This "fuzzy rubber" balaclava is more comfortable than a neoprene wetsuit hood but does much the same job. The Surfskin Balaclava keeps the wind off your neck and provides warmth in cold rain as well as insulates your head for rolling and rescue practice. The fabric is super stretchy. It packs small enough to stuff it in a pocket on the front of your PFD when not needed. Sometimes we wear this by itself (paddling in wind, under a helmet in surf or river kayaking, rolling in the lake), sometimes we wear in under a rain hat such as the Seattle Sombrero for added warmth (covering the neck goes a long way toward reducing hypothermia), and when practicing rolls in winter water temperatures we wear this balaclava over top of Kokatat's Surf Skin Bill Cap for two layers of warmth. In general, for sea kayakers we recommend this balaclava combined with a rain hat instead of a hood attached to a drysuit. This combination gives you greater versatility to handle various weather and sea conditions.
Sizes: S or L
Colors: Black
© George Gronseth 2005, all rights reserved.