The North45 SureFit Anti-Fog (Non-Magnetic) Balaclava prevents lens fogging when used with a ski mask or glasses. The balaclava is made with merino wool and is available in multiple sizes. It consists of two attached pieces, a regular balaclava that covers your forehead and chin or mouth and a second ring of wool with a nose wire, like a surgical mask. It really does work well but has some limitations that I discuss below. North45 also makes models with magnets that seamlessly attach to a ski mask, but as a winter hiker, I don’t wear a ski mask all the time and avoid putting on one until absolutely necessary. I’m also wary of magnets because they have the potential to interfere with a magnetic compass, which I’ve relied on more than once to hike out of a whiteout.
Specs at a Glance
- Midweight (240gsm)
- 100% merino wool
- 23°F to -4°F (-5°C to – 20°C)
- Handwash
The North45 SureFit Anti-Fog (Non-Magnetic) Balaclava has two components: a traditional balaclava and a ring of fabric that loops around the front and had a bendable wire sewn into it like an N95 mask. The balaclava covers your head, ears, neck, and can be pulled up to cover your mouth if desired. The extra ring of fabric is attached to the balaclava behind the neck but can pull up to cover your mouth and nose. Otherwise, it just hangs below your chin and provides extra neck insulation.
This design works very well to prevent moist air from fogging up a ski mask or glasses because the nose wire forms a good seal with your face and moist air from your mouth is absorbed by the overhanding ring of fabric, the bottom of the inner balaclava layer, or simply vented below your chin.
The system does have some limitations in very cold weather (0 degrees), near the bottom of its operating range of -4 degrees Fahrenheit and colder.
- The wool in the balaclava layer is fairly thin and insufficient on cold days by itself. It’s really best used when fitted over fleece beenie to keep the top of your head and ears warm.
- If your nose runs in cold weather, the outer ring of fabric absorbs your snot and moisture from your breath over the span of an hour or so and freezes solid. This isn’t a huge issue if you keep the outer ring in place all day, but if you lower it when it’s not needed and then try to cover your nose again, the frozen snot-encrusted fabric becomes very unwieldy and impossible to use.
- The black-on-black construction makes it hard to orient the two pieces of balaclava if they’ve become tangled up. You can tell if they’re properly oriented if the “North45” label is on the outside of the outer ring of fabric and pointing up. Alternatively, you can use a safety pin, as I’ve done in the picture above, to pin the bottom of both pieces together.
That said, the North45 SureFit Anti-Fog Balaclava works better than any of the other balaclava systems I’ve used to keep my glasses or ski mask from fogging above treeline when I feel face protection is required. It’s really kind of miraculous. There’s no fogging of my prescription glasses even when I’m huffing and puffing and climbing to a mountain summit in 0-degree weather and high winds. If this is something you struggle with I recommend you get one and try it for yourself.
Suggested Improvements
There are a few ways that the balaclava system could be improved to make it easier for hikers to use.
- Use a non-absorbent material like Neoprene for the portion of the outer ring of fabric over and around the nose/mouth instead of wool to prevent freezing in cold weather.
- Sew a piece of colored fabric along the upper hem of the outer ring of fabric to provide a better visual clue about the proper orientation of the two pieces.
- Make the inner balaclava with heavier wool so it’s warmer and does not need to be augmented with an additional hat.
Recommendation
North45 makes two other anti-fog balaclava products designed specifically for skiers that attach to facemasks with magnets. I haven’t reviewed those here. I’ve reviewed the model that is designed for non-skiers or people who want an anti-fog balaclava that does not require magnets. I suspect that the magnet suspension system and the fact that downhill skiers wear helmets mitigate some of the suggested improvements I make above.
In any case, if you’ve struggled with having your ski mask or glasses fog when using a balaclava, I suggest giving one of North45’s Anti-Fog Balaclavas a try. They really are the best anti-fogging balaclava solution I’ve found to date and I’ve tried many. If you can work around the limitations I describe above, you’ll be a much happier hiker when winter face protection is required.
Disclosure: The author purchased this product at the suggestion of a reader.
Updated 2024.
