I find it gives little warmth, certainly less than a fleece-backed lycra or polypropylene balaclava (<--- I bet that will be the longest pair of words I type today), if warmth is what you are looking for... I don't know how cold it gets in illinois, but here in Eastern Ontario Canada a beard is not really useful. I get much less enjoymnent from the warmth of beard and more from the fun of arriving at work with the lower half of my face covered in ice crystals like a deranged mountain man. But that is certianly not worth the itch (to me, anyways)