Top 9 Best Snowboard Face Masks (2021 Review)

If you’re packing for a chilly holiday in a snow region, snowboarding may just be on your list. But as thrilling as the snow ride can be, frostbites are never too far away. Snow goggles may protect your eyes but your face remains exposed to the chilly weather. And hundreds and thousands of tiny ice particles digging in on your skin isn’t the most pleasant experience.

Don’t worry though. Snowboard face masks got you covered. These masks protect your face, ears, and neck. We’re here to help you choose from the best snowboard face masks available on the market in 2020.

How to make pick of Snowboard Face Mask?

Snowboard face masks come in different variations depending on brands, suitability, preferences, etc. But before that, they are broadly categorized into several types. Full face balaclavas, half face masks, neck warmers, 3 hole, and 2 hole masks are some of the commonly manufactured snowboard face mask types on the market.

We’ll briefly go through each type to give you a better understanding so you can easily match your preferences.

Technical Snowboard Balaclavas

This is an all-rounder type fairly popular mask. It covers most of your head and neck providing maximum skin coverage. The skintight design makes them comfortably wearable beneath your helmets and jackets. Although inflexible materials may make them uncomfortable. A size mismatch may occur.

Half face Snowboard Masks

As the name suggests, covers half your face from to just below your eyes down to the chin. Also covers some part of the neck and ears as well. Stylish, easy to equip, and remove. But the upper face and part of your neck may need other sorts of protection gears.

Neck warmers

Extended versions of half masks. Stretches far down and covers the entire neck area. You can easily free up your mouth by folding it downwards. Though the upper face region remains exposed. A protection helmet or beanie may be necessary.

3 hole Snowboard Masks

Similar to the balaclavas. Covers entire head and neck leaving 3 openings for the eyes and the mouth. Though it’s a little old fashioned so not much creativity in it. Fitting issues may occur due to differences in distance between eyes and mouth.

2 hole Snowboard masks

Just 2 holes for the eyes. None for the mouth. It completely covers the head and neck. Minimum exposure makes it ideal for longer outdoor activities. It can be a bit uncomfortable as eating and drinking won’t be so easy.

Although general categories may give you an overview of the product types, the quality of the product depends entirely on the brand and type of materials they used. So on our next sections, we’ll point you to more specific selections of snowboard face masks.

Best Snowboard Face Masks

Now, we understand if you don’t want to spend much time scrolling up and down for every single fact. It’s getting late and you want to leave for the trip as soon as possible. Well, don’t worry. Without any further ado, check our product table below to find out which ones we liked the best and recommend it for you.

Snowboard Face Masks – Buying guide

As mentioned before, snowboard face masks come in different variants. Depending on the snowboard face mask manufacturers, you may experience a variety of feelings with each one. Remember, comfort is the key. You wouldn’t want something too tight or too loose. You may find it hard to breathe in some. Some may be best suited to hold your goggles. And most importantly, if it can’t ward off the cold, what good is it?

We know all of these may be a bit confusing. So we’ve prepared a guide that shows the most common facts to look out for while buying the best ski snowboard face mask.

How to find the perfect fit?

Whether it’s the balaclavas, snowboard half-face masks, neck warmers, etc, most snowboard face masks advertise as ‘free size’ or ‘one size fits all’. That’s mostly because they contain flexible/elastic materials such as spandex, elastane, etc. The stretchy material fits no matter the gender or age. But the more they stretch, the more uncomfortable they are likely to feel on your skin.

Remember you’re looking for a comfortable fit. Something too tight or too loose is not recommended. Too tight masks make it difficult to breathe and bite on your soft skin. Loose ones leave air pockets so you’ll lose warmth quickly.

Some snowboard half-face masks come in adjustable sizes due to attached straps. Some brands produce smaller size masks for kids. So it’s preferable to give a few trials to fish out the best ski snowboard face mask that matches your preferences.

How do materials and comfort relate?

Once you figure out the best fit for you, it’s time to consider the quality. The comfort of the fabric used depends on the material composition. Nowadays, nylon, polyester, cotton, neoprene, spandex, wool, etc are the most commonly used materials in snowboard face masks. Even among them, nylon and neoprene are lighter, softer, and relatively cheaper than others. The stretchy property lets you fit them easily. So they are often used as primary or base materials.

Knitted masks are mostly made out of wool. They are super soft and fluffy. However, they are not suited for allergenic skins as they often get itchy and uncomfortable. Spandex is used in some masks to give them better flexibility.

No matter what material you choose, your mask should be adjustable, comfortable on the skin, and sufficient ventilation. It shouldn’t allow sweat to build up under any circumstances as sweat allows bacteria to settle in. Some companies claim their products to have anti-bacterial properties. You could look out for them as well.

How important is the face and neck coverage?

Your mask type determines which part of your face and neck will be exposed to the elements. Full face balaclavas usually cover most of your face, head, and neck. They only provide small openings for your eyes and occasionally for your mouth.

Snowboard half face masks cover the lower parts of your face. Usually from above your nostrils down to the jaw. Some of them protect the ears as well. Neck warmer type masks are snowboard half face masks variant but they extend downward enough to cover the entirety of the neck. But the upper part of your face remains exposed so choose carefully.

Bandana type masks cover the front of your face and neck well. But they don’t go behind your neck. So they are best suited with long collar jackets or hoodies.

Some snowboard face mask manufacturers produce exclusive women’s snowboard face mask. They usually cover most of the head and neck as well.

Suitability with goggles?

Goggles are evenly important gears as the face masks, or perhaps even more. They are the primary protection for your eyes against ice particles and snow blinding. A lot of the face masks these days are compatible with goggles. Some even come with integrated goggles. These are best suited for snowboarding and skiing exclusively.

Some brands came up with a magnetic integrated goggle technology called MIG that allows goggles to be attached with face masks magnetically. Though these masks are a bit pricey, they eliminate compatibility issues and let you gear up comfortably and efficiently.

Balaclava and some other face masks go well with most of the goggles. Masks with irregular design and fluffy appearance are hard to fit with goggles sometimes. So you may want to ensure maximum suitability with goggles for unhindered protection.

Verdict

The best snowboard face masks should be soft, comfortable, easily breathable, perfect fit. No matter what style or brand you choose, give importance to the wind and UV protection. Goggle integration and helmet suitability should be taken into concern as well. Consult with a dermatologist if you’re too sensitive about your skin or if you find any material allergenic. After all, a smart start is better than regretting later. And if you followed the guide well, you should be all set to ride the snow.