What is a balaclava: why is it needed and how to choose?

If it hadn't been for the Eastern War (better known as the Crimean War of 1853-1856), the world would probably have learned about the balaclava much later than it did. And we're not talking about the city on the southwestern coast of Crimea, which was first mentioned in the 1st century AD by Pliny the Elder, but about the headdress named after this city. According to history, military actions between the Russian Empire, on the one hand, and the coalition of the British, French, Ottoman Empires and the Kingdom of Sardinia, on the other, took place simultaneously over vast territories. But they reached their greatest tension in Crimea. And it was here, near Balaklava, in the winter of 1854, that soldiers of the British army first used a "knitted stocking" with holes for the eyes, mouth and nose as headgear to at least somehow protect their faces from frostbite.

After the war, the balaclava remained part of the army uniform of the British and other European armies. It was worn in winter under the helmet by everyone from the private to the Kaiser. Google "Wilhelm II photo" and among other images you will find the German Kaiser wearing a balaclava under a Pickelhaube - a pointed leather helmet worn in the 19th and 20th centuries by members of the Russian, German and British armed forces, firefighters and police.

The first balaclavas served as both a hat and a scarf. But a little time would pass and another one would be added to them - a protective mask. Its advantages were first discovered by skiers and snowboarders. Hence the second common name of the balaclava - a ski mask. The need for it comes suddenly, but usually too late. So, as you prepare for the next season of winter adventures, don’t forget to protect your face. It needs it no less than your arms, legs, and torso.

From today's publication you will learn:

1. What is a balaclava?
2. Why do you need a balaclava?
3. Material and dimensions.
4. Types of balaclavas.
5. Colors and prints.
6. Tips for choosing a balaclava.

1. What is a balaclava?

Let's turn to Wikipedia for help:

Balaclava (English balaclava from the name of the city of Balaklava), or ski mask - headwear (knitted hat, helmet), covering the head, forehead and face, leaving a small slit for the eyes, mouth or for the oval of the face. It is the most common type of balaclava, in connection with which these concepts are often used as synonyms.

Another name for the balaclava is also known - pasamontana.

"Pasamontana", transcription - pasamontany; from the Spanish pasamontañas - "across the mountains". Presumably, due to their use by mountain dwellers or climbers. Looking ahead, it can be mentioned that these days, this is what anti-globalists and activists on the verge of the law call their balaclavas, who consider it useful to cover their faces.

A balaclava is essentially a hat and a stocking mask with holes for the eyes and nose. It covers the head and most of the face, warms it, and protects it from the headwind. And it is the most popular balaclava today. Previously, balaclavas were traditionally made only of wool or cotton. Nowadays, innovative materials are used for their production or wool and synthetics are combined.

2. Why do you need a balaclava?

It is needed to protect the head and face from external factors such as: wind, cold, snow, dust, sand, moisture and recognition by others. Balaclava helps maintain proper thermoregulation of the head and face in cases where the external temperature differs significantly from the comfortable temperature for the body. And it can be worn in different ways, because the pasamontana can easily be transformed into a hat, mask, balaclava, or scarf.

After 100 years, the headdress discovered in the New Age suddenly fell in love with the whole world. As a protection and element of clothing, the balaclava began to be used by skiers, snowboarders, bikers, car and bicycle racers. It is often worn as an independent motorcycle cap or instead of a balaclava. It has been on the tops of mountains and in the depths of the oceans. It has become a symbol of rebel struggle and an attribute of criminal culture. It has become a favorite of anti-globalists, extremists and civil activists. It is part of the uniform and a means of concealing the faces of armed forces, special forces, and anti-terrorist police units in many countries around the world.

These days, they are worn by style icons and rappers. Colored balaclavas are part of the stage image of punk and rock bands. An example of this is the Russian feminist group Pussy Riot, which operates on the principles of anonymity and does not provide for a permanent lineup.

The protective cap hit the streets and became the most controversial trend, but it did not become less popular. And to this day, famous fashion houses do not stop playing with balaclavas in their collections, destroying the sinisterness associated with this headdress and revealing the balaclava to us in a new way.

3. Materials and sizes of balaclavas.

The material of manufacture affects the characteristics of the balaclava. Traditional options based on cotton and wool are warm, soft, pleasant to the body, and breathe well. Provide maximum comfort when worn in winter. At the same time, the lack of elasticity and very high hygroscopicity (ability to absorb water) do not allow comfortable use of the balaclava at very high activity. Therefore, synthetics are necessarily added to the natural base.

• For example, nylon - increases wear resistance.
• Neoprene - elasticity and moisture resistance.
• Polyester provides excellent protection from precipitation, UV rays and low temperatures.
• Fleece comfortably warms even when wet. By the way, polyester fleece balaclavas are the most common. They have a very soft (like plush) structure inside and a smooth polished outside. Such protective masks retain heat well and breathe perfectly.
• Polartec balaclavas are very similar to fleece ones, but retain heat much better and protect from the wind.
• Balaclavas made of high-tech materials on a membrane base - windstopper and windblock. Their main advantages are high vapor permeability and reliable protection from wind and water.
• Another type of synthetics that is often added to knitwear for making balaclavas is acrylic. It effectively wicks moisture away and dries quickly, retains heat well, is durable, antibacterial, and does not roll.

