Balaclava vs. Neck Gaiter vs. Beanie: What to Wear in Winter

Short answer: a beanie covers the top of your head and your ears. A neck gaiter covers your neck and can be pulled up over your mouth and nose. A balaclava covers head, face and neck in a single piece. Choose a beanie for calm, cool days, add a gaiter when the wind gets at your collar, and go for a balaclava or a one-piece mask hat when it is windy, very cold, or you are moving fast.

How do the three compare?

When is a beanie enough?

On a still, cool day when you are walking to the shops or waiting for a train, a beanie does the job. It keeps your head and ears warm and comes off easily when you step indoors. Its weak point is everything below the ears: your neck, chin and cheeks stay open to the wind.

When should you add a neck gaiter?

A gaiter closes the gap between your collar and your chin, which is where cold air usually gets in. Worn with a beanie, it gives you most of the coverage of a balaclava and lets you uncover your face in a second. The trade-off is that two separate pieces can shift apart when you turn your head or lean forward, leaving a strip of skin exposed.

When do you need a balaclava?

Choose full coverage when the wind is doing the damage. The faster you move, the harder the air hits your face, so cyclists, skiers and anyone commuting on two wheels feel the cold far more than a walker at the same temperature. A single piece that covers head, face and neck has no gap to open up, and nothing to rearrange once you are moving.

What is a one-piece mask hat?

A mask hat joins a warm hat and a neck mask into one piece, so it wears like a hat with a built-in gaiter. Our One-Piece Flannel Warm Mask Hat is windproof, one size with adjustable tightness, and comes in two warmth levels:

• No Velvet: the lighter version without a plush lining, for cool autumn days, high-effort rides and a slimmer feel.
• Plush & Thickened: lined and thicker, for cold winter days, commutes and slower-paced time outdoors.

If your hands and feet get cold too, the Unisex Winter Warm Set pairs a windproof full-face mask with touchscreen gloves, and the three- and four-piece sets add thermal socks.

How do you choose?

• Walking in calm, cool weather: beanie.
• Walking or hiking in wind: beanie plus neck gaiter, or a mask hat.
• Cycling and commuting: balaclava or one-piece mask hat.
• Skiing, snowboarding and long days in deep cold: full-face mask with gloves and warm socks.
• You run hot: a lighter, unlined version you can loosen.

Frequently asked questions

Is a balaclava warmer than a beanie and scarf?

In wind, usually yes. The fabric is not necessarily thicker, but a single piece leaves no gap for cold air to get through, and it stays put when you move.

Can you wear a balaclava or mask hat under a bike helmet?

Thin, unlined versions usually fit best. A thicker lined version adds bulk, so put your helmet on over it and check that it still sits snugly before you ride.

How do you stop glasses fogging up with a face covering?

Fogging happens when warm breath is pushed up behind the lenses. Fit the fabric snugly across the bridge of your nose, or pull it down below your nose when you stop moving, so your breath escapes forward.

What size balaclava do I need?

Most are one size. Look for one with adjustable tightness or a drawstring, so you can tighten it against the wind and loosen it when you warm up.

Can you use your phone with winter gloves on?

Only with touchscreen gloves, which have conductive fingertips. Ordinary gloves have to come off, and your hands lose their warmth quickly once they do.

For the rest of your cold-weather kit, see Winter Cycling & Commuting Essentials or browse the Fall & Winter collection.