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Today was a cold windy New England morning – about negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit – and I was riding up the chairlift pretty warm except the cold biting away at my face. There were a few frostbite warnings when I boarded the chairlift but it didn’t seem to stop a few skiers and snowboarders from either wearing nothing or some hideous fleece gators (sorry I can’t stand them) that the 1980’s wanted back. Here are a few ways to keep your neck and face warm while enjoying the ski slopes.

Flickr.com (AlaskaTeacher)

Scarves

The scarf is probably the most popular way to protect your face and neck – off the ski slopes – during those cold winter days. They do a great job and keeping you warm but can pose a dangerous risk for those who are terrible at paying attention when unloading on a chairlift. Ever see the signs ‘Check For Loose Clothing And Equipment‘ that depicts a stick figure being strangled by what looks like to be a scarf? The winter scarf might be good for beginners to skiing and snowboarding but not that practical for the experts.

Fleece Gators

These became a fashion must in the 1980’s with their very soft fleece touch and are still popular to this very day. The fleece gator does a great job at keeping the cold away from the neck but have one major drawback – the smell. You should feel thankful if you haven’t smelled a combination of bad breathe, moisture and chilli for lunch. It has the uncanny ability to knock you back a few steps upon the smell entering your nostrils – trust me. The advantage to the fleece gator is that they are relatively cheap and easy to find considering every winter apparel company seems to manufacture them.

Neckwarmer

I’ve separated these into a separate category from the fleece gators because they don’t deserve the same ill treatment from hard-core skiers and snowboarders. The neckwarmer has evolved from the aforementioned gator into moisture wicking fabric to keep you warm and dry. A few winter industry heavy weights – Under Armour, Burton and Dakine – have added a bit of fashion to these instead of just offering the average solid colors.

Balaclavas

This headgear will cover your entire face and neck – just leaving your eyes exposed to the harsh winter elements. These were used by British troops in the 1850’s to protect them from the bitter cold and are also pretty popular with on the skiers, snowboarders, hunters and ninjas. Go figure. They do an awesome job at keeping your entire face and neck protected but can get slightly annoying the second you begin to overheat from strenuous activity as there really is no easy way to cool down when wearing them.

Bandanas

The bandana is the ultimate way to remind yourself and the rest of the world you are registered bad-ass. It might not protect your face and neck on those very cold winter days but can provide some warmth if you are hiking back up to a feature you just hit on the terrain park. If you are a snowboarder the bandana usually works well but to those skiers who tuck their jeans into their ski boots – please don’t wear a bandana as you will be heckled.

What is your favorite way to protect your face and skin during those cold days on the mountains? Does fashion matter to you when you’re on the slopes? Share your thoughts!