Balaclava: wearing one instantly gives you +40 to Evil Rating. Wearing a three-hole balaclava? That’s a +150 to Evil Rating.

I love the stock photos of random women just casually wearing a balaclava.

Ah yes, the mask of the guy who headshots me from mid with AWP every round

I was an American soldier in Afghanistan in 2011 and received a wonderful homemade knit watch cap from a group of women in Australia. I received it just as the weather turned cold at my COP, which was fortunate, as I had left my issued watch cap (and other “unnecessary” kit) back in Kandahar. I just pulled it out to wear for this year as fall has finally arrived.

I own a balaclava. They are very warm and indispensable in very cold weather, but they make you totally look like you are a bank robber.

11:45 Thank you, I would have been absolutely crushed if this wasn't here.

“When we think of the balaclava we think of” The IRA

Britain: *goes to war* British people: *it’s knitting time lads!*

I grew up calling them ski masks. I don't think I heard the word balaclava until some time in high school in the late 90s and I didn't realize how broad the concept of a balaclava is until this video.

My favorite instance of the balaclava in media were photos of the SAS soldier running into a hotel alone in Nairobi to rescue hostages.

Very nice. A fire retardant balaclava is used in auto racing and by major navies as flash gear. Not so much as hiding or keeping warm, but not having your head burnt.

I met a lovely group of men in Honduras all in Balavclavas, i didnt even know they had ski resorts there!

Cue flashbacks of running around the big shell with no mask, blonde hair, Hazel eyed bishe-boy, with tight cheeks, wondering why my stolen uniform doesn't work.

Slavs have entered the chat

Ahh the symbol of paramilitary.

I ordered a Balaclava ski mask last week for winter weather in NYC in November. I love itt!!!

Hello English protestant, you have won a new car! Go outside and turn it on right now!

7:08 Ian McCullum is a time traveller?

Balaclavas were a god sent on Fort Drum. Thankfully I still have my issue ones.

The medieval origin is rather weird. The closest of that function of protecting from the elements would probably be the "gugel" . Basically a hood with a tail (liripipe). Later tied up and rolled it became a "chaperon" hat. But as a helmet-padding, perhaps... edit: not hollywood medieval hoods, which are functionally inadequate, loose and ugly :D good examples are either quite tight around the face or relatively heavy and thicccc so as not to flap around

Duolingo owl says: Don’t forget your Gaelic lessons!

Tankers wear them for flash/fire protection as well. Pretty important inside a tank.

As a Pole I've never heard "uhlan cap" as refered to balaclava. In Polish it's called "kominiarka". "Rogatywka", or "czapka" (which btw you beautifully butchered) is something I would call "Uhlan Cap", because it's a cap belonging to ułan. To why they called it like that I have no idea whatsoever, maybe it's because uhlans were popular cavalery unit in 19th century Europe and in winter you need something warm while riding a horse.

9:11 you can see the hollowness in his eyes for modeling while wearing a balaclava that makes him look like a clown

Oh yes, the ETA, that group featured on CSGO

Small correction. There is no "Or". You didn't wear mail coifs without fabric padding. There'd simply be no point. Your skull and spine would be the only thing absorbing blows, and the mail would only prevent cuts. The fabric mail prevents concussions taking you out of combat, and the helmets and mail coifs prevent your skull from splitting. Otherwise great video.

Great video! Really appreciate the ammount of effort you put into each video. A few examples the research, narration and editing is unrivaled.

fun fact the balaclava fire fighters use is called a flash hood and is designed to prevent burns on the parts the helmet and structure jacket dosnt cover , one thing that is usually done is the hood is intentionally pilled out from the breathing apparatus mask to expose a small portion of skin near the cheek as a bit of a temperature indicator to let the fire fighter know if hes getting a bit too close

Quite ironic the Russians resurrected the balaclava in Crimea

12:25 what an absolute unit of a man. He has to be about 7 feet tall.

This is a video we didn't know we needed. Thanks for making

Great video. Naval Anti-flash head gear is basically fire retardant balaclavas, just to add my two cents.

The history of beret in military and paramilitary units comparing and contrasting shape size and symbolism of coloration would be interesting.

You had me from the very beginning. Your voice, speed at which you speak, and just the all around topics that you talked about in this video made me SUBSCRIBE. Keep it up buddy would love to learn more from your videos!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

The full face open one called "Schlauchschal", "tube scarf", were later named "Oma", "granny" in east Germany. Don't ask me why.

This video was well researched and interesting to watch; I thank you for the time and research input into to this video.

2:51 that flute - off looked savage!

I didnt expect to see a scene from Charge of the Light Brigade. Excellent work!

amazing and super accurate video! everything is clearly described and there are lots of interesting infos! great channel.

7:09 Ian is that you???

A note to prevent potential confusion among viewers: "maskirovka" is simply Russian for "masking" and not a specialized term. It is, however, used as a generalized term for military camouflage (primarily) and deception (secondarily) doctrines as explained in the video.

The photo at 7:53 is one of the most interesting wartime civilian photographs I've ever seen. I don't know why, it's just a fantastic composition to my layman's eye.

Fun fact my grandpa was one of the first swat men to wear them in action :)

11:59 Hey, I didn't expect to hear Big Baby Tape's "Balaclava". That was a nice touch

Information I didnt know I needed but am grateful for

It'd be interesting to see a video about the garrison cap! I think it's such a weird piece of headgear, since it's has no screen or brim and only sits on top of the head.

