Balaclava reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 180 Reddit reviews across 30 subreddits and 43 posts to rank the best Balaclava brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/skiing, r/COsnow, r/MTB, r/icecoast, r/airsoft. Top-rated brands include Blackstrap (4.4/5), Airhole (4.4/5), Buff (4.2/5).
Stats
Reviews180
Subreddits30
Posts43
Brands85
Products59
180 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Blackstrap
4.4
(31)
"I use the ones from p1 and all girls in my team started using them."
"Black strap brand is great, warm and durable."
"I love my BS"
"The Blackstrap Expedition Hood is my fave for both snowboarding and bike commuting."
"I love Blackstrap balaclavas."
"Black strap all the way."
"I bought one from blackstrap and have been very pleased."
"Blackstrap."
"I like the one I have from blackstrap."
"Blackstrap is hands down the best. They have a couple different styles and thicknesses, I think the Expedition is the thickest/warmest."
#2
Airhole
4.4
(11)
"Love them!"
"Have had a couple and love them. Your face doesn’t really get super cold with them, and you basically eliminate fogging."
"Another vote for Airhole. Just used mine this morning in single digits with 17” of pow and no fogging."
"Airholes have been a success in this family."
"Also airhole facemasks"
"Airhole ,let's you breath out instead of up ."
"I've got a big head and it's good."
"Different styles and materials that might work."
"My whole family uses airhole, it means that you don't have to use a second face cover after lunch."
"Air hole makes some good stuff."
#3
Buff
4.2
(9)
"I really like Buff or Icebreaker (merino)!"
"Buff makes a great hinged balaclava."
"Buff Balaclavas have an opening for breathing. These help immensely."
"Buff"
"Buffs have always done the job for me"
"I use a merino buff below freezing, and a regular buff above freezing. I fold it like a balaclava."
"I use Buff and Costco balaclava, affordable and do the job."
"Buff comes in multiple weights/fabrics. Get the heavier versions (Thermonet, Polar)."
"I’m happy with my Buff balaclava."
#4
Turtle Fur
3.8
(6)
"I have a ski the east one for warmer days and a turtle fur for cold Bois. Seriously recommend both."
"I used to own a Turtlefur I quite liked before I lost it."
"Turtle fur or Skida. Prefer the fleece feeling."
"I like the Turtle Fur line."
"Turtlefur"
"Turtle Fur"
#5
Skida
4.4
(5)
"SKIDA"
"I just got a Skida one and it’s amazing. Has worked great the last few days."
"Skida is my favorite, 25% off puts them at $28 right now. Vermont company they know cold and windy"
"Makes a quality product."
"Skida or under armor both tried and tested."
#6
Arc'teryx
4.2
(5)
"Hands down. Just so happens they are basically unobtanium as well."
"Never going back to anything else"
"I like my Arc’teryx one, but they’re hard to find."
"I think outdoor research makes one and of course arc'teryx which is overpriced but pretty nice."
"I have an arc'teryx one and it still fogs up my glasses."
#7
Under Armour
3.8
(5)
"I’ve been using the same one for 20 years"
"I ended up keeping using my UA one over and over."
"Under armor makes a good thin one, I wear them on my bike."
"I usually go for the Under Armour ones."
"I've liked my under armour one."
#8
Smartwool
4.5
(4)
"I bought a thin smartwool one. It is just as warm and virtually no moisture."
"I've had really good luck with my smartwool balaclava."
"Smartwool works great."
"Smartwool"
#9
Icebreaker
4.5
(4)
"Wool, all the things wool. They are warm when they are dry."
"I have a couple of icebreaker merino wool balaclava."
"Ice breaker used to make one that I use every single time i go skiing."
"Icebreaker brand works well IMO."
#10
NB Tactical
4.5
(4)
"Also extremely recommend their mesh mask that goes with the balaclava."
"Uncontested"
"My friend tested it this weekend and it is very breathable and create no fog"
"I wear a nbtactical balaclava with boomslang intimidator pit vipers with a oakley helo kit and pulled snug with the strap on cord. Haven't had fogging issues with that to date"
#11
Le Bent
4.7
(3)
"Le bent le bent le bent. Merino/bamboo blend. Super soft and warm. Best of both worlds."
"Le bents are amazing."
"Le bent"
#12
Anon
4.7
(3)
"Anon makes a goggle with a magnet to hold their companion balaclava in place."
"If you have anon goggles they have a pairing anon balaclava."
"For my face I have an Anon magnetic hoodie type thing, where the mouth cover pops on and off the bottom of my goggles. I pop it on for lifts and standing around if I’m cold, and off for runs when I am working hard and don’t want it on."
#13
Phunkshun
4.3
(3)
"Phunkshun balaclavas. best ones on the market IMO."
