Best snoods: warm and cosy neck coverings for walking, cycling, skiing and more

A snood is one of the most versatile, hardworking accessories you can own. What other accessory will keep your neck warm, your hair out of your face and help you legally enter a shop this winter?

Halfway between a scarf and a hood, a snood - for the uninitiated - is a circle of fabric worn around the neck that can be pulled up to cover your head or lower face when needed. In its most modern incarnation, it's made from stretchy, close-fitting fabric designed to keep you warm but not overheated.

Also known, somewhat charmlessly, as a ‘neck gaiter’, snoods are popular right now thanks to being able to use them as a face coverings, which have again become a legal requirement for entering shops and other indoor public spaces in the UK.

With a multitude of snoods available, we’ve turned to the wisdom of the Mumsnet Talk forums to find out which ones are worth their salt.

1. Best overall snood: Seasalt Heavyweight Handy Band

Price: £15 | Buy now from Seasalt

"I like them. I have four. They wash well. Can be left around neck for pulling up when needed. Hide my double chin. And I feel like Dick Turpin" - BoudicasBoudoir

"Seasalt sell handybands which are multi purpose hair bands, scarves or face coverings. Not a mask, but so really comfy and available in different patterned fabric. Love them!" - Lovelivingbythebeach3

Seasalt’s Handybands have a cult following among Mumsnetters. More than a snood, these versatile jersey bands can be used as a headband or pulled up as a face covering too. This one’s a heavyweight version of the super popular style, and reviewers say it’s not quite as stretchy as the original lightweight Handyband. Boasting a soft brushed fleece lining and available in three different patterns or a plain navy blue, we think they look great paired with a crew neck jumper.

2. Best budget snood: Sea Team Neck Gaiter Multipack

Price: £12 (pack of six) | Buy now from Amazon 

For snood devotees, a multipack like this one from Sea Team is a real bargain. You get six lightweight, breathable polyester snoods for around £12 and there are six colour combos to choose from. Using a snood as an alternative to a mask this winter means you'll need to wash them regularly to keep them hygienic. These ones wash well and having six will mean there’s always one ready to grab on your way out of the house.

3. Best snood to use as a face covering: WALLFID Warm Washable Neck Gaiter

Price: £9 (pack of two) | Buy now from Amazon

"We have neck gaitors as well as masks. Dh wore his on the Eurostar as found it comfortable. Ours have a filter pocket for washable filters" - Aragog

Masks aren’t comfortable for everyone, so a specially designed snood like this one makes a great alternative. With a pocket for removable filters, this pack of two from WALLFID comes complete with 15 filters (multipacks of refills are widely available). Thanks to the small, flexible filters these can still be worn as a cosy neck warmer when not needed as a face covering, plus they’re also useful for filtering dust and pollution.

4. Best warm snood: Heat Holders Thermal Neck Warmer

Price: £15 | Buy now from Amazon

"I love my snood. Unlike scarfs there is no danger of it getting caught in my wheelchair" - Hedgehogblues

With a cosy faux fur lining, this neck warmer from Heat Holders will keep you toasty in all conditions. Specially shaped to prevent drafts, and boasting a balmy 3.5 tog rating, there’s more to this snood than meets the eye. It’s made from insulating yarn that keeps heat in and wicks away moisture, plus there are six colours to choose from. This is a brilliant choice for very cold weather or as an alternative to a scarf.

5. Best snood for cycling: Buff Polar Reflective Neckwear

Price: £25 | Buy now from Buff

"These are great. Stretchy tubes you can wear as head gear or neck warmers" - Doyouthinktheysaurus

"I have a buff one! So cosy!" - teacherandguideleader

With its bright orange colour and reflective strip, this thermal snood from Buff will improve your visibility out cycling on dark winter evenings, as well as keeping you warm. The length is very generous, so there’s plenty of stretchy fabric to pull up over your face to protect you from the elements, but it’s lightweight enough to wear just around your neck too.

6. Best snood for running: Hygge Bands Cayman Stretch + Multiuse Headband

Price: £21 | Buy now from Hygge Bands 

"Try the Hygge bands instead. They're strictly buffs but are multipurpose headbands, which I use for both running and as a face mask. I love them" - Stumpedasatree

With their incredibly stretchy fabric and huge range of designs, Hygge Bands are a favourite among Mumsnet’s running community. The Hygge website offers a buy one, get four free deal so it's easy to stock up. Some runners even wear two at once - one around their neck and one in their hair. Made from moisture-wicking polyester microfibre, Hygge Bands keep you warm without sweatiness, making them perfect for any kind of exercise, as well as a convenient face covering.

7. Best skiing snood: Danish Endurance Merino Neck Gaiter

Price: £25 | Buy now from Amazon

"We had a couple of bitterly cold days last April and were very glad of them - the wind was biting - we ended up putting them over our heads/mouths with helmets on top" - stringbean

Merino wool is a thermal wonder fabric, and its unique properties make it perfect for skiing. This understated snood from Danish Endurance is lightweight and moisture wicking - plus it’s stretchy enough to be worn as a snood, face covering or headband. Suitable for sensitive skin, the fabric is non-itchy, antibacterial and is free from harmful substances.

8. Best snood for walking: Berghaus Mountain Neck Gaiter

Price: £7 | Buy now from Go Outdoors

"Go to Go Outdoors or similar and have a look at the clever hat/scarf things they have - thin but warm again but can be worn as neck warmer or hat etc and useful for sharp days when the wind get cheeks/ears and foreheads etc" - RB68

Made from stretchy jersey fabric, we love this lightweight printed snood from Berghaus. Offering that little bit of extra warmth - and a face covering when you need it - this design features two layers of breathable polyester. If you’re hiking somewhere extra chilly, there are also polar fleece-lined styles available.

9. Best snood for golf: Callaway Golf Snood

Price: £13 | Buy now from Amazon

Made from 100% polar fleece, this snood is perfect for keeping warm on the golf course. Available in black or grey and made by specialist golf brand Callaway, the snood will ensure you don’t lose any heat through the collar of your clothing. It’s lightweight, soft and will take up only a tiny amount of space in your golf bag.

10. Best knitted snood: Accessorize Fairisle Winter Snood

Price: £14 | Buy now from Accessorize

"I got a grey wool textured one from Accessorize and love it. Much neater on my short frame than a traditional scarf. Takes up less space in my bag too" - DianaT1969

For a cosy style, check out this knitted snood from Accessorize. Tucked into a winter coat, you’ll stay warm on a cold day, and there’s even a kids' version available if you fancy matching with your DC. As it’s loose fitting and has an open weave, this type of snood doesn’t really function as a face covering, but for a stylish way to keep warm this winter, it’s a perfect choice.

What is a snood?

A cross between a scarf and a hood, snoods can be worn around the neck and pulled up to cover your head or face when you need a bit of extra protection from the elements.

Can snoods be worn as face coverings?

There are currently no mandatory standards for face coverings in the UK. Government guidelines recommend at least two layers of comfortable, breathable fabric that “form a good fit around the nose and mouth”, so stretchy, double-layered snoods that fit snugly over the nose can be used as face coverings.

What’s the best material for a snood?

Breathability is key, especially if you’re planning on using a snood to cover your mouth and nose. A breathable polyester fabric offers maximum stretch and comfort, while cotton and merino offer similar benefits with a higher price tag.

What is the best snood to buy?

The heavyweight version of Seasalt’s famous Handyband is our pick for the best snood to buy. We love the tasteful designs, great quality fabric and versatility.

How we chose our recommendations

Because we know that there’s nothing like a real recommendation from a real parent, we first headed to the Mumsnet forums to find out which snoods discerning Mumsnet users had bought for themselves. We compiled a list of the snoods they recommended for being practical and warm.

We then did some research across the wider web, looking at which snoods had won accolades or been featured in ‘best buy’ lists across websites and print media, and what customers’ reviews said about them.

Having collated all that information, we picked the snoods we thought would make the best buys in several categories.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.