Those who kite in cold weather; what kind of gear do you use to keep your head warm?

How cold?

Snowkiting, I wear a snowboard helmet, with insulated ear flaps and adjustable vents. On moderate days (-10C+) the vents usually end up wide open after a couple runs. When it's Saskatchewan Cold I add a balaclava under it and then a dickie around the neck when it gets really vicious.

Once it gets dickie cold though it's usually more of an issue to keep my hands warm than anything else, and these days I don't usually ride in "dickie weather".

Around freezing. That's pretty much what I've been wearing too. It just seemed like wearing a helmet compromised what I would be wearing otherwise.

If you are missing your toque, you can take the pads out of your helmet or if you're lucky, swap for thinner ones from the package, and then wear a thicker balaclava or a skull cap if your head is getting cold. My helmet is just as warm as a toque, though, if the vents are closed.

Is your helmet insulated?
A warm helmet with big vents is better than a cool helmet with small vents.

Tactical hoods by Under Armour as a base layer followed by a good insulated ski/snowboard helmet with goggles should do the trick down to the point where you've got to question why you are out in the cold.

https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/mens-coldgear-infrared-tactical-hood/pid1244401-002

I've used these UA hoods for years skiing in the super cold and have been fine. Snowkiting is hungry work and these UA hoods breath really nicely.

RUROC !!!!!

My Bern helmet has interchangeable liners.

That said, I got such a good deal on my second helmet that I have a white one set for summer and a black one set for winter.

When it gets balaclava cold I re-think going out or at least my approach. I don't go far from base camp for long on those days. Pretty wussy for a Canadian. I know. :P

It's what you wear under it. Remove liner or padding to fit headwear. The padding is mostly removed even in summer to fit baseball cap(for it's sun visor).


Boston Had below Zero winter mornings last winter....and I go out early in the morning if there's wind. The typical set up is home made Fleece hat with ear flaps under a helmet. If super cold...... a 2nd thinner fleece hat or balaclava goes under first. Wear a neoprene Masque that covers nose down to neck area to prevent chapped face/frostbite(saves time and money not slathering moisturizer/sunscreen on face...and better protection). Goggles completes protection from cold/wind.

The helmets thick styro padding is also your extra insulation. Some people block holes or cover the helmet's vents(keeps snow out also).

100% no- exposed skin areas...and a well insulated head at this point.

Gloves are the more difficult issue in winter...and have had a thread devoted to that...somewhere in PKF archives.....

POC Fornix Helmet and a super thin beanie under it / full face and head balacava if needed. Remove the ear warmers and open the vents come summer if not on the water.