I hear you(pun intended!) In the first two elk seasons I wore mine, I sweated one into malfunction, and then lost one the next year while racing through thick stuff to get in front a bugling bull and his cows. I didn't even wear them last season. I can hear MOST bugles but have trouble homing in on the direction, and I miss lots of faint sounds. It's an awful handicap, that's for sure. Yes, I can wear them on a stand or sitting, but it's a miserable distraction to keep worrying about them. If on a stand and it's pouring or heavy wet snow, do you decide to take them out? And, listening to the wind whistle in them is no fun either. But, as to the idea of a hat, anything that covers my ear closely causes them to shriek. I am now thinking that a loose fitting hood like the ones on Asbell's pullovers might actually be helpful. Have not been a fan of hoods in the past, but this getting old is making me face some uncomfortable realities! I wish you luck finding a solution - and if you do, PLEASE share what you learned!!!