
Beanie, the Most Common Outdoor Hood
A beanie is lightweight and doesn’t take up much space. Beanies are commonly made from synthetic fibers which makes them very durable.
Weight: 58 grams (2.0 ounces)
Retail: $17
Pros:
- More durable than a down hood
- Lighter than a balaclava and down hood
- Compact & affordable
Cons:
- Beanie doesn’t keep the face warm like a balaclava or down hood

Balaclava
A balaclava covers the head and face making it retain more heat than the beanie. They are commonly made from synthetic fibers and are very durable.
Weight: 76 grams (2.7 ounces)
Retail: $20
Pros:
- Keeps the face warm
- More durable than a down hood
Cons:
- Weighs more than a beanie

Down Hood, the Warmest Outdoor Hood
A down hood covers the head and the face. The draw string can be tightened or loosened to fine tune the desired face coverage. The down hood weighs about the same as a synthetic balaclava but provides superior warmth.
Hood Weight: 75 grams (2.6 ounces)
Retail: $23
Pros:
- Superior warmth
- Compacts to a small size
- Adjustable drawstring to fine tune face coverage
Cons:
- Shell fabric not as durable as a beanie or balaclava
Summary
The head makes up about 10% of your body area. Leaving your head uncovered in cold conditions will cause a lot of discomfort. Wearing a hood will help you better retain your body heat, especially at night.
The down hood will provide the best overall warmth when compared to the heavier synthetic beanie or balaclava. Another advantage of the down hood is that the drawstring makes adjusting the face coverage easier.
The only major downside of the down hood is the thin shell. Because of the thin shell, the down hood has to be treated with a lot more care to avoid damage. The synthetic beanie and balaclava that we tested were a lot more durable.
The down hood provides a lot of advantages over the synthetic beanie and balaclava. However, the best hood for you will depend on your individual needs.