Unlock Peak Performance: Essential Guide to Ski & Snowboard Face Coverings, Goggles, and Helmets

When hitting the slopes, protecting yourself from the elements is crucial for an enjoyable and safe experience. From face coverings and goggles to helmets, each piece of gear plays a vital role in ensuring your comfort and safety. This guide will help you navigate the options and choose the best equipment for your needs.

Ski and Snowboard Face Coverings

When temperatures drop and the wind starts to bite, the right face covering can make all the difference. The most effective face covering for skiing or snowboarding should cover critical areas exposed to the elements, including the neck, chin, cheeks, and sometimes the nose. GearJunkie editor and veteran gear tester Chris Kassar logged countless cold-weather hours in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah, wearing these face coverings on everything from windy backcountry tours and early-morning Nordic sessions to bluebird resort laps and storm days in the Tetons.

Types of Face Coverings

Balaclavas: Cover the head, neck, and sometimes the shoulders, leaving areas like the eyes, mouth, or nose exposed.
Neck Gaiters: Tube-shaped and cover just the neck, but can be pulled up over the mouth or chin.

When buying a ski or snowboard mask, consider if you want a full head covering or simply a neck gaiter or face cover. Yet, it’s essential that the mask does not interfere with your helmet or goggles. We recommend trying on your face covering while wearing your other accessories.

Key Considerations

Activity Type: Nordic skiing and backcountry skinning require high breathability, while downhill skiing may not need as much.
Material: Wool keeps you warm even when wet, while synthetics offer breathability.
Fit: Should be snug but not tight, with elasticity to accommodate head sizes and movements.
Weather Conditions: Full protection from high winds and extreme cold may be necessary in some areas, while breathability is more important in others.
Breathability: Look for venting options or breathable materials around the mouth and nose to prevent moisture buildup.

Top Face Covering Recommendations

Turtle Fur Quantum Luxe Balaclava: Best overall for alpine and nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and more.
Buff Mountain Bandana: For face, cheek, and neck coverage with good breathability.
REI Wind Pro Hinged Balaclava: Provides full coverage for brutal conditions.
Outdoor Research Trailmix Ubertube: A simple, comfortable, and versatile tube design.

Materials Used in Balaclavas

Traditional wool: Provides excellent insulation and breathability.
Fleece: Soft, warm, and comfortable.
Merino wool: A premium type of wool offering warmth, natural odor resistance, and comfort.
Neoprene: Waterproof and insulating, used in balaclavas for cold-weather water sports like diving or kayaking.
Windproof Membranes (e.g., Gore Windstopper): Layers added to fabrics to block wind while maintaining breathability.

Proper Fit for Comfort and Functionality

When choosing a face covering for skiing or snowboarding, fit is paramount for ensuring comfort, functionality, and protection from the cold. A well-fitted ski mask should conform snugly to the contours of your face and head without being too tight or overly loose. A face covering should fit loosely around the face with plenty of fabric to move up and over the ears. Balaclavas should fit snug enough around your head and face that they don’t move around as you move your head or slide in front of your eyes, but loose enough that they don’t constrict movement. Neck gaiters should pull securely around your chin and nose if lifted but bunch comfortably around the neck when worn as a gaiter.

Is wearing a balaclava legal? Yes, wearing a balaclava is legal in most countries. It is considered a normal piece of clothing, especially for activities like skiing, motorcycling, or outdoor work. However, laws regarding face coverings vary by region and context.

Read also: Why Choose a Fur Ski Mask?

Caring for Your Balaclava Always follow the care instructions on the specific product's label. General guidelines: Machine wash cold on gentle cycle with similar colors. Use mild detergent. Air dry flat is preferred for most materials to maintain shape and elasticity; avoid high-heat dryers.

Ski and Snowboard Goggles

Goggles are essential for protecting your eyes from on-mountain hazards such as wind, sun reflection on snow, ice particles, and branches. Ski goggles and snowboard goggles can help protect your eyes from these on-mountain hazards, making your outing a lot more enjoyable.

How To Choose the Best Snowboard Goggles

Lens Shapes

Lenses are usually either flat or spherical. Cylindrical-lensed goggles are priced lower and work fine, but the flatness can cause more glare and slightly reduces peripheral vision.

Cylindrical Lenses: Flat lenses that may cause more glare and reduce peripheral vision.
Spherical Lenses: Curved across the eyes and face, both horizontally and vertically, offering better peripheral vision and less distortion.
Toric Lenses: Curve horizontally and vertically, with a more subtle vertical curvature than spherical lenses.

Goggle Ventilation

Goggles use a variety of approaches to avoid fogging. When warm air from your body heat meets cold air from the outside temperature, condensation can form and your vision is compromised.

