The north wind was kicking in pretty fiercely to go with the snow. I couldn't really pop down to the local outdoor store without freezing, so I used the power of Amazon Prime to get this overnighted to me. It's a fine, polar fleece-style balaclava -- warm, lightweight, and more breathable than wool (you don't get as much condensation forming/freezing inside from your breath). It's kind of on the large side -- it still works fine for me, but it will accommodate just about any big fat head, I would think. As for the heatmax pockets over the ears, well, that's just a bonus as far as I'm concerned. You get two included with the balaclava, but they are one-time use only, and they aren't super cheap. Still if you're going to be outdoors all day (hunting, construction, etc.), I can see how they might become a habit.