Goosefeet Down Balaclava

I wasn’t sure if I really needed a balaclava- they’re kinda funny-looking, but as I found out, they’re seriously functional despite their appearance. I bought this Goosefeet Gear balaclava from Z-Packs last fall, but Goosefeet now offers them on their website as well. This balaclava is filled with water resistant 850 fill goose down that has kept my head extremely warm on cold mountain nights. At 1.3 ounces it’s very light and compressible, and stuffs easily in any corner of my pack. The detachable nature means it can be used with whatever outerwear you like; I’ve used it as a hood for a light fleece jacket. I often sleep in it for winter camping trips and to keep my head warm when I pack up in the morning before I head out hiking.

The balaclava has a drawstring cord around the face opening, which makes it easy to adjust how much your face is exposed, a nice feature. The fabric over the cord is silky and smooth, so it’s non-irritating on my skin. Since I don’t like things over my mouth, I usually wear it un-cinched, but it can be tightened to cover most of your face.

Overall, this balaclava is a great addition to your headgear for people who tend to be on the colder side or need something a little warmer with more coverage than a wool or synthetic hat. I take mine on all of my cold weather trips and highly recommend one!