I dont know when facemasks became balaclavas but Im betting when they hit the $25-$30 range

Ive for years HAVE USED THE $5.99 fabric facemasks and they have worked fairly well except that they get soaked with sweat but still retain their heat

Im wondering if some of you have any experience with the so called "ultimate" ones that you now see in sporting goods stores,,,some are made out of neoprene,goretex and combinations of other new age fabrics
neoprene is good for wet conditions but Ive never really found it that warm next to your skin

love to hear your opinions especially on performance in below zero weather and how they handle sweat I dont mind spending the extra cash on one if theres a good one out there

I reserve the term "facemask" for any mask that is meant to shield the face, and only the face. (Basically, think handkerchief tied around the face, robbery-style.)

I use balaclava for headgear that covers the entire head except the face, in whole in in part. (Ski-mask, also useful for robberies. )



I picked up a few. One last year was a lightweight material, synthetic, not wind resistant except for the facemask part of it. It wasn't bad, as long as I wore a hat under it and a separate ear band to protect my ears from the wind. OTOH, the sewing was poorly done, and it's hems are beginning to become undone.

I also picked up a new, heavier balaclava in late fall from Thrifty Outfitters. This is wind-resistant (-proof?), was about $20, and seems to be thicker than my old one.

Sorry I don't know the exact fabric either are made out of.

I think ideally, I'd like a thin, stretchy, windproof but breathable fabric that I could use as an outer shell, and then a thicker warm balaclava to put underneath that for cold weather.

I've got a Gore Windstopper one. It's tits.

omgmr

actually I find that funny that Gore would make a balaclava,,wasnt it him who said that global warming was upon us??????

actually where did you get yours? locally?

I have some sort of face mask that has a wind/water resistant coating on the front side and a fleece-like material on the back. It has little holes for breathing through and a nose hole that has a partial cover on it to protect it.

I like it a lot and have used it down to -40 windchill but works fine and isn't too hot for me at 20-25 degrees. I tried on at the store a ski mask version of it but I didn't like how it fit with my glasses and the sizing wasn't quite right for the nose.

I've got a Gore Windstopper balaclava that's pretty awesome, but it doesn't fit my small head too well. It's for sale if anyone's interested.

Lucky for me I have a huge head. How much you want for the balaclava?

I've had good luck with my SmartWool balaclava. Spendy, but worth it. So lightweight that you won't believe it's going to keep you warm until it does.

I use it in combination with a Bern helmet with a winter lining. No need for a hat.

I got mine for $40 at Dick's, but I believe they're available at Midwest Mountaineering too.

What I am currently looking for is a balaclava that has a band over the nose, but a big opening for my mouth. I can't breathe though my nose when riding, and I hate trying to breathe *through* a fabric layer. If I keep my normal balaclava down under my lower lip, my nose ends up getting cold.

Paging yynot...

He has a setup that makes him look like a Tusken Raider, and I mean that in the best way possible. Pretty sure I saw him eat a granola bar with his balaclava on, so maybe he has what you're looking for.

Beards are my favorite balaclava.

TL;DR version: Gore Windstopper with mouth hole cut out. Works great to -5F

Full version:
Mine also the Gore Windstopper one. I was looking for a link but they appear to have changed the design since I got mine a few years ago. So, mine is a few years old version of this

http://www.gorebikewear.com/remote/Satellite/PROD_ABALAV?landingid=1208436871979A

Except it had holes for breathing at the mouth like this

http://www.gorebikewear.com/remote/Satellite/PROD_AFACEP?landingid=1208436871979A

Per Lowrah, I cut open the mouth to get more air through. It's a great mask but does feel a little sloppy/drooly around the lips and lacks enough of a chin causing my old road style helmet to pull down on the front of the mask; which was the only annoyance. But, my new ski helmet doesn't do that.

Below about -5F I throw a cheap fleece facemask over mainly to protect my nose. Once when it was -15F I got a touch of frostbite on the tip of my nose. But I've got poor circulation in general and my commute is 1h10m. I'm planning on using my new access to my in-laws sewing machine and new found ability to not hurt myself and make a functional stitch to sew in a piece of felt over the nose.

That being said, I do love wool and recently got a smartwool balaclava which I plan to cut and restich using the Gore one as a template. I can't wear anything with the mouth or nose covered without fogging up my goggles.

this.

Not the most flattering of reviews:

I love that the review above is still 4 out of 5 stars.