buff balaclava.JPG
I like having a couple of different pieces with me- the other thing with a stretchy neck gaiter/buff is that you can wrap it over a few layers to hold it all in place.
If you have long hair, wear a beanie (baselayer weight hat) with a fleece, etc... they tend to want to spin off your head as you sleep. So having a stretchy buff/neck gaiter can help tie them all together.
If you're in deep winter, you may want an actual neoprene face mask so it's easier/warmer to breathe through. But when it's not crazy cold you can just breathe through a buff or stretch fleece and then sun it for a bit (or keep it in your pocket) to chase out any frost buildup from the night before. That and you have multiple layers for getting going in the morning or setting up camp at night that allow you to regulate your temperature much easier. Being able to peel off your headgear in layers as you and the day warm up is something you can't do with a wham-bam deep freeze hood. It's either cold enough to wear it or it's not.