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After 2 seasons of fatbiking, I needed a better solution to the constant fog issues I was having with the lenses on my Blivet Koll helmet. I was lucky enough to have Stratus send me a couple of their masks to test out, giving me an entire season of fatbiking to figure out if they were the solution I was looking for.
The Stratus SureFit Anti-Fog SuperCell Balaclava, crafted by Canadian company Stratus (formerly North45), is a balaclava designed to prevent lens fogging during outdoor activities. With its innovative separate front panel and moldable nose wire, it effectively redirects breath away from eyewear, minimizing fog and frost buildup. Made with Merino wool and SuperCell fabric, it combines warmth, moisture resistance, and wind protection.
This newest version of the SuperCell Balaclava also includes design updates like a smaller front panel, allowing air to escape more easily. While it works particularly well with goggles and glasses, minor fogging may occur with visors. Overall, it's a thoughtfully designed and effective solution for cold-weather enthusiasts.
If you fatbike, I can almost guarantee you have dealt with fog issues when trying to use eye protection, be it goggles, glasses or a visor. I was getting frustrated with constantly having to choose between a warm face or blocking the cold wind and bright sun from my eyes. In early 2024 I came across a Canadian company called North45 that designed a new type of facemask that would minimize frost buildup on whatever lens you chose to wear. For the past year, I've been fortunate to get the chance to test out a couple of their balaclavas so I can share with you my long-term thoughts.
Formerly known as North45, a name that reflected their Montreal roots and the 45th parallel, they have rebranded under the name STRATUS as of 2024. This new identity is a nod to the ever-changing weather at high elevations and their aspirations to rise above the clouds.
The name change might also have to do with another company with a very similar sounding name, also making winter biking gear. I'm just hypothesizing though.
In 2013, they set out to make better face protection for mountain athletes. Their personal frustration was the fuel to solve an all-too-common problem: no headwear would provide warmth without creating goggle fog and restricting their breathing.
They've since expanded their vision and are working tirelessly to create a line of technical headwear that is as functional as it is sustainable, and as effective as it is aesthetically stylish. Their journey started under the banner of North45, though they’ve since climbed to new heights. With renewed purpose and an eye toward even greater ambitions, their new name is STRATUS.
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I'm pretty fortunate to have had Stratus send me a couple of different balaclavas to try out. Not only did they send me the SureFit Anti-Fog SuperCell Balaclava, but I also had a chance to try out an older model of the North45 SureFit Anti-Fog StormCell Balaclava. While the concept of the two products is much the same, the designs have some noticeable differences. Both balaclavas are made of Merino wool, but the North45 mask has a larger 'face mask', whereas the Stratus 'face mask' is smaller.
Unfortunately, they only had a size large of the heavyweight StormCell Balaclava in stock, which made it a little bit big for me. However, with a few small pinches and stitches in the material, I had it fitting perfectly. One of the noticeable differences was in the design of the facemasks. The mask on the StormCell Balaclava wrapped all the way around the head, providing an additional layer over the ears, whereas the mask on the SuperCell Balaclava connected on the sides of the balaclava, leaving the ears just a little less covered. However, it was much easier to put on the newer SuperCell Balaclava, as the mask never gets tangled behind your head. The balaclavas were comfortable when initially put on, with the nosepieces easily molding to the shape of my nose.
The newly released SureFit Anti-Fog SuperCell Balaclava has some truly innovative features built into its design. First off, they have updated the flat moldable wire of the North45 mask to a round-wire for the new Stratus masks. This simply means that the wire will never twist on you and potentially poke an edge into your nose. Stratus has also incorporated two different textiles into the already well-designed product.
While the original North45 balaclava was designed with 100% ultra-soft merino wool called StormCell, making the most of the natural properties of merino wool, such as moisture-wicking and antimicrobial properties, the new Stratus mask uses a different textile called SuperCell on the front panel of the balaclava, combining advanced water repellency and wind resistance to help keep your face warmer, for longer.
The ColdFront technology that Stratus developed uses a separate front panel which incorporates a metal wire in the nose, much like a surgical mask, allowing you to form a tight fit between the mask and the bridge of your nose. This simple design feature ventilates air down and away from your goggles or other eye protection to ensure enrestricted breathing and zero fog, while also minimizing the buildup of ice, as compared to a regular Balaclava.
During my first rides with the SureFit Anti-Fog SuperCell Balaclava, I tested it on short fatbike trips to Gatineau Park and on commutes to work. I tend to get excited about new products, often expecting disappointment, but this time I was pleasantly surprised. The balaclava worked flawlessly, allowing me to enjoy rides without worrying about fogging up.
Hot air rises, and with traditional face masks, the air escapes through gaps around the nose. This mix of warm breath and cold surfaces, like glasses, visors, or goggles, creates condensation (fog), which can lead to frost buildup. While I’m no scientist, I think we can agree fog and frost are frustrating, and clear lenses are ideal. I also noticed that in the event you decide to put your goggles on your head, exhaled air is still pushed downward, further reducing the chances of having rising vapour producing moisture and ice in your goggles.
