KOOYU Balaclava Ski Mask: Warm, Breathable Face Cover for Winter Sports

RalphRalph: I ride in the cold. My recreational riding group rides in temps as low as 35 degrees. And, I use a bicycle for my shopping and other transportation needs, as well.

I am writing this review after having used this balaclava about 10 times, including several rides in temps between 36 and 43 degrees F. And, my head is slightly large. It is about 61 cm, which is in the large helmet fitting range. I can rarely get my head inside a medium helmet.

I have had what I consider good balaclavas in the past. One of their limitations is that they limit the amount of air you can breathe when the covering is pulled up over the tip of the nose. Any riding that elevates the heart rate would require the balaclava to be taken down from the nose and placed on the chin just below the mouth in order for the rider to get enough air.

This balaclava is made from material that has a more open weave, and has allowed me to keep the material pulled up over my nose at exertion rates that my previous units did not allow. I have not yet had to pull it down below my nose, and don't anticipate having to do so in the future.

I read other reviews before purchasing, and want to address...

United States on Dec 31, 2020

Bill Price: This review is based on my first use of the face mask. I use this mask for cold weather cycling. Temperature was 40-42 degrees with wind from the north about 6-15 mph. For this area that's getting fairly cold. The mask fits well. I have a larger size head and it fit fine and went on without a problem and was easy to adjust. My helmet fit normally over the mask. Started out with the face mask under my chin face fully exposed and it stayed in place until I adjusted it later. My helmet is a normal bike helmet with open slots and I did not feel any cold air on the top of my head once I got going. I was able to easily adjust the mask during the ride, pulled the forehead part a little lower, raised the part under my chin up over my mouth, and pulled the sides in a little at various times. My ears never got cold and I could hear as normally as I could with nothing over them. Still heard cars approaching from behind with plenty of warning, heard all the dogs I normally hear, etc. With the mask over my mouth I worried it would get pretty soggy from my breath but it was barely damp when I got home. There was no restriction in breathing at all. I did not pull the mask over my nose because I...

United States on Nov 23, 2015

David SimmonsDavid Simmons: In early October 2015 I found a Kylo Ren costume at Target for about forty bucks, and it was perfect fit me in many ways. I already had all the gear I would need to fill out what was missing; black pants, black boots, black gloves and a red lightsaber!

However, when I tried everything on, there was still one crucial piece missing: a balaclava! This was necessary to hide the exposed skin around the neck and chin. I needed a balaclava that was black, lightweight, breathable, adjustable and most importantly, one that had enough extra fabric at the neck to ensure overlap with the costume.

The MJ Gear was a perfect fit! It was very lightweight and cool, which was paramount when you're wearing any kind of mask. The adjustable piece for the nose and mouth was excellent as it meant I didn't have to cover my nose and struggle to breath comfortably through the fabric, which can be really unpleasant if the ambient temperature is too warm.

The vital component was the extra fabric around the neck. I had purchased a balaclava a few months ago to fulfill this exact need for another costume, but it was not sufficient at all and I had to return it.

However, I'm very...

United States on Nov 08, 2015