Short answer: a full-face knit balaclava like Blockhead is built around ski goggles, and most people wear their goggles over the mask the normal way. Regular glasses are a different story, and it's worth two minutes of reading before you order. This guide covers how our one-size mask fits, how a balaclava sits with glasses and goggles, how to measure your head, and what happens if it doesn't work out.
How the one-size fit works
Blockhead comes in one size. It's a stretch polyester knit, the same family of fabric as a beanie, and it's made for adult heads about 22–23 in (56–59 cm) around. There's no small, medium and large because the knit stretches to fit your head and neck and then settles into place. That makes it easy to buy as a gift. It also means the fit is "stretch to fit", not tailored, so a head well outside that range will feel either tight or loose.
The mask weighs about 150 g. It's a fun mask for lift rides and cold days, not a technical base layer, so think of it as a warm, light layer rather than expedition gear.
Will a balaclava fit over glasses?
The honest answer depends on what you mean by glasses.
Ski goggles: yes. Blockhead has one wide eye opening sized for ski goggles. You pull the mask on first, then put your goggles on over the knit, and the strap sits around the back of your head as usual. With goggles on, the black eyebrows on the mask sit just above the frame, which is part of the look. Goggles aren't included; the ones in our photos are styling.
Everyday glasses: you'll wear them over the mask rather than under it. The arms of your glasses go over the knit and rest on top of it at your ears. Try it at home with your own glasses before you head out. Because the knit adds a little thickness at the temples, glasses with very short or very tight arms can feel snug. If you wear glasses under goggles on the slope, the goggles need to be the over-the-glasses kind; the mask itself doesn't change that.
How to measure your head
- Take a soft tape measure, or a piece of string and a ruler.
- Wrap it around your head just above the eyebrows and the tops of your ears, where a beanie would sit.
- Keep it snug but not tight, and read the number where the ends meet.
If you're between 22 and 23 in (56–59 cm), you're right in the range. A little outside it is usually fine because the knit stretches. If you're buying for a teenager or someone with a smaller head, measure first: below about 22 in the mask may feel loose around the face.
Wearing it under a helmet
Blockhead fits under most ski and snowboard helmets. Put the mask on first, settle the eye opening where your goggles will sit, then put the helmet on and adjust the fit dial as you normally would. The knit knob on top flattens under a helmet and pops back when you take it off at the end of the day.
Which face should you pick?
The fit is the same for all four faces, so pick the one that matches your mood. Tongue Out grins with a red tongue poking out. Big Grin shows off a single row of white teeth. Chomp goes all in with teeth top and bottom. Smirk keeps it to a sly half-smile. You can see all four side by side on our funny ski mask page.
Looking after the fit
Hand wash cold and lay flat to dry. Hanging a wet knit or putting it in a hot dryer can stretch or shrink it, and that's what changes the fit over time.
If it doesn't fit
You have 30 days from delivery to ask for a return, as long as the mask is unworn and unwashed. These are face masks, so we can't take back one that's been worn. Try it on clean, indoors, with your goggles or glasses, before you wear it out. If it arrived damaged or wrong, send us a photo within 7 days and we'll make it right.
Ready to try it? Choose your face and see delivery details on the product page.