Not sure why others gave this a 3 star review unless they received a different product than I did. If you like the way the FL neck gaiters fit around your face and head then you'll be happy with this purchase. Go ahead and get this Wind River Balaclava along with a Kiln QZ and some Zip off Kiln bottoms. You'll be covered in the best merino money can buy and warm enough to go further and stay longer!

As someone with hearing loss. The ear holes helped a lot. Keep the bugs off me and I stay warm.

Really good coverage on face and neck, love the fact that there are ear holes! Very comfortable, but I did get red cheeks after a day of wear. Might be I'm allergic to wool, not sure. But I still would wear anyways!

I have recently discovered First Lite when I bought a base layer from Meat Eater. I am amazed at the quality and how “lite”(no pun intended) their stuff is. This Balaclava fits me perfectly and the ear holes actually align with my ears.
I am another happy customer. Can’t wait to use it turkey opening day Saturday!!!!

Bought this mostly for concealment. Feel like it's light enough I can wear in warm weather but will also add some warmth when paired with a hooded jacket. I have a Solitude for cold temps, so I feel like the hood on that plus this will be plenty. Love how you can adjust it to more or less coverage for different situations.

Great design that's super warm. The merino definitely helps with the odor build up I've gotten in the past in synthetic face masks that comes from breathing into it where the mouth/nose are.

I bought one of these for myself last year and it's become my go to head gear for turkey and deer hunting. It's light enough to wear alone on cool sometimes damp spring mornings and makes a great extra layer when the temperatures drop. The holes for the ears let you hear turkeys gobble and deer that are walking in the leaves. I can wear it either over or under a ball cap. It is thin enough to wear under a heavy knit hat in the winter. It's the most versatile headgear I own. I liked it so much that I bought one for a friend as a Christmas gift.

Fit and feel are spot on. A little disappointed it isn’t 100% merino but 95% is pretty close. Full articulating mask and hood work well. Got this to use for early and mid season but it is surprisingly warm for how thin it is. Hopefully it breathes well enough for warm early season days or I will be getting the lightweight gaiter as well

The fit and function of this hat is almost perfect. This is the hat you need for early season. Its thin enough to wear in warm weather and has some warmth. When paired with a beanie would be fine for chilly days. My only issue is with the ear holes. There are 1 inch diameter holes in the sides of the under layer. These holes may line up with some people ears but not mine. The material is thin enough that I doubt there is any measurable difference in decible level with or without the mask on. The ear holes add zero function and just complicate the manufacturing and add a hole in the material.

Great piece! I used to have a polyester balaclava but I found it covered and rubbed against my ears making a noise in my ear every time I moved. The ear cut-outs and soft wool have drastically made it silent and I can hear much better. I recommend to wear a regular hat under it for the brim and skip the beanie over the top of it.