The Friendly SwedeBalaclava Face Mask Men, Black Ski Mask for Men, Ski Mask for Women (Standard/Nordic/Arctic)

From December 2018 to February 2019, I worked for an ice and snow removal company in the Chicago area. On most days, our crew would start work at sometime around midnight and finish up around six in the morning. Needless to say, I experienced some of the harshest weather America has to offer, including the "polar vortex" which caused temperatures to plummet to fifty-two below zero on one occasion. So it's fair to say that I put this Balaclava to the test. And I can report that it passed with flying colors. The Balaclava was very effective at keeping my face warm and dry in even the most extreme conditions. It was also quite comfortable, too, which allowed me to keep it on for hours at a time without a problem. The only downsides I noticed were some moderate moisture buildup around the mouth area and a mild pressure near the temples. However, such issues are basically unavoidable in a Balaclava, and neither of these issues became serious problems for me, so I can't hold it against the product. The Balaclava was also easy to wash and seemed to come out of each was with its material in tact, although I only used it for a few months. I'm sure over longer periods of time, the material will being to wear. But, again, that is pretty much unavoidable in a product like this. So all things considered, I have to say this Balaclava was well worth the money.

The media could not be loaded. SPORTS BALACLAVA VS. NORDIC BALACLAVA This video shows you what you are getting when you order the the two types of balaclavas offered by the Friendly Swede.....Both are great in my opinion!We tried the SPORTS Balaclava and my kids have both used it for skiing in very cold conditions, and for sledding and other outdoor winter activities. When skiing in extremely cold conditions my daughter used this balaclava under a helmet and with a neck warmer. This particular balaclava doesn't provide a lot of warmth on it's own, but definitely scores points for being compact and covering skin that would otherwise be exposed and keeping heat in that would otherwise dissipate. The Sports Balaclava is perfect for having that extra layer when doing anything outdoors.The NORDIC Balaclava is a bit warmer, with a nice fleece underlayer that is not bulky AT ALL. Very soft to the skin and perfect for colder conditions. I think this will be the go to Balaclava for very cold weather, as it not only protects skin from the elements, but with the fleece will add warmth as well. I will be ordering another two pack of these NORDIC Balaclavas as soon as I'm done with this review. Comparable balaclavas at the ski shop are around $20 and up, and here you are getting two for that price.Both Balaclavas will probably fit quite comfortable under nearly anything (Well, I'm not sure how tight a motorcycle helmet is but using ski helmets as an example the both fit great.)I don't think my kids will want to go out in cold weather without a balaclava at this point, they love them so much. I certainly won't!!

Even the "nordic" one isn't super thick, but there are TWO of them! You can double up if you want super cozyness. I'm usually moving when I use these, so I actually like this weight of fabric. Super soft, stretchy, and comfortable! I've used a balaclava for years for winter cycling, snowboarding, hiking, running, and generally not freezing my face off in the winter. These are super versatile, and can also be used as a neck gaiter or hat. It packs very small, and can easily fit in a pocket. Unlike my old one, these have flat lock seams and a cool design that makes them more comfortable worn "ninja style" or with your face uncovered. (look at the product photos to see how the overlapping layers of fabric work. It's really great!) I especially like that I can wear this product without leaving a line down the middle of my forehead when I take it off. Hopefully, these will hold up well, but only time and use will tell.My guess is that the other weight (non-nordic) is mainly for sun protection?

Great balaclava. I purchased to keep my ears and face warm while biking through the Boston winter and this product does the trick. It fits snugly, but not so tight as to be uncomfortable. So far I've biked with it in temperatures as low as 22 degrees F, and have had no issues keeping warm.The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I wear glasses and did have some trouble with them fogging up from my breathing. The material is fairly breathable, but I found that covering both my nose and mouth resulted in significant fogging. On the other hand, if I only cover my mouth, I don't have any fogging issues. I plan to manage nose coldness by tactically raising and lowering the balaclava to manage the fogging.Long story short, if you don't wear glasses, you should seriously consider this balaclava; if you do wear glasses, I'd still recommend, as the fogging can be circumvented in many cases.

These are really nice for winter biking. I have a basic buff/neck gaiter for warmer weather. And I have a heavier fleece balaclava for really cold weather. This fills the void for the everyday normal weather.This is light and airy and *not* for really cold weather. Starting out at 25F/-4C I felt like it was a little bit cold. But it held in the heat well and I quickly warmed up and was perfectly comfortable with it. I don't think it would be good below about 20F/-7C.As things warm up, it's easy to pull down the face covering, and if necessary remove the hood part and turn it into just a neck gaiter.They seem to be well constructed and I expect them to last a long time.For size/fitting: I have a large head. I wear an XL helmet, and am a 7 5/8 to 7 7/8 hat size. This felt snug but comfortable on me. I haven't really used it as a neck gaiter yet, with the hood pulled back. That might make it feel too tight for me. Most average size heads should be just fine with it.