MCN’s buying guide to the best motorcycle neck warmers | That essential bit of winter riding kit

Setting off on a ride without my neck warmer in the colder months reminds me what a big job that little bit of kit actually does. Even with base layers, layered jackets and heated gloves, once the speedo rises and the wind chill hits my neck I soon remember what I’ve forgotten.

Also known as neck gaiter, tube and snood, it’s not ranked as the sexiest piece of gear but it does keep body heat from escaping, and those flying bug missiles from scoring a Luke-Skywalker-style direct hit in that one exposed bit of flesh between my helmet and the top of my jacket.

I’ve included warmer options in this guide simply because we’re now in the autumn/winter riding season, but I ride with a gaiter all year round. In spring/summer the thinner polyester tubes protect from bug attacks and dangerous UV sun rays. In the heat of summer I wet the gaiter and it cools me down instantly.

Good quality neck warmers are made from moisture-wicking materials that help prevent condensation from building up either under the jacket or inside the helmet. Some look like bits of kit from the knights of old and are designed to cover the nose, mouth, neck and all of the chest. Others will cover the nose, mouth, neck and tuck into the top of the jacket without covering the chest. It all depends on what you’re comfortable with.

Here are some neck warmers we’ve tried and tested

Other neck warmers to consider

How MCN tests neck warmers

Here at MCN, we make it our mission to help you find the kit that’s right for you, at a price that fits your budget. We test our neck warmers the same way you’d test yours; by riding with them. And we make sure to put the miles in before sharing our findings. Our word is backed by hundreds of thousands of miles in the saddle collectively, but our recommendations come from each tester individually.

While testing, we mainly focus on comfort, quality, and value. When we write up our full reviews we give each neck warmer a rating out of five stars in each of these categories, and we offer a final verdict too. If you can’t see a review against some of the items on this page, it’s because we haven’t tested them yet. We’ve included them because we think they’re important and relevant in the market, and we will be bringing you a review as soon as we’ve done the miles with them.

1 star – Poor performance in this category or overall. A neck warmer with a single star rating has fallen below the expected standard and should be avoided.

2 stars – Basic performance in this area or overall. A neck warmer with a two-star rating has managed to perform to a barely acceptable level, and there is much room for improvement.

3 stars – An average performance in this area or overall. A neck warmer with a three-star rating has achieved a basic level of performance and is deemed adequate.

4 stars – A neck warmer has performed over and above the accepted average in this category or overall. A neck warmer with a four-star rating has surpassed expectations and delivered in a particularly impressive way.

5 stars – A neck warmer has performed at the highest possible level in a particular category or overall. A neck warmer with a five-star rating has delivered to the highest possible level, impressing the tester with its performance. We would happily spend our own money on it.

To find out more, head to our dedicated page explaining how we test motorcycle products.

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