Accessories

Best golf neck warmers to defeat the cold in ultimate comfort on the course

By: Justin Park

November 16, 2023

Adam Scott bundles up at the Players Championship.

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adam scott looks cold — Adam Scott bundles up at the Players Championship.

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While fashion sense might point you toward a scarf to keep the chill off your neck, golf is an athletic pursuit that requires athletic apparel. Enter the neck warmer.

Sometimes called a snood or neck gaiter, neck warmers are essentially a tube that you pull over your head and onto your neck to block wind, protect from the sun, and keep you warm. Neck warmers are essential equipment for golfers who dare to brave the elements, but which one you choose should depend on your style preferences and the conditions in which you normally golf.

While some golf-specific brands make neck gaiters, not all do. But many outdoor brands make them for skiing, hiking, and team sports, so we’ve included options from golf brands and non-golf brands to offer a wide selection of styles and options. Scroll to find the right golf neck warmer for you.

How to pick the right golf neck warmer for you

Perhaps the most important consideration in a neck gaiter is the heft of the fabric. While many golfers will be shopping for a neck warmer that provides some insulation for cooler days, if you simply want a neck covering for sun protection, you’ll likely want to look at fishing gaiters such as the Orvis model we highlight above. Similarly, if you’re dealing with particularly cold conditions where you golf, consider Under Armour’s Storm Sport Balaclava or the Smartwool Thermal gaiter that we highlight in our picks.

Because neck gaiters often spend a lot of time covering your mouth and you may be sweating into them at times, odor control is a major concern. Merino wool is a great option for natural odor resistance. But if you prefer the feel and performance stretch of synthetics, try to look for models that have some sort of odor-resistant quality added.

Titleist Performance Snood Neck Warmer

Titleist

$30.00

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Highlights

Golf-specific look
Antimicrobial
Moisture-wicking

This simple fleece-lined neck warmer from Titleist doesn’t try to do too much. Neck warmers are a basic piece of golf apparel, and the one-color design (there are four solid colorways available) helps it fit with any golf outfit. Typically, when you reach for a neck warmer, it’s because the weather has taken a turn thanks to high winds, dropping temperatures, or both. The caveat presented here is that the fleece lining means this Titleist offering will be too warm to use exclusively for sun protection on hot days (we highlight several lighter weight options further down).

Luckily, the polyester fabric has an antimicrobial treatment to avoid those nasty aromas if you do happen to sweat. And appearance-wise, while simple, Titleist delivers a golf-specific style that looks right at home on the course.

Material: Polyester, fleece lining | Features: Antimicrobial, moisture-wicking | Colors: 4

Nike HyperStorm

Nike

$29.82

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Highlights

Drawstring to seal out cold air
Affordable
Moisture-wicking

The HyperStorm men’s neck warmer isn’t just affordable, it’s an athleticwear neck warmer option for golfers that prefer a sporty look and demand performance from their golf apparel. The Dri-FIT, polyester-based microfiber fabric helps wick moisture away from your skin by dispersing it across the neck warmer’s surface area, while there’s a more breathable panel right in front of your mouth to help avoid humidity build-up in the first place.

This is a great sport-specific option that offers performance while still being affordable, so you can buy one and toss it in your golf bag without worrying you aren’t getting your money’s worth out of the purchase.

Material: 82% polyester, 9% spandex, 4% rubber, 3% polycarbonate, 2% nylon | Features: Drawstring cinch | Colors: 1

Kari Traa Rose Tube Neck Gaiter

Kari Traa

$29.95

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Highlights

Stylish patterns and colors
Natural odor resistance
Soft against the skin

This women’s sportswear brand has its roots in skiing and winter sports, but their female-focused products shine in all four seasons. There’s nothing female-specific in the cut of the neck warmer, per se, but unlike many of the other activewear neck warmers available to golfers, the Kari Traa Rose Tube comes in five patterned options with both dark and pastel colors.

The merino wool construction is soft and plush to the touch, and though merino is naturally breathable, this touts itself as being for snow sports and may prove a bit too warm if you’re just looking for some sun protection on the course.

Material: 100% merino wool | Features: Naturally breathable and odor-resistant | Colors: 5

Orvis Sun Defense Neck Gaiter

Orvis

$19.00

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Highlights

Lightweight and breathable
Natural odor resistance
Contains UPF 50+

If you’re in the market for a neck gaiter rather than a neck warmer, many of these options may be too thick and hot for midsummer rounds. Luckily, neck gaiters are essential sun protection equipment for anglers, and Orvis delivers a performance option that will keep golfers cool and protected from the sun with their Sun Defense Neck Gaiter.

