What is a Balaclava and why do you need one?

This piece of clothing is often overlooked, but it’s a very useful item when motorcycle or snowmobile riding, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, fishing, and hunting.

In 1854, during the Crimean War, to keep warm and protect themselves from the cold weather, British soldiers wore knitted headgear that exposed only their eyes.

Since the town named Balaclava was near, several years later, this head accessory started to be called after the town’s name.

Back then, the Balaclava was made of wool, but now it can be manufactured using a variety of fabrics. Also today, besides using it for your favorite outdoor activities, the Balaclava is worn as a protective layer by race car drivers, the police, and firefighters.

The Balaclava is a close-fit item that keeps in the heat from the top of your head. It's a combination of a beanie, hood, face mask, and neck gaiter, and it's usually called a ski mask or a ninja mask, and it's often misspelled balaklava, baclava or balklava.

For which activities and Sports can you use a Balaclava?

The list can be extended, but to name a few activities where you can use this item:   •   Skiing    •   Snowboarding    •   Ice fishing    •   Mountain hiking    •   Snowmobile riding    •   Motorcycle riding    •   Cycling    •   Running    •   Airsoft   etc.

The first-ever design of a Balaclava was to cover the entire head, except the eyes.

We incresead its functionality and made a versatile Balaclava that you can wear in 4 different ways.
Just click on the image to watch the video and see how simple everything is.

How does it work?

Balaclava - pull the item over your head and position it;
Hood - from the Balaclava configuration, grab the front mouth panel, pull down under your chin;
Face mask - from the Balaclava configuration, grab the head's top part, pull down towards the back;
Neck Gaiter - from the Face Mask configuration, grab the front mouth panel, pull down under your chin.

We’ve come up with a multifunctional Balaclava that is soft and lightweight, just perfect to wear under your helmet, and over or under the ski goggles.

The fabric has a 4 way stretch, so it can expand around your head. The balaclava needs to be comfortable or slightly tight, as you don’t want it to move while performing your favorite activity, or have large openings where the cold can get in.

Even if the material is snug, you can still easily breathe through the fabric.
And if you feel that too much moisture has built up, you can simply fold down the hinged mouth panel under your chin to release the extra humidity.

Benefits of wearing a Balaclava

It’s important to protect your extremities from the cold, as when temperatures decrease, the severe weather affects the exposed skin, causing frostnip and frostbite.

The Balaclava protects your most sensitive areas of the face: the ears, lips, and nose.

Also, you must take into consideration that when having a higher speed while skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling, the cold air can easily enter your respiratory system, causing health damage.

Or on a cycling or motorcycling trip and without a full face helmet, you might accidentally breathe in or ingest insects.

In the above cases, the balaclava is perfect for protecting your mouth, nose, and lungs.

Choose your favorite!

Discover GOT® multifunctional balaclavas. Breathable, lightweight, stretchy, moisture-wicking and helmet friendly, and GET OUT THERE to enjoy your favorite activities and sports with confidence.