The Balaclava is Dominating Winter 2022

As the cold weather began to rear its head a few months ago, tastemakers searched for winter headwear to join–and potentially dethrone–the beanie. Ultimately, the balaclava proved itself to be this year’s contender for the hottest winter accessory on the market, with Google trends indicating that the search volume for them is at least double that of previous years.

Balaclavas are a versatile headpiece, capable of being worn a number of ways. Typically they cover the entire head and neck, leaving only the eyes exposed, but recent designs have pushed the definition of the balaclava somewhere into the realm of detached hoods as well. Often one can now see balaclava-adjacent designs that leave the entire face exposed, but we see no reason to distinguish them from others. 

The balaclava trend has manifested itself in a multitude of ways, with the hood-like version being more popular with women and the full face mask being more popular with men. It should be noted, however, that neither style has been entirely exclusive to any gender. Traditional use cases for balaclavas typically surround themes of safety, warmth, or concealing one's identity–an ever increasing desire in today’s society. Celebrities like Kanye West have been big proponents of mask-wearing as of late, and no doubt contributed to the modern trend.

The balaclava's history is somewhat nebulous, but the name can be traced back to the Battle of Balaclava in 1954, during the Crimean War. During this time, British soldiers wore hand-knitted headpieces to keep warm during the frigid winters. Similar items from this era include the Uhlan cap, worn by Polish cavalry during the 17th and 18th centuries. Oddly, however, images of these garments bear little resemblance to the modern definition of the balaclava. Similar headwear has been worn for centuries, though. Knights and other warriors of the middle ages frequently wore a version of a coif, made of chainmail, underneath their armor for added protection. In terms of design, this looks closest to what we know today. As mentioned previously, the balaclava is typically used as a means to protect its wearer, whether it be from temperature or identity theft. Skiers, mountaineers, and others operating in cold conditions frequently wear them for warmth, while firefighters and race car drivers wear balaclavas made of fire retardant material for safety. Specialized police forces and military personnel can often be seen wearing balaclavas, presumably to protect their identities from those with malicious intent. 

However, our intentions are pure. We would simply like to share our favorite balaclavas we've found for this winter and beyond, as we don't think that the trend will be going anywhere. Without further ado, here are some of the best ones.

If you're looking to spend a little more on something a bit more upscale, there are a lot of high end designers who have put their own spin on the neckwear. Knit balaclavas have been having a special moment this year, and entries from brands like Philip Lim, Aries and more have good options for really escalating your winter look.