Arc'teryx Bird Head Toque
The Arc'teryx Bird Head Toque weighs 57 grams and handles temperatures from 25°F to 45°F. It's made from 50% merino wool and 50% recycled polyester with a brushed polyester band that prevents forehead itch. The one-size-fits-all runs small, fits under helmets, and sits snug even on my small head.
Arc'teryx prices the Bird Head Toque at $60. Mine's held up through multiple winters without fraying or the fit loosening. The single-layer knit means wind gets through below 20°F, so this works best for moderate cold when you're moving.
The counterfeit market is flooded with fakes. Real ones have a brushed polyester band inside that replicas never include, along with a correct hang tag and inside tag. Check the full authentication guide before buying secondhand, because the secondary market is at least 95% replicas.
Materials: Merino Wool and Recycled Polyester
The 50/50 merino wool and recycled polyester blend stops wind better than pure wool. Compared to the Patagonia Brodeo Beanie, the Bird Head offers better wind resistance thanks to that polyester content, though the Brodeo has a more relaxed fit.
The interior band is the best feature. Soft against the forehead, no itching that I sometimes get with the Rho Toque. It adds insulation where you need it most without making the whole beanie bulky. Stuffs easily into a jacket pocket.
Best Between 25°F and 45°F
Comfortable from 25°F to 45°F during active use. Below 20°F, you'll want something thicker like the Grotto Toque. Above 50°F, the merino traps too much heat. Best when you're skiing, snowboarding, hiking, or running in moderate winter cold.
How Does the Arc'teryx Bird Head Toque Fit?
One size supposedly fits heads with a circumference of 55-60cm. That's optimistic. The fit runs small compared to the Word Head Toque or Classic Beanie. Anyone over 58cm will probably find it uncomfortably snug. The beanie sits low on the forehead, almost covering my eyebrows. Not much cuff to fold. Fits well under ski and climbing helmets without bunching.
Every Colorway Since 2004
Arc'teryx releases new colorways each season. FW25 colorways (Model #: X000006756) include Bliss/Arctic Silk, Mars/Dynasty, Euphoria/Olive Moss, Nightscape/Glacial, Solitude/Arctic Silk, 24K Black, Aster/Blaze, Blaze/Copper, and Orca. SS24 colorways included Amarantus/Edziza, Tatsu/Yukon, Orca, and Dark Daybreak/Daybreak.
The Bird Head first appeared in Fall 2004 in Dark Pine, Ocean, and Brown. By Fall 2006, the colorways shifted to Brown/Orange, Penne/Espresso, Black/Gunmetal, and Navy/Bluebell. The Fall 2015 season (Model #5681) offered eight colorways: Admiral/Oxblood, Blackbird, Emerald Jade/Parakeet, Flamenco/Pink Guava, Iron Oxide/Phoenix, Riptide/Iceberg, Twin Leaf/Venom, and Vintage Ivory/Alabaster.
By 2019 (Model #22992), the lineup included eight colorways at a $35 MSRP: Shorepine/Titanite, Orion/Olive Amber, Black, Nocturne/Deep Cove, Red Beach/Flare, Nightshadow/Iolite, Merbau/Aurora, and Tui/Stellar.
Previous seasons produced dozens of two-tone combinations: Eden/Black, Black/Void, Arctic Silk/Rune, Moonstone/Electra, Alpenglow/Soul, Dynasty/Arc Silk, Vitality/Fluidity, Tatsu/Yukon, Daybreak/Dark Daybreak, Oracle/Daze, Smoke Bluff/Arctic Silk, Fluidity/Labyrinth, Myth/Komorebi, Habitat/Atmos, Anecdote/Tatsu, Forage/Sprint, Phenom/Habitat, Merbau/Aurora, Daybreak Blue, Mantis/Arctic Silk, Moon Drop/Mallow, Sea Salt/Habitat, Dimma/Dark Sunhaven, Nocturne/Deep Cove, Chandra Purple/Ametrine, Yukon/Flux, Red Beach/Flare, Nightshadow/Iolite, Shorepine/Titanite, Nautic Grey/Rohdei, Pilot/Smoke, Baja/Dew Drop, Black Sapphire/Dahlia, Fawn/Trillium, Nighthawk/Rooibos, Sangria/Matador, Triton/Rigel, Oceanus/Niagara, Sangria/Cardinal, Odysseus/Dark Slate, Adiantum/Mantis Green, Heron/Nighthawk, Agathis/Utility Green, Poseidon/Riptide, Pink Tulip/Ruby Sunrise, Oxblood/Aruna, Tungsten/Cobra, Bumbleberry, Orion/Olive Amber, Tui/Stellar, Black, Bushwhack/Taxus, Flux/Infrared, Labyrinth/Yugen, Nereus/Thalassa, Proteus/Robotica, Violet Wine/Houli Pink, Somerset Blue/Songbird Blue, and Aruna/Chilli.
Some sell out within weeks, and none remain in stock all season. REI often launches colorways before the Arc'teryx site. Find the Bird Head Toque at Arc'teryx.
Stays Put on 30°F Morning Runs
I wear this for 30°F morning trail runs. It stays in place, doesn't shift or ride up, and handles that temperature range perfectly. Too warm once I'm fully warmed up, though, so I usually pull it off after mile two and stuff it in my pocket.
On snowboard days, it's solid for lift rides and après, though I'd reach for the Grotto Toque on single-digit mornings at altitude. For around town, it pairs well with an Arc'teryx shell, but the logo is loud enough that I only wear it to lowkey spots.
Three Winters In, Still Holding Up
I have a few of these beanies, and they all last for multiple years and show minimal wear. Logo embroidery is intact with no loose threads; the elastic in the band hasn't stretched; and the dart seams are still tight.
Machine washable in cold water; air-dry to preserve the wool. I have a few of these, and my go-to beaters have been washed dozens of times without shrinking.
The recycled polyester holds color well. I've noticed some pilling on the interior where it rubs against my stubble, particularly around the crown. Nothing that affects function, but expect minor pilling after the first season. The polyester band has held up better than I expected, no matting or flattening, still plush against my forehead. Tighter-weave beanies like the Charlie Toque will outlast it long-term, but the Bird Head ages well for a knit beanie.
How Has the Arc'teryx Bird Head Toque Changed Over the Years?
The Bird Head Toque first appeared in Fall 2004 in Dark Pine, Ocean, and Brown, making it one of the oldest toques in the lineup to have been continuously produced. The original was a 50/50 merino wool and acrylic blend with soft fleece underbanding and four-dart construction, weighing 67 grams (2 oz) in men's sizes 28-38.
Arc'teryx added the Bird Head to arcteryx.com sometime between August 12 and August 25, 2004. Earlier that summer, the site's toque menu still listed the previous season's five models: Classic Beanie, Herbie, Triple Stripe, Easy, and Fresh. By late August, the entire lineup had been replaced by four new models: Roam Dome, Nordnoggen, D'Weave, and Bird Head. None of the original five carried into the new season. The site showed broken product listings and ASP errors in mid-August, suggesting Arc'teryx uploaded the new season's lineup that week.
By 2006, the colorways expanded to Brown/Orange, Penne/Espresso, Black/Gunmetal, and Navy/Bluebell while keeping the same 50/50 merino-acrylic blend. The 2006 version weighed 66g with six-dart construction, an upgrade from the original four-dart design. By Fall 2015 (Model #5681), the weight had dropped slightly to 65g while retaining the wool/acrylic blend, six-dart construction, and fleece underbanding. Arc'teryx described it as a "stylish wool/acrylic mix toque with large knitted bird logo" and listed activities as ski/snowboard, backcountry skiing, and ice climbing.
By 2019 (Model #22992), the Bird Head weighed 55g (1.9 oz) and retailed for $35 with the same 50/50 merino wool and acrylic blend, six-dart construction, and thermal fleece underbanding. Arc'teryx categorized it as an "All Round" activity toque and listed features such as breathable, lightly insulated, fleece-lined, and embroidered logo. Eight colorways were available that season.
In 2023, Arc'teryx swapped acrylic for recycled polyester, aligning with the Responsible Wool Standard and PFAS-free production. The current version (Model #X000006756) weighs 57g and retails for $60, a steady weight reduction from the original 67g but a significant price increase from the $35 it cost just a few years earlier. The jacquard-knit bird logo carried over unchanged through every version.
The toque gained cultural visibility during the gorpcore movement when Arc'teryx beanies became fashion staples. Frank Ocean wore a Grotto toque at a Louis Vuitton show in 2019, and it's been a streetwear staple since.
