Best Balaclava Buying Guide
Wicking and warmth: the two factors.
Most people believe that you lose most of your body heat through the head. This is likely an old wives tale, but a cold head can definitely ruin the best snowboarding trip of your life. Warmth, however, is not the only factor to consider when purchasing a new balaclava. You will also want a balaclava with great moisture-wicking properties.
To find the best balaclava you will have to find one that keeps your face warm while also wicking away the moisture. Without this, your balaclava experience will be an unpleasant one.
To tell the truth, the majority of balaclavas on the market will do a decent job at keeping you both dry and warm. These balaclavas can be crafted from a wide variety of materials ranging from cheap fabric blends top high-end synthetic materials. Deciding which build material makes the best balaclava can be tricky, and usually comes down to how much money you can spend. At the bottom of the scale you will find cheap polyester blends that offer almost no wicking or breathability, Somewhere in the middle you will encounter Nylon and microfleece blends with wicking properties that are a little bit better. The most expensive, then, will be the top-of-the-line thermodynamic balaclavas. While you are searching for the best balaclava, don't forget that most of the more expensive balaclavas are designed for a certain temperature range. depending on how cold it gets in your area, you might not need to invest in a balaclava designed for colder temperatures. Just ensure it will be warm for your needs.
The length of the neck.
You shouldn't think of the balaclava as only a matter of protecting the head. It should also properly protect the neck. The most important thing to pay attention to here is the length of the neck. You want a neck that is long enough to tuck into your jacket. Without this, the cold air will get under your balaclava, and you will need to wear a scarf to keep your neck warm. Getting a balaclava with a shaped or fitted bottom is often a good investment.
Breatheability
A common complaint when it comes to balaclavas is the breatheability. Not every balaclava is designed equally. Some are not intend for snow sports, so they will not have the same breatheability that is found in a balaclava designed for snow sports.
Every balaclava tries to take care of this issue in a different way. Some leave holes for the mouth ad nose, and while this may allow for easy breathing, it will leave you with a cold face.
Luckily, there is a better choice. Other manufacturers design a hinged mouth and nose section to provide full-face protection for the face from the cold elements. The hinged design lets the rider to further pull open the opening for more breathing room.
Most people believe that you lose most of your body heat through the head. This is likely an old wives tale, but a cold head can definitely ruin the best snowboarding trip of your life. Warmth, however, is not the only factor to consider when purchasing a new balaclava. You will also want a balaclava with great moisture-wicking properties.
To find the best balaclava you will have to find one that keeps your face warm while also wicking away the moisture. Without this, your balaclava experience will be an unpleasant one.
To tell the truth, the majority of balaclavas on the market will do a decent job at keeping you both dry and warm. These balaclavas can be crafted from a wide variety of materials ranging from cheap fabric blends top high-end synthetic materials. Deciding which build material makes the best balaclava can be tricky, and usually comes down to how much money you can spend. At the bottom of the scale you will find cheap polyester blends that offer almost no wicking or breathability, Somewhere in the middle you will encounter Nylon and microfleece blends with wicking properties that are a little bit better. The most expensive, then, will be the top-of-the-line thermodynamic balaclavas. While you are searching for the best balaclava, don't forget that most of the more expensive balaclavas are designed for a certain temperature range. depending on how cold it gets in your area, you might not need to invest in a balaclava designed for colder temperatures. Just ensure it will be warm for your needs.
The length of the neck.
You shouldn't think of the balaclava as only a matter of protecting the head. It should also properly protect the neck. The most important thing to pay attention to here is the length of the neck. You want a neck that is long enough to tuck into your jacket. Without this, the cold air will get under your balaclava, and you will need to wear a scarf to keep your neck warm. Getting a balaclava with a shaped or fitted bottom is often a good investment.
Breatheability
A common complaint when it comes to balaclavas is the breatheability. Not every balaclava is designed equally. Some are not intend for snow sports, so they will not have the same breatheability that is found in a balaclava designed for snow sports.
Every balaclava tries to take care of this issue in a different way. Some leave holes for the mouth ad nose, and while this may allow for easy breathing, it will leave you with a cold face.
Luckily, there is a better choice. Other manufacturers design a hinged mouth and nose section to provide full-face protection for the face from the cold elements. The hinged design lets the rider to further pull open the opening for more breathing room.