I picked up the Tough Headwear Fleece Balaclava Ski Mask and it turned out to be better than expected. The fleece is soft, warm, and surprisingly comfortable. It fits well without feeling too tight, and it keeps your face and neck protected from cold wind. The best part is how warm it is. Once you put it on, you immediately feel like you are ready to survive a snowstorm, a ski trip, or possibly rob a bank… though I recommend sticking to outdoor activities. It does a great job blocking the cold and staying in place. The material feels durable and the stitching seems solid. It is also breathable enough that you do not feel like you are suffocating when wearing it for longer periods. Overall it is a simple, warm, and well made balaclava that does exactly what it is supposed to do. If you need something to keep your face warm in the cold, this one gets the job done. Read more
I recently made two 5-day trips to the woods in the Coronado National Forest in Arizona. Nighttime lows dipped to the high 20s, daytime highs were in the sixties, and winds were 15+ mph on a few days - and I kept my old, bald head warm with the Tough fleece balaclava. I even sleep in it. It’s incredibly comfortable, fit me better than I expected, was lightweight, and easily transitioned from the full ski mask to just a gaiter. It kept the wind off my neck - no gap at my collar. I knew I’d need a balaclava for the trip - and this one worked beautifully! I definitely got my money’s worth! Read more
The media could not be loaded. I’ve owned several face mask/neck gaiter and hat combos, and this is easily the best one so far. The fleece is extremely soft and feels comfortable on the skin. The hat portion actually fits my head well, something other brands struggle with and usually the weakest point in similar designs. Where this balaclava really shines is the mask section. I’ve always had trouble finding a winter mask that stays over the bridge of my nose and lets me breathe comfortably. This one does both exceptionally well. It stays in place, seals over my nose properly, and never feels suffocating. The only “drawback”, if you can even call it one,is that it holds in heat so well that if you’re doing heavy outdoor work, you will get warm and sweat. When you go back indoors, you’ll need a place for it to dry. But to me, that just proves how effective it is at trapping warmth, because I wasn’t cold at all. I tested this in Northern Pennsylvania in late December during lake effect snow (up to 12 inches), sustained winds, and gusts up to 35 mph. It performed like a champ. Great fit, great warmth, and excellent breathability. Highly recommended. Read more
Well made and a good fit. I like that you can tighten the area around your face letting no cold air in. Read more
Fits well, easy to adjust to make tight to keep the wind out. Fabric is breathable, soft and warm. Walking in windy open areas, this has been perfect. I have been able to wear a hat underneath, as well as fit a hood over top if needed. Washed it first and it dried very quickly. Read more
Fits wonderfully and will be perfect when I am out in the West Desert in the winter. At first it fog my glasses but an adjustment cleared that up. Nice and warm in 15 degree weather! Read more
The media could not be loaded. I bought this to wear in Alaska in February-March. When I say Alaska, I mean the northern tip of it, north-east of Prudhoe Bay. This balaclava is good by itself to keep my face warm for 30 minutes at -20 degrees. Below -20 degrees I layered it with another beanie, and below -35 degrees I threw my parka hood over both of them. The fur did two things for me, keeping some (better than none!) wind out in warmer (-20) weathers, and keeping the parka hood in place when it’s colder. Don’t expect as much wind stopping power as a fur lined jacket hood. But it’s better than nothing. The main limitation being: the fur lining does not go to the side of my face, and most of the wind really comes from the side. One problem I am having is it’s not easily (in a machine) washable. As a result, I am having to be a bit careful about using it. Just making sure I am periodically airing it out, being careful around food or smelly rooms. Having a fleece (soaks up smell) in front of my nose, that I cannot wash periodically is the problem. Read more
It’s warm, soft, and very versatile. It can be scrunched up around the neck to be worn as a scarf, worn as a hood alone or cinched up over the face when it’s below zero. This is the best balaclava I have, and I’ve tried at least 5 of them including some very expensive brand names. Highly recommend! Read more
