List Price: $23.95
Official URL: doodlebinks.com
Rating:

Here in Philadelphia, the number of days my kid would need a ski mask are pretty minimal—but they do occur. In fact, we only made it to 19 degrees (centigrade, obviously) the other day, and boy oh boy did this hat come in handy!

When I received the ski mask, my daughter was immediately sold. At two and a half, she loves nothing more than putting it on and running around roaring like a tiger. But that’s inside the house. She had a bit more trouble tolerating it outside; she’s not quite used to having winter gear on yet, and she didn’t feel quite comfortable. But I suspect if we were doing a long outdoor activity, she would adjust to it. It’s quite soft and comfortable, and cute enough that there is no way she could ever hold up a liquor store while wearing it (hey, I’m just saying—it is a ski mask after all!).

WARMTH

It’s not as warm as perhaps a wool ski mask would be; it’s a pretty standard light fleece. It probably wouldn’t withstand North Dakota winters, but it does just fine for a more moderate winter like we have in Philadelphia.

AESTHETIC

This hat is seriously adorable. The tiger style has ears and a tail, and the color is bright without being neon orange. It’s super cute on, and because it’s so incredibly soft my kid just loves it.

HOW IT WORKS/EASE OF USE

A Doodlebinks ski mask works just like a standard ski mask; it slips on, and slips off. The good news is that my daughter has no problems putting it on by herself. The bad news is, she also has no trouble getting it off.

QUALITY/CONSTRUCTION

My only complaints are in this area. I think this item might be in low production; there are a few loose threads here and there, and the choice of a knot at the end of the tail rather than a seam makes for a hard lump on an otherwise soft object. It is fleece so it’s very soft, and it’s two interior labels are well placed to avoid itching and can be easily removed.

EASE OF CARE

It can be machine washed in cold, but requires air-drying. Fleece dries quickly, though, so this isn’t the biggest of deals.

SIZING

The hat is just a bit big on my daughter, who is average (really, she’s in the 50th percentile) for her age. It leaves plenty of room to grow, and I suspect she will have several years of use out of the mask. I can also attest that it will go over an adult’s head as she insisted that I put it on. Ahem. But it was definitely tight on me, so it would probably top out in the tween range or so since it suggests that it be a bit loose to allow your kid to, you know, breathe.

ABOUT DOODLEBINKS

This mask was invented by a mom and 4th grade teacher who, basically, was tired of hearing kids complain about their faces being cold but didn’t want them to look like miniature criminals while wearing ski masks on the playground. She designed these to accommodate the frigid temperatures and biting winds that are common in winter in North Carolina.

BOTTOM LINE

I really think this is a wonderful product—I feel like it will get plenty of use, that it is cute and comfortable and well designed. I like the fact that it is flexible enough that it can be used when it’s pretty cold out, and also when it’s REALLY cold out. I cannot wait for our first big snow (I just know we’re going to have one this year) and have my daughter wear it while she sleds.