Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava
Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava

Eighty Four FR Combat Balaclava

$59.99 USD $44.99 USD Save 25%
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Rated 4.9 out of 5
Based on 438 reviews
Color
  • Pre-Sale — Black Ships Late Oct.
  • One Size Fits Most
  • All Other Colors Ready to Ship
  • Berry Compliant — made in the USA with US-made materials
  • Inherently Flame-Retardant Tencate Defender M™️ Fabric
  • 61% Viscose, 24% Aramid, 11% Nylon, 4% Elastane
  • Tan 499 Colorway
  • Quick-Drying
  • High breathability mesh for 3-season use
  • No-chafe seams
  • Fitted facepiece stays on your nose bridge without bunching up
  • Can be worn as a full balaclava, facepiece only, headpiece only, or neck gaiter
  • Comfortably fits underneath ballistic/bump helmets with chinstrap harnesses
  • Low Bulk - fits in any pants pocket!

Full Fabric Spec sheet from Tencate is available to view here

A note on fabric color

Due to the way which the fabric sourced from Tencate is made, manufacturing runs may vary slightly in color from the images you see on our site. We do our best to present it in true neutral lighting and pair it with appropriate clothing so you can see how it looks.

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. 

A Cult-Hit Design, Reborn & Refined

How a viral balaclava went the way of the dodo bird, and how we brought it back...

Avian Origins

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 is 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.

Dialed In Fit, Versatile Function (Click To Learn More)

Fitted Facepiece

one of our main complaints about the original, which you can even see on the famous pics of Mr. Craighead are the sometimes-floppy fit. The facepiece's elastic has been brought in to result in a much better fit over your nose and stays on your face without irritation.

'Owl Neck' Drape

The neck drape is constructed to tuck in to your shirt and stay in your shirt. It allows a large range of motion even when buckled into a helmet harness.

Wear It Your Way

Unlike traditional balaclavas, the hood-and-facepiece design allows this one to be worn in a few different ways:

You can either go full ninja-mode with the eye slot, pull down the facepiece to still cover your head and ears, wear the facepiece with the top-hood scrunched down in back, or even go "gaiter" mode with it just covering your neck.

One Size Fits Better.

We've tested on heads large (24"+) and Small, and it fits and functions as it should on just about everyone, regardless of how hard you've been working out your brain at the library.

Materials Matter

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.

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.

Disclaimer & Safety Notice

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.

Get The Full Breakdown

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average rating 4.9 out of 5
Based on 438 reviews
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99% of reviewers would recommend this product to a friend
Build Quality
Rated 4 out of 5
Style
Rated 4 out of 5
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
Performance
Rated 4 out of 5
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438 Reviews
Reviewed by Max J., from United States
Verified Buyer
I recommend this product
Head Size (in)
23
How It FIts
A little Big
Hat Size (cm)
58
Standout Attributes
  • Breathability
  • Packability
Condition
Better Than Described
Rated 4 out of 5
Review posted

A Lighter, Well made, Fire Retardant Balaclava

I bought this not for the drip or for the meme, but because I have some very nice wool balaclava that work well in cold weather but might be much for the rest of the year.

Nobody likes coming back from a training course with windburn, sunburn on the face.

This balaclava is lighter and admittedly less comfortable than a tighter wool balaclava (such as a Merino Wool Balaclava from Varusteleka) but it works very well as a fire retardant face cover, something to keep sun and wind off your skin, and it will do a great job keeping hot brass of of your neck.

The only reason this gets 4/5 stars is because a merino wool balaclava is softer on the skin and more comfortable. But that is a different animal, pun intended. If you want a winter garment that feels nice, there are other options.

But who am I kidding, this is Kommandostore, and this is an Eighty Four project reproduction of famous meme headwear that you're buying because Arc'teryx is lame, and also for the drip. You want it? Get it. Is it worth the money? Yes. Is it the best actual winter option? No. I would know, I'm in the north star state.

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Build Quality
Rated 5 out of 5
Style
Rated 5 out of 5
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
Performance
Rated 5 out of 5
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Reviewed by Samuel M., from United States
Verified Buyer
I recommend this product
How It FIts
A little Big
Hat Size (cm)
56
Standout Attributes
  • Comfort
Condition
As Described
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

Warm in the winter, cool in the summer

Sitting alone and motionless for 7 hours in 30F weather this Balaclava is my best friend. It fits great and hand washes easy

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Build Quality
Rated 5 out of 5
Style
Rated 5 out of 5
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
Performance
Rated 5 out of 5
Image by Samuel M.
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Reviewed by Timothy S., from United States
Verified Buyer
I recommend this product
How It FIts
Perfect
Hat Size (cm)
60
Standout Attributes
  • Breathability
  • Comfort
  • Packability
Condition
As Described
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

Worth it

Very well made and comfortable to wear