Customer Reviews Smartwool Merino Sport Fleece Hinged Balaclava

XC skiing in Yellowstone and Lake Tahoe. Good essential piece.

Purchased as a gift for a nephew who wanted a merino balaclava with a hinged face section. The only other one I found anywhere online was $10 more and cost 3X as much in shipping. Smartwool for the win. #sweepstakes

Well made, comfortable product. Great customer service too!

Skiing under my helmet, but on top of my Smartwool training beanie on really cold ones. I teach skiing so I'm in the weather as many as 6 hours a day.

Played ice hockey outdoors in 0 degree weather with windchill. This kept my ears warm, and my cheeks.

Bought for my son for recent CO ski trip -- he loved it - kept him warm & looked nice. (fit snuggly which is what you want)

Nice fitting and verry comfortably adaptable.

Very warm when biking, walking or snowshoeing in cold temperatures, then pull the top down and acts like a scarf! Highly recommend!!

I use this hinged balaclava doing yardwork, to walk the dog and to jog/walk. Gave it five stars for a few reasons -- not because it is absolutely perfect because thinking about the product, it would be difficult to be perfect because was looking for a product to support warmth and breathing (am affected at times with bronchodilation in cold dry weather - used to be called exercise asthma). 5 star reasons: 1) love that it is thin, non-bulky material and therefore fits under daresay all coats with high collars and easily can wear a coat hood on top of balaclava even when don't have the top of balaclava over head and the wool provides warmth up close to my neck; 2) when wear it over my mouth I still feel some pressure at my nose, and it does get moist inside the fabric from breathing -- however, since dryness is a factor in bronchodilation am thinking the extra moisture okay; have washed and this came out a-okay (dried on low); the entire item on (including top) does help with warmth and I like to cover my ears in even lightly windy weather. Want to say again that I really like the thinness of the material and with the wool it still provides warmth. It's not nanook of the north warmth, but a nice amount of warmth all the same. I live in Maine and it's been in the 30's at lowest so far this year and felt lovely to have. Because of the fabric can wear with most anything as a neck warmer and the hat-part is not noticeable unless close inspection (I do have longer hair but even when hair is up not bulky looking). Recommend.

I like this product; especially after a few washes and break in Period. It was -26 F up against the Canadian Border in Northern Minnesota. My only design consideration from somebody who truly values a merino based balaclava. ***Reverse the hinge so the face portion is on the outside. This allows the most adjustable piece, the face shield, more comfortable and functional as it stays in place better. I reverse this product by turning it inside out. Happy New Year, Balaclava Dude, Ely-MN

I commute by bike in temps that dip into the negatives, so I wanted a balaclava that fits comfortably under my helmet. The hinge seemed like a nice feature so I could pull down the face mask if not needed - but it extends so far back as to partially expose my ears. Look at the model photo and you can see how wind would blow right in; also note how tightly it fits across his nose and mouth. This product is a miss for me and I'll have to keep looking.

Felt too tight on my face... and contrary to popular opinion, my face is not THAT big. Basically, felt a little tight.

Had to return the balaclava because it did not cover my ears. Not a fan of the hinge.