Winter Olympics, but make it Manhattan: This necessary balaclava is 40% off

With this blizzard, you’d think New York City was hosting some kind of off-brand winter Olympics. Just 8 million unwilling participants and a strong chance of slipping in front of someone you once dated (take it from me).

Sidewalks are icy obstacle courses, wind gusts are blowing down competitors round by round, and stepping outside without the proper gear isn’t just a bad look, it’s quite literally a tactical error. In weather like this, yes, your coat and boots absolutely matter. But if your face is exposed, you’re essentially showing up to a speed skating race in a cocktail dress.

The Shy Velvet Balaclava Wind-Resistant Winter Face Mask, currently 40% off on Amazon, reads polished enough for apres ski but functional enough for a downtown commute in this storm. It operates somewhere between a fluffy snood and a structured fleece hood, giving continuous coverage instead of piecemeal protection.

Shy Velvet Balaclava Wind-Resistant Winter Face Mask

Amazon

The Shy Velvet Balaclava is a full-coverage cold-weather accessory designed to shield the head, neck, and lower face from wind and low temperatures. It features a soft velvet exterior with insulating lining, functioning as a face mask, snood and fleece hood in one streamlined piece.

The flexible design allows it to be worn pulled up over the nose or down around the neck, making it suitable for commuting, winter sports, apres ski settings and everyday cold-weather wear. It is currently available on Amazon at 40% off.

Not sold? According to findings from the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, synthetic fibers such as polyester and polypropylene wick moisture away from the skin and retain less water than cotton, which absorbs moisture and loses insulation when wet. All that to say, this is pretty much the one and only time I’m going to advise against wearing natural fibers against your skin.

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Kendall Cornish, New York Post Commerce Editor & Reporter. Kendall, who moonlights as a private chef in the Hamptons for New York elites, lends her expertise to testing and recommending cooking products – for beginners and aspiring sous chefs alike. Simmering and seasoning her way through both jobs, Kendall dishes on everything from the best cookware for your kitchen to chef-approved gourmet meal kits to the full suite of Ninja appliances. Prior to joining the Post’s shopping team in 2023, Kendall previously held positions at Apartment Therapy and at Dotdash Meredith’s Travel + Leisure and Departures magazines.