Balaclava dessert
Not to be confused with Baklava. A balaclava, also known as a balaclava helmet or ski mask, balaclava dessert a form of cloth headgear designed to expose only part of the face, usually the eyes and mouth.
Depending on style and how it is worn, only the eyes, mouth and nose, or just the front of the face are unprotected. Similar styles of headgear were known in the 19th century as the Uhlan cap worn by Polish and Prussian soldiers, and the Templar cap worn by outdoor sports enthusiasts. Thin Balaclavas can be used under motorcycle or snowmobile helmets for warmth in cool or winter conditions. Many skiers, snowboarders, cyclists, and runners wear balaclavas in cold weather for warmth. They protect the head, face, and neck from wind and low temperatures and can fit easily under helmets.
These sports balaclavas can be full balaclavas, which cover the entire head leaving only the eyes uncovered, or half-balaclavas, which leave the forehead free, but cover most of the head. Key elements of sports balaclavas are that they are warm, windproof, and moisture-wicking. Race drivers in Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile sanctioned events must wear balaclavas made of fire-retardant material underneath their crash helmets. Balaclavas are in certain contexts associated with criminality as gang members have used them to conceal their identity. In 2004, police in Prestwich, England, began demanding that people on the street remove their balaclavas, describing the garment as “extremely threatening”. In the South Asia, balaclavas are commonly referred to as monkey caps because of their typical earth tone colours, and the fact that they blot out most human facial features. Monkey caps sometimes have a small, decorative, woollen pom-pom on top.
They are commonly worn by troops on Himalayan duty for protection from the cold. The United States Marine Corps has recently begun issuing balaclavas with hinged face guards as part of the Flame Resistant Organizational Gear program. Perestroyka years of the late 1980s. The original intent was to protect the identity of the officers to avoid intimidation from organized crime. Balaclavas are often used by police battling drug cartels and gangs in Latin America to conceal their identity and protect their families. Knitted balaclavas were featured in some collections at the 2018 New York Fashion Week.
Hats and Headwear Around the World A Cultural Encyclopedia. The Crimean Doctors: A History of the British Medical Services in the Crimean War. Gangs face arrest if they wear balaclavas”. US Marine Corps: Program Manager Infantry Combat Equipment. Archived from the original on October 16, 2019. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. This article is about the Crimean city.
