Best Balaclava [Archive] - Kiwi Biker forums

tri boy

21st May 2007, 15:28

I tried a new balaclava on a long ride recently.
"Rugged Country" chill breaker.
Slip over type, lined polyester. MADE IN NEW ZEALAND!!!
Three sizes. Comfy/warm. Purchased from BT eneterprises in Wanganui. (great little m/cycle repair shop)
$28.00.
Anyone else know of good balaclavas. Its that time of year.

yod

21st May 2007, 15:44

i just got a half head jobbie off trademe for about $26

kinda polyester fleece type material - it's designed to cover as high as your nose, mouth and ears and it disappears under your jacket a fair way too.

all i really wanted was something to fill the gap between helmet and jacket to stop the wind gettin down me neck and it does that admirably, haven't really tried it in freezing weather but it certainly seems like it would do the job ok

Checkers

21st May 2007, 15:49

it would good if you could get some kind balaclava with possum fur as a lining around the neck on the inside.

tri boy

21st May 2007, 16:33

it would good if you could get some kind balaclava with possum fur as a lining around the neck on the inside.

Like the idea. Eradicating pests, and fighting the chills.:yes:

T-Thunder13

21st May 2007, 19:21

i just got me mum to make me one out of polyester, just a big neck sock. its bloody fantastic. she ended up making all my mates ones too.

MVnut

21st May 2007, 19:42

Got a Spidi silk balaclava thru Motomail, awesome.:yes:

tri boy

21st May 2007, 19:57

Got a Spidi silk balaclava thru Motomail, awesome.:yes:

Silk vs polyester.
Damn I bet that fits reeeall nice. Sadly us Triumph boys break out in a rash if something that smooth gets near us.lol,:lol: :whistle:

0arbreaka

3rd June 2007, 10:27

got meself a neck gaiter thing which can be used as a half face one from some ski shop in new market, only cost me something like $14 and its really warm.

carbacca

3rd June 2007, 10:33

i have one as part of my airsofting gear, tried putting it on under my helmet. the helmet didnt fog up my glasses did. even though its pretty thin i can feel my face warming up heaps. unfortunately warmth also leads to foggiin.....

oh got it off ebay for some silly amount....less than $10

James Deuce

3rd June 2007, 12:47

Got an R-Jays silk one for $19.90 a couple of days ago. I wore it home from work a couple of nights ago and if anything it was a bit warm! I use a tube scarf I got free on a TWO magazine as well as the balaclava when it is really cold and chucking it down. The synthetic tube doesn't seem to wick water to the under layers through the jacket's neck hole.

vagrant

3rd June 2007, 13:28

Outdoor Research do a good one, no seams under the helmet. they are expensive at $69 but nice and warm. Living Simply in Newmarket have them.

xwhatsit

3rd June 2007, 13:46

I wear a scarf :D

It would look cooler flapping in the breeze behind me if I wasn't wearing such a brightly-coloured cordura jacket.

I want a Marlon Brando jacket. Of course, then I'd really want the scarf, as I'd be freezing my nuts off compared to my cosy cordura.

0arbreaka

3rd June 2007, 17:48

Zero index wears(well used to anyway) a scarf when he rides, and the otherday it somehow undid itself and got caught in his chain and sproket, didnt damage the bike but the scarf was fucked.

fishb8nz

3rd June 2007, 18:02

"ero index wears(well used to anyway) a scarf when he rides, and the otherday it somehow undid itself and got caught in his chain and sproket, didnt damage the bike but the scarf was fucked."

Shades of how actreess Isadora Duncan died. Open topped car and trailing white silk scarf. Jammed in a wheel and strangled her. A bit more class than an OD!

xwhatsit

3rd June 2007, 22:06

What a laugh! My scarf's not that long, I wrap it around my neck a couple of times so it's pretty firmly attached to my neck... oh wait...

Mully

3rd June 2007, 22:11

Anyone else know of good balaclavas. Its that time of year.

What, time to rob banks??

Stella

4th June 2007, 17:41

I tried a balaclava today, found it a bit tight and awkward. Certainly served the purpose though!

I think I would use a half-balaclava or neck sock up over my mouth a but more than a full balaclava. But I am wondering how do you put your helmet on without it slipping down? Or do you bite the front bit to hold it up?

tri boy

4th June 2007, 18:01

What, time to rob banks??

Do you want to be the "wheel man"?:innocent:

Eric

8th June 2007, 16:09

Try the Oxford one. Its silk and is cool - warm and keeps it shape very well.
I use a Kathmandu neckgator made of fleece material and is real warm

Good luck deciding.

Eric

Cr1MiNaL

9th June 2007, 00:06

I use the oxford cotton/polyester one which i got from yamaha for 16 bucks.. its awesome though u might need to hand wash it in cold water every 2-3 months... not a problem... v warm n snug in 13 deg -15 deg temps.

Raj.

Holy Roller

9th June 2007, 00:53

I found that the oxford one channels rain down my front in the wet, Though really warm in the cold dry weather I don't like it in the rain. The best I have found is the polarfleece neck warmer. When it gets wet the water does not soak away to uncomfortable places, rather it just stays in the fleece and body heat keeps it warm. Best of all it was a giveaway from the bike shop.

Holy Roller

9th June 2007, 00:57

But I am wondering how do you put your helmet on without it slipping down? Or do you bite the front bit to hold it up?

Slip it over your head and pull it down until the top is just above your eyes. Pull your helmet on and adjust by pulling down on the neck warmer until ones nose is still covered yet able to see. Do up helmet.
Thats what I do

Morcs

9th June 2007, 10:34

I Sell good balaclava's... ill do a KB Discount too...

www.mountaindesigns.com.au

:D

terbang

9th June 2007, 10:41

Bloody wimps, just shove an old newspaper up yer jumper.