The Stratus balaclava cleverly addresses this issue with a separate front panel and a moldable nose wire. The design ensures the front panel stays securely on the nose, preventing it from slipping as moisture builds up. Additionally, the nose wire effectively directs exhaled air away from eyewear, reducing fogging. I should add here that when I was racing the Wendigo in 2025 (see last photo), it was such a mild day that we were all sweating a lot, and I wasn't able to keep everything from turning to ice. Likely, this was just due to lack of experience, and not so much a failure on the part of the equipment.
The newer version of the balaclava includes several improvements worth noting. First, the front panel no longer wraps around the entire balaclava, keeping it in place and preventing it from flipping inside out when putting it on, which commonly happened with the older model. It took me a while to realize that the older model provided a valuable second layer of material over the ears, which I quite like now. Second, the front panel is now slightly smaller, allowing air to escape more easily and reducing the weight of the material when wet from extended use. Lastly, the updated front panel uses SuperCell material, a WindStopper-like fabric that keeps your face warm even when the panel becomes damp from hours of exhaling into it.
One important detail to keep in mind: if you pull down the front panel to eat or drink and leave it down for too long, it will freeze into a stiff clump, making it hard to reposition. Despite this minor drawback, the SureFit Anti-Fog SuperCell Balaclava is a thoughtfully designed product that performed beyond my expectations.
The Stratus balaclava is a well-thought-out product that surpassed many of my expectations regarding it's advertised anti-fogging design. While not perfect in every situation, it worked particularly well while wearing ski goggles and/or glasses. This is great news for those that are near sighted and need to wear glasses when out fatbiking, allowing them to wear glasses and not have them fog up. When used with a helmet such as the Blivet Koll, which incorporates a visor, I found the metal wire on the nose still allowed breath to sneak through, which ultimately resulted in a buildup of fog and frost. Although minimal, after hours on the trail, it was still something that needed fixing, resulting in me using sunglasses instead of the visor. As the balaclava is made of merino wool, I found it to be extremely comfortable. If there is one area of improvement, it would be to have the material on the front panel cover a little bit further back, adding an extra layer on the ears, which tend to get cold faster than other parts of the head. While I had a small issue with the nose wire wearing through the material, the team at Stratus are already aware of the potential issue and have already updated the design to account for it.
Because I have two different models of the Stratus Balaclava, I have come to rely on them for different types of riding. While I like my Stratus SuperCell Balaclava for the majority of riding I do, I always turn to the heavyweight StormCell Balaclava on those really cold days. While the Stratus Balaclava isn't perfect, it works extremely well with both goggles and glasses, and has quickly become a key piece of kit for my fatbike adventures.
After 2 seasons of fatbiking, I needed a better solution to the constant fog issues I was having with the lenses on my Blivet Koll helmet. I was lucky enough to have Stratus send me a couple of their masks to test out, giving me an entire season of fatbiking to figure out if they were the solution I was looking for.
The Stratus SureFit Anti-Fog SuperCell Balaclava, crafted by Canadian company Stratus (formerly North45), is a balaclava designed to prevent lens fogging during outdoor activities. With its innovative separate front panel and moldable nose wire, it effectively redirects breath away from eyewear, minimizing fog and frost buildup. Made with Merino wool and SuperCell fabric, it combines warmth, moisture resistance, and wind protection.
This newest version of the SuperCell Balaclava also includes design updates like a smaller front panel, allowing air to escape more easily. While it works particularly well with goggles and glasses, minor fogging may occur with visors. Overall, it's a thoughtfully designed and effective solution for cold-weather enthusiasts.
If you fatbike, I can almost guarantee you have dealt with fog issues when trying to use eye protection, be it goggles, glasses or a visor. I was getting frustrated with constantly having to choose between a warm face or blocking the cold wind and bright sun from my eyes. In early 2024 I came across a Canadian company called North45 that designed a new type of facemask that would minimize frost buildup on whatever lens you chose to wear. For the past year, I've been fortunate to get the chance to test out a couple of their balaclavas so I can share with you my long-term thoughts.
Formerly known as North45, a name that reflected their Montreal roots and the 45th parallel, they have rebranded under the name STRATUS as of 2024. This new identity is a nod to the ever-changing weather at high elevations and their aspirations to rise above the clouds.
The name change might also have to do with another company with a very similar sounding name, also making winter biking gear. I'm just hypothesizing though.
In 2013, they set out to make better face protection for mountain athletes. Their personal frustration was the fuel to solve an all-too-common problem: no headwear would provide warmth without creating goggle fog and restricting their breathing.
They've since expanded their vision and are working tirelessly to create a line of technical headwear that is as functional as it is sustainable, and as effective as it is aesthetically stylish. Their journey started under the banner of North45, though they’ve since climbed to new heights. With renewed purpose and an eye toward even greater ambitions, their new name is STRATUS.
I'm pretty fortunate to have had Stratus send me a couple of different balaclavas to try out. Not only did they send me the SureFit Anti-Fog SuperCell Balaclava, but I also had a chance to try out an older model of the North45 SureFit Anti-Fog StormCell Balaclava. While the concept of the two products is much the same, the designs have some noticeable differences. Both balaclavas are made of Merino wool, but the North45 mask has a larger 'face mask', whereas the Stratus 'face mask' is smaller.
