i've had one of these since 2004 and love it https://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___51420. for $9 it works wonders. originally bought it for motorcycling in the wintertime. works well at highway speeds, so it works even better at bike speeds.

It doesn't get too cold here and down to the mid 30's at worst. However, my body is very sensitive to cold. I wear a balaclava but hate having the bottom half covering my face after warming up, but still like to have my ear covered. I just ordered one of these at $10 for the heck of it and waiting for arrival. It has a wrap around at the mouth and cheek area which uncover the bottom portion of my face instead of a regular balaclava which I have to take off or pull the bottom half under my chin.

That's what I do as well. Below 25-20 degrees and I'll start wearing the balaclava. Below zero and I'll add the neck gaiter.

I'll also use the neck gaiter alone up around my ears when it's between 40 and 25 degrees.

I've never used one but I'll get one this year. My neck and ears are sensitive to cold, even with a balaclava I could often use extra warmth around the neck. Also, I'm wondering if a neck gaiter plus a hat may be more comfortable than a balaclava alone.

Never leave home without it (except in the summer). REI has the reflective ones on sale for $7.00!

I wear one (merino) neck gaiter as a hat, covering my ears, and a second one around my neck. If I pull the neck one up ( it's scrunched, and has a lot of "slack" ) over my nose and cheeks, I get as much protection as a balaclava would give me. The main difference is that I can peel the gaiters back when I warm up, if the air isn't too cold. Also, to make a hat out of one, I fold it in half, so I've got more insulation around my ears.

A lot of this is highly personal, but I'm not comfortable in a balaclava unless I'm either hiking really slowly, or paddling a kayak really slowly. Otherwise, after about ten minutes of riding, I'm too warm, and starting to sweat.

I rode up mt evans wearing one over my head. On the way down it became a face mask and I put on my skull cap. Wonderful combo!

I am the same way. I own one balaclava and hate it. I prefer face masks or buffs with varying types of skull caps. A PI cap for when it is warmer and a LG power cap for when it is cooler.

Hey, Data Junkie ... what time does the sun set in Denver right now? And do the central Rockies get the same 300 days of sun the city enjoys?

Yup, that's kind of what I was thinking. I also don't like the tightness around my face caused by the balaclava opening, it sometimes gets in the way of glasses on sides on the face too.

Mine's like this, and thin enough that it's hard to find in the rack trunk but plenty warm. It was way to warm to wear under my full face motorcycle helmet, and I usually end up pulling the balaclava down to uncover my face as i warm up. That thin fabric keeps my neck warm down until about freezing and that"s when I quit riding outside.

6:30 ish. The mountains tend to block a lot of our weather. Consequently, they do not get the same number of sunny days. Then again I am a transplant from Eastern Washington State and have never lived in the central rockies. Just Denver.