Outdoor Research Sonic Balaclava Reviews

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $42.00
Sale Price: $30.00
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I bought this balaclava for dog walking and snowboarding and it has done well for both activities.

First, the snowboarding. This balaclava is perfect for snowboarding/skiing. Whatever the windstopper stuff is made of, it works. We went in January to the very top of A-Basin (13,000 ft) and that day the winds were fierce. My face was warm and toasty on the lift up, and relatively warm on the ride down. Much more importantly, my goggles didn't fog up once riding hard all day. So rest assured, fogging goggles are not a problem with this hood.

Second, the dog walking. It's pretty good but not perfect. Again, the wind stopper material works beautifully. This hood came in a very timely manner, arriving on a day when the windchill dropped to -20F (-29C) in Iowa. My face, nose, and ears were nice and warm, but the coverage of the sonic isn't quite as good as OR's gorilla. My brow was exposed and froze but this is easily remedied with a hat over top. A fleece headband would work just as well. This wasn't a problem while snowboarding because I wear a helmet. The balaclava is not at all bulky, so wearing a hat or helmet over it is very easy and very comfortable.

My glasses, however, fog up terribly with this balaclava. I should mention that my glasses fog up pretty badly if I wear anything on my face, so it's not necessarily related to the Sonic, however I was really hoping they wouldn't fog while using this. If, however, you are planning to wear your glasses with this balaclava, I wouldn't count on them not fogging. I put in contacts now when I take the dog out.

The mesh breathing port is...interesting. I don't know if it makes it easier to breathe or not, but it does freeze up very easily. Riding down the mountain at A-Basin caused it to freeze and then it sits up against your lips which feels a little uncomfortable. When the wind stops blowing, it un-freezes, so it's not really a problem. It's not really a complaint, it's just sort of odd.

The only other complaint I have is that it doesn't go very far down your neck. Between that, the glasses fogging thing, and the mesh port, I took off one star.

If you're active outside, this is a really good product. Like I said, perfect for riding or skiing. It's also pretty good for dog walking and I feel like that if you wanted to get the most for your money, this one is the one to get. I would think that this balaclava would also be excellent for cold weather running. I would certainly purchase this again.

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My beef with prior balaclavas is that it is all to easy to steam up the ol' specs when you breathe through your nose. The design is good, leaving a clear passage below the nostrils no mesh right there.

I have NOT tested it in sub-zero temperatures, but on a chill night, it still breathed fine.

It is bulkier than, say, a smartwool cap, which you can tuck anywhere. Folded up, it's about as bulky as a pair of my windstopper gloves.

I'll be testing this in windy, freezing weather presently.

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This is a very innovative ski mask. The vents are very effective at preventing foggy glasses, but only if the mask is a perfect fit -so choose your size wisely! The mask is also extremely effective at blocking fierce winds. It is thin enough to fit comfortably under helmets and caps of all sizes.

My main gripe about this mask is that it is not very warm when worn alone, even at 30 degrees F. It barely traps any heat from your head, so I'd recommend complimenting it with a knit ski mask to maintain your body heat. Use this underneath to protect your face from wind. Just make sure that the ski mask does not cover the vents -or you've effectively bought an extraordinarily expensive liner!

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It's a great looking balaclava and perfect for goggles, but it got pretty cold around my neck (which is easily fixed by a gator) and it does get very chilly around your mouth and lips if you exhale through the mouth (due to condensation) but that too can be fixed by inhaling through the mouth and out through the nose

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I ride to work in Chicago, year round, and this balaclava makes even the coldest of days bearable. I have ridden in 30F weather with windchill down to single digits and not felt it. I wonder if they make jackets or pants out of the same material... I would definitely buy them too.

The fit is good covers my neck so I don't feel any drafts between clothing layers. The whole thing is a little big, but that's my fault for not double checking the size I ordered. Nevertheless it is well worth it if you plan to enjoy winter weather!