Originally Posted by BobbyG

My face was cold and a scarf was too bulky and sweaty. I read about balaclavas here on bikeforums years ago. Not knowing anything I bought a thin nylon one. It worked well and still works well for me down to my limit of 10F. It seems for me blocking the wind is more important than insulation. Below 10F I'm sure insulation is more important.

As far as glasses fogging up, that was always a problem until I began cleaning my glasses with hand soap and warm water, then blow drying them with by mouth through an empty pen tube, or pursed lips. It works in the dry altitude of Colorado. What I discovered is a thin, invisible soap film is left on the lenses which helps prevent fogging. This is how anti-fogging agents like rain-X work.

As a diver, I've used various methods of de-fogging my mask over the years, and your method sounds similar to some techniques I use. First and foremost, and I can't stress this enough. CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN. If your goggles/glasses are clean, they are less-likely to fog. A clean lens will also promote adhesion of whatever fog-prevention agent you are using. Check out any local dive shops. There's a half-hundred different brands of mask cleaners and defoggers out there. Ask the owner which ones are best for your application.

Being thin and stretchy the balaclava can be worn as a cap only, a cap and chin cover (tucked under my bottom lip), over my mouth, or over my mouth and nose. Over my nose will lead to fogging sometimes which can be somewhat avoided by breathing though my mouth and affecting and overbite to direct the breath down and away.

Also, being bald, I wear it inside out so the seam doesn't leave an indentation on my bare scalp, which makes it look like I had my head split in two. I know, right! I'm not bald, but I hate it when manufacturers do a lousy job of sewing seams - especially socks!