Mountain Equipment
Mountain Equipment Powerstretch Balaclava (Black)
- Warmth: 7/10 How warm it keeps your head and ears, from its type and fabric.
- Wind and rain: 1/10 How well it keeps wind and rain out, from the maker's claims and fabric.
- Weight: 6/10 How much it adds to your pack.
Cold winter days on the hill and in the mountains: Mountain Equipment lists all-mountain and mountaineering use
- Weight
- 70 g
- Type
- Balaclava
- Weather protection
- None
- Fabric
- Polartec Power Stretch Pro fleece (polyester, polyamide, elastane); four-panel fit, flatlocked seams
Where to buy
Mountain Equipment £45 In stock. Delivery £5. Black, S/M and L/XL in stock. Free UK mainland delivery over £50; standard delivery £5.00 under £50 (Mountain Equipment delivery page).
View at shop: Mountain EquipmentCotswold Outdoor £31.89 Out of stock. Black. Marked down from £45. Both sizes show as not available. Free next-day delivery over £125, otherwise £6.95.
View at shop: Cotswold OutdoorPrices checked 8 Nov 2026 on each shop's own page; shops can change them. We earn no commission on these links; shops are listed by price. More
Our ratings (out of 10)
1 to 10, compared with the whole market. Each says what it's based on. How we score
Warmth
Estimate from maker's specs: hat type and fabric 7/10How warm it keeps your head and ears, from its type and fabric. 7: Better than most.
Estimate from maker's specs. The fibre mix (polyester, polyamide, elastane) is from Cotswold Outdoor.
Wind and rain
Estimate from maker's specs: maker's wind and water claims 1/10How well it keeps wind and rain out, from the maker's claims and fabric. 1: A real weak point.
Estimate from maker's specs
Weight
Estimate from maker's specs: the maker's weight 6/10How much it adds to your pack. 6: A bit better than average.
Estimate from maker's specs
In short
Good for
- Cold winter days on the hill and in the mountains: Mountain Equipment lists all-mountain and mountaineering use
- Under a helmet or hood: four-panel, close-fitting shape with flatlocked seams
- Very cold conditions: Mountain Equipment describes it as a close-fitting balaclava for sub-zero conditions
Strengths
- 70 g for a full balaclava (Mountain Equipment)
- Polartec Power Stretch Pro fleece: Mountain Equipment's fabric panel describes the Polartec range as warm for its weight and more wind- and water-resistant than classic fleece, but makes no claim for this balaclava itself
- Four-panel ergonomic fit, flatlocked seams and elastic binding around the face opening
Weaknesses
- Mountain Equipment gives no wind or water test figure for the fabric
- One weight for both sizes, so the L/XL probably weighs more
- Older versions of this balaclava (shown at Ellis Brigham) have separate ear guards, and some shop copy still mentions them although Mountain Equipment's own page doesn't: check the product code (ME-007507) before buying
Sources
We haven't tested this ourselves. Every score comes from these specs, tests and reviews.
ShowHide sources (2)
- Mountain Equipment: Powerstretch Balaclava, Black (weight 70 g, Polartec Power Stretch Pro fleece, four-panel fit, elastic binding, product code ME-007507, price £45, S/M and L/XL in stock)
- Cotswold Outdoor: Mountain Equipment Powerstretch Balaclava, Black (weight 70 g, barcode 5053817339295 matches Mountain Equipment's S/M, £30.89, not available)