how much can a beard help?

[feethanddooth]

does it really make a difference for warmth in the winter?

[CrosseyedCrickt]

YES!!!!
I have a big bushy gote I wear in the winter with 1/4" stubble on the rest of my face. I wear a goate year round.
In the snow, your face does not get wet at all, and if you wear a balaclava and it gets wet, the hair keeps the wet material from touching your skin, creating a nice air space for your body heat to warm up.
I also have a harry back and chest, which aslo keeps wet clothing from touching my skin.

human yetti I am
grrrruh!!

[wb 86]

Wow, ironically I'm filling in my winter fully this week instead of my usual chin patch. Does it really make a huge difference? For a cycling/outdoor perspective I really don't notice a one( and it is full, I am also a human yetti), but the ladies dig it. What CrosseyedCrickt said does make sence, though............I'll have to pay more attention this winter.

Craig

[CrosseyedCrickt]

I started growing my beard when I was about 15 years old because my dad told me it would help to keep me warm when we were hunting. I've worn a beard or goate ever since and I am now in my 30's. When I shave my cheeks and neck in the winter, from time to time, I hate it. The cold bites my face really hard and the skin gets chapped and irritated. I couldn't imagine my entire face feeling like that. Is that was those fare faced people go thru in the winter? ugh!
wb 86 - wait until you are out and the snow is falling, you'll really notice a differance then, a big one.
Being harry has its advantages... and disadvantages too I guess, like having to shake like a dog when I get out of the shower. Okay, that was a joke, but it does take me a long time to dry off after bathing and my beard take 10-15 minutes to dry. Of course the hair on my chin is about 6-8 inches long at the moment. You should see how it looks when I ride my old Shovelhead, lol. I caught a glimpse of it once in a minivan window.

[sers]

does it really make a difference for warmth in the winter?

why do you think that hair grows on your face? plus, you never know when you might run into a pederast.

[robmcl]

In my opinion, not much. Back when I lived in Wisconsin I had a full beard during some cold winters. I never noticed a differnce.

[DataJunkie]

I would say a little more than not much :p
My chin seems to stay a bit warmer than the rest of my face. However, since I started shaving my head I have had no desire to grow a full beard. That just looks strange IMHO

[tankman10024]

I have to agree with you guys on this one, growing a beard does have its benefits in the winter months like keep your face warm, but its also a nice change from the way you would have your facial hair in the summer months too.

tankman

[Portis]

He thinks so. (http://mudhead.uottawa.ca/~pete/beard.html)

http://mudhead.uottawa.ca/~pete/beard.gif

[Marylandnewbie]

I've had a beard for years and I think it is a help on windy days in winter. In blowing snow it gets iced over and then it is a lovely windproof insulator. It might help under the balaclava to give more space for warm wet breath the dissipate before it hits your glasses. The rest of the time it is negligible except to make me that much cooler! ;)

[SisuMess]

i stop shaving right about this time of year for hunting, hockey, and biking.

i like the way i look with a beard..mine isnt' weird like some peoples'

i'd say it doesn't add warmth but my favorite benefit is lack of friction and chafing when i'm wearing high collars or baclavas