The Arc'teryx Castlegar Striped Toque weighs 120 grams and uses 50% wool, 50% acrylic construction with a polyester fleece earband for cold-weather performance. The slouchy, extended-length design allows ear coverage during winter activities. The six-dart construction creates a secure fit despite the relaxed appearance. Available in multiple colorways, including Phantasm, Microchip, and various striped patterns. Discontinued but available through resale markets.
How Does the Arc'teryx Castlegar Striped Toque Differ from the Regular One?
Its sister product, the Castlegar Toque, features a bicolor design, while the Castlegar Striped adds bold horizontal stripes throughout the knit body. Both use identical 50% wool, 50% acrylic construction with a polyester fleece earband, but the striped version offers more visual interest for those who prefer pattern over solid colors.
The striped pattern appears more casual than the solid bicolor design, though both work equally well for resort skiing or town wear. I find the stripes photograph better in group photos during ski trips while maintaining the same warmth and extended length that defines the Castlegar line.
Does the Extended Length Actually Cover Ears?
The extended length pulls down far enough to cover my ears completely during 10-degree walks without riding up during activity. I wore this for dog park visits in cold weather and never needed to adjust the position to keep my ears covered. The slouchy fit allows several inches of extra material above the head while still maintaining snug coverage at ear level.
The fleece earband creates a tight seal around the head perimeter, preventing the toque from shifting upward during movement. However, the interior lining means I can't flip up the bottom band to adjust length, as traditional toques without fleece construction allow.
How Does the Fleece Earband Affect Fit?
The fleece earband provides warmth and prevents drafts, but creates fit challenges for larger heads. My small head gets swallowed, and the knit body stretches a little to accommodate. The stitching between the stretchy knit body and the rigid fleece band requires care during donning to prevent the connection point from loosening or tearing. Despite these minor issues, the fleece earband delivers superior warmth compared to all-knit alternatives.
How Does It Compare to Other Arc'teryx-patterned Beanies?
The Castlegar Striped sits between casual and technical categories with extended slouchy length and fleece earband warmth. The Charlie Toque offers a bold three-stripe design, a lighter 35-gram weight, and six-dart construction, but lacks the fleece earband warmth. The Geometric Beanie provides 54-gram weight with fine-ribbed knit and geometric patterns, but uses a different construction without fleece lining. For another bold pattern, see the Rolling Stripe Hat. The slouchy appearance ultimately led me to rotate out of my Arc'teryx collection. The six-dart construction was not enough to pin it to my head, and it was way too long for someone without hair.
Find current availability at Arc'teryx resale markets or authorized retailers, and check out this article on how to legit-check an Arc'teryx Beanie.
