Warm head wear for using w/quilt?

I've always used fleece hats (OR Windpro) or a lightweight balaclava. But I just pre-ordered a Cocoon Pro-90 balaclava. It weighs a fraction of an ounce more than the fleece, but is going to be a LOT warmer. Now I just have to wait until July.
Ron

Same, here. I ordered a BMW Cocoon balaclava. I've used the Patagonia R1 Balaclava a lot, but for Summer high mtn. conditions, it's pretty thin. The other alternative, which I use for colder conditions, is a down jacket with hood. Because it's an integral hood, it's not as versatile as the balaclavas.

Don’t know if you use down or not, but the JRB down hood at $59 is good down to the mid 20’s for me. It has about 2″ of loft.

http://jacksrbetter.com/index_files/Down%20Hood.htm

I've been using the hood on my smartwool shaddows hoody with a lightweight fleece beenie. When my cocoon hoody arrives I'll drop the beenie and use the hood on the jacket and the hood on my shirt

My sleeping system is a ghost, ba insulated air core, and no bivy. Depending on the trip I have brought some combination of a golite snow cap (bomber style polar guard insulated hat), PolarBuff, and/or Cloudveil Six Moons Beanie. When it's 30F and below, I am typically wearing the PolarBuff like a base layer, with the GoLite Snow Cap layered over it.

As to what I would recommend? A down or high loft synthetic insuated baklava, a high loft jacket with a hood, or a well insulated hat + neck gaitor.

I've heard several people comment recently on the increased versatility of a pullover/balaclava combo as opposed to a jacket with an insulated hood. How so? I'll grant you that the weight penalty for having two separate pieces is slight, but I can't remember the last time I wanted a balaclava on my head and didn't want a jacket on my bod.

Want head insulation with a quilt/hoodless bag, but don't need the jacket for extra torso insulation? You can still drape the hood over your head with the jacket unzipped or underneath you.

What am I missing?

I use a Headgator. I like it because of the flexiblity… it can be a neckwarmer, a hat, a balaclava, headband, earwarmer. It's made out of polyolefin/lycra. Weighs 2.2 oz

Ben – I think you are correct in most sleeping situations, although there are times during the day when having them separate is more useful or comfortable. But the biggest reason for me is just that I have a Montbell jacket without a hood and I really like it. I don't see spending a considerable amount of money to get a new jacket with a hood when I can easily match a separate hat/balaclava.
Ron

I use a microfleece balaclava and hood of a montane lightspeed windshirt.

Mountain Hardwear Powerstretch balaclava(1.4 oz on my scale/2.12 oz on MH website) next to skin with a Mountain Hardwear Transition Featherweight Dome(1 oz) over it if necessary(or alone in warmer conditions). This combo gives 3 options for sleeping. Plus the Featherweight Dome, with its Windstopper membrane, is superb headwear while on the move in cold and/or windy conditions to prevent excess convective heat loss without overheating. It's something I'm never without in the mountains, year round. The 2 pieces total cost is ~$45 and weight is ~2.5 oz. And, no, I don't have any connection with MH.

I just ordered the 60 weight version. I will use it over a 200 weight polartec fleece beanie I always like to use when walking around below 32. I think the combination will work well

Ben you do have a point but…

If you already have a pullover and now want a hood, do you replace the already fine pullover?

If you like to layer with core/upper body and just want a hood when it gets really cold.

If you tend to get a colder/warmer head than others and want more/less insulation there, eg if you have a fro, you probably never need a hood. If you are bald as a badger though…

I like to start off in the morning (when its still around freezing) by whipping of my jacket, stowing that and starting to hike, but leaving my hike shirt, polypro gloves and polartec 200 beanie on. Then in about 5 or 10 minutes when I am warm enough I remove them and stuff them in a pocket and keep moving.

Adam

>I’m looking for the right head wear to complement…

I wear a Ray-Way Bomber Hat (1.0 oz) by itself to about +20F.

Thank you all so much for your help!
After ordering a Cocoon UL 60 balaclava, thinking about the JRB down hood and cancelling the Cocoon prepurchase (sorry again for the inconveniences to the BPL clerks!) I finally ordered a Ray Way bomber hat to save both weight and costs. Thank you, Douglas! Hope it's gonna fit the bill.