If you’re an athlete or an outdoors person, you were likely familiar with neck gaiters long before the coronavirus pandemic made them popular as a face covering. The fact is this tube of cloth that you pull over your head is useful, versatile and practical for many purposes. And that makes it a great promotional product that the right recipients are likely to keep and use in their everyday lives.

Many suppliers offer gaiters with stock patterns; or, you can create your own graphic and have it custom printed to suit your purpose. Credit: NameBadges International

Neck gaiters come in a variety of sizes, styles and fabric content. Obviously, a super-stretchy material is necessary to pull it over the head. Some examples include polyester, polyester/spandex blends, Tencel jersey, microfiber and – for the environmentally conscious – Repreve, a fleece-lined material made using recycled plastic water bottles. Other styles are lined with polyester mesh.

Many suppliers offer adult and children’s sizes, and others offer small/medium and large/extra-large in adults. Most gaiters measure around 9.5 to 9.7 inches wide and come in a variety of lengths, from 13 inches up to 19 inches long.

One of the great things about neck gaiters is that even once the need for a face covering in public has passed, there are many markets that will still need this product. One example is environments where people need protection from dust and dirt, like construction workers, road crews, farmers, landscapers, and anyone spraying chemicals such as insecticide and fertilizer.

Meanwhile, participants in sports like running, skiing, hiking, cycling, climbing, fishing and hunting need protection from sun, wind, dust and cold, and gaiters can help with that too.

After mask requirements lift, more cautious individuals will still want them for shopping, music festivals, fairs and any indoor group activity. For those who may be concerned that a gaiter isn’t as protective as a mask, there are providers who offer neck gaiters with filter pockets and double layering around the nose and mouth.

In many cases, the gaiter is pulled up over the nose and will stay there, but for extra assurance, there are styles with ear loops, elastic around the top and even adjustable molded nose wires that keep the face covering in place at all times.

Colors will vary widely. Some providers offer custom colors and others only stock. You’ll also find suppliers that offer stock designs. You may prefer to choose a patterned style and add a one-color logo to it. Patterns will differ from company to company.

The most popular method for decorating a neck gaiter is going to be a heat transfer. If the gaiter has a high polyester content, it needs a sublimation transfer. Those are ideal because the inks sink into the fabric and bond with the polyester fibers, which means there will be no “hand” to the graphic. If you run your fingers over it, you won’t be able to feel it, and it’s possible to get vibrant, opaque color using this method as well.

Using heat transfers, it’s possible to print over the entire gaiter in unlimited colors. Some gaiter suppliers offer custom decorating, or you can order blanks and use a contract decorator.

A Slew of Uses

Neck gaiters have more versatility than just neck warmers or face coverings. These stretchy tubes can be used as everything from beanies and hair wraps to wristbands and balaclavas.

The biggest selling point for neck gaiters is the many ways they can be used. Here are some examples:

• Neckerchief. Perhaps the most basic use is to wear it around your neck for protection from inclement weather.
• Face covering. By pulling the gaiter up over your face, you gain more protection. By combining the gaiter with a cap or jacket hood, you provide protection for your entire head except for the eyes, which can then be covered with goggles.
• Beanie. This variation can keep hair out of your eyes or even act as a second layer underneath a knit cap, helmet or other headwear. You start by turning the gaiter inside out and pulling half of it over your head. Twist the extra end a few times and then pull the other open end down over your head with the pattern showing on the outside. Another variation of the beanie is to pull it over your head with the pattern showing and then tie a knot at the open end of the gaiter.
• Hood. Simply pull the neck gaiter over your head to create a great inner lining for the hood of a jacket.
• Balaclava. This method keeps your head and face warm. Pull it over the head like a hood and then pull the bottom under your chin up and over your face.
• Hair wrap. One end of the tube is pulled over your hair and the other end drapes loosely like a scarf.
• Headband. This is a great way to keep hair out of your eyes or add a fashionable accessory to your ensemble. Pull it over your head and fold it in on itself or just scrunch it together.
• Wristband. By looping it around your wrist, it serves as a handy bandanna for mopping up sweat or wiping your nose.
• Cooling band. Dip in ice water to wear around your neck or even tuck ice cubes inside of the folds.

Use these ideas on social media, in sales presentations and in discussions with clients looking for a product that will keep their logo and message in front of their core customers.

Randy Carr is CEO of Hollywood, FL-based World Emblem (asi/98264) and NameBadges International, global suppliers of a wide range of emblems, badges, face coverings, pens and more with manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Contact: rcarr@worldemblem.com.

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