A snood is a tubular garment worn around the neck: a continuous loop of knitted or fleece fabric with no ends to tie or tuck. Worn low, it does the job of a scarf; pulled up, a deeper snood covers the head and ears like a hood. The word is old — snoods were once netted hair coverings — but the modern winter snood is a close relative of the cowl and the infinity scarf, traditionally a little snugger and deeper than both.
Snood, Scarf, Cowl, or Neck Warmer?
The four garments overlap, and shops use the names loosely, but the distinctions are useful. A scarf is a flat rectangle with two free ends, wrapped or knotted. A cowl is a fashion loop, usually knitted, worn around the neck in one or two loops purely as a scarf substitute. A snood is the deeper, more functional loop: long enough to pull up over the head as a makeshift hood, which is how it earned its place in wartime knitting patterns and workwear. A neck warmer is shorter and closer-fitting still, made of performance fleece or stretch fabric for sport. If you want one loop that can answer a sudden snow shower, the snood is the pick of the family.
Because there is nothing to knot and nothing dangling, a snood sits neatly under a coat collar and cannot trail into bicycle wheels, escalators, or soup. That tidiness is why it suits commuting and travel so well: pull it on, and it is arranged.
Materials and How to Wear One
Knitted snoods in wool or wool-blend yarns are the classic town version, from fine-gauge tubes that fold to almost nothing to dramatic chunky knits worn over a plain coat. Acrylic knits cost less and wash easily. Fleece and fleece-lined snoods trade some elegance for wind resistance and are the better choice for dog walking, spectating, and open platforms. For very cold weather, a snood plus a hat covers everything a balaclava does, with the option to separate the pieces.
Wear it three ways: as a single long loop for mild cold, doubled around the neck for real warmth, or pulled up over the head and ears when the weather turns, with the lower edge still sealing the gap at the collar where scarves leak heat. Men wear snoods too, usually in plain ribbed knits or fleece; the garment is unisex in everything but shop shelving.
Choosing and Caring for a Snood
Length is the main decision: a snood meant to double as a hood needs generous depth, while a purely decorative loop can be shorter and closer. Check the knit density — a loose, lacy stitch looks airy because it is, and wind passes through it. For warmth, choose a tighter knit or a lined style. Care follows the fiber: most wool snoods want a gentle hand wash and to dry flat, while acrylic and fleece versions machine wash happily. Store knitted snoods folded, not hung, so the loop does not stretch out of shape. The broader scarf family is covered in the women's scarf guide.
Common Questions
- What is the difference between a snood and a cowl?
- They are close cousins, and retailers mix the names. Traditionally a snood is a deeper, more functional tube that can be pulled up over the head as a hood, while a cowl is a fashion loop worn around the neck like a scarf without ends.
- Can a snood really be worn as a hood?
- Yes, if it has enough depth. Pull the back of the loop up over your head and ears while the front stays at your neck. It will not match a fitted hood in a storm, but it answers sudden snow, wind, and cold remarkably well.
- Are snoods only for women?
- No. Snoods are unisex; men's versions are usually plain ribbed knits, darker colors, or fleece. The hooded warmth and lack of dangling ends suit anyone who works or commutes outdoors.
- How do you wash a knitted snood?
- Follow the fiber. Wool snoods generally need a gentle hand wash and drying flat to keep their shape; acrylic and fleece snoods can usually be machine washed cool. Fold to store rather than hanging, which stretches the loop.
Cold-Weather Warmth and Hosiery Series
This guide is part of the Apparel Search cold-weather warmth and hosiery series: the small garments that decide whether winter dressing is comfortable. Browse the full series below, or start from the women's winter clothing guide and the women's hosiery guide.