Double-layered Lenses: Create a thermal barrier that is more resistant to fogging.
Anti-fog Coatings: Integrated into mid-level to high-end goggle lenses.
Vents: Located at the top, sides, and bottom of goggles to help control fogging.
Fans: Some high-end goggles include small, battery-operated fans to disperse moisture.

Visible Light Transmission (VLT) and Lens Color

Your lens color serves to filter and emphasize the colors in your vision. The amount of light that reaches your eyes through the lenses is called the visible light transmission (VLT). Visible light transmission - measured as a percentage - is affected by factors such as the color, thickness, coatings and material of the lenses.

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Lighter lens tints have a higher VLT because more light passes through the lens. Yellow, gold, amber or rose-colored lenses all offer increased VLT and make good choices on cloudy, socked-in days. Darker tints have lower VLT because less light passes through the lens. Brown, black, gray and lenses all offer reduced VLT and thus excel on bluebird days. Clear lenses are appropriate for night skiing.

Once you’ve decided your riding conditions and the corresponding VLT for those conditions, then choosing the color is largely a matter of personal preference. Goggle manufacturers give you many color options to express your individual style through your goggles while enhancing visibility for the specific conditions you want to ski.

Additional Lens Features

UV Protection: Virtually all goggles offer 100% UV protection from UVA, UVB, and UVC rays.
Interchangeable Lenses: Allow you to swap out different colored lenses to suit changing light conditions.
Polarized Lenses: Reduce glare from sunlight on snow or water.
Photochromic Lenses: Automatically change tint level according to conditions and UV intensity.
Mirrored Lenses: Reflect more light, allowing in less light.
Digital Display: Some styles offer advanced technology that may pair with GPS and Bluetooth to display navigation, performance and smartphone information within the goggles in real time.

Frames and Fit

Make sure to get goggles that fit your face. The fit should be snug (not tight) and comfortable. Some models are best suited for smaller or larger faces; you can often find frames in small, medium, large or XL sizes. Women's and kids' sizes may be available, too.

Other Fit Considerations:

Low Bridge Fit: Designed for skiers with higher cheekbones or lower nose bridges.
Helmet Compatibility: Ensure a comfortable and flush fit with your helmet, with no space between the top of the goggles and the helmet.
Strap Adjustments: Most goggles have a single, sliding clip to make adjustments.
Padding: Should be thick enough to cushion your face but not promote fogging.
Eyewear Compatible: Look for OTG (over the glasses) styles if you wear prescription glasses.

Top Goggle Recommendations

Smith 4D MAG ChromaPop Snow Goggles: Best all-around goggles with innovative lens technology.
Atomic Revent Q HD Snow Goggles: Delivers excellent optical clarity and contrast.
Smith Preview ChromaPop Snow Goggles: A more affordable option with premium BirdsEye Vision technology.
goodr Apres All Day Snow Goggles: Offers incredible value for budget-conscious skiers.

Goggle Lens Color and VLT Guide

Lens Color	VLT (%)	Ideal Conditions
Dark or Mirrored (Platinum, Gray, Black, Red)	25% or less	Bright, sunny days
Softer Colors (Rose, Yellow, Gold)	50% or more	Overcast, low-light conditions
Clear	Up to 100%	Night skiing

Ski and Snowboard Helmets

You don't have to ski the trees or catch big air to appreciate a helmet. A helmet is crucial for protecting your head on the slopes. They have specific features such as ear coverage, moisture-wicking liners and temperature-sensitive materials.

How to Choose the Right Size

Measure Your Head: Wrap a tape measure just above the ears and about 1" above your eyebrows to determine the circumference.
Fit Tips: The helmet should feel snug but not tight and sit level with its front edge no more than 1" above the eyebrows.
Chinstrap/Buckle: The chinstrap needs to fit back against the throat to reduce the chance it will come off when it is impacted. The strap should fit snugly but loose enough for you to be able to chew food without feeling choked or pinched. Always fasten the strap before riding.

Helmet Construction

In-mold Helmets: Made by attaching the shell and shock-absorbing foam in a single molding process, making them sleek and lightweight.
Injection-molded Helmets: Use an EPS foam bonded to a separate shell, offering more durability against everyday knocks and falls.

Helmet Components

Shell: A rigid outer layer that protects against sharp objects and spreads impact energy.
Inner Liner: Made from EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam to absorb impact.

Helmet Features and Accessories

Vents: Bring cool air in and warm air out; adjustable vents are more desirable.
Camera Mount: Some helmets include a built-in camera mount.
Audio: Some helmets come with built-in speakers.
Liners: Detachable ear pads and drop liners let you customize warmth.
Goggles Compatibility: There should be no gap between the top of your goggles and the helmet.

Safety Certifications

ASTM F2040: The most common snow helmet certification.
CE EN1077: A European certification for alpine skiing and snowboarding helmets.

Important note: Helmets are valuable but not invincible.

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