USMC cold weather cap is not a replacement for the currently sustained USMC microfleece hardface cap but would be worn separately from the current cap when increased protection from wet and dry cold weather environments is needed.

The olive drab cotton field cap is a visor style with retractable earlaps lined with wool flannel, and grommets for ventilation. It was designed to be worn with the M-1943 field jacket. It could also be worn under the hood of that jacket and with the steel helmet and liner.

The olive drab pile field cap consists of a wind-resistant, water-repellent, poplin outer shell with a pile lining, a flexible visor, which can be worn up or down, and pile ear flaps with an drawcord closure. It was designed for wear in extreme cold.

The MQ-1 (Model Quartermaster 1) olive drab pile field cap is a modified version of the olive drab pile field cap. The pile lining of the original visor, which caused visual interference and forehead discomfort when the visor was lowered, was eliminated. The MQ-1 cap was adopted as the M-1951 pile field cap.

The M-1951 cotton field cap is a visor style with a circular top crown and retractable earlaps, and is a lightweight windproof item incorporating a very thin layer of insulation only in the earlaps. It was designed for ground troop wear in a range of cold-wet to hot environments.

The M-1951 pile field cap may be worn for both cold-dry and cold-wet conditions. The cap provides the best protection against the elements for weather colder than 0°F.

The M-65 cold weather insulating helmet liner cap is worn alone or as a liner for the helmet assembly. The earflaps are fasten under or over chin, at back of neck, or are folded up around the top with the touch-and-close fasteners crisscrossed in the front.

The hardface micro fleece cap is intended for wear by male and female military personnel of the USMC in mountainous and cold weather environments.It will provide improved wind resistance, durability and water repellency when worn in intermediate to cold weather environments.It will be part of the Mountain/Cold Weather Clothing System and will ultimately replace/phase out the current micro fleece caps.