If you are a skier or a snowboarder then we highly suggest that you check out the Whimzy Powder Hood from The North Face. As a family, we ski quite a bit every year, including a few trips to some of the larger New England and North East mountains, and we have all typically always worn some sort of balaclava or open faced head sock under our helmets. Daron wears a thin one typically used under go cart helmets, but I despise having something between my hair and helmet so I’ve always bought and worn more of the neck warmer type that just covers to the bottom of your nose / ears.
Last year after one particular colder and windier trip to Loon, what I had just wasn’t cutting it, and I started looking for something better. That same weekend I saw someone at a mountain with this type of over the helmet cover and immediately knew it was what I was looking for. After doing some research between different outdoor clothing companies and the different versions sold on Amazon, I finally settled on The North Face Whimzy Powder Hood.
I have found this particular over the helmet hood to be fantastic. It is made out of fleece, it stays dry even in poor weather as long as it is not ice or rain coming down, and it provides both neck and face protection. Since I have started wearing it, I have found that it helps reduce the wind chill and protects both the front and back of my neck, even on those blustery mountain days.
One thing to note is that these balaclavas are designed to fit over a helmet. I have an adult large helmet, and purchased the L/XL size hood, so if you are planning on wearing it when not wearing a helmet, it will fit more like a ski jacket hood. It does have a drawstring around the face that can be tightened, but it will still flop around. For anyone with longer hair who wants something they can wear while their hair is in a ponytail, I would highly recommend ordering your normal size.
The only downside I have found with the Whimzy Powder Hood from The North Face is the limited color options on their website. Having more options would, in my opinion be great, but the only options are Black, Camo and Dragonfruit. There are a few other color options on Amazon, but pricing looks to be a little different.
If your interested in taking a look at these, you can find them at The North Face here.
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