• Hats that cover the ears are great for warmth and UV ray protection.Lori Lee Miller/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  While hats may not be as commonly worn now as they have been in past decades, many men and women still turn to hats and caps as fashion statements. Hats also serve important purposes such as keeping the head and ears warm in the winter and protecting the head and ears from sunburn.
  
  

Toboggan Hats and Beanies

• Toboggan hats and beanies are common hats worn in the winter months when the wind is bitingly cold and snow is falling. Toboggan hats got their names from being commonly worn when people go sledding on their toboggans. Beanies are usually usually not as bulky as toboggan hats, but they are very similar in material, looks and purpose. They are usually made from a woolen sweater-type material to hold heat over the head, and they should come down far enough to cover the ears.
  
  

Turban

• A turban is a piece of cloth or scarf wrapped in a particular way to form a shroud of cloth knotted on and around the head. Turbans are usually worn in certain cultures more than others, but they do protect the head and ears from sunburn and other factors.
  
  

Schoolboy Caps or Oversized Newsboy Caps

• While schoolboy caps, also known as newsboy caps, don't always cover the ears, there is a trend in wearing them a little oversized and lopsided, which allows them to cover the tops of the ears. These schoolboy caps are available in warm fabrics such as wool and tweed. They also tend to be more sophisticated than toboggan hats and beanies in the winter.
  
  

Flap Hat

• A flap hat is just what it sounds like: a hat with flaps coming down to cover the ears. Flap hats can be worn during hunting season to keep the head and ears warm, or they can be worn during the winter in casual everyday style. Flap hats come in a variety of materials, but corduroy is common for the outside of the hat, while the inside of the flaps are usually wool or shearling.