Most modern balaclavas are unisex. However, some manufacturers produce under-helmet accessories for men, women and children. The European standard offers three size options:

1. original - one size fits all for adults;
2. junior - for teenagers;
3. baby - for children.

All balaclavas stretch well, so they are easy to put on. They do not need to be adjusted to fit you. They do not restrict movement and perform their functions well, regardless of the type.

4. Types of balaclavas.

Structurally, balaclavas can be one-piece or consist of two parts (hat + shawl). According to the number of slits, one-piece headwear can be:

• with one horizontal slit for the eyes;
• with three slits: eyes, nose and mouth;
• with four: nose, mouth and slits for each eye.

Quite often you can see balaclavas with a large (almost the entire face) oval-shaped cutout. You can also see loose balaclavas, in which the size of the cutout for the face is adjusted up or down with the help of a tape. And there are a lot of balaclavas on the market for a helmet or mask. Such are worn by car and motorcycle racers, cyclists, cavers.

There are four styles of balaclavas:

1. A scarf mask is a product made in the form of a wide closed scarf, which can be pulled over the face if necessary.
2. A kerchief mask is a triangle covering the neck and fixed at the back with Velcro, and can be put on at the level of the mouth and nose if necessary.
3. The traditional balaclava mask is a familiar accessory for many with slits, worn like a stocking.
4. The half mask is an item up to the eye line, made of a unique artificial material neoprene, which can hold its shape on its own.

5.Colors and prints of balaclavas.

When balaclavas were in demand only among athletes, their color range was monotonous and boring. Mostly dark colors were present, less often shades of gray. Colored balaclavas were made exclusively to order.

And today designers offer consumers protective masks of any colors and prints. The strong half, for the most part, choose the same dark palette, and the fair half - bright and light tones: red, terracotta, white, beige, cream. The design also varies. There are options with different patterns. There are many offers with animal prints: leopard, zebra, tiger. A large selection of models with abstract embroidery and designs referring to certain phenomena of mass culture. Such balaclavas are only for everyday wear.

6. Tips for choosing a balaclava.

Choosing a balaclava is a purely individual matter: what may suit and please you may not suit others. Trying it on is a must! But first, determine the purpose of the purchase, for example:

• for the city,
• regular sports, tactics, active recreation (fishing, hunting),
• extreme sports (alpine skiing, mountaineering, auto- and motocross).

For each purpose - its own activity, respectively - type of balaclava, material of manufacture, season. Choose a product depending on the level of necessary protection.

Balaclava for the city.

It should be light, breathable and vapor-permeable, beautiful and harmoniously combined with other things. Its main task is to protect from cold and dust.

Considering the low activity (regular walks), a model made of thin cotton-based knitwear with a small percentage of synthetics will be quite sufficient. The winter option for the city is a thicker knitwear based on wool or fleece. Stylists advise wearing a protective mask with a coat of any style - the main thing is to choose the right shade and texture. Pasamontana goes well with sheepskin coats, leather jackets, and military-style raincoats.

Balaclava for regular sports, military tactics and active recreation.

The task is to protect from cold, wind, dust, dirt and sun. A demi-season balaclava should be light and elastic, reliably protect from overheating and subsequent hypothermia. Retain body heat, while breathing freely, remove excess steam to the outside and dry quickly. Preferably with antibacterial impregnation.

As a rule, such balaclavas are made of thin fleece or ribana. A winter balaclava should be made of warm fleece with the prefix "Nord". This is a very pleasant to the touch material, with a long pile, a dense, reinforced fiber structure, increasing its wear resistance. It can withstand low temperatures down to -20°C, while maintaining heat and vapor permeability. Almost always, balaclavas for tactics and active recreation have a color of multicam, pixel, soyot, olive. Winter options can be white with black camouflage spots.

Balaclava for extreme sports.

The main tests for a skier, snowboarder and mountaineer are frost, wind, precipitation, ice pellets from under the ski edges and during falls. The colder the weather is expected, the faster the descent speed and the stronger the wind, the higher the degree of skin coverage should be. At the same time, the balaclava should easily remove excess steam to the outside, protect from wind, wet snow and keep warm. Almost always such balaclavas are made of mixed yarn - cotton + acrylic + stretch. Color - print, plain or colored.

Pay attention to the quality of cut. The balaclava should be sewn with reinforced thread using flat seam technology. The product should stretch well, has a comfortable, ergonomic cut, taking into account the anatomy of the head. If you want to buy a universal model, the most suitable for this role balaclava from Windstopper or Polartek, which has a hinged part for the mouth and nose. And the last wish, buy products from trusted brands. This way you are guaranteed to get not only a stylish, but also a truly safe product that meets the stated characteristics.

Enjoy your shopping.