Best Cycling Balaclava: Keep your head, ears and face warm this winter [Top 10]

There are plenty of times that I want to get downtown to run an errand but it’s below 40 degrees in the city. Those days, I make sure to wear what I need to cycle in weather under 50 degrees and while I am at it, I don’t forget my best cycling headband for winter cycling. These are important to me because it keeps my ears warm and I also am able to ride without worrying that a bug is going to fly in my mouth. Here are my thoughts on the best cycling balaclava and best headbands for cycling that I have.

Keep Your Head (And Hands with this Handy Guide) Warm

If you’re looking for a good balaclava you may also be looking for good cycling gloves for the cold too. Check our suggestions out, here. We brought together and test rode 12 and came together with 5 that were standouts. In a similar fashion, we reached out to our suppliers and took rides with these Balaclavas for winter around during the storms the beginning of this year to let you all know what we think.

How do you stay warm while cycling?

It is important to stay warm while cycling. The easiest and best way is to wear a cycling balaclava. Outside of that, you want to make sure that you continue to pedal as long as the weather is around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

When you continue to pedal, your cardiovascular system will turn on and you will warm up your core. This means that the center of your body – your head, your body and your pelvis will be warmed by your heart and cardio system.

It is important to cover up your extremities. The reason being is that the body prioritizes the core to keep warm because the most important organs are located there. This means that you can not forget your cycling balaclava to keep your ears and nose warm.

You will also want to make sure other parts of your body extremities are protected like your feet, and your hands as well. This will make your rides more enjoyable so that you can focus on pedaling rather than trying to breath hot air into your hands.

What are the best accessories to stay warm while cycling?

To stay warm while cycling, it is important to have the right accessories. We detail every single accessory that you need here in our warm cycling guide. Of course, the most important accessories that are most difficult to know which are the best are gloves, and foot accessories.

Gloves can be a simple decision if you choose the right pair. The right gloves will be some sort of water resistant material such as neoprene cycling gloves and typically will contain a mix with some sort of wool.

When you are choosing foot accessories, you typically want to find a neoprene foot cover for your feet while cycling. The best choice in shoe cover is the type of shoe cover that either covers your toes inside of your shoe, or covers the entire shoe itself to protect the cycling shoe from the elements.

Best Cycling Balaclava for the Winter

• Best Overall Cycling Balaclava
• Best for Freezing Temperatures (Heater Included)
• Most Form Fitting Cycling Balaclava
• Most Stylish Cycling Balaclava for Winter
• Best Cycling Balaclava for Rain
• Best Cycling Balaclava for Spring & Fall
• Most Colorful Cycling Balaclava (Four Beautiful Colors)
• Best Cycling Balaclava for Comfort
• Most Aerodynamic Balaclava
• Most Heavy Duty Balaclava

Best Overall Cycling Balaclava

Best Overall Cycling Balaclava

I was really happy with these. The way that I test out how cold a balaclava can go is that I like to take my items over to the beaches where there’s typically a 15 degree variance from the city in the evenings. Today it was 40 degrees, and I was sweating in this during my ride. I actually took the head cover and pulled it off for the warmth. What I am most happy with is the stitching doesn’t grab onto the helmet like some others do, and that I am able to wear my earphones while I ride with this.

I can’t think of anything constructive for this balaclava because it is extremely breathable. The one concern is that in order to not think about fog on glasses, I need to pull my nose down. It isn’t the biggest deal for me because I typically need my ears to be covered while cycling. I was happy though that I was wearing my clear cycling glasses I got for my birthday that day so the fog is not as much of an issue. 

Best for Freezing Temperatures (Heater Included)

Best for Freezing Temperatures (Heater Included)

In my opinion when riding these were perfect for the freezing cold. I was a bit concerned that it wouldn’t fit on my helmet when I had it sent, but what I like about it is that the battery pack is actually on the neck rather than the head area. This means that you can also wear a helmet with this for added warmth. With the option to turn it off and on, it feels like I am inside of a car with an optional heater for truly cold rides – which do come about, though I know I wouldn’t use it every time. 

The fabric is warm enough for 40 degree weather without the heater in my opinion so if you intend to be out in the mountains where there is a chance to dip below freezing, this is an excellent call. This may be too warm if you typically cycle in 40-50 degree weather.

Most Form Fitting Cycling Balaclava

Most Form Fitting Cycling Balaclava

I like this because it is perfect for winter cycling if your ears do not get cold. It is a lot more stylish than the pure black colors and matches my black and grey bike. Cyclists will also love this because it is an aerodynamic balaclava for the winter. It’s breathable, I also like that I can fold it down or up when it begins to get too warm.

