With winter just around the corner, you’re looking for ways to keep warm. Some of your favorite hats are beanies and toques. Many people use these two words interchangeably, but there’s a difference between them.
If you are one of those people, it’s time you understand what differentiates a beanie from a toque. This article covers the features of the hats, where they came from, what they are used for and why they have different names.
Let’s get started!
Toque Vs Beanies: How to Tell the Difference?
Toques and beanies are famous headgears to keep you warm. They are made from different materials and have varying sizes.
Understanding the difference between these two headgears is essential. Here is the difference between a beanie and a toque.
About Toques
What is a toque?
A toque is a small, tight-fitting, and brimless hat type designed for the cold winter season. It usually features an extra layer of folded fabric.
Toques are knitted and have varying shapes that are fitted with pom-pom or tassels. Toques are everyone’s favorite choice and you might wonder why.
The secret probably lies in its features. These hats are often lined with fleece or another type of soft material to keep your head warm.
Toques also come with water-resistance properties and can also easily regulate temperatures; a reason they are preferred during cold weather.
Toques can also be made from merino wool to help protect you from harmful UV rays.
Where did toques come from?
Toques are believed to have originated in the 13th-16th century in France. They later spread to Germany and Italy and then made a comeback in the 1930s. Today, these caps are now commonly referred to as chef hats.
This is because the modern-day toque is believed to have originated with a French chef. There also have been roots traced to stocking caps worn by French chefs in the 18th century.
What toques are used for
Toques are commonly worn in winter to keep your head warm. You can wear your toque when going skiing and snowboarding.
About Beanies
What is a beanie?
A beanie is a small, close-fit hat worn at the back of the head. It is usually made from a thick, warm fabric like acrylic. The hat is usually worn with excess material hanging down on the back.
It is specific to a certain style so we can say that a beanie is not the same as a toque.
Beanies are often lined with synthetic fibers or another type of soft material like wool, silk, felt, or cloth to keep your head warm. They are also unisex and good for any season.
Where did beanies come from?
Beanies date back to the 17th century when modern medicine was yet to be discovered. It was easy to die from just flu, so beanies were created to keep people healthy and alive.
These wool knit caps were also popular among outdoor workers like fishermen and hunters.
In the 1900 century, beanies were worn by blue-collar laborers to keep hair off their faces. They have since evolved over the years and are considered a fashion accessory.
What are beanies used for?
Beanies are a common fashion style today. They are a favorite way to show a person’s individuality with colors and logos.
They are also great for persons suffering from hair loss from chemotherapy, aging, or alopecia.
Factory workers operating on heavy machinery also wear beanies to keep hair off the face.
The main difference between toque and beanie
Toques and beanies differ in size, purpose, materials they are made from, and how they are worn.
i. Size
Beanies are usually a bit smaller than toques, which mostly have pom-poms.
ii. Material
Most beanie hats are made from acrylic-synthetic fibers. The fibers are strong and can retain heat to keep you warm. They are also less expensive and require less effort to clean.
Beanies can also be made from wool from the merino sheep or fleece.
On the other hand, toques are traditionally made from heavy or light wool. Depending on the wool used and the weather, toques can help keep you cool or warm.
iii. Style
A beanie hat is usually worn without cuffing so that it covers your ears. Its front part should rest above your eyebrows.
A toque hat is worn without the cuffing as well but pulled back from the face. Wear it in a way that there is additional height to your face.
iv. Purpose
Beanies are mainly used to keep warm during the winter but toques can be worn in any other season. The wool used to make toque can be heavy to keep you warm in winter or lightweight to help you stay cool on hot days.
Why do they have different names?
Toques and beanies have different names because they originated in different parts of the world. The Cambridge University dictionary describes both hats as a type of hat that fit closely in the head.
The word toque is more Canadian English, which also means the chef hat.
The language used to describe these hats can create some huge confusion but as long as you can differentiate the two, you are good to go.
A Canadian and American would describe a beanie and a toque as the same thing. The term,” beanie” is often used in English-speaking countries while “toque” is unique to Canada.
Final words
So, when you are looking for a hat to keep your head warm this winter, make sure to choose the right one! A beanie will keep you just as warm as a toque, but if you are looking for a thicker, warmer hat, then a toque is the way to go.
