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REI Performance Headliner

$19.50

(8)

Item # 801665

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A neck gaiter and a balaclava in one, the versatile REI performance headliner fits easily beneath any helmet to provide insulating coverage.

Polyester is blended with spandex for form-fitting stretch; fabric wicks moisture away from your body for quick evaporation
Smooth exterior is soft on the inside for comfort next to skin
Trim-fitting, split-face design provides convenient coverage options—keep your face covered or not; either way, the head cover stays in place

Imported.

Item 801665

on one full-price item with coupon code
REIANNV through May 28.

Coupon details & exclusions.
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How to Use Your 20% Off Coupon:

Online, at REI.com and REI-OUTLET.com

If you're an REI member: At steps 3 and 4 of checkout under REI Membership, enter your membership number and coupon code REIANNV. Note: Check "Use my dividend on this order" and we'll apply your dividend balance toward your purchase.
If you're not yet an REI member: Include an REI membership for a one-time $20 fee with your purchase and use coupon code REIANNV at checkout. (You won't have to enter a membership number.) Note: You will have the opportunity to buy a membership at checkout.
Coupon applies to highest-priced eligible item. Coupon good through 5/28.

AT REI STORES

If you're an REI member: At checkout, provide coupon code REIANNV (or a printout of this coupon) and your REI membership number to the cashier. Note: Ask to have your dividend balance applied toward your purchase.
If you're not yet an REI member: At checkout, include an REI membership for a one-time $20 fee with your purchase and provide coupon code REIANNV (or a printout of this coupon) to the cashier.
Coupon applies to highest-priced eligible item. Coupon good through 5/28.

BY PHONE: 1-800-426-4840

If you're an REI member: Provide coupon code REIANNV and your membership number when you call in your order. Note: Ask to have your dividend balance applied toward your purchase.
If you're not yet an REI member: Include an REI membership for a one-time $20 fee with your order and mention coupon code REIANNV .
Coupon applies to highest-priced eligible item. Coupon good through 5/28.

Exclusions:

Offer valid 5/17/12 9pm PT – 5/28/12 11:59pm PT.
Coupon (or coupon code) must be presented at time of purchase. Online and phone customers must use code "REIANNV" to receive this discount.
Offer valid at REI.com, 1-800-426-4840 and REI stores.
Offer not valid on REI-OUTLET.com items, REI Adventures or REI Outdoor School.
Offer not valid on sale items (prices ending in $ ._3 or $ ._9).
REI membership number is required at checkout. Not a member? You can join for a one-time $20 fee during checkout.
Offer not valid on special orders, package discounts, prior purchases, REI gift cards or e-gift cards, passes and tickets, gift boxes, memberships, shop services, rentals.
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Offer is limited to stock on hand and backorderable items, is nontransferable and is not redeemable for cash.
Merchandise purchased with this offer is not eligible for the REI member refund.
Offer may not be combined with any other discount or offer.
Limit one coupon per customer.
To order by phone, call 1-800-426-4840 Mon. through Sun., 4am to 11pm PT.
Cashier Instructions: Apply 20% line discount to highest full-price item; please refer to exclusions.

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REI Performance Headliner Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

REI Performance Headliner

3.5

(based on 8 reviews)

50%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Breathable (6)
Dries easily (4)
Warm (3)

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry (4)
Cross country (4)

- Sizing:
- Feels full size too small
  
  Feels half size too small
  
  Feels true to size
  
  88%
  (7 reviews)
  Feels half size too big
  
  Feels full size too big

- Reviewer Profile:
- Intermediate (3)
- Gear Usage:
- Winter sports (4), Cold weather living (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (4)

Reviewed by 8 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-8

Nov

2010

(10 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

redesigned, not improved

By droogie

from St Louis, MO

See all my reviews

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about REI Performance Headliner:

I had the previous version, and have now tried the newer design, and they both have same flaw - when you pull the front down to uncover you mouth it also exposes your ears. I like how the model has it covering his mouth, and there are no other views available. Weak.

Comment on this review

Jul

2011

(8 of 9 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

But what about my ears?

By Elkins

from Portland, OR

About Me Intermediate

See all my reviews

Pros

Breathable
Compresses small
Lightweight
Stretchy

Cons

Poor design

Best Uses

Backcountry
Camping
hiking

Comments about REI Performance Headliner:

Nearly twenty-five years ago now, I picked up a light balaclava from REI on a whim. It quickly became my favorite piece of kit ever. It was so light and so small, yet so very useful! It added just that extra bit of warmth I sometimes needed at night or in the early mornings while camping or at higher altitudes, yet it was never too warm or too stuffy or too sweaty. It breathed wonderfully. It scrunched up small enough to shove into a pocket and barely feel the lump. It was thin enough to fit under the hood of my gore-tex in heavy rain, and somehow seemed to make the hood fit even better. It could be a cap, or a neck gaiter, or a ninja mask. I loved it.

Sadly, as always seems to happen with the things one loves, I somehow managed to lose it somewhere, and so I picked up this one as a replacement. It seemed like the same fabric and the same weight, and - I assumed - the same design.

Except...well, except that it isn't, quite. This balaclava has been designed with the "split-face," which is a funny little half-twist -- it's a Moebius balaclava! -- that I imagine is meant to make it even more flexible. The end result, however, is that if you try to wear it as a cap and neck gaiter while leaving your mouth and chin exposed, you can't cover both of your ears. One of them is always left exposed to the elements.

It took me a long time to realize that no manner of tugging or rearranging the thing would fix this problem. It's built into the design. Somehow, though, my subconscious refuses to accept this fact. This means that whenever I wear this thing in the cold now, I'm always tugging and twisting compulsively at it, trying to get it to fit "right." It's really extremely annoying, and I have no idea how the designers thought it a good idea. Was this never field tested? Was it only field tested by people with no ears?

Everything else about this balaclava is perfect. It's just the right fabric, just the right weight, just the right stretchiness, just the right size. It is just that one ridiculous design flaw which makes it so very unlovable that I've sadly reached the conclusion that I should probably give it up as a lost cause and go searching for another.

Sad now.

I miss my old one.

Comment on this review

Jan

2011

(5 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Could use a re-design

By Nate

from CO

About Me Intermediate

See all my reviews

Pros

Breathable
Good Protection
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

Cross Country Skiing
running

Comments about REI Performance Headliner:

I wore this at Winter Park today. With the bottom part up over my nose, my goggles fogged up. With it down under my nose, just covering my mouth, my ears were uncovered. However, it was warm and it kept the wind at bay - even at 12,000 feet. I'd recommend betting a balaclava without the silly slits on the side like this one has.

Comment on this review

Jan

2012

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

You need to know how to wear it...

By QiBeing

from All Over USA

About Me Expert

See all my reviews

Pros

Breathable
Dries Easily
Good Fit
Good Protection
Stylish
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry
Cross Country

Comments about REI Performance Headliner:

I find that you can cover the ears without covering the mouth and also choose to have 2 layers or one layer over the ears. However, I have thin hair so I can see that some people with thick hair or a really fat head might have problems covering thier ears. So its all about the geometry. Get to the store and try one, it's a simple love hate relationship.

Comment on this review

Dec

2011

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

One Size Does NOT Fit All

By skitty

from Brookfield, WI

About Me Intermediate

See all my reviews

Pros

Lightweight

Cons

Falls off nose
Poor Fit
Too large

Best Uses

Cross Country
running
Snowshoeing

Comments about REI Performance Headliner:

This one size fits all balaclava is too large and does not fit snuggly. When running or doing other outdoor sports, I need to pull it up to cover my nose and cheeks. This is annoying!

Comment on this review

Nov

2011

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Bought a second one. Ears covered fine.

By JimmyFergus

from Boston, MA

About Me Expert

See all my reviews

Pros

Breathable
Dries Easily

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry
Cross Country
Cycling
Freestyle
Skiing
Snowboarding

Comments about REI Performance Headliner:

Can't find my old one, so I bought another - if I find it, I'll have a spare, which is good.

It's just the right weight for active use. Its layout makes it possible to adjust your warmth quite a bit. It's thin and breathable but protects your skin from frigid wind.

I use it for my 11 mile cycle commute and it's plenty for me down to 10F for that purpose. I haven't tried it when it's colder. I do run a little hot compared to some people. I don't get on with covering my mouth but it sits nicely on my chin and protects all but my mouth, nose and cheekbones. When active they get blood flow within 5-10 minutes and are fine anyway, and on the coldest days I may cover my mouth/nose briefly until the blood flows. When I warm up too much I often pull it down under my chin which makes a surprisingly large difference.

Seeing other reviews complain about ear uncovering I was worried that it had changed since my last one. However, it covers my ears fine - not sure what my difference from other users is. My anatomy is normal but my head is large. I think for anyone finding this a problem it would be trivially easy to put in a few stitches to bring the meeting point forward.

Comment on this review

Jan

2011

(1 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

My ears and cheeks are finally warm

By Tukaram

from Dallas, TX

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Breathable
Dries Easily
Good Fit

Cons

Best Uses

hiking

Comments about REI Performance Headliner:

I was nervous about a 'one size fits most' product. My head is not gigantic but it is difficult to find hats that fit well. This fits wonderfully! I bought it for hiking but use it at work all the time now. Been freezing for 20 years working outdoors and this is the best thing I've found. It is perfect for TX winters so if you are too far north it may be a bit light weight?

When I change it from full mask, to half face, or neck gaiter it stays where I put it. Doesn't get any better than that!

Comment on this review

Nov

2010

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Light weight

By happening

from idaho

About Me Competitive Athlete

See all my reviews

Pros

Breathable
Dries Easily
Warm

Cons

Best Uses

Backcountry
Cross Country
Skiing

Comments about REI Performance Headliner:

Like the fit and the way it works as a neck gaiter also. Can slip off the top of your head after you warm up, like having a hat that you don't have to worry about taking off and stowing away when you've heated up. The material is thin so will fit under ski helmet easily. If you want most of your face tightly covered, this is not the one for you. This fit is loose and comfortable.