Amazing video, thanks!

When I hear balaclava i immediately think adidas track suites. Edit: I’m disappointed there was only one slav with a tracksuit picture.. 😔

*carbomb intensifies*

Strange how you say that balaclavas have limited use in combat when the balaclava itself is a symbol of separatist militia movements ranging from the IRA to the Zapatistas.

8:05 that dude’s having a fun time

+1,000 Cheeki Breeki “My Slav power has doubled since we last met.”

I would love if you made a video explaining what different types of headgear are called. What makes a shako a shako, what makes a Stetson a Stetson, etc. with a few pictures each, trying to cover as many different types of headgear as possible in a short time.

Could you possibly do a video on the Vietnam era Ground Troops Variable Body Armor (VBA) vest? Although sparsely used by combat personnel, it saw some use with troops in second line duties such as logistics or MPs, as well as with the RoV and RoK

"IRA has liked this post"

In Belgium we have a police unit called the CGSU, wich are the internal affairs special forces. Dealing with high profile raids and hostage situations, they also escort wanted criminals into court to protect both them and the other people in the court. They are basically SF operators wearing grey instead of Belgian jigsaw camo 😂 We call them “the men in grey” or “les cagoules” Cagoule is the French word for Balaclava, and these men are never ever seen in public without one. Even our troops on the streets wear them while securing important public buildings such as airports and power plants.

ATACS WHEN?!

I have a question, what is that hat that Milan Fras from Laibach uses in his concerts/videoclips? How is that called? (I'm not sure if it's part of a uniform but it looks like it)

Awesome video

7:08 Hello Ian. Didn't know you were a time traveller, though I suppose it makes sense.

I had one as a kid growing up in Michigan in the 80's.

"Bow-er" lol. Either way, great video!

Great stuff!

New subscriber October 9th 2021 ! Thank you for this amazing and valuable and vital information on the Balaclava ! ❤️❤️❤️👍👍🥰♥️♥️❤️😊😊😊

The padded coifs were primarily separated from a mail coif

I believe the cloth women's coif you showed is called a "bonnet".

Side note: the disastrous 'Charge of the Light Brigade' was the inspiration for the 1980's song "The Trooper" by Iron Maiden.

Hey @UniformHistory you should talk about canada's new CADPAT design. It isn't fully off the production line yet, but it sure looks cool. I also think a lot of research went into this new camo

Great video!

11:53 I'm glad to see that you gave some love to Canadian Special Forces and federal police!

Any chance for a Uniforms of The Screen for the Moon Trooper Uniform from Iron Sky?

1:54 that one guy staring at you from across the bar room while drake's being played over the jukebox sipping lightly on his martini

Spot on!

As a suggestion, maybe some Australian camouflages like DPCU or AMCU. Similar patterns utilised by presently or in the past in the ADF like GPUs DPDUs or DPNU could also be included.

Great video i think thete is definitely a link between coif and ballys

Anybody know the brand/make of the one Garand Thumb is wearing in his latest hkmp5k video?

great video,,next, how about shemagh, plz?

I feel like a pastel knit ski mask made by grandma would be way scarier than a regular black one if used properly.

That first picture made my ribs hurt! In case you didn't get it: Lava in the background Backlava in the Balaclava Balaclava Balalaica-the instrument XD

As an Albanian thank you for showing footage of us in the beginning

Do you think you can do video on the Red Dawn 1984 Camouflage Patterns

Huh, that's a coincidence. I am watching a video on balaclavas while wearing a balaclava. A handmade one of the same WWI knitting pattern you showed.

I like how different languages have different names for the balaclava. Here in Norway it is literarly called a «Finland hood».

In winter or cold climates, definitely amazing.

Well in Poland we dont tell capschka but czapka, but this polish headwear is called Rogatywka and it comes from its shape with four square upper part

*Heavy Slav breathing*

heya, Uniform History! please make videos on the Uniforms from "The Man in the High Castle" series from Amazon. Lots of interesting uniforms there from the GNR and JPS factions.

3:11 I had no idea mr. Bean was a nun

The picture of the knitted helmet ! i had one of them when i was little to play with - told it was from the second world war. As it was blue grey must have been ex RAF

Good video for 2020

Just bought 5 3 hole balaclavas yesterday!

I can’t help but think of Django and the shit mask they cut out for the “RaID.” Lol

Darn, you forget Subcomandante Marcos and Comandate Ramona with the Zapatistas. But still a cool video. ^_^

Could you please do a video on the Civil Air Patrol's uniforms/insignia?

If you are able to. Can you do a uniform overview on the Shadow Company from call of duty modern warfare 2 ?

One of my most favorite mask.

With Halloween coming up, how about a video on the STARS uniforms from the Resident Evil games?

Living in a ski town and being an avid snowboarder, I honestly prefer a simple buff, as I don’t need anything to cover my full head, just neck and lower face. I have also developed strong opinions on how the more holes it has, the worse it looks. A one hole looks good, a two hole looks iffy, and a three hole makes you look like a goober or if it’s green the 11:45 meme

3:10 Why Rowan Atkinson is a nun?

11:51 what type of balaclava is that? And are "buffs" similar?