Tag: apparel

During fall and winter bike rides, you might have a base layer, arm warmers, knee/ arm warmers, and a riding vest as part of your cycling arsenal. However, another area worth protecting is your neck and face. 

A neck gaiter does this perfectly. It works as a barrier against the cold to not only keep your neck warm but also your face, specifically your mouth and nose.

Protection Against Wind and Other Elements 

A neck gaiter is also useful for protecting yourself against other elements, such as dust, sand, wind, and other forms of flying debris. And if you have allergies, a neck gaiter (once pulled up over your mouth and nose) can mitigate the effects those elements might have on you.

What is a Neck Gaiter?

It’s an ultralight but thermal fabric you pull over your head and wear around your neck in cool or colder weather. If necessary (or if you get cold while out late in the day), you can pull it up over your mouth and nose. 

While the fabric of a neck gaiter is stretchy, it won’t work to cover your ears. You’d need a balaclava like the one on Pearl Izumi’s website for that. But a balaclava is primarily used for winter riding when days are in the 30s and below and you want to not only keep your face warm but also your ears and head.

Why I Love a Neck Gaiter for Fall/ Winter Cycling

It’s the easiest piece of cycling kit to wear during fall rides. And it’s light enough that it won’t make your neck sweaty during intense efforts or climbs. Plus, I’ve found a neck gaiter can prevent heat from escaping from your upper body on a cool day. So, to me, it is really a ride essential.

Cost and Where to Find a Neck Gaiter

Neck gaiters are relatively cheap. They can be had for less than $20.00. Of course, if you buy one from a cycling retailer, chances are you’ll pay more. I probably paid close to $30.00 for mine, but that’s because I purchased it through GCN (Global Cycling Network) which does videos and other content about cycling. The company is also based in the U.K.

Neck gaiters can now be found just about anywhere, not just in sporting goods stores or bike shops. They gained some popularity during the pandemic because people would use them as masks to cover their mouths and noses. In fact, I bought another neck gaiter that I used expressly for that purpose in addition to the basic blue medical masks.

Last Thoughts

A neck gaiter is a great piece of cycling kit you should own. It can be used in the fall and winter, it’s washable and easy to store or push out of the way during a ride. For the low cost, it’s not a bad idea to have a couple of them, but you can probably get away with just one. It depends, of course, on how much fall or early winter riding you might be doing.