Unfortunately, they only had a size large of the heavyweight StormCell Balaclava in stock, which made it a little bit big for me. However, with a few small pinches and stitches in the material, I had it fitting perfectly. One of the noticeable differences was in the design of the facemasks. The mask on the StormCell Balaclava wrapped all the way around the head, providing an additional layer over the ears, whereas the mask on the SuperCell Balaclava connected on the sides of the balaclava, leaving the ears just a little less covered. However, it was much easier to put on the newer SuperCell Balaclava, as the mask never gets tangled behind your head. The balaclavas were comfortable when initially put on, with the nosepieces easily molding to the shape of my nose.
The newly released SureFit Anti-Fog SuperCell Balaclava has some truly innovative features built into its design. First off, they have updated the flat moldable wire of the North45 mask to a round-wire for the new Stratus masks. This simply means that the wire will never twist on you and potentially poke an edge into your nose. Stratus has also incorporated two different textiles into the already well-designed product.
While the original North45 balaclava was designed with 100% ultra-soft merino wool called StormCell, making the most of the natural properties of merino wool, such as moisture-wicking and antimicrobial properties, the new Stratus mask uses a different textile called SuperCell on the front panel of the balaclava, combining advanced water repellency and wind resistance to help keep your face warmer, for longer.
The ColdFront technology that Stratus developed uses a separate front panel which incorporates a metal wire in the nose, much like a surgical mask, allowing you to form a tight fit between the mask and the bridge of your nose. This simple design feature ventilates air down and away from your goggles or other eye protection to ensure enrestricted breathing and zero fog, while also minimizing the buildup of ice, as compared to a regular Balaclava.
During my first rides with the SureFit Anti-Fog SuperCell Balaclava, I tested it on short fatbike trips to Gatineau Park and on commutes to work. I tend to get excited about new products, often expecting disappointment, but this time I was pleasantly surprised. The balaclava worked flawlessly, allowing me to enjoy rides without worrying about fogging up.
Hot air rises, and with traditional face masks, the air escapes through gaps around the nose. This mix of warm breath and cold surfaces, like glasses, visors, or goggles, creates condensation (fog), which can lead to frost buildup. While I’m no scientist, I think we can agree fog and frost are frustrating, and clear lenses are ideal. I also noticed that in the event you decide to put your goggles on your head, exhaled air is still pushed downward, further reducing the chances of having rising vapour producing moisture and ice in your goggles.
The Stratus balaclava cleverly addresses this issue with a separate front panel and a moldable nose wire. The design ensures the front panel stays securely on the nose, preventing it from slipping as moisture builds up. Additionally, the nose wire effectively directs exhaled air away from eyewear, reducing fogging. I should add here that when I was racing the Wendigo in 2025 (see last photo), it was such a mild day that we were all sweating a lot, and I wasn't able to keep everything from turning to ice. Likely, this was just due to lack of experience, and not so much a failure on the part of the equipment.
The newer version of the balaclava includes several improvements worth noting. First, the front panel no longer wraps around the entire balaclava, keeping it in place and preventing it from flipping inside out when putting it on, which commonly happened with the older model. It took me a while to realize that the older model provided a valuable second layer of material over the ears, which I quite like now. Second, the front panel is now slightly smaller, allowing air to escape more easily and reducing the weight of the material when wet from extended use. Lastly, the updated front panel uses SuperCell material, a WindStopper-like fabric that keeps your face warm even when the panel becomes damp from hours of exhaling into it.
One important detail to keep in mind: if you pull down the front panel to eat or drink and leave it down for too long, it will freeze into a stiff clump, making it hard to reposition. Despite this minor drawback, the SureFit Anti-Fog SuperCell Balaclava is a thoughtfully designed product that performed beyond my expectations.
The Stratus balaclava is a well-thought-out product that surpassed many of my expectations regarding it's advertised anti-fogging design. While not perfect in every situation, it worked particularly well while wearing ski goggles and/or glasses. This is great news for those that are near sighted and need to wear glasses when out fatbiking, allowing them to wear glasses and not have them fog up. When used with a helmet such as the Blivet Koll, which incorporates a visor, I found the metal wire on the nose still allowed breath to sneak through, which ultimately resulted in a buildup of fog and frost. Although minimal, after hours on the trail, it was still something that needed fixing, resulting in me using sunglasses instead of the visor. As the balaclava is made of merino wool, I found it to be extremely comfortable. If there is one area of improvement, it would be to have the material on the front panel cover a little bit further back, adding an extra layer on the ears, which tend to get cold faster than other parts of the head. While I had a small issue with the nose wire wearing through the material, the team at Stratus are already aware of the potential issue and have already updated the design to account for it.
Because I have two different models of the Stratus Balaclava, I have come to rely on them for different types of riding. While I like my Stratus SuperCell Balaclava for the majority of riding I do, I always turn to the heavyweight StormCell Balaclava on those really cold days. While the Stratus Balaclava isn't perfect, it works extremely well with both goggles and glasses, and has quickly become a key piece of kit for my fatbike adventures.
