t maintenance-free.
And mine definitely suffered from its accidental trip through the washing machine.
But I still like it.
When I am walking the dogs, heading out in snow, wandering through woodland or just leaving the house on a freezing morning, it is exactly the sort of hat I want hanging by the door.
Most of the time I wear it with the flaps folded up.
When the temperature drops, I pull it lower.
And when the weather turns properly grim, the ear flaps come down and suddenly my ears, neck and most of my head are protected.
If you want a warm winter hat with a peak and prefer traditional country clothing to technical outdoor gear, the Stanhope is still very easy to recommend.
Barbour Stanhope Trapper Waxed Hat Review
