Face Masks: Yes or no?

[cinnabon]

Alyeskaluv, you really should check out the Powderfish gaiters at www. powderfish.com. They have a lining material that wicks moisture out and I've never had it freeze even using through a very frigid winter last year.

I got one of these after reading about it here, and I love it! The wicking is a big improvement over just plain fleece.

 

[lovebug]

Ooooh! These look great. I wonder if its too late to add to my Christmas wish-list

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I got one of these after reading about it here, and I love it! The wicking is a big improvement over just plain fleece.

Ditto. Couldn't believe I was popping that $ amount for a gaiter.....but it got such overwhelmingly glowing reviews here last winter that I had to give one a try. WORTH the $! Haven't been without it since.

 

[Arlaquinn]

ok now I am shopping for powderfish.....https://www.sahalie.com has 15% enter code 12817 at check out

 

[Gumbelina]

I have been using a Smartwool neck gaiter for a couple of years and love it, very soft and warm. It does stretch out some after a few days of use, but once it gets washed it is as good as new. I bought an Arc'teryx balaclava to use in cold temps this weekend, I'm curious to see whether having the power stretch fabric over my mouth and nose drives me crazy, or if it gets too damp from my breath.

 

[skidaup]

I think the face masks are kind of odd looking. I think I have a closterphobic face/neck area. If I wear a neck gater it seems I can't zip my jaccket colar way up. I must admit that all I can handle on my neck is a cotton bandana. I looked at all the ideas and think you guys are awesome but I just have to have my bandana, blue preferably.

 

[Slidergirl]

I'm claustrophobic, too, when it comes to stuff around my neck and face. Last year, up in Calgary, I found a Turtle Fur Super Lite gaiter. It isn't the fleece stuff. It's a stretchy tech fabric, more like a Buff. But, it was actually pretty darn warm. It was one of those -10 days and my neck was nice and toasty. It's no more cloth than a bandana, but it doesn't get all wet and frozen. I bought the matching beanie to wear under my helmet.
If you go to the Turtle Fur website, you'll see them. Oh, they DO have a bandana-like one, too!

 

[wul3]

I just bought a powderfish balaclava but now I'm wondering what to do with my hair...don't balaclava's come down to the neck? I usually do a low ponytail with a headband and a neoprene mask.

 

[CMCM]

I layer up as necessary. The other day it was so cold I had on my thin head liner to go under my helmet, then a heavy neck gator, then on top of all that my face mask like MSL's first photo. The face mask is annoying, but much better than being cold. My face is sensitive to cold. With all of the above on, my head and neck weren't in the least bit cold. One of my feet was cold, though, and it was bad enough I had to go in and use a boot warmer. I'm not sure why that foot got so cold...nothing seemed too tight. I think on certain days I might need some sort of boot warmer.

 

[Gumbelina]

Hi wul3! I wore my balaclava out skiing for the first time yesterday; I just put my hair into low pigtails. if you have longer hair 1-2 low braids might also be comfortable. Your hair just tucks underneath the neck part of the balaclava.

I'm very curious to hear from some divas who have the Powderfish balaclava; the Arc'teryx one that I bought kept me warm and comfortable, but it did get plenty wet over my mouth and nose. I'm wondering if there are balaclavas that don't do that? I also didn't really care for smelling my pizza breath after lunch time - good thing I had a pack of gum in my pocket. Blech!

 

[ski now work later]

I have started skiing with the Powderfish gaiters this season, and I do like them. They are looser than my Mountain Hardwear ones, but they never get stinky and don't seem to freeze. Today it was snowing so hard that I switched them out when I was on break in the lodge, so I was glad that I have 2 of them.

I have yet to ski with a face mask, though I tend to avoid skiing in frigid temps or high winds, when one might be very useful to avoid frostbite.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

OMG, it was so wicked cold this weekend in northern New England that the ski shop in the base lodge was doing a banner business on face masks. Anyone who didn't wear one was....well, inside. There were frostbite warnings at the base and summit of every lift. -12 at the summit today, there was just NO WAY ANYONE cared what they looked like. It was cover it or quit skiing. Coldest weekend I've skied in recent memory.

 

[LilaBear]

Yesterday was -14F, supposedly -39F with windchill. I wore a powderfish gaiter/balaclava. I have to report it did get wettish around the mouth and froze slightly. But it was still effective as protection. I was skiing powder, so the gaiter and nose cover goes up on the lift, and is pulled down several times on the run when I am working like a banshee to make turns in powder (I am improving), until eventually it sits under my chin - I think this is why it got wet. Overall I would say it was very effective. Oh and the green trim matches my jacket so well that it looks like it was part of the design. Today it was also supposedly -14F, but there was little wind today and it did not get wet.

I like that I can slide the balaclava bit backwards and it wears like a regular gaiter.

On the ponytail question - my old balaclava has a hole that I cut out for my pony tail to stick through above my neck gaiter. Much more comfortable that having head movement restricted by the lump of hair tucked into the collar and it didn't let any cold in. I used regular scissors and didn't hem it in any way - it was just fine.

I have a question - on my powderfish balaclava there are two holes (small and hemmed like buttonholes) at throat level about six inches apart in the hat part but snugged under the gaiter part - what can they be for?

 

[sibhusky]

Head phones?

 

[oragejuice]

Yeah, headphones.

I bought a fleece lined Neff bandana today. I loooove it!

 

[ski now work later]

I bought a fleece lined Neff bandana today. I loooove it!

Got my daughter one of those and she used it in Sunday's snowstorm while skiing. Loved it.

 

[cinnabon]

ok now I am shopping for powderfish.....https://www.sahalie.com has 15% enter code 12817 at check out

The Powderfish gaiters are on sale for 9.99 at Sahalie!
https://www.sahalie.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=3544
I'll post this in the deals thread, but thought I'd mention it here because this is such a great deal!

never mind - I see someone beat me to it!

 

[cosmogirl]

love my neck gaiters, although I really should go for some color instead of black

 

[marzNC]

bump

Glad this is going to be a winter where keeping warm because the snow is deep and temps are low will be a good problem to have.

 

[CMCM]

I get cold really easily, and if the weather warrants, I'm wearing 1) a head cover inside my helmet plus 2) neck gaiter plus 3) face mask like in your first photo! With all this I'm warm enough, protected from wind, and much happier as I ski!

This winter has been really bone chillingly cold at times, is cold right now, so I'm staying well covered! Great snow, though, really really great!