"Phunkshun is really good"
"I really love my new Phunkshun branded blaclava."
#14
Burton
5.0
(2)
"Burton Burke Hood."
"The Burke is cozy microfiber feeling and the Bonded is great snowy/wet days."
#15
Ridge Merino
5.0
(2)
"I ski with a Ridge Merino balaclava almost every day and fogging is not an issue."
"I ski with a Ridge Merino balaclava almost every day and fogging is not an issue."
#16
Metrolineas
5.0
(2)
"Hand-Knit in 100% Alpaca Wool from the Andes Mountains."
"The one i'm wearing is the best one for sure"
#17
Outdoor Research
4.5
(2)
"Outdoor Research is by far the best mix of breathability and warmth. Put it over your nose and then your goggles over it and it will not fog."
"Got issued an Outdoor Research one. I don't remember the name but it's got a nice fleece inside."
#18
Oxford
4.5
(2)
"Just got my hands on the Oxford balaclavas and they are great."
"I have an oxford one that does both summer and winter."
#19
Schampa
4.5
(2)
"I have one and they are super comfortable."
"I use this one - it does have a seam that goes up the center of the mask."
#20
Seirus
4.5
(2)
"Seirus has a magnetic one that's great."
"The magnetic Seirus is pretty nice."
#21
New Balance
4.5
(2)
"NB is GOAT"
"NB tactical"
#22
Särmä
4.5
(2)
"Amazing quality product."
"There's a white balaclava stored on my snow camo helmet cover and a tan one on my multiglam."
#23
Dririder
4.0
(2)
"I have a dririder thermal one, paired with a neck warmer in winter, keeps my face/neck relatively warm."
"I used the DriRider thermal one, I think it's $15. Haven't been cold yet."
#24
Oyuki
4.0
(2)
"I had an Oyuki Proclava I used each ski day for the past 5+ years and now I bought a new one just last week."
"Here is one for a good price https://www.evo.com/balaclavas/oyuki-proclava-balaclava"
#25
Patagonia
4.0
(2)
"Warm and breathable."
"Patagonia has rarely steered me wrong for actual 'gear'."
#26
RockBros
3.5
(2)
"+1 sa rockbros, dyan din ako bumibili."
"Rockbros on Amazon"
#27
Silk
3.5
(2)
"Silk balaclavas are the go."
"Anything more than a silk balaclava will make your helmet loose in summer i have found."
#28
Dollarama
3.5
(2)
"Dollarama sells a cooling scarf that works as a decent one"
"Dollarama sells a cooling scarf that works as a decent one"
#29
Axial
5.0
(1)
"Warmest by far, and my helmet is crazy leaky air-wise."
#30
Ridge
5.0
(1)
"I just got a ridge merino wood hoodie/balaclava and I like it a lot."
#31
Korda
5.0
(1)
"Korda has really good balaclavas."
#32
NoSun
5.0
(1)
"Get a NoSun. It attaches to your goggles to keep your nose and cheeks warm."
#33
Sabelt
5.0
(1)
"Sabelt makes a nice one with a seam on each side of your head instead of one down the middle. I love mine."
#34
Reebok
5.0
(1)
"I always get a balaclava every winter. Extremely useful, especially in areas where winters are particularly harsh."
#35
45NRTH
5.0
(1)
"Have you tried 45NRTH?"
#36
Burton (Anon)
5.0
(1)
"Best option is Burton (anon) goggles. They have magnets that attached to balaclava."
#37
Merino Balaclava
5.0
(1)
"My setup is evelvod to merino balaclava with one big opening."
#38
Over the Helmet Balaclava
5.0
(1)
"Get an over the helmet balaclava, they're so comfy and warm."
#39
Airhole Tubes
5.0
(1)
"I’m a fan of the air hole tubes. Sure, they are a bit different, but I don’t fog up."
#40
Klim
5.0
(1)
"Klim arctic balaclava. 10/10"
#41
SFI/FIA Nomex Balaclava
5.0
(1)
"I'd get an SFI/FIA approved safety rated nomex balaclava. Even at their most expensive they are about $100, which in my mind is worth the peace of mind for both your own safety."
#42
EDZ
4.0
(1)
"I have one from EDZ merino wool, and a buff brand one. EDZ is defo a tighter fit. Great quality too."
#43
Decathlon
4.0
(1)
"I've had good results from this Merino cycling neck gator from Decathlon. It has a thin spot over your mouth and nose, so you don't accumulate condensation that freezes."
#44
Armada
4.0
(1)
"I use an Armada Ballerclava for skiing in all conditions. It was cheap I'm happy with it. It's very easy to lower it around your mouth for easier breathing as well."