Cr1MiNaL

9th June 2007, 11:18

Bloody wimps, just shove an old newspaper up yer jumper.

Oh lol so true mate I was wonderin if I was the only dude who actually had to stuff newspapers down ma cotton jumper coz of lack of descent funds as a student to buy good stuff... used to be such hard times ... I look back now and remember so many of us had gone through the same thing together... good times... I miss high school... :Punk:

tri boy

10th June 2007, 09:11

Bloody wimps, just shove an old newspaper up yer jumper.

Newspaper. Bloody luxury!
We ad to walk 15 miles to toxic waste dump, steal wet, used bum wipe, to stuff down th inside of grandpas cotton singlet, so he could ride to top of Himalaya to buy 5yr Yak fat to lube my push bike chain so i could push it ta school (cause the bandits ad stole th wheels).:dodge:

pritch

10th June 2007, 10:18

Newspaper. Bloody luxury!
We ad to walk 15 miles to toxic waste dump, steal wet, used bum wipe, to stuff down th inside of grandpas cotton singlet, so he could ride to top of Himalaya to buy 5yr Yak fat to lube my push bike chain so i could push it ta school (cause the bandits ad stole th wheels).:dodge:

Shit! I can't compete with that. :-)

Silk is the only way to go. If you use anything else you eventually need two helmets because one is two big when you're not wearing the balaclava.

My favourite brand is Ermenigildo Zegna (?sp). Zegna are also famous for their suits and other (very expensive) fashion wear, but I only aspire to own their ski mask...

saltydog

10th June 2007, 17:25

Zero index wears(well used to anyway) a scarf when he rides, and the otherday it somehow undid itself and got caught in his chain and sproket, didnt damage the bike but the scarf was fucked.

Reminds me of a time I was in Lombok riding with a sarong around my waist....dangling. I'd had a few at the time and couldn't work out what happened as I got almost thrown from the bike, huge rash around my waist and no bloody sarong! Stumbled around thinking I was going mad and left it at that. Woke up the next morning still perplexed at the previous nite so I headed out to inspect the bike where I found the sarong tightly wrapped around the hub inbetween the sproket and the spokes. And the penny dropped!!

saltydog

10th June 2007, 17:32

Bloody wimps, just shove an old newspaper up yer jumper.

Terbang, kenapa kamu pakai namanya bahasa Indonesia? I did an internal flight over there with 12 un-servicables flashing red on the dash and the captain said "Ngak masala, lets go....." Scary'er than the road from Kuta to padang-bai on a scooter!

Chilling_Silence

14th June 2007, 08:44

I bought myself a neck-tube after another rider told me about one.
Dont get me wrong, it was great, pretty warm and all, but the thing was always wanting to slip down, there was always a little bit of air getting through in a weird way that annoyed me, it just didnt sit quite right on me. Think it wasnt quite long enough for my neck. In my haste, I spent $30 on one...

Ordered one from MotoMail, hopefully it'll arrive today, $15 for a full silk one :)

Cynos

14th June 2007, 09:34

Baldyheed

14th June 2007, 10:16

Use an Arab shemagh that I was issued in Iraq. Made of cotton, and does the job lovely.

ZeroIndex

23rd June 2007, 21:06

This guy seems to have the right idea when it comes to balaclavas... although he might be in the wrong neighborhood... :p NWS
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chanceyy

23rd June 2007, 21:24

I dug out my old Damart thermolactyl Balaclava its fab .. also use a polar fleece neck warmer (thanks u4ea) & they work great together :yes:

xwhatsit

23rd June 2007, 22:49

Use an Arab shemagh that I was issued in Iraq. Made of cotton, and does the job lovely.

<hints id="hah_hints"></hints>I've never really enjoyed getting smeg anywhere near my face, to be honest.

Sidewinder

25th June 2007, 01:15

vamr

25th June 2007, 09:51

I wear a ninjaclava, does me well on my morning commute in the freaking frost at open road speeds. I find it seals my helmet nicely, keeps my face warm, and reduces wind noise significantly. It works well with my jacket collar - my only complaint would be that I'd prefer it to be slightly longer in the back of the neck, but otherwise, well worth it imo.

I likewise bought a "ninjaclava" as it was on sale a couple of weeks ago at the adventure store in newmarket (can't recall the name, right next to Mooks).
Keeps my neck and face warm so no complaints there.

I did notice some fogging at night when sitting at the lights even with a pro-grip antifog visor screen but that dissipates as soon as I am going over 20km.

Overall it's a bargain for $20.

Alpha Solo

25th June 2007, 19:09

Can the Ninjaclava be found on the net?

I'm using a Warmriders neckwarmer (check trade me) which is good but my head is freezing...

dart1202

20th July 2007, 20:57

i use Balaclava from Drudi performance very comfort and waterproof..

Southern man

20th July 2007, 22:33

Polyprop balaclava from smiths city.Nice and warm covers the neck between the jacket great value for money at $12.00. Slight fogging with sunnies and visor closed but clears once I am moving.:yes:

Hawkeye

21st July 2007, 19:48

Katmandu $15. Does the job. I don't like the nose or mouth covered but it keeps the head, chin and neck warm.

HungusMaximist

23rd July 2007, 09:45

I likewise bought a "ninjaclava" as it was on sale a couple of weeks ago at the adventure store in newmarket (can't recall the name, right next to Mooks).

Could it be Kathmandu?

Can somebody help me out here?

I saw a Rev It neck/face tube at Moto Mail at College hill for $30 and it looked pretty good with this breathable material.