Types of balaclavas in use

panzerjager SG

What is the selection criteria in the choice of balaclavas being used. There are three known common types, differing mainly in the areas of the face that are exposed, and some cases differing in materials, e.g. either Nomex or other polyester material

The types of balaclava known:

a. Single slot for both eyes exposed
b. Double slotted for both eyes exposed
c. Triple slotted for both eyes and area between lower nose and upper mouth exposed. Eye slots are slanted towards the nose to show a 'frowning' look

Personally feel c. is the most fearsome balaclava design, favoured by SAS/IRA

Jazzswing SG

By balaclavas you mean those black skimasks right? (BTW, i thought the word balaclava is the name of a material used to make bullet resistant stuff?)

I would choose a. though... Smile

panzerjager SG

STAR when it was still PTT used type c. balaclava, looked very fearsome and look more like terrorist than troopers. Type a balaclavas are the proliferated standard pioneered by US SWAT/HRT troopers, but just that they look more docile with them

SpecOps87 SG

Type A looks more cool.And yes,Type C does make one look like a terrorist.Hahah

chunyong SG

Material used is Nomex or kevlar. nomex is to safeguard the officers from fireflashes. kevlar is for shrapnels so they don't get cut. normally the assault vest got 'cushion' at the collar to prevent the officer's neck from getting cut by shrapnels, the cushion is also to prevent abrasion from the gunsling. but the assault vest for STAR got no cushion leh...ha.

brand for balaclava is Hatch....always the best but now got blackhawk...always trying to snatch other people's business one.

panzerjager SG

Cool no use, anyway type a make troopers look too docile and puny. To be real cool is to be fearsome before your enemies, and type c is the way to go - to be scary is the name of the game for the troopers, dat's why the all-black, gas masked, hooded troopers pioneered by SAS were the ultimate

dragonstar SG

Oh is that what they are used for?

I used one during NS only at night - to stop mosquitoes from biting my face :-). Only worked when I smeared mosquito repellant on it.

chunyong SG

the most obvious reason is to conceal identity, dis one no need to say one mah..

to prevent mosquito from biting u, why dun u wrap mosquito netting over ur face ? Twisted Evil

[email protected] SG

type C is the kind also favoured by terrorists right? play CS can see the terrors wear it.

there is another kind of balaclava u know, similiar to type A, made of nomex, but no kevlar. used for motorsport applications.

chunyong SG

yah, either nomex or kevlar but so far materials engineering haven find a way to blend the 2 where the material exhibit both nomex 3 property and kevlar's property.

dragonstar SG

Just pulling your leg - of course I know what they are for.

Wrapping mosquito net would not help - unless it is thick enough - or somehow maintain a distance from the flesh. Did think of hanging a small mosquito net around a hat - just like bee keepers though :-) However, imagine going to O-group during exercise in that - will never hear the end of it.