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Is it a hat? Is it a face mask? Neck warmer? The balaclava is kind of weird piece of gear, but it’s extremely versatile and well worth having. The Patagonia R1 Balaclava is about as straight forward as it gets. I picked mine up for bike commuting this winter and I won’t get another winter without it.
Patagonia R1 Balaclava Features
- R1® stretch fabric (made from 41% recycled polyester) provides wicking warmth, breathable comfort
- Lightweight and very compact
- Face opening can be worn above mouth or under chin
- Fit is smooth and clean without being restrictive
- R1: 6.8-oz 93% polyester (41% recycled)/7% spandex. Recyclable through the Common Threads Recycling Program
- 56 g (2 oz)
- Price: $35.00
Patagonia R1 Balaclava Review
Out of all the balaclavas I researched the Patagonia R1 Balaclava was about as simple as they get. There’s a ton of options with a lot of “specialized” uses, depending on what you want it to do. I was looking for something that I could use mainly for bike commuting but could also work for other cold weather pursuits. I liked the simplicity.
The R1 fabric is a lightweight fleece with a small waffle pattern on the inside. It’s extremely soft to the touch and didn’t irritate my face at all. The face mask is big enough and stretchy enough that I could wear it either under my chin or pulled up to my eyes.
It was very warm and yet slim enough to fit underneath my bike helmet. With that in mind it would also fit under a ski helmet, sled helmet, or even a climbing helmet. It was warm enough that on my coldest commute day (-7 degrees F) it kept my head and face warm.
The extra bonus is when you wear it, you feel like a ninja.
The Good
- Warm
- Face mask could fit under your chin or pulled up to your eyes
- Looks really cool
The Bad
- I couldn’t find anything bad
Bottom Line:
What’s there to say about a balaclava? The Patagonia R1 Balaclava is a simple, versatile design, warm, well made.
Buy Now: Patagonia R1 Balaclava Name 
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Did you find after breathing into it, it got soggy? When I’m skiing I just feel like these things get gooberfied.
Yeah there is a sogginess factor that does come into play. If it’s more leisurely it isn’t too bad but if I’m riding hard it definitely got soggy. I haven’t found a great solution that issue yet.
I have one as well, and I’d have to agree with the “gooberfied” problem. I love it and wear it all the time, but the bottom does start to taste super gnarly after a long day- frequent washes are a must!