what are you using on your head (and at what temps) w/ your quilt/hoodless bag?

Recently camped one night in 22 F low temperature using a ~20-year-old, 30 F Western Mountaineering sleeping bag. On my head/neck, from inside out:

– EE Hooligan hat (2 oz Apex)

– Buff Coolnet around my neck only, couldn’t stand it very long over mouth/nose

– Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight Hoody

– Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody

– WM sleeping bag hood cinched up pretty tight

That was just barely enough. Substantially warmer nights followed, and I didn’t use nearly as many layers. I seem to be sleeping colder these days.

— Rex

Oddly enough, I used the exact same setup except without the hooded baselayer. 1.1 oz fleece balaclava at 40f, Black Rock down beanie at 30F, and MLD balaclava below freezing. I moved away from quilts under 40f. Basically, whenever it came to using an insulated hood, I just switched to a sleeping bag. I will say the 4oz MLD balaclava exceeded my expectations. I was able to fit the black rock beanie under the MLD without compression just fine. That said, I never got low enough to need both at the same time.

I run cold. I used a Goosefeet hood this last weekend on the Deschutes, at about freezing. I did ok. Face gets cold, so I cinched it down. Usually I have a spare layer that I drape over my head, like a down skirt or Costco quilt, so ventilation is ok,  but not this time. Definitely next time.

Kelly

I’ve been using an Enlightened Equipment Revelation 0 F successfully in low single digits. Included in the set up are a base layer, Borah Gear down sweater and pants,  EE Hoodlum and Booties, and a well insulated pad, currently a Nemo Tensor.  I’ll throw wind jacket and pants on if necessary.  I also use a bivy to keep everything clean and tucked in. This configuration makes an easy transition from sitting around time in camp, to ease of a late night bathroom break without a cold shock, to transitioning in the morning.

I’m wearing an OG BPL Cocoon 90 Hood with 90 g Polarguard Delta  down to the upper teens (generally with a 100wt fleece beanie underneath).  Any colder than that and I’m (hopefully) in a sleeping bag not a quilt.

a good variety of stuff :)

I should add I have a 1/2 Buff that is carried (usually as light insulation under a cap while hiking) and handy to put over my nose/mouth, but have never used it in that role

Just wondering what is everybody’s favorite down balaclava?

Russ-  Do you like the ee hoodlum and how is the adjustability with the snaps? Do you feel them around the chin area?

Mike- how do you like the MLD balaclava?

I would be using this in the Sierras between 20 to 30f.

Like Rex, I use a Patagonia thermal top when sleeping and it has a hood which goes over my Turtle Fur fleece hat and keeps the hat from coming off as I toss and turn. I just got back from a January trip and my coldest night was 5F atop a 5,000 foot high mountain in NC.

In real cold it also helps to have a balaclava first head layer—I use Icebreaker merino—and then the Turtle Fur and finally the Patagonia hood.  Extreme cold meaning 0F or below.

I made one of those Ray Jardine bomber hat kits. I also have a down hood. It’s hard to say which is better. The hood is warmer but it moves around when you sleep and sometimes comes off. The bomber hat stays put but doesn’t cover your neck. I was amazed when the bomber hat came together. It was like this weird turn it inside out and voila, there it is. My workmanship is not that great, but I feel pretty good I made it myself.

down to a little below freezing – fleece beenie

below that – 2.5 oz Apex balaclava that I made

your head has a small surface area so it doesn’t lose a huge amount of heat so you don’t need warmer down

breath contains water vapor which can get the balaclava wet, so apex is better than down

I find the 2.5 oz apex balaclava uncomfortably warm unless it gets really cold, like 20 F.

My nose and ears get cold (but especially my hands).

50s: a buff

below that: I pull the buff down below the tip of my nose and add an “average” cheap acrylic beanie, again pulled down over the tip of my nose.

Sub-20: buff, down hoody, and perhaps lay something loosely over my face

“Just wondering what is everybody’s favorite down balaclava?

Russ-  Do you like the ee hoodlum and how is the adjustability with the snaps? Do you feel them around the chin area?

Mike- how do you like the MLD balaclava?

I would be using this in the Sierras between 20 to 30f.”

I like the MLD balaclava- it’s pretty warm for the weight

I had a Katabatic Windom when I had one of their quilts, it’s 900 down (they make a warmer/heavier one too) that was a nice hood.

