GOREWEAR  Gore Windstopper Balaclava

I used this on a cool and windy day to see how good it is. I have to say it is very effective in blocking out the wind and it kept my head warm and this is during temperature in the 40s. The reason I gave it a 3 Star is because it did not conform to my nose and mouth and it made my breathing more laborious and I have to make adjustments pretty often. This is a one size fits all so I am not sure it is a design issue (nose and mouth area maybe needing to be a little more robust?) or it shouldn't be classified as on size fit all. Other than the fitting issue I was having, I would have given it a 5 Star.

I have a normal sized head, and it fits pretty snugly, to the point of requiring some effort at times putting it on or taking it off. Works well in general at blocking wind and even repelling some light rain, but the breathing holes in the mouth covering aren't nearly as effective at blocking the wind or rain as I had hoped. If, like me, you're biking (13-20mph) in cold and/or rainy conditions and are looking for a balaclava to help prevent the cold air and rain from going straight into your lungs, there are better options out there.

Purchased this for winter cycling since I suffer from a cold nose when weather goes low to mid 30s. This balaclava is tricky to achieve the sweet spot for being able to breathe thru the nose. I have a larger ethnic nose which may contribute to the problem. During winter rides it is common to get a runny nose. Cyclists use the designated area on the glove to handle this. However, it is virtually impossible to maintain the optimal balaclava positioning after the wipe. Stopping and pulling off the glove to make the adjustment is not optimal because many stops would be required and the hand becomes exposed to the cold weather.

This item does its job of keeping your head warm, at least in 30 degree F temps (I’m a self-described wuss about cold weather). My ears stay much warmer than with a cap, and this also protects most of my face and neck. It fits easily under a helmet and is easy to care for.

I bought 3 balaclavas, to see which would suit me best in various conditions for winter running. I thought the goretex would be best, as it would keep out wind and water. I can breathe the best with this one, but the Seirus Dynamar is warmer overall.

I’m a petite woman with a small frame and I mention this because while this balaclava isn’t skin tight, it does fit really well, even with the room because of the way it’s made. I live in the mountains and haven’t really snow tested this because I purchased in late March, wore on some snowy walks, and this kept me dry and warm, but I couldn’t tell you if it would keep you warmer while skiing. It’s windy usually, wet, sunny where I live...many systems can move through the mountains. I wear this while walking and bike riding in all weather as a preventive measure to protect my skin from being weather beaten as I age. I can breathe! Also, I love that it comes high up right under my eyes and I can cover sides too where I’ll have crow’s feet someday. I never feel swampy/sweaty in it, and I do feel that my skin is being protected along with other no brainers like spf (when not wearing this), water intake, moisturizer, sleep, stress management, nutrition etc. I do reapply moisturizer when I’m done using it. When it rains and the wind blows it sideways, my skin never feels wet or cold, which keeps me comfortable. I wear under a ski hat for cold mornings and under a ball cap usually in the afternoons. I wear braids or a low ponytail under the balaclava to help with fit and function. I hang to dry in between uses and wash once a week on a normal cycle, low temp warm water and hang to dry after a wash. This works for me, but I would imagine if you wear makeup on your skin or sweat a ton (like high speed biking and running) you could probably stand to buy at least 2 -3 of these and rotate washing/wearing. I’ve had for about a month and used daily. It seems to be made of great quality fabric and the stitching/craftsmanship also is holding up well so far. I highly recommend this product for women or men.

This head covering worked exceptionally well for windy cold weather hikes. The mesh nose and mouth coverings allowed for clear breathing. The only drawback to this type of covering is frequent washings due to breathing through the material.