The Smartwool Active Fleece Wind Hoodie builds a six-piece hood with an integrated balaclava into the top, so a cold headwind never finds a gap at the face or neck the way a standard hood would leave open. A windproof front panel backed by a non-PFC DWR finish carries that same wind resistance down through the chest, while a four-way stretch knit keeps a soft merino blend against the skin underneath. The hood pulls up or drops down without breaking the fit, so the coverage is there exactly when the wind picks up and gone when it doesn't. What Our Gearhead(R) Experts Are Saying:"Wind hits my face and neck before anything else on an exposed ridge, and the balaclava seals that off completely instead of just cutting the chill at my collar. I've stopped pulling a separate neck gaiter over just to finish the same run."