Best Ski & Snowboard Neck Gaiters of 2023

JUMP TO: SMARTWOOL INTRAKNIT MERINO 200 / BUFF LIGHTWEIGHT MERINO / SMARTWOOL POW MERINO SPORT / BUFF WINDPROOF / VOLCOM WILDER / OYUKI GENKI TUBE / BUYING ADVICE

Author: Rob Thijssen

The Short Version

The Long Version

You all know that feeling when you’re sitting in the chair lift or waiting to drop into a line and that cold, chilly wind blows right into your face and straight into your neck and jacket. Brrrr!

It doesn’t make your day any more enjoyable. On the contrary!

The solution to this problem is one of the simplest but best outdoor gear inventions of the past 25 years: the tubular neck gaiter!

A neck gaiter protects your neck and head. Depending on the type, this can be from the heat, wind, sun, bugs, and of course, the cold. These bad boys are also extremely versatile. You can often use them in over a dozen different ways. And that’s one of their main strengths.

But the range of neck gaiters for skiing and snowboarding is humongous and even though it looks like just a simple piece of gear, there are some things to take into consideration before choosing the perfect one for you.

In this gear review, we’ll be looking at the best snow sport neck gaiters on the market today. Choose a neck gaiter from the list below and you will buttkick those unpleasant frigid moments to the realms of the past. 

So here goes!

If you love reading this review of the best ski and snowboard neck gaiters, then you'll likely love reading some of our other snow related content:

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

Are you scrolling through the endless product pages during your search for your perfect neck gaiter, but don’t know what all the specs and jargon mean? Check out my in-depth buying advice at the end of the article.

MATERIAL: 53% Merino Wool, 45% Recycled Polyester, 2% Elastane

PROS: 3D Mapping for a perfect fit, mesh ventilation for easy breathing

CONS: It’s the most expensive neck gaiter in this review

Smartwool is known for manufacturing exceptional products using merino wool. Besides the usual hiking socks, base layers, and shirts, they also have jackets, vests, hoodies, and neck gaiters!

The Intraknit Merino 200 is Smartwool’s second heaviest weight, so it’s guaranteed to keep you nice and toasty, even on the most frigid days. It’s made of recycled polyester for durability and merino wool for warmth, resulting in a comfy garment that will last you years to come.

Thanks to the 3D mapping, it follows the contours of your face and neck perfectly, providing unrestricted freedom of movement. Because of the side cuts, it covers more area than any regular neck gaiter, which is ideal if you want to zip open your jacket to let out some heat when hiking up but still prevent exposing too much skin. 

The specially engineered knitting structures make it possible to use less fabric, which ultimately gives you a lighter and more flexible product.

Finally, a cool feature the Smartwool Intraknit Merino 200 has, is a mesh ventilation seamlessly integrated so you can breathe easily and which also prevents your goggles from fogging up.

All in all, this is an outstanding neck gaiter, as we’re used to with Smartwool. It might be the most expensive neck gaiter in this review, but can you really put a price on comfort on a freezing day? I know I can’t!

MATERIAL: 100% eco-friendly Merino wool

PROS: Long design makes for a very versatile product

CONS: Although unlikely, the semi-seamless top and bottom could become uncomfortable

Do you like to wear a neck gaiter when you’re going to powder town? A balaclava or full face mask on those really cold mornings? A headband? Or maybe you prefer a beanie? It doesn’t matter what type of headwear you prefer, with the Buff Lightweight Merino Wool Multifunctional Headwear, chances are you can turn it into your preferred choice!

There are more than ten ways to wear this multifunctional neck gaiter. It’s made from 100% eco-friendly Merino wool, and thanks to its lightweight construction (125 gr/m²), you can wear it all year round. It’ll keep you warm and comfortable in winter, and cool in summer.

At 26.5 inches, it’s longer than most neck gaiters. But the extra length makes it a lot more versatile and, along with the built-in stretch, helps it to fit most people perfectly.

The natural material is sourced from humanely raised, non-mulesed sheep, so you can sleep well at night, while you dream about untracked snowy mountain slopes.

The Buff Lightweight Merino Wool comes in an array of colors, so it is almost certain you can find one that matches your outfit.

Best for the Environment: SMARTWOOL POW MERINO SPORT

MATERIAL: Shell: 100% Recycled Polyester. Lining: 55% Merino wool / 45% Recycled Polyester

PROS: Made from natural and recycled materials

CONS: Due to its length, you can only wear it as a neck gaiter

Smartwool teamed up with the people from Protect Our Winters to create the Smartwool POW Merino Sport neck gaiter. If you have been living in an ice cave for the past 15 years, Protect Our Winters is the brainchild of big mountain snowboarding legend Jeremy Jones. POW’s mission is “to help passionate outdoor people protect the places and lifestyles they love from climate change.” In our case; to keep snowy winters, so we can ride!

With the Smartwool POW Merino Sport, you know you’ll be warm when the temperatures drop. The shell is made from 100% recycled polyester and has a cool design. The lining has a blend of 55% responsibly sourced Merino wool and 45% recycled polyester. The choice to add polyester to the mix makes for a more durable product, allowing you to enjoy it longer, but also reduces landfills.

The materials regulate temperature, are stretchy and quick-drying. Most importantly, they feel soft against the skin, so you can stay out longer!

All in all, with this neck gaiter, you don’t only stay warm while looking cool, you also clearly state your commitment to the fight against climate change.

MATERIAL: GORE® WINDSTOPPER® / 97% recycled polyester, 3% elastane

PROS: Fully windproof, warm

CONS: Can become too warm, due to less breathability

When you like to go fast on steep descents, the Buff Windproof Multifunctional Headwear might be a good option for you. On one end, there is soft fleece to keep you warm, on the other end the good people at Buff opted for the fully windproof GORE® WINDSTOPPER® fabric. This material is fully windproof and breathable, perfect on those cold days with a lot of wind.

As usual, you can wear this in a variety of ways, from a beanie to a windproof headband. The 4-way stretch allows you to put it on and take it off easily. It also has a UPF 50, which protects you from harmful UV rays.

Personally, I prefer to wear a Merino wool neck gaiter when snowboarding. Since WINDSTOPPER® fabric is a lot less breathable, I feel it gets uncomfortably warm around my neck. Having said that, if you have to hike a bit or are skinning up and there’s a cold wind, I do see the benefits.

The Buff Windproof Multifunctional Headwear is right up there with the most expensive neck gaiters in this review, but when you need one that’s completely windproof, this is the one to go for.

Best Women’s: VOLCOM WILDER

MATERIAL: 100% Polyester Fleece

PROS: Soft, fluffy fleece keeps you warm

CONS: It can be quite bulky

It has probably happened to many of you: you’re riding the chair lift on a blue-bird day, all excited for your first tracks, when it suddenly comes to an abrupt stop. There you are, dangling helplessly and exposed to the arctic winds blowing in your face, freezing your cheeks off.

But with the Volcom Wilder, those moments become a lot less miserable. Now, you can bury your face deep into this soft and fluffy neck gaiter and stay nice and warm, while you wait for the lift operator to untangle the jerry-of-the-day’s ski’s at the bottom. From now on, you arrive at the top feeling warm and comfy and amped up for your first tracks! Isn’t that the better alternative?

This double-layered oversized neck gaiter is made from 100% polyester deep-pile fleece and comes in 3 bad-ass prints: White Tiger, Leopard, or Panther Black.

This fluffiness comes with a possible drawback though. It is quite bulky and could prevent you from fully closing the zipper on your jacket. Make sure you try this out and it fits comfortably before buying.

If you’re often cold or just like the soft velvety texture this neck gaiter provides, then this is the one for you. With the Volcom Wilder, you’ll stay ultra-cozy!

Best on a Budget: OYUKI GENKI TUBE

MATERIAL: 100% Polyester

PROS:  Available in many colors, least expensive neck gaiter in this review

CONS: Polyester gets smelly pretty quick

You’ll find plenty of Oyuki products in our snowboard gear reviews, like gloves and mittens. And Oyukialso made it onto this list, and with good reason. ‘Oyuki’ means ‘big snow’ in Japanese, and this cold-weather essentials manufacturer has its roots on the northern island of Hokkaido, where every winter the locals get bombarded with insane amounts of snow. This gives you a pretty good idea of why their products are so awesome!

The Oyuki Genki Tube does an excellent job of providing a good amount of protection on cold days. And like the Buff Multifunctional Headwear, you can wear it in many different ways, from a neck gaiter to a bandana, if that’s your thing. Plus, it comes in about 20 different patterns and colors, so I’m quite sure you’ll find one that suits your taste.

It is made out of 100% polyester, which means it is a fair bit cheaper than the other neck gaiters in this review. But a potential drawback of pure polyester is that it can produce unpleasant odors quite fast, and that’s why I would always recommend spending a few extra bucks and going for merino wool or a merino / polyester blend. But if you’re really on a tight budget, then the Oyuki Genki Tube is still a good choice.

Whenever you’re planning an adventure and expecting ‘Oyuki’, the Genki Tube will help keep you comfortable, so you can focus on the one thing that matters most: smashing pow!

BUYING ADVICE FOR SKI & SNOWBOARD NECK GAITERS

Materials

Like with baselayers, the material you choose defines the level of comfort you’ll have. The eternal “battle of the baselayers” is fought between natural fibers and synthetics. Both have pros and cons. Below, I’ll break them down.

SYNTHETICS: Synthetic fibers are durable, quick-drying, wick moisture well, and are affordable. Potential drawbacks are that they can feel uncomfortably hot and sweaty against the skin and create unpleasant odors when you sweat. Polyester is the most common type of synthetic you will find used for neck gaiters, and unfortunately is one of the worst for retaining odors over time.

MERINO WOOL: Merino wool is a natural fiber, obtained from the merino sheep. This is a softer and finer wool fiber, that doesn’t itch, regulates temperature very well, and best of all doesn’t smell! 

However, merino wool is less durable and more expensive than synthetics. That’s why a lot of manufacturers nowadays combine the two types of materials. They use synthetic core fibers for strength and durability and spin wool around them for the benefits of its amazing “against the skin” properties.

Size

There are many different lengths for neck gaiters on the market today. From short ones like the Smartwool Intraknit Merino 200, to full-length ones like the Buff Lightweight Merino Wool Multifunctional Headwear. 

Longer neck gaiters are extremely versatile and can be worn in many different ways. Buff was one of the first brands to highlight their versatility. You can use them not only as a neck gaiter when skiing or snowboarding, but also as a thin beanie under your helmet, as a balaclava on cold days, or as a face mask. Options are truly endless.

Fabric weights

WARMTH vs BREATHABILITY: Some neck gaiters are thicker than others. Obviously, thicker ones provide more warmth. But this isn’t necessarily always a good thing.

Especially when you’re out freeriding and have to hike a bit to get to that secret couloir, a thicker neck gaiter - like the Volcom Wilder - can quickly become uncomfortably hot. It can also prevent you from being able to fully close your jacket, so make sure you try this out before buying!

MERINO WEIGHTS: Merino wool also comes in different fabric weights. Often this is indicated with a number like 150, or 200. This means 150 grams per square meter of fabric. The heavier the fabric, the better it insulates.

Additional features

MESH VENTILATION: Some models have an integrated mesh mouthpiece, like the Smartwool Intraknit Merino 200. This allows you to breathe easier and helps prevent your goggles from fogging up too.

FLEECE AND/OR WINDPROOFING: Sometimes, brands use a combination of a thinner half and a thicker half made out of fleece or WINDSTOPPER®. These models provide extra protection from cold and wind, respectively. If serious cold and/or weather protection is a concern, then consider looking for these features.

MORE INFORMATION

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