The scarf has always been an intrinsic part of the motorcyclists gear. Long before helmets were considered necessary, bikers wrapped scarves around their necks and mouths for comfort and warmth. The problem with scarves is that they can become untied and possibly be a hazard. Renowned ballerina Isadora Duncan was famously killed when her long trailing scarf became entangled in the rear hubcaps of an open car.
Modern textile and machining technology has produced the renaissance of the snood. The snood is essentially a short tube of fabric that fits over the head to keep the neck warm. It’s now become a popular fashion garment with both men and women and has been adopted by bikers as the item of choice for keeping cosy in the winter and to help prevent visors steaming up.
Bikesure, the specialist motorcycle insurance broker, takes a look at the variety of snoods available to suit all different budgets and tastes.
For those watching the pennies Bikermart has the Oxford Snood that costs just over £5.00. Reversible and washable this is available in black and can be bought in packs of three.
Buster’s Motorcycle Accessories call their snoods ‘neck tubes’. Perhaps to sound more masculine? The EDZ Windproof Neck Tube is made from micro-fleece and can be pulled up to cover the mouth with a special thin layer. GetGeared also use the term neck tube. Their Held neck tube is made from polar fleece to keep you extra warm.
If you’re a bit more fashion conscious then take a look at the snoods at Ruffnek. They are made from 100% polyester microfiber that apparently keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They are washable, stretchy and come in a standard 24cm x 48cm size to fit most people. Printed with funky designs these snoods appeal to bikers, skateboarders and mountain climbers among others.
For a real upmarket look then try Hugo Boss. The Men Z 514 classy dark mottled soft wool snood comes in at about £89.00. This one has to be more of a fashion statement than something you sling round your neck under your helmet.
Knitting has become fashionable again so you could always try your hand at knitting your own snood while watching your favourite biker films. There are lots of free patterns on line at sites like Ravelry.
If you still want to try wearing a scarf, with caution, then the classic white silk aviator scarf takes a lot of beating. Flightstore has a 100% silk version that would look great with a black leather jacket. Lovarzi has a huge selection of scarves from trendy desert squares to a full size official BBC Fourth Doctor Who Scarf – although at 13ft long it isn’t suitable to be worn while riding.
