Balaclava closed or open

[Oblivian]

They say no question is a stupid question when learning is involved..

 

I see the pinned post uses the nice cooling underarmour example for a guide.

 

However have seen the odd TB (may have been pre CRL update) with the open-face type that leave the nose exposed (yay for real breathing!) and possibly some of the mouth.

 

Is the eye-opening only the new norm or these nose exposing still OK?

 

My man-look search didn't seem to trump many visual examples :/

 

Looking on old Aliexpress there appears to be a tonne of cheapo made from the same gear as my cycling shirts which may suit and are cheap enough to bring in a few examples to try.

 

Aliexpress Example 1

 

This one even has earbud cable holes

 

Cheapo Lycra example

 

And then the open face

[01Hawk]

I use an underarmor one - you can have your mouth/nose exposed if you just pull the front piece down. I love it compared to the cheaper eye opening only one I had for my Resident Evil costume

[Oblivian]

Damn, Not the answer I was hoping for lol. $7local with free ship vs about $40

 

Im looking at the cheapo with the ear vents as a similar design to the UA so I have to wonder if they'll come down too. What the heck, it's the price of a burger (and can double as a bike one if fail)

[Chunk]

It doesn't matter what you wear under your helmet as long as your neck & chin are covered. That is all that can been seen while wearing your helmet.

[Dart]

One nice thing about the UA style is the placement of the seams on the head. I've seen several scouts loose their minds because their el cheapo balaclavas with the centre seam was pressing on their heads.

 

If you don't want to spend much, but want a similar hood to the UA ones, I might be able to help you out. A surplus store near me sells knock-offs for $10. They're not as nice, but they work just fine. Lemme know.

[Oblivian]

Shall keep it in mind Dart

 

The seam down the middle had crossed my mind. Have nabbed 2 of the elcheapo in the first link with seams off to the sides. Can only but bin em if no good and source another.

 

Armour and lid are a way off, (pending a thread I'm watching here...) But Wampas and RedKaps got a similar eta of about Dec1 along with the balaclavas. At least I can get UA locally if need be quicky (even know the local rep it seems)

[Dart]

Coolio. Also, if you do go the UA way, get the Heatgear stuff, not the Coldgear. The Heatgear is much thinner and lighter, wheras the Coldgear is thicker and really tight.

[Chef]

I've an open face one... Works fine.

 

Just as long as it covers the chin as Chunk mentioned then you're golden.

 

Never had an issue with the seams, but then my lid is quite strategically padded for maximum air flow and doesn't overly press on my head.

[Oblivian]

Ta for input lads. Eagerly await mr China knockoff to post it. (up to 7 day process.. what the)

 

Was just to clarify if openish was still OK. Which it is