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Outdoor Research Gorilla Balaclava

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Product Description,
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Reviews

For severe mountaineering conditions, the Outdoor Research Gorilla balaclava is as protective and warm as it is intelligently designed.

Wear it with the face open (covering the head, neck and chin) or close the face mask to protect mouth and nose
Multiple rip-and-stick closures let you quickly adjust configuration and fit; 2-way stretch facilitates easy movement
Mesh breathing port allows free respiration
Gore WindStopper® fabric eliminates windchill, yet it's breathable and capable of quickly dissipating excess moisture to keep you dry and warm
It's also weather resistant, helping to keep moisture outside where it belongs
Soft fleece inner face with flatlock seams eliminates chafing and holds in warmth

Imported.

Item 769694

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Outdoor Research Gorilla Balaclava Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Outdoor Research Gorilla Balaclava

4.5

(based on 4 reviews)

75%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Breathable (3)
Good size/fit (3)
Versatile (3)

Cons

Best Uses

- Sizing:
- Feels full size too small
  
  Feels half size too small
  
  Feels true to size
  
  75%
  (3 reviews)
  Feels half size too big
  
  Feels full size too big

Reviewed by 4 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-4

Dec

2008

(16 of 16 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

surprisingly warm and adaptable

By king_matt

from cedar rapids, IA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Breathable
Durable
Good Fit
Lightweight
Versatile

Cons

Doesn't Wash Well

Best Uses

Freezing Conditions
Travel

Comments about Outdoor Research Gorilla Balaclava:

I brought one of these down to the interior of Antarctica about 10 years ago. It was warm then, and 10 years later I still love it. Its thin enough that I can wear a hat for extra warmth when needed. It packs down really small, so I carry it for emergency cold weather gear when I'm backpacking. Its also great on the bike when commuting in cold weather. I lost the piece that covers the mouth and nose a while ago and never missed it. I supposed that piece is about the only weakness of the design. I also like that it can be warn in a variety of ways with the Velcro adjustment.

Dec

2008

(9 of 45 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Decent peice of gear

By 2

from VA

About Me Outdoor Professional

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Lightweight
Versatile

Cons

BanksDogsPoliceetc

Best Uses

Casual Wear
Fitness
Freezing Conditions
Travel

Comments about Outdoor Research Gorilla Balaclava:

Great for keeping wind and cold off your face while retaining body heat in foul weather. Fabric is decent,fleece is a nice additional comfort.Titanium may have made this the ultimate ultra-light headpiece for backwoods ninja tactics. Or possibly hiking, biking, hunting etc. The clever "OR" on the forehead bewilders opponents by leaving them wondering..."or what"? Allowing time for a display of supreme skill and amazement.

Oct

2009

(8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Specialized Product

By Margo Talbot

from Canadian Rockies

About Me Collegiate/Pro

See all my reviews

Pros

Breathable
Dries Easily
Good Fit
Good Protection
Versatile
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Outdoor Research Gorilla Balaclava:

Most of the time you will never use this piece, but when the weather turns mean it is your ticket to saving your face from the brutality of the elements. It is designed to be used with goggles, for full frontal face coverage. The breathing vent will ice up on you, and so far there is no design on the market that I am aware of that gets around this reality. But the beauty of the Gorilla is the fact that it has a detachable face cover that you can Velcro off and warm up under your armpit whenever you take a break. The ideal situation would be to have two of these detachable pieces, of course, but that would mean buying two of them

Sep

2010

(7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Effective and Comfortable

By RockyMtnMarc

from Evergreen, CO

About Me On The Mountain

See all my reviews

Pros

Blocks wind
Breathable
Dries Easily
Good Fit
Good Protection
Removable Face Mask
Sheds Water
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry
Skiing

Comments about Outdoor Research Gorilla Balaclava:

I've tried three different balaclavas and they all seem to accumulate too much moisture and aren't adjustable enough to be comfortable. The face mask on this one tents well even when skiing down the hill at full speed so you don't have a wet cloth always sticking to your face all day. It also breaths well, blocks wind, sheds water and dries quickly. I use it for skiing, snowshoeing, climbing 14ers and anytime I plan to be in cold wet weather. It took me a while to learn how to properly adjust the various Velcro strips, but now that I have been using it for a while I wouldn't go with anything else. I may even buy a second one just to make sure I have a replacement when the time comes. It would be nice if it didn't rely so heavily on Velcro which wears out and looks weird, but it is effective and I haven't found any other balaclava that is more adjustable. I would recommend that you try one of these on before purchasing though. I used the online sizing guidelines to order one, but had to exchange it in an REI store for one size smaller to get the right fit.

Service and delivery comments:

I purchased this item in an REI store.