My one concern was that I sent for the grey and got the camouflage, so I would be mindful of that when thinking about purchasing. Otherwise, it was an overall great product, just a lot thinner than other options that I used.

Most Stylish Cycling Balaclava for Winter

Most Stylish Cycling Balaclava for Winter

I am in love with how this looks on me. It is a true testament to form following function. It is smooth, and with a fleece lining on the inside, it really feels great. I feel like I am putting on a wool sock over my head, and the brightness of the color was what got me going with this. I am afraid to machine wash it and hope that my machine doesn’t cause it to fade, though if you are looking for a balaclava that looks great wherever you choose to be, this will be your choice.

Best Cycling Balaclava for Rain

Best Cycling Balaclava for Rain

This was the balaclava where I was the happiest. We are having a lot of storms here in the bay so I waited a couple of days before going out in this and they kept me just as dry as my toe covers did. I went riding in a day where the rain drops were very cold and heavy and if these didn’t do the job I would have had to sit in front of the fireplace for the rest of the day. This really saved my cheeks where I am typically the most sensitive to freezing rain drops and the blasts of wind which makes it even more difficult to ride.

Best Cycling Balaclava for Spring & Fall

Best Cycling Balaclava for Spring & Fall

I was happy when these were sent because of the value. This is great when it was just nippy in the morning for a ride. They slipped on like a thin sock, or second skin over my head and I had to tighten my helmet a little bit. This is great if there is no cold rain that you are expecting for the day and will keep you warm.

Most Colorful Cycling Balaclava (Four Beautiful Options)

Most Colorful Cycling Balaclava (Four Beautiful Options)

The texture really caught my eye when I opened the box for this. Holding and fingering the cloth I knew immediately that I would love this. When I was riding, I did notice that two people turned their head to look at me. I think that was because the color is very bright in comparison to most black balaclavas.

The material is very soft, though the one concern that I have with these is that they are not seamless. The only reason why I don’t find this to be much of an issue is because it adds to the character of the cycling headband for winter. There are 3 other colors with my second favorite being the aqua blue cycling balaclava.

Best Cycling Balaclava for Comfort

Best Cycling Balaclava for Comfort

When I put this on, it reminded me of the one in my grandad’s closet that I would borrow to go snowboarding (without asking). This cycling balaclava is great for the cold days and also just incredibly comfortable. It is very soft and if you are doing an intense ride, it will make you sweat. I noticed that my sweat made it feel a bit sticky so I tried to put it in the washer machine and all of a sudden it was just as soft as when I pulled it out of the bag. I would recommend this for the extreme cold, and if you are not planning to go for an intense ride because when you sweat, the sweat does not wick as well as other options available.

Most Aerodynamic Balaclava

Most Aerodynamic Balaclava

If you are riding and it’s just too cold for a cycling cap then this is an excellent choice. I liked this because the flap over the ears were smooth to prevent drag and also the fabric underneath felt like it was seamless. I’m actually till wearing it while I am writing these reviews because it feels very cozy like a face covering beanie.

Most Heavy Duty Balaclava

Most Heavy Duty Balaclava

This is the most feature packed balaclava available. I was a bit uncertain about what the filters did, though I really like it because it actually is easier to breathe through the filters than the fabric. I didn’t know that the filters smooth out the breathing process where the fabric grips a small amount on your nose. This I would use if I were commuting every day and happened to be riding downtown because it takes out the air in its built-in filter. 

Can you cycle in cold weather?

Yes, you can cycle in cold weather if you have the correct accessories. If you have the correct cycling balaclava, cycling gear, cycling gloves, and booties for your feet, then everything surrounding your core will be protected from wind, snow and cold.

It is important to stay warm and insulated in the days that feel cold because you are exercising and your body will begin to feel that it is warm although your core temperature can be dropping. When you wear the correct accessories, you are protecting yourself from those different climate patterns and changes in temperature.

What should I remember when cycling in Cold Weather?

When you are cycling in cold weather, make sure to drink lots of water. Because it is not hot out, riders tend to forget that their body is still getting dehydrated because they do not feel thirsty or feel hot. Because you do not feel the hot sweat on your face does not mean that it is not time to drink water. These are the specific types of days that many forget to drink water and find themselves dehydrated after a ride.

Conclusion

There are plenty of cycling balaclavas available and headbands for cycling for your needs in the winter and spring. These were used around the San Francisco Bay area where it typically will drop below 40 in the mornings and with rain has been a great way to get these waterproofing tested. There are main options for the best cycling balaclava and best cycling headband for the winter so choose wisely.