One Size Fits Most
Black Colorway Now Ready To Ship!
It started in Balaclava form and quickly became one of our best-selling new production products ever, if not the best. We realized quickly that the fabric allowed for us to take a few more liberties and go in a new direction. So, if you're already a fan of the Eighty Four Balaclava but wanted something a little more minimalist, this one's for you.
Our FR neck gaiter (and its parent balaclava) is the result of us being upset with the new state of military contract manufacturers giving the middle finger to us civilians. We threw down the gauntlet, sourced the same materials, and made our own.
The body fabric is the most breathable Flame-Retardant material on the market we're aware of. It's the exact same stuff we use to make our balaclavas, all made in the USA.
There's a difference between chemical treatments for FR and being inherently FR - as you can guess the latter is far better at doing its job. Being inherently FR means it's excellent at self-extinguishing under high heat and even direct contact with flames - important for any firearms enthusiast dealing with hot suppressors and stray casings.
Inherently FR fabric can get expensive but every penny spent is worth it here. It's extremely comfortable in any weather condition, quick drying, low bulk, and it doesn't itch if you have sensitive skin or a big 'ol beard...
But as a disclaimer, stay safe when dealing with anything that gives off sparks, open flames, or radiates a large amount of heat. While the FR Fabric is the same as other products that are FR certified and could theoretically be a last line of defense, we are not responsible for any injury or misuse of this product.
Specs
Here's how to keep your FR Balaclava as fresh as the day you got it and retain color fastness:
Always machine wash on "low", "gentle" or "delicate" setting and line dry in the shade.
Never wash with dark colors or use strong detergents. Do not Iron, dry clean, or use fabric softener (Fabric softener can harm the FR Properties of the balaclava). To retain low NIR reflectivity, do not use detergents with optical brighteners.
For more information on FR gear care, see the fabric OEM's article on the subject
Due to the elastane content of the balaclava, it's normal for it to stretch over use and to slightly shrink in the wash. It may require it to be re-broken in but it will retain its shape for years to come.
Eighty Four Neck Gaiter
A balaclava design became famous for appearing on SAS operator Christian Craighead, AKA "Obi Wan Nairobi" during a heroic counter-terror operation in Kenya. Some also know this balaclava for being persona-defining for Administrative Results on YouTube before he unmasked.
After Pictures of Craighead circled the internet like wildfire, it became the "it" item to have for many gear enthusiasts. Apparently, a certain company from Canada didn't understand that, because civilians cannot purchase one new anymore.
Civilians have long been upset with LEO/MIL Restricted product constraints, but how the heck can you justify restricting a piece of clothing?
Our Eighty-Four FR Balaclava was the result of our disdain with the state of military contract manufacturers giving the middle finger to us civilians. We've thrown down the gauntlet, sourced the same materials as the one that got famous, and made our own with improvements to boot.
Now, it's available in neck-gaiter form to wear in hotter months but still protect 'ya neck.
The body fabric is the most breathable Flame-Retardant material on the market we're aware of. It's the exact same stuff as the original, made in the USA. There's a difference between chemical treatments for FR and being inherently FR.
(Click to learn more)
No Short-Cuts or Cost Cuts.
Chemical FR treatments on fabric are more affordable, but not always honest. Some of them might even melt and drip on your skin causing painful burns despite having a "Flame resistance". It wears away in the wash, can irritate your skin, and is a cheap way to slap "FR" on your product. We did things the hard way instead.
Inherently FR materials are far better at doing their job — They have a very high heat resistance, and most importantly, "self-extinguish" under high heat and even direct contact with flames. The material takes the damage and safely smoldering away to avoid harming anything that's underneath it, like your skin.
Cool As A Cucumber.
Our pictured test with a butane flame applied to the fabric for an unreasonably long time barely made a mark. Not Scientific at all, but a demonstration of how the fabric behaves under high (3,578 degrees Fahrenheit) heat directly applied.
Inherently FR fabric can get expensive But every penny spent is worth it here. The "Tencate Defender M" fabric is extremely comfortable in any weather condition, quick drying, low bulk, and it doesn't itch if you have sensitive skin or a big 'ol beard.
Stay safe when dealing with anything that gives off sparks, open flames, or radiates a large amount of heat. While the FR Fabric is the same as the original and could theoretically be a last line of defense, the balaclava itself is not certified through any traditional testing. User discretion is advised.
For more information, consult Tencate's official spec sheet below.
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Rated 4 out of 5
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Rated 4 out of 5
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Very light and breathable, looks aesthetically nice. I have a large head and it fits my head well.
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Rated 5 out of 5
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Rated 5 out of 5
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I like it better than the balaclava.
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Rated 5 out of 5
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Rated 5 out of 5
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Fits easily and breathable. Bit pricey but worth it.
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Rated 5 out of 5
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Rated 5 out of 5
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Rated 0 on a scale of minus 2 to 2, where minus 2 is Runs Small, 0 is True to Size and 2 is Runs Big
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Rated 5 out of 5
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This tiny operator is glad to have something to keep her safe and anonymous. She says it's lightweight and breathable, but that does not make her worry about tearing or fraying.
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Rated 5 out of 5
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Rated 5 out of 5
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Rated 0 on a scale of minus 2 to 2, where minus 2 is Runs Small, 0 is True to Size and 2 is Runs Big
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Rated 5 out of 5
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These are some of the more expensive balaclavas our team has purchased. Personally I was skeptical. The quality, materials, and fit are excellent.
Something about the color in the fabric brings a rust green feel and certainly works in a huge variety of kit.
It’s comfy, looks cool and breaths well.
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Rated 5 out of 5
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| Style |
Rated 5 out of 5
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| Sizing |
Rated 0 on a scale of minus 2 to 2, where minus 2 is Runs Small, 0 is True to Size and 2 is Runs Big
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| Performance |
Rated 5 out of 5
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