Winter is just around the corner, and in some places, snow is already starting to hit the ground – which is great news for those who love skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, or even hiking or going on different outdoor adventures in the freezing cold. And while it’s a no-brainer to invest in a good jacket that will protect you from the harsh winter elements, you shouldn’t skip over the cold weather accessories, like hats, gloves, and of course, ski masks and/or balaclavas. Which brings us to our next point: is there really a difference between a ski mask and a balaclava? Read on to find out everything you need to know about these very similar but every-so-slightly different face coverings that are essential for every winter sports enthusiast, including where to score the best ski masks and balaclavas on the market today.

What Is a Ski Mask?

A ski mask is a piece of cloth headwear that is designed to protect you from cold weather elements, usually while doing outdoor snow sports like skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling. Ski masks typically cover the lower half of the face, as well as the neck, and are designed so that helmets can easily fit over them. 

What Is a Balaclava?

A balaclava is a piece of cloth headwear that covers most of the face and has openings for the eyes, and sometimes the nose and mouth, and is very similar to a ski mask. It is often used in extreme cold weather conditions to protect the face from the harsh winter elements like freezing temperatures, wind, and snow. It can actually be worn in a variety of ways, as it can be rolled up to be used solely as a hat, or rolled down to be used as a scarf that covers your neck. 

Balaclavas are also sometimes used by military forces not only in extreme weather conditions but as a way to conceal identities as well.