Arc'teryx Castlegar Toque
The Arc'teryx Castlegar Toque (Model #16434) weighs 110 grams (3.9 oz) and uses a wool/acrylic blend body with a 100% polyester fleece earband. This discontinued beanie features an extended slouchy length, six-dart construction, cable-knit detailing, and a bicolor design built for skiing, snowboarding, and cold-weather casual wear. Original retail was CAD $40 (approximately $30-35 USD).
Arc'teryx's F15 product page described it as a toque that "blends the warmth of wool with the durable performance of acrylic" for "backcountry, bouldering, at the resort or in town." They categorized it under Skiing and Snowboarding with an All Round activity tag. At 110 grams, the Castlegar was the heaviest beanie in the entire F15 toque lineup, outweighing even the Scando Toque at 100g. The cable-knit detail was unique to the Castlegar among all F15 toques. Wayback Machine captures from November 2018 through May 2019 confirm it remained on arcteryx.com at the CAD $40 price point.
Full Specs and Materials
The Castlegar uses a wool-acrylic blend that combines natural warmth with synthetic durability. Wool provides breathability and odor resistance, while acrylic maintains shape and resists pilling after repeated wear. The 100% polyester fleece earband sits against your skin to manage moisture, which matters on chairlift rides when sweat builds up under your helmet.
The fleece earband construction puts the Castlegar in the same category as the Molly & Moe Toque, which also featured a polyester fleece earband in F15. Total weight lands at 110g, heavier than the Rho Lightweight Wool Toque at 30g but lighter than the Castlegar Striped at 120g.
Fit and Sizing
The Castlegar runs large and slouchy by design. The six-dart construction creates secure shaping at the crown, but the darts only cover the top portion, so the rest hangs loose rather than hugging your skull. Users with 62-63cm head circumference report it fits as a normal beanie would on average heads.
At just over 6 feet and 165 pounds, I found the one-size-fits-all approach works well, though people with smaller heads might find the slouch excessive. The extended length sits lower on the ears than most Arc'teryx beanies, adding wind protection. One quirk: the knit body stretches more than the fleece earband, so putting it on requires care to avoid stressing the stitching between materials.
On the Slopes: Skiing and Snowboarding Performance
Yes, with caveats. Arc'teryx designed this specifically for snowsports, and the slouchy style looks good on the slopes and during apres. The extended length provides extra ear coverage during lift rides, and the wool blend insulates even when you're sweating on mogul runs.
The problem: at high speeds, sunglasses (not goggles) tend to catch the wind and rise over your ears. For resort riding where you're not bombing steep lines, it performs well. Backcountry touring demands something tighter that fits under a helmet, like the Fortrez Beanie.
All Castlegar Colorways
The Fall 2015 launch included five bicolor colorways: Anaconda/Lt Anaconda, Antilles Blue/Aegean Blue, Carbon Copy/Iron Anvil, Iron Oxide/Bengal Copper, and Plum Rose/Lt Plum Rose. The two-tone design paired a darker body with a lighter contrast section.
Additional colorways from other seasons included Golden Gnar, Carob/Caribou, Orion/Neptune, Stellar/Tui, Orbit, and Black Baccara. Most resale listings now feature the neutral colorways like Carob/Caribou and Black Baccara, while brighter options like Stellar/Tui are harder to find.
Care and Washing
Arc'teryx's F15 care instructions require hand washing only with no dry cleaning. Hang to dry and avoid top-loading washing machines or ironing. The toque shrinks slightly after multiple washes, but since the fit starts slouchy, this can actually improve the fit rather than ruin it. Expect some pilling and fuzziness over time, which is normal for wool-acrylic blends.
Resale Availability and Alternatives
Arc'teryx discontinued this model, so new retail stock is no longer available. Check resale platforms like eBay, Grailed, Poshmark, and Depop for remaining inventory. Prices typically range from $25 to $45, depending on condition and colorway. The Mountain Hardwear Dome Perignon Beanie offers a similar slouchy wool-blend style at comparable pricing if you can't find a Castlegar.