 Poster: A snowHead
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What do people wear to keep themselves warm in this area? I've previously used a North Face balaclava(I assume it was synthetic), but found that it very easily got wet around the breathing area, and became a bit of a pain after that. I've seen the Airhole neck gaiters and balaclavas that seem to try and combat this, are they good?
My ears really feel the cold, would I be better off with some sort of hat and neck gaiter combo, over a balaclava? I don't want to be wearing a full blown wooly hat under a helmet, are the skull cap type hats really any warmer than a balaclava? Any thoughts/suggestions welcome!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Never known what's wrong with a helmet and buff myself.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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A balaclava makes a big difference if it's cold - just keep it away from mouth. I think helmets and balaclava are better than the old wooly hats, which get wet and snowy. Neoprene face masks are worth having when it's really cold, though they look sinister, or daft, depending on your point of view.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Get a buff. Put your face through it so it keeps your ears covered, but don't pull it down. Fold the bottom of the opening to cover your chin. Helmet over the top. Spare buff in bag/pocket if the first one gets wet.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Mon 9-01-23 20:17; edited 1 time in total
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for the responses. What is the benefit of wearing a buff over the ears in that way over just buying a balaclava?
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I would wear a balaclava and a big fleece necker. Skinny balaclavas fit under helmets OK. I wear a balaclava under my bike helmet in the UK too. And hope I don't meet anybody I know... it does nothing for one's hair-do.
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| Blacky wrote: |
| Thanks for the responses. What is the benefit of wearing a buff over the ears in that way over just buying a balaclava? |
Keeps my ears, neck and chin warm without getting my head too warm or making my helmet too tight.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I don't find balaclava makes my helmet too tight - it makes a lot less difference than how recently you've had your hair cut. The cut of your ski jacket makes a difference too - if the neck really does up high, and comfortably, it makes a big difference (like a sailing jacket). One reason I wouldn't buy one online.
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Most days you probably won’t need to cover your ears, especially if you have fleecy/furry ear covers in your helmet, only if it’s very cold or windy. The rest of the time you can wear the buff around your neck to keep the wind out, and pull it up when you need to. It’s a multi-use garment 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Air hole balaclavas are good in that your goggles don’t mist up. However everyone who wears one looks like a dodgy video effect edit as we discovered in Canada. They can still get wet though around the mouth.
My favourite is a skull cap under the helmet which covers the ears and a buff.
it kind of looks like this but don’t have mine to hand. Picked it up in Norway.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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When it’s really cold I use a buff but pull it right up over the back of my head so that one opening of the buff basically frames your face - under your chin round to your hair line. I then put my helmet on and then put my hood up over the helmet and zip my jacket up completely. With my jacket style this means it’s zipped up to just under my nose. Coupled with goggles it means that it’s only the end of my nose which is exposed to the elements.
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And make sure any vents on your helmet are shut or taped up!
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You know it makes sense.
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When it's really Canada piggin' cold I use a lightweight (eg snowheads) buff over the head/under the helmet, and a windstopper buff to seal the jacket collar with another lightweight buff from the collar area to over the mouth. Seems a pfaff but
a) that's what skiers are famous for and
b) anything else steams up my goggles.
Anything warmer than piggin' cold and I just use a buff to seal the jacket collar up to the chin, either lightweight (eg snowheads) or proper windstopper.
And by windstopper I mean Gore windstopper licensed not some pale imitation.
I've tried neoprene things but I just don't get on with them. My BIL uses a neoprene skull mask in Piggin' cold, looks the part I think and works for him...(note: he's retired!)
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Scarlet wrote: |
| Get a buff. Put your face through it so it keeps your ears covered, but don't pull it down. Fold the bottom of the opening to cover your chin. Helmet over the top. Spare buff in bag/pocket if the first one gets wet. |
This ^
It's enough under a helmet to keep everything warm and covered if needed, without being too bulky, and light enough to be comfortable just around my next the rest of the time. Plus I have quite a few of them kicking around 
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Mon 9-01-23 21:16; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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@fixx, oops, you’ve highlighted my typo  Should be “face”, obvs.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Agent Orange wrote: |
Air hole balaclavas are good in that your goggles don’t mist up. However everyone who wears one looks like a dodgy video effect edit as we discovered in Canada. They can still get wet though around the mouth.
My favourite is a skull cap under the helmet which covers the ears and a buff.
it kind of looks like this but don’t have mine to hand. Picked it up in Norway. |
This sounds like a good solution, as I can remove individual elements based on how cold I am.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Two lightweight buffs, one for the neck (easy to pull up and partially cover face when it’s a bit chilly) and one as a cap under the helmet. Always done this and never had a problem or issue. Inexpensive and effective.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Well I stop riding at about minus 35 on surface lifts, a bit colder if the lift has heat. I don't know if I have this optimized or not, but...
I use an Arc Atom jacket as mid-layer, and it's got a hood. With goggles under helmet, it's easy to pull that hood up under the helmet when I feel the cold, or the reverse when warmed up. I've a Dakine neck gaiter thing which has some thickness to it - I don't like the thin "buff" things, which flap in and out if you breathe hard. That works for me.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I have always struggled with painful ears in cold weather, even with a helmet on and in relatively sunny days - the windchill gets me if I go above 15mph, which admittedly isn't often as I am hugely slow 
Anyway, I invested in one of these for our trip to Champoluc before Christmas: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01N7C2V8Y?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&tag=amz07b-21
...and it did exactly what I wanted - was comfortable under a helmet and importantly not TOO hot. I didn't cover my mouth though.
Sadly we are done for this season because of teen-agers and exams etc, but I'll definitely look at getting a couple more for when we next go.
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FAQ
buff. 2x 
