RECOMMENDATION: Balaclava
12-17-17, 10:16 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Posts: 3,209
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 139 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times
in
20 Posts
I finally got to test and both the balaclava and goggles are great. I rode over an hour with my fatbike over construction sites (meaning slow and lot of exhaustion up earth hills etc.) at a around 29°F.
Originally I wanted to crosstest all my old and new goggles with old and new balaclava. Well, with the old balaclava it fogged already in the house, so I gave up on that. So just the new balaclava and old ski goggles, a set of safety goggles and these new ones. the old ski goggles fogged a bit and the fog stayed even after riding. the safety goggles were better, but occasionally fogged. these new ski goggles literally didn't fog at all.
Originally I wanted to crosstest all my old and new goggles with old and new balaclava. Well, with the old balaclava it fogged already in the house, so I gave up on that. So just the new balaclava and old ski goggles, a set of safety goggles and these new ones. the old ski goggles fogged a bit and the fog stayed even after riding. the safety goggles were better, but occasionally fogged. these new ski goggles literally didn't fog at all.
But I now have warm feet with my new Shimano MW7 shoes! I'm so happy to have warm feet! Why was I so doggone cheap all these years? Nothing I tried is as good as a pair of winter shoes.
12-24-17, 11:04 AM
#27
Jet Jockey
The majority of winter commuter cyclists I know use a mask similar to this when the weather gets really cold:
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/4003-2...ce-Combo-Scarf
Neoprene is very warm and it stops the wind from penetrating. It also won't soak through with moisture. You may have to cut open the mouth hole a bit, however.
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/4003-2...ce-Combo-Scarf
Neoprene is very warm and it stops the wind from penetrating. It also won't soak through with moisture. You may have to cut open the mouth hole a bit, however.
It irritates the bottom of my nose...scratches it raw, and can't be easily modified. The upper doesn't integrate as well with goggles as they claim, so it pinches down on the nose and constricts airflow.
Overall, not happy with this one, and am searching for something else.
__________________
Good night...and good luck
Good night...and good luck
12-26-17, 04:46 PM
#28
Banned
Did you know the name came from a Battle location during the Crimean War?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Balaclava
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Balaclava
12-30-17, 10:42 PM
#29
Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC
Posts: 47
Bikes: Brompton, Tern eLink D7i (sold). RM - Tinker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by HerrKaLeun View Post
For a $60 Balaclava I wanted to see more positive reviews regarding fogging. i agree reviews are not everything, but i can take a risk with $15.I ordered this one and will see. i also got some clear ski goggles tha thad good fogging reviews.
I got them just in time for what I think is bitter (20ºF). they did not fog up on my 12 mile commute! Thank you for the link.
For a $60 Balaclava I wanted to see more positive reviews regarding fogging. i agree reviews are not everything, but i can take a risk with $15.I ordered this one and will see. i also got some clear ski goggles tha thad good fogging reviews.
I got them just in time for what I think is bitter (20ºF). they did not fog up on my 12 mile commute! Thank you for the link.
Last edited by chainlink; 12-30-17 at 10:46 PM.
01-06-18, 07:00 PM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: central ohio
Posts: 1,536
Bikes: 96 gary fisher 'utopia' : 99 Softride 'Norwester'(for sale), 1972 Raleigh Twenty. Surly 1x1 converted to 1x8, 96 Turner Burner
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
A few years back I got a good balaclava on eBay. They had a great selection and most had free shipping.
01-19-18, 01:12 PM
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Minneapolis, MN, USA
Posts: 1,152
Bikes: 1990 Burley Bossa Nova, 1992 Paramount PDG-70, 1993 Specialized Stumpjumper, 2005 Jamis Dakar XC Pro, 2007 Rivendell Bleriot
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
3 Posts
I bought a couple of Bula fleece balaclavas at Costco last year, and use them every day bike commuting in Minneapolis (down well below 0F). I'm really happy with them - they're cheap ($10 each), warm, easy to breathe through, and made in Canada. Having two is nice as I can rotate them through the laundry as they get gross 
01-23-18, 08:09 PM
#32
Partially Sane.
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Sunny Sacramento.
Posts: 3,559
Bikes: Soma Saga, pre-disc
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 972 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 643 Times
in
468 Posts
I use and have two different 45North baclavas but find baclava's generally can get soggy and make it hard to breath. They can also cause glasses to fog when it gets under 25 here in Minnesota.
What I've started using is Endura Baa Baa which goes up over the the top of my head and under my front lip. I then use a 45North Greazy cap in combination with it - all under a winter helmet with goggles. No fogging, no sogginess.
I use a Shea butter skin moisturizer and lip balm to protect any exposed skin. This also offers an advantage over a one piece baclava in that if get to warm, I can take off the neck gaiter and/or cap.
What I've started using is Endura Baa Baa which goes up over the the top of my head and under my front lip. I then use a 45North Greazy cap in combination with it - all under a winter helmet with goggles. No fogging, no sogginess.
I use a Shea butter skin moisturizer and lip balm to protect any exposed skin. This also offers an advantage over a one piece baclava in that if get to warm, I can take off the neck gaiter and/or cap.
02-07-18, 09:08 AM
#33
Senior Member
I use Under Armour
02-07-18, 12:14 PM
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
I wonder if a facekini would be useful on some cold days that aren't brutal
02-11-18, 09:59 PM
#35
Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 34
Bikes: 2012 Jamis Basanova, 2005 Novara Fusion, 1993 Trek 1100
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Scarf
I struggled to find a good facemask to use that wouldn't fog up my glasses or goggles. My solution was the lowly scarf. I wrap it tight as I start to cover completely. Once the blood starts flowing I can pull it down a bit to keep the glasses clear. After that I just move it up and down as needed. Up to cover when going down hills, down so I don't fog up when I stop.
This works very well for me, the worst temps around here this year have been about -5°F.
This works very well for me, the worst temps around here this year have been about -5°F.
