Skull cap, balaclava or neck gaiter at a glance

First rule: your helmet still has to fit

A helmet only protects you when it fits as it was meant to: snug all round, not rocking on your head, and with the chin strap fastened under your jaw. Anything you wear under it changes that fit a little. Before you ride with a new layer, put it on with the helmet and fasten the strap. If the helmet presses hard, sits higher than usual, or the strap will not close comfortably, that layer is too thick for that helmet. Go thinner, or move the warmth to your neck. Never loosen or skip the chin strap to make room, and never use a helmet one size up just to fit a thick hood under it.

Smooth everything flat around your ears before the cheek pads go on.

The skull cap: thin, cool and dry

Our CoolMax Helmet Liner Skull Cap is a light first layer under the helmet. It is made of quick-drying CoolMax that wicks sweat away from your skin, with a comfort band, 4-way stretch and flat seams so there are no pressure points or hot spots under the helmet. It is one size, in black, and it also helps keep earbuds in place.

Be clear about what it does: a CoolMax skull cap is a sweat and comfort layer, not insulation. In the cold its job is to keep your head dry, because a damp head gets cold fast once you stop. For warmth, pair it with a neck layer, or choose a fleece-lined balaclava.

Balaclavas: when you need the whole head covered

A balaclava covers your head, face and neck in one piece, so nothing gaps between the layers. We cover the reasons riders wear one in why wear a balaclava under your motorcycle helmet, so here is just the cold-weather short list:

• Thermaltex Balaclava: soft, moisture-wicking poly-cotton with a long U-shaped neck and flat seams.
• Black Cotton Balaclava: lightweight organic cotton with flat seams, for wind and dust on mild days rather than real cold.
• Breathable Waterproof Balaclava: a waterproof, breathable outer mesh, an insulating Milair middle layer and a microfleece lining, with a perforated mouth area and a nostril cut-out. Built for cold and wet days. Hand wash only.
• 2-in-1 Balaclava and Neck Dickey: a balaclava and neck dickey in one, with the same three-layer build, a perforated neoprene nosepiece and a stretchy Lycra panel under the chin. Made for cold-weather riders.

See all of them in our balaclavas collection, or compare fabrics by cold level in how to choose a balaclava. The thicker, insulated ones come in sizes. Check the fit with your helmet on before a long ride, using the rule above.

Neck gaiter, neck tube or neck dickey: close the gap

On most rides the cold gets in below the helmet: wind finds the space between your collar and the helmet and runs down your neck. A neck layer fixes that without adding anything on your head, the easiest way to add warmth to a helmet that already fits close.

• Essential Neck Gaiter: microfleece inside and stretchy Lycra outside that lets snow slide off. All seams are flat, so you can pull it up over your nose under a full-face helmet without pressure points on your cheeks. One size, machine washable.
• Polar Neck Tube: double-sided microfleece, stretchy and breathable, one size, machine washable. A simple, warm neck warmer.
• Polar Neck Dickey: 4-way stretch microfleece that covers your neck and your upper chest, so wind cannot get down the front of your jacket. It is thick, and our own page says some people find it too bulky for casual wear.

The windproof bandana for wind, dust and spray

The Windproof + Waterproof Bandana has three layers: a cotton outer, a Milair membrane in the middle that is windproof, waterproof and breathable, and a soft polar fleece lining. It closes behind your neck with hook and loop, so you can set it snug without tying a knot. It is a good fit for ATV and open-face riders who want the lower face covered from wind and dust. It comes in four colours.

What to wear by temperature

Wind chill at speed matters more than the thermometer, so treat this as a starting point:

• Cool (about 10°C and up): a skull cap, or a thin cotton or Thermaltex balaclava. Add a neck gaiter if wind gets down your collar.
• Cold (about 0 to 10°C): a skull cap plus a neck gaiter, neck tube or neck dickey, or a Thermaltex balaclava with a neck layer over it.
• Below freezing: an insulated balaclava such as the Breathable Waterproof or the 2-in-1, or a skull cap with a neck dickey. One owner found the dickey too warm on milder days and just right well below zero.

Motorcycle, sled or ATV

Motorcycle: highway speed is the hard part, so seal the neck first. If you ride heated gear too, our heated vest vs heated jacket liner guide covers the core.

Snowmobile: cold and wet together. Lean toward the waterproof, insulated balaclavas, or a gaiter whose Lycra face sheds snow. Our snowmobile gear FAQs cover the rest of the kit.

ATV and UTV: slower, but dusty and often muddy. A bandana or gaiter over the lower face keeps wind and dust off your face for comfort (it is not a dust mask), with a skull cap under the helmet. See our ATV protective gear checklist for the full list.

If you wear glasses

Cold-weather fog usually comes from your own breath getting trapped and rising behind the visor or onto your lenses. A layer pulled up over your nose can make it worse if it pushes your breath upward. Two of our balaclavas are designed for this: the Breathable Waterproof Balaclava has a perforated mouth area and a nostril cut-out, and the 2-in-1 has a perforated neoprene nosepiece, and both pages say this helps prevent eyewear fogging.

Which one should you buy?

• Cold highway rides: skull cap plus the Polar Neck Dickey.
• Sleds and wet snow: the Breathable Waterproof Balaclava or the 2-in-1.
• ATV dust and wind: the Windproof + Waterproof Bandana or the Essential Neck Gaiter.

Questions riders ask us

Will a skull cap make my helmet too tight?

For most riders, no: it is a single thin layer with flat seams. Still, test it. If your helmet presses hard or the strap will not close comfortably with the cap on, do not wear it under that helmet.

Does the skull cap keep my head warm?

Not much on its own. It is CoolMax, made to wick sweat and dry quickly. For warmth, add a neck layer or choose an insulated balaclava.

What size balaclava should I get for my helmet?

The skull cap, neck gaiter, neck tube, neck dickey and cotton balaclava are one size. The insulated balaclavas come in sizes. For the Breathable Waterproof Balaclava, we usually start from your helmet size, and if you are between sizes we suggest the larger one so it sits comfortably rather than tight. For the 2-in-1, check the sizes listed on its product page.

Can I pull a neck gaiter up over my nose under a full-face helmet?

Yes. The Essential Neck Gaiter has flat seams so it does not press on your cheeks under a full-face helmet. If your visor or glasses fog, pull it down below your nose.

How do I wash them?

The neck gaiter, neck tube, neck dickey and cotton balaclava are machine washable, and the dickey can tumble dry on low. The Breathable Waterproof Balaclava is hand wash only.