#45
Moss
4.0
(1)
"I typically use a moss/atacs one from aliexpress, kosher and rlly good for breathability"
#46
Mons Royale
4.0
(1)
"I now own a handful of Mons Royale coverings."
#47
Flylow
4.0
(1)
"Flylow is my go to, and I have blackstrap and smartwool but Flylow is the thinnest, best fitting, and most comfy."
#48
Whitespace
4.0
(1)
"I love my Whitespace one. It’s merino wool, very warm and resistant to moisture."
#49
Beardski
4.0
(1)
"Check out beardski on amazon, they're fun and make more of a V in front of your mouth so it's not directly touching"
#50
Dainese
4.0
(1)
"Worked fine for me"
#51
Louis Garneau
4.0
(1)
"I find moto specific balaclavas too thick for under the helmet."
#52
Amazon Basics
4.0
(1)
"What about the amazon basics one? Bodyfit I think. I use that, so far so good."
#53
Ridex
4.0
(1)
"Ridex balaclava."
#54
USGI
4.0
(1)
"I would just go down to your local surplus store and buy a no-name USGI nomex balaclava."
#55
Alpinestars
4.0
(1)
"My Alpinestars is comfortable, It does have a seam, but I have not noticed any unusual discomfort."
#56
REI
4.0
(1)
"I’m going to REI to buy one this weekend, so I will report back if I remember haha."
#57
Aerostich
4.0
(1)
"I use the aerostich competition silk scarf."
#58
Black Yak
4.0
(1)
"Black yak mountain shemagh
https://global.blackyak.com/en/products/mountain-shemagh"
#59
Amazon
4.0
(1)
"One of the most versatile pieces of clothing I own is a shemagh."
#60
SA Fishing
4.0
(1)
"Not really a balaclava, but I get the mix pack neck gaiters from SA Fishing."
#61
Rurock
4.0
(1)
"Rurock"
#62
Merino
4.0
(1)
"Merino wool."
#63
Rebelhorn
4.0
(1)
"I have 1 Rebelhorn summer one with a "cooling" effect and the other one Adrenaline South."
#64
511
4.0
(1)
"Been using the 511 one for a while at work and it seems alright."
#65
Storm Hood
4.0
(1)
"I agree that the storm hood is great for these colder conditions."
#66
Neoprene Balaclava
4.0
(1)
"It does a good job of directing your breath down and away from your glasses, goggles or visor."
#67
Legasea Gannet UV Hoody
4.0
(1)
"I use a thin UV resistant jersey with a built in face mask."
#68
Wool Balaclava
4.0
(1)
"I got this wool one on Amazon. Been using it all year."
#69
Buff Coolnet UV+
4.0
(1)
"Buff Coolnet UV+."
#70
Buff Coolnet UV
4.0
(1)
"I usually ski with an ultra lightweight buff neck gaiter."
#71
Neoprene Face Masks
4.0
(1)
"I like the neoprene face masks but there are lots of options."
#72
Pearl Izumi
4.0
(1)
"I have a thin Pearl Izumi one I like."
#73
Varusteleka
4.0
(1)
"Varusteleka sells thin merino ones."
#74
Kombi
4.0
(1)
"I use a $20 Kombi balaclava I picked up at Canadian Tire that’s worked great."
#75
Amazon Balaclava
4.0
(1)
"Just get the Amazon ones. They work fine at any speed."
#76
Fleece Balaclava
4.0
(1)
"Get a cheap medium weight fleece balaclava. A very functional piece."
#77
Freezer Use Balaclava
4.0
(1)
"Go to work world or boot barn. They sell balaclavas meant for walk in freezer use."
#78
Winter Sports Balaclava
4.0
(1)
"I wear one that I bought for downhill skiing. It isn't branded, but my suggestion is to look at winter sports gear."
#79
Axial Block
4.0
(1)
"My partner says she finds the Axial Block balaclava from Cycle Gear is comfortable."
#80
NRS
4.0
(1)
"The NRS storm hood worked well for me."
#81
Cygnus Armory
4.0
(1)
"Super comfy and greatly more breathable than other products."
#82
Black Strap
4.0
(1)
"Been using black strap for a bit and I like it."
#83
TRAILSIDE SUPPLY CO
3.0
(1)
"It looks like a lot of balaclavas found on Amazon have dual seams, which you could try."
#84
Bula
3.0
(1)
"Probably bula’s non-neoprene facemask. Not as good as the old costco model but what can you do."
#85
VKBO
2.0
(1)
"The Russian VKBO bakaclava is too warm to wear on airsoft -especially on summer."
Discover your audience
GummySearch is an audience research toolkit for 130,000 unique communities on Reddit.
If you are looking for startup problems to solve, want to validate your idea or find your customers online, GummySearch is for you.
Sign up for free, get community insights in minutes.
Tell me more
Get started
