From the Swiss Alps to Canada’s Rockies, winter sauna tourism is booming—and wool/polyester felt hats are at the heart of the experience. Ski resorts now bundle sauna hat rentals with passes, capitalizing on viral “ice-to-steam” challenge videos.

“Guests sauna in wool hats, then plunge into snow—it’s addictive,” says Zermatt Tourism Director Lukas Berger. Rental analytics show polyester hats dominate (70% of use) due to easy sterilization, but wool purchases spike as souvenirs.

Local artisans craft region-specific designs. In Whistler, cedar-infused wool hats emit forest aromas during sauna sessions, while Japanese onsen resorts offer polyester hats with built-in towel layers.

Environmental concerns persist. A 2022 Banff study found rental hats account for 12% of winter resort waste, prompting shifts to biodegradable polyester. Yet demand grows: Aspen’s “Sauna & Stars” nighttime events, where guests don glowing felt hats, booked out within minutes this winter.

“It’s not just about warmth anymore,” says Berger. “The hat has become a symbol of winter resilience—and Instagram gold.”