This is a great hat for its niche. As a sheep product it works above freezing to moderately below (50F/10C-20F/-6C). Although karakul lambskin is generally soft, it isn’t generally worn directly on the skin, as those little curls take getting used to worn tight against the cheeks. The ties are of a flat shoestring texture which work decently but are difficult to tie into the maximum tightness. It doesn’t slip as much as ribbons, but I used a spring-loaded cable stop to fix that issue, no problem. These hats have a stiffer backing material than I’m used to which isn’t bad or good, just different. The first item they sent had a very subtle product defect, but as others have said, “DMITRI IS THE MAN!!!!!” He personally made sure an excellent replacement came & gave me options (I elected to put in a new order while returning the other to make it all go quicker). Both were the same size on paper but one was loose at the brim, the second tight. Be aware. The flaps are not cut down all the way down to the brim, oddly, but this creates a little pocket for my ears which means I don’t have to sneak my ears in under the brim like I do with my other ushanka.

This has a lot more structure than you typical aviator/trapper/trooper hat. Which took me by surprise, but later enjoyed.
For my head, this sits a little higher than others I have used in the past. As such, my measurement for that part of my head is smaller so it was a little worryingly loose. There is a guide on this page on how to shrink their ushanka, which worked wonders. Regular use made it "form fit."
At the end of the day, I'd buy this all over again

Happy with size choice. I was in-between sizes and rounded up.

Absolutely incredible! superior craftsmanship!

works great. like the sizing instructions say. if you are a half size move to the larger size. the wool top version dose shrink a bit over time. The hat is so warm, most of the time you wont have to lower the flaps

Just like my grandfather wore back in the motherland. Also, makes one look way more handsome.

This hat is amazing! I would recommend it for anybody out there shoveling snow. Thanks You Guys for Great Service!

I have always loved Ushanka hats for winter. They are practical yet sophisticated imo. This Ushanks exceeds all expectations for me. Expertly crafted, with sound structure and a touch of heft which informs the quality of the hat. I love the look and feel of Karakul wool. It's classic Russian and I am thrilled to purchase at a reasonable price. The folks at Ushanka.com provided expedited service and it would be a privilege to purchase from them in the future. Excellent product

Ordering was quick and easy. Delivery was fast. The sizing chart on the website was very helpful. I purchased the astrakhan ushanka. I'm in between the sizes offered and ordered the next largest size, so it was slightly large. However, the website has useful tips for shrinking or stretching your ushanka. I followed the instructions, and now have a perfect fit. I'm very happy!

I bought this hat in preparation for me and my family moving to a much, much colder climate than sunny California. I'm very pleased to say that it arrived on schedule. The karakul is so much softer than I thought it was going to be, and I'm thrilled that the hat fits nice and snug on my size 58 head. It's super warm, very "official" looking, and I'm really looking forward to taking this fantastic hat with me to the great beyond. Thank you Ushanka.com!

Since recently taking delivery of my Karakul Ushanka, I have made it a point of espousing to my friends and colleagues the awesome quality, warmth, comfort and craftsmanship of it - not to mention the prized value of the Karakul fur in the first place.
Admittedly, it is not quite cold enough yet in my particular Oblast to warrant wearing it on a daily basis, but I could not hesitate to include it in my next alpine trip, or when I just want to don some rare European style on a cold winter's day in the burbs. Highly recommended.

It fits perfectly and the quality is awesome.

The magic of having a mild winter after buying a Ushanka is still working great! That being said I did get to wear my black Karakul sheepskin ushanka quite a bit this winter! All three of my Ushankas are nice, but this one is the nicest. I’ve had several compliments on it this winter and maybe by next winter the magic will wear off enough to test it more thoroughly!

This hat is incredible. It is a beautiful hat and insanely warm. Well worth the price. Dmitri made sure it shipped promptly. This is my 3rd purchase from Ushanka and all 3 items are of high quality. Thanks Dmitri and Ushanka

adjusts well very warm

Very nice and well-made hat, it will definitely help keep you warm and make you feel cozy. If you're having trouble inserting the star, the trick is to work it into the fabric, push, release, push.

Will be ordering this month in addition to the Russian Navy officer insignia current issue and black sheepskin ushanka hat

Anastasia Romanov