100% Merino Wool Balaclava - Winter Ski Mask - Face Mask - Cold Weather Gear

I bought this to wear under a thicker, polyester balaclava so I have a natural fiber against my skin. Alone, it doesn't do much to mitigate wind. However, even in 20°F chill, it keeps my face warm without holding in any moisture from my breath. If there's a wind, I use a fleece lined polyester over this and I'm well protected from cold without the bulk of a thick balaclava obstucting my vision.This is the least expensive 100% merino wool balaclava I've found and it does exactly what I expect.The fit is good and not tight, won't smash your nose. The sewing is well done and the seams are comfortable.

Minus33 makes some great gear, all of it being made from merino wool. Their thin weight shirts are my go to shirts for cycling, even in the Summer. Yes, wool can be worn then. Certainly breathes as well or better than the modern breathable jerseys. I think better, actually. I use the same lightweight, long sleeve shirts for my Winter commutes (in layers), and stay nice and warm down to 20F.I ordered the balaclava knowing it would be the same soft wool material as their other products, but in a lightweight form. It has yet to dissapoint me, with enough stretch to allow for covering and uncovering of my nose and mouth, as conditions warrant. It fits my big noggin comfortably under a cycling helmet. Mind you, it does not completely block the wind, so if you need something with wind proof properties, I suggest looking at some other brands, such as the Pearl Izumi PRO line. It allows enough cold through the material to pull off some of the sweat during rides, even working well up into the 50s. I am prone to painfully cold ears, and it works perfectly for that.As for stretching it out, I have not had that issue as of yet. My solution will be to take it in the shower when I return home from my commute, hand washing it as I do my other wool bits. Then squeeze out the water and hang it to drip dry. It is machine washable, but my thinking is why not take advantage of the shower.Anyway, highly recommended. Just know that it will lead some wind through, so for very cold temperatures, another layer or wind blocking balaclava may better fit your needs.

Super high quality material. Perfect for Minnesota winters! Breathable, soft, and sweat-wicking. Keeps me so warm on those brutal windy winter days. Great for every day wear or skiing! Not itchy at all, like some wool can be! Highly recommend.

I recently bought this balaclava for bear, deer, and elk seasons where I was tired of playing around with a neck gaiter. I was originally looking at other companies but I didn't want something that was too bulky, and I really like the color choices that Minus33 had so I figured that I would give them a shot. Also, I really hate when products brand their logos on every square inch or make them some loud color so everyone knows what you are wearing and you seem like a billboard. I like high quality, low key items, and this one fit that bill.When the balaclava arrived, I was really surprised by how thin it was. That did initially worry me because I thought that 'midweight' would have been a little thicker, but I figured that I would give it a go this last weekend in a camping/hunting outing where temperatures were between 22F-48F.The balaclava performed awesome to my surprise. It is thin enough to allow you to breathe well, wear hats and glasses with - without getting in the way or being uncomfortable at all. In fact, after about 45 min, I didn't realize it was on my face. It did not obstruct my view or breathing, it kept my face warm and dry, and there is enough give in the fabric that you can pull it down under your chin to eat, drink, smoke, or whatever and it didn't seem to stretch out.The most important test was inside the tent. At night my face usually starts getting cold at some point and I wake up and then try to cover my face with a bag or roll a hat down on my face which inevitably comes off and then it a never ending cycle. With this, I slept all night with it and even tossing and turning kept it on pretty straight. This was a real winner.I would have given this product 5 stars if it was made in the USA and not China. The stitching is good, the color that I got (forest green) was great with other products, and the material feels excellent on the skin. If you are in the market for a lightweight, comfortable, affordable, and warm balaclava, add this one to your list and give it a try.

Light feeling on face and breathable. I generally don't like wearing beanie (fleece and/or cotton) over head over long periods of time (1/2hr or longer) as it gives me a compression-type headache. The light material of this hood keeps my face warm on the ski runs and also during cold camping nights in the tent.

I wish I knew about wool way earlier in life! This balaclava is thin, but it has kept me pretty warm in Chicago winter. Good for wearing under a bike helmet. The material is great for mitigating odors as others have mentioned. Any polyester one retains smells from breathing into it, but this one doesn't seem to have that issue. Worth it.