20-30 degrees for me your kind of in that limbo area between warm hat/balaclava and needing a hood

Thanks Mike and I certainly agree.

I was looking at the Windom hood and just would like the ability to cinch it down around the face area if need be. I do use a katabatic flex 22-degree quilt.

In higher temps a fleece beanie works and if need be a wool buff also.

I use light fleece beanie down to 40s

I use that plus my hoodie as balaclava down to high 20s

In 20s i use down hood plus above

Below that….versalite bag

Light fleece cap4 hood down to maybe 40-45. Down to around 20-25 I wear my cap4 hood plus the hood on my feathered friends daybreak down jacket. So one fleece and one down hood.

to the folks that are listing the hoods of hoodies/jackets, I’m assuming you wearing said jacket?

I was thinking wouldn’t that be handy if your down hooded jacket had a removable, stand alone hood for wearing w/ a quilt/hoodless bag

not sure how eloquently that could be done, but I sure wouldn’t mind having something like that

I’ll wear a jacket to “push” my quilt/bag, but there are times just the hood would be handy

Z-packs down hood (made by Goosefeat gear). warm, lightweight, packs down to nothing……awesome!

Hey Mike – You asked about the adjustability of the Hoodlum… it has three snaps, so with just the bottom one snapped, you really don’t feel restricted.  Button all three and cinch the elastic cord and you can cover most of your face, so good variability.

I recently tried the Blackrock balaclava and the lack of asjustability is a wee bit  annoying by comparison.

I’ll wear a jacket to “push” my quilt/bag, but there are times just the hood would be handy

At those times I just take my hooded jacket and place it around/under my head.

I see the practicality of a removable hood but I prefer the convenience and warmth of an attached hood when I’m not in my quilt.

Similar to some who have already chimed in ~*~ The pieces mentioned get added together as the temp drops.

40F+(4C) : OR gradient winter hat (bonnet), hooded OR echo

30F’s (0C) : Patagonia Hooded thermal weight (also LOVE the hood on this to retain the hat from sliding off and the tall neck), hooded Houdini

20F’s(-7C) : EE hooded torrid Apex

0-20F (-17C): MLD balaclava, extra hoody (nano air light) and Buff

Negative 20-0F (-26C) ski goggles

below 20 below : I sleep inside ;^)

honorable mention- the 40F EE Convert quilt I use is purposely X long, if need be (usually around 3am) I can pull the thing up and over my head and cinch down to a breathing hole. I was willing to add a few ounces for the full length zipper in order to fully encapsulate my sleep system at the colder end of the spectrum and glad I did.

In dead of summer 50F+ nights  I use a half quilt  with either the Patagonia hooded thermal weight or the EE Torrid for upper body/head. That season doesn’t last long where I live currently , maybe a few weeks.

When I wear my puffy to bed it is either worn, with the hood on (very cold), or opened up and draped over my chest under the quilt.

For head insulation I use a combination of the following depending on the temperature.  Cap 4 beanie, Windstopper fleece beanie, Cap 4 balaclava, Montbell Plasma parka hood.  Most often it is the WS beanie under the balaclava.  Any and all combinations are in play.  I have not encountered a situation where I could not keep my head warm.

I’ve been looking around the itraweb and now see that the Zpack/Goosefeet Gear hood has an adjustable opening- that definitely a feature that is welcomed

Also had to look up the Montbell hood mentioned as I didn’t know they even made one, that one looks highly adjustable (three way adjustment) as well.  Does it have something that you can use to pull your arms through as some other others do?

I should the MLD hood I have also includes adjustment around the face

This is what i use

I can only wear it in 20s, maybe under 25

Or i wake up with sweaty head

Sometimes your bodys cold when go to bed, and warms up after a few hrs in insulation.  It feels fine at first…..but wake up two hrs later with head all sweaty if try to wear above 20s.

Its also nice to wear with  hoodless puffy whe packing up and starting out on those 25f mornings.   Below 20, i bring heavier puffy with attached hood.

Just got back from Shenandoah, 23 last night, 11 the night before…very surprised to find basic layering worked well. Buff+kuiu fleece w/hood+hooded R1 for all but the coldest, added sw250 beanie as needed