Thicker neck warmers will also provide physical protection, but this option from Orvis offers UPF 50+ coverage in an ultralight anti-NIR (near infrared radiation) fabric designed to reflect heat away from the skin. Orvis also uses their OutSmart Fresh odor-resistant treatment on the fabric to avoid the dreaded stink from breathing through the fabric all day.

Material: Polyester/spandex blend | Features: Odor resistance, UPF protection | Colors: 5

Smartwool Thermal Merino Neck Gaiter

Smartwool

$32.00

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Highlights

Plush against the skin
Natural odor resistance
Warm enough for the nastiest days

While Smartwool calls this a “neck gaiter” instead of a “neck warmer”, make no mistake, it’ll keep you toasty. The 100% merino wool fabric is 250-weight, the manufacturer’s heaviest, warmest wool fabric weight.

Thankfully, merino is naturally breathable and odor-resistant thanks to the antimicrobial properties of this textile. And like any good merino layer, it’s soft against your skin and helps you regulate skin temperature naturally. This is a simple two-layer design that comes in three solid colors to pair with your golf outfit.

Material: 100% merino wool | Features: Odor resistance, breathable | Colors: 3

Buff Original EcoStretch Neckwear

Buff

$24.00

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Highlights

Lots of color and pattern options
Made from mostly recycled materials
Lightweight warmth

If you’ve heard of a neck warmer being called a buff, that’s likely thanks to the enduring popularity of Buff-brand neck gaiters that are basically the standard for neck coverings. While the brand may offer some of the original neck gaiters, it’s continued to innovate in the category.

The EcoStretch buff stands out with a simple design that’s long enough to pull up to cover your head and neck or to wear lower in warmer weather. The lightweight, 4-way stretch fabric is a good in-between weight for fall and spring and cool mornings and evenings. The buff has made some major improvements to its newest version, like using 95% recycled REPREVE® Performance Microfiber polyester for a more environmentally friendly choice that uses fewer raw materials. And because of the popularity of this model, there are dozens of different colors and standout patterns as well as collaborative designs from National Geographic, the TV series “Survivor,” and others.

Material: 95% recycled polyester, 5% elastane | Features: Quick-drying, breathable, UPF protection | Colors: Dozens

Ibex Indie Quick Link Neck Gaiter

Ibex

$42.00

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Highlights

Luxurious steam-finished merino wool
Natural odor resistance
Lightweight warmth

Not all merino is created equal, and Ibex has a decades-long reputation for making high-end wool outdoor apparel with the finest fabrics available. Most of these offerings are 100% merino, such as the Indie Quick Link Neck Gaiter.

Ibex also employs smart, time-tested designs, and this simple tube structure is long enough to pull up on the back of the head past the ears for a half-hood feel or to wear loosely around the neck for lighter gaiter-style protection. The MECool fabric is 100% merino with a special steam finish that makes the fabric unbelievably luxurious against your skin. And, of course, the naturally antimicrobial fabric means you can keep the stink away longer with less laundering.

Material: 100% merino wool | Features: Odor resistance, breathable | Colors: 3

Under Armour Unisex UA Storm Sport Balaclava

Under Armour

$28.00

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Highlights

Serious protection for the worst weather
Can be worn under a cap or beanie
Moisture-wicking warmth

For the worst weather, winter sports enthusiasts turn to a version of the neck warmer known as a balaclava for a more full-head wrap that leaves only the face exposed and usually includes an option to pull the mouth covering over the wearer’s nose as well. Under Armour’s Unisex UA Storm Sport Balaclava delivers a sport-specific performance design that’s insulating thanks to ColdGear fabric while still breathable and is the only water-repellent option on our list. If you’re willing to golf through both cold and wet weather, this may be your warmer of choice.

This isn’t a year-round option, as it’ll be too warm for all but the nastiest days. But if you’re a golfer who refuses to let the season go even when winter starts creeping in, this is the accessory for you. Unlike the simple tube design of lighter weight gaiters, the Storm Sport is hinged and layered from the ear to the front of the mouth at the opening, making it easier to pull down below the chin when you don’t require full-face coverage.

Material: 88% polyester, 12% elastane | Features: Water-repellent, moisture-wicking | Colors: 1

Choose which neck warmers to compare

Use the dropdown boxes to choose 3 neck warmer options to compare

Best For

Best for cool weather

Price

$30.00

Highlights

Golf-specific look
Antimicrobial
Moisture-wicking