Keep Yourself Warm and Protected With the Best Balaclavas

Cold and windy weather can quickly take your breath away. Fortunately, you have balaclavas for protection. But, not every balaclava can prevent those sharp winter winds from cutting through — you have to make sure you are getting a tough and insulated one for lasting warmth. Similarly, if you are getting a balaclava to wear under your motorcycle helmet, a wool balaclava would be the wrong choice. Thankfully, you can make use of the buyer's guide below to help you pick up the right balaclava for your needs. 

Why You Should Wear a Balaclava

A typical balaclava completely covers your neck and face, leaving an opening on the front for your eyes, mouth, and nose. This can be separate holes for each part or a single slit for all of them. Balaclavas are also quite close-fitting and can be worn for many purposes. We have listed some below:

Heat retention 

When you put on a balaclava, it covers most of your head and face. Since there is so little of your skin exposed, your body heat has less surface area to escape from. And if you opt for an insulated balaclava it will further prevent the heat from escaping. This is very useful in cold conditions and winter sports when you need to retain your body heat for safety and better performance. 

Safeguards against weather elements

A balaclava can help you defy almost every weather element, be it wind, dirt, UV rays, cold, or snow. It can also wick away sweat, helping you keep cool on warm summer days. 

This face mask keeps the wind off your face by covering it up and acting as a wind blocker, as well as preventing dust and dirt particles from making their way inside your mouth. A balaclava also helps reduce wind noise in your ears, protects your skin from sun damage and harmful UV rays, and keeps you warm and protected when the weather is cold. 

Protects helmet pads

You can also wear a balaclava to protect your helmet pads from wear and tear. Many grooming products like hair sprays, styling gels, makeup, and more, when combined with your sweat, can trigger bacterial growth inside your helmet. Although most helmet pads are washable or replaceable, by employing a balaclava you can extend its lifespan and save some money too. 

Performance and comfort 

A well-chosen balaclava can have a significant impact on how well you perform in sports. For example, when you wear a balaclava when snowboarding, it keeps your hair in check, makes it possible to wear earrings underneath the helmet, and prevents the helmet from hurting your scalp, all while making it easy to slide the helmet on and off. All of these can make you uncomfortable and lower your performance if not kept in check. 

Hygiene 

Any helmet — whether for biking or sporting — causes head sweating with its poor breathability. In the absence of a balaclava, your sweat will be absorbed into the supporting inner foam, which due to lack of breathability serves as an ideal ground for bacteria to prosper. Your helmet becomes smelly and the natural acids present in your perspiration can attack the foam, reducing its lifespan. 

Adaptability 

A good thing about balaclava is its adaptable design. You can wear it as a full headpiece, and can also convert it into a beanie hat or a neck warmer. It is also flexible enough to cover your nose or leave it exposed according to climatic conditions. A balaclava is also a great item to have in your emergency kit because it’ll protect you if the weather takes a turn for the worse. 

Head protection 

An insulated balaclava can protect both your head and neck against weather elements in one go. Otherwise, to achieve the same level of protection you’d have to wear a neck warmer, a face mask, a beanie hat, and a headband. In comparison, a balaclava protects you completely with much less bulk. 

To appear stylish 

If styled properly, a balaclava can make you look quite stylish. It has quickly become a fashion statement that both celebrities and people on the street are donning. Just be sure to take it off before entering a bank. 

Types of Balaclavas

Balaclavas are popular for their superior weather and wind protection. There are certain types and styles of balaclavas that provide you with different levels of protection, which we’ve discussed below:

Full-face balaclava 

Full-face balaclava is the most popular type of balaclava. It covers your entire face and head, but has holes for the mouth, nose, and eyes. You can wear a full-face balaclava to keep yourself warm in winter during cold-weather activities like skiing and snowboarding. 

Half-face balaclava

This type of balaclava only covers the mouth and nose of the face area, leaving your eyes exposed. They provide less warmth than full-face balaclavas but allow more breathing space. What's more? They don't fog up your glasses the way full-face balaclavas do. 

Neck gaiter 

Neck gaiters are essentially tubes of fabric that you wear around your neck and can pull up to cover your nose and mouth. They don't cover or protect your head as well as other styles, leaving it exposed to heat loss. 

Convertible balaclava 

Convertible balaclavas are also a popular choice amongst buyers. They are designed in a way that you can wear one as a full balaclava, ninja hoodie, half mask, or merely a neck warmer. The flexibility makes them a great option for warmth and protection regardless of the activity you are doing. For example, you can use it as a neck warmer while running and a full balaclava for skiing. 

Solid front balaclava

Some people don't like the feeling of fabric getting into their mouths. If you belong to this category, you will like wearing a solid front balaclava. This style has a rigid but flexible front that gives the balaclava its structure. Besides solving the feeling of suffocation, this type of balaclava also helps you avoid fogging and moisture problems. 

Hoodless balaclava

Adjusting your balaclava underneath the helmet is difficult, which is why some people prefer hoodless balaclavas over hooded ones. Quite different from a neck gaiter, a hoodless balaclava wraps around your face and snaps in place at the back of your head. It also has ear covers that hook over the top of each ear securing the balaclava in place. 

Neck-focused balaclava

Whether you’re not a fan of keeping your face and mouth covered, or it’s just not cold enough to employ a full face cover, a neck-focused balaclava can help you out. It has a hood and a neck warmer that keeps your head and neck but leaves your face exposed so you can breathe. 

The Many Uses of the Balaclava

Balaclavas have been around for quite a long time. Here are some uses they have been put to throughout their existence:

Armed forces 

Since they were first designed for troops, balaclavas are a popular garment among armed forces like the military and police. In South Asia, the troops assigned on Himalayan duty wear balaclavas as a part of their uniform for protection from cold. The US Marine Corps also issues a hinged balaclava as a part of their Flame Resistant Organizational Gear. Police officers often employ this face gear while battling gangs to conceal their identity, and are also often used by them during raids. 

Sports

In sporting activities, skiers, cyclers, runners, and snowboarders often wear balaclavas for warmth. Balaclavas for sporting events are usually moisture-wicking, warm, and windproof. 

Racing 

Racers participating in events sanctioned by Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile are required to wear a fire-retardant balaclava under their helmets. This keeps them protected in the event of a mishap. 

Fashion

Since 2018, balaclavas have also started gracing fashion runways around the world. No wonder it is quickly becoming a winter fashion statement. 

Factors To Consider Before Buying a Balaclava 

In addition to their heat retention and insulating properties, balaclavas are also popular for their moisture-wicking properties. So how do you decide on the type that you need? A good start is by taking the following factors into consideration. 

Material 

The material of the balaclava should be the first consideration you make. When shopping for a winter balaclava, for example, look for materials that are warm and comfortable while going down the slopes. Natural materials like wool and cashmere are certainly good choices, but you can also go for synthetic ones like nylon or polyester. If you run cold, you should look for a thick balaclava with multiple layers of fleece and fabric. 

For summer wear, you should choose a material like cotton. It is moisture-wicking and breathable so you can wear it to defy the elements as you run, or under a helmet as you ride a bike. 

Coverage 

You also have to make sure that the balaclava you are purchasing covers as much area of your face and neck as you prefer. Some offer more coverage on the front than on the back, while others provide more coverage toward the back. If you have a long neck, the latter would be a better choice. 

Then, there are the convertible balaclavas that you can convert for more or less coverage. You can choose such an option for its versatility. 

Design 

These days, balaclavas are considered the epitome of coolness, but that doesn't mean you should give up on practicality.  If you are purchasing one to keep warm during winter activities, choose a thick, mouth-covering design that will prevent your noggin from getting cold. 

Similarly, if you want an added layer of padding to keep you comfortable under a motorcycle helmet, a thin yet fitted balaclava will effectively serve the purpose. But, if you are getting one purely for aesthetic purposes, you can just go with one of the more stylish designs. 

Fit

Another important thing that you should not ignore in a balaclava is its fit. While some options do come in a universal size, others are available in varying sizes. You can use the sizing guide to figure out what will suit you best. Reading the previous buyer reviews also helps you understand whether the products are true to size or not. Use this information and choose a balaclava according to your fit. 

Adjustability

Adjustability is a crucial consideration in balaclavas that are universal in size. Some balaclavas allow you to tighten or loosen the face mask with pull tabs, while others have velcro straps on the back to adjust the fit. Having these features ensures that you can use your balaclava to its fullest.

Comfort

Since you will be wearing it all day as you shred the slopes or run a marathon, finding a comfortable balaclava is a must. It’s important to choose a material that is soft and non-scratchy. Also, carefully inspect the seams to make sure they are not in uncomfortable places. Lastly, make sure that it is light, breathable, and not too bulky so you can wear it without any discomfort. 

Versatility 

How do you plan to use your balaclava? Are getting it to serve one purpose only? Or are you planning to wear it for multiple activities, such as skiing, biking, running, hiking, and more? If it is for only one purpose, a fixed balaclava will do. But if your needs are a bit more varied, it's better to choose a convertible design so you can adjust it according to your needs. If you want seasonal versatility, choose a material that is lightweight and can easily convert into a neck warmer or a beanie for seasonal protection. 

Integration with goggles

This factor is important if you want to wear your balaclava along with the goggles. Unfortunately, this is hard to determine without actually trying on both together. Many balaclavas promise a fog-free experience, but it may or may not hold true. Your face shape, goggles, and how you wear them can affect how a balaclava looks with your goggles. As a guiding principle, your balaclava should cover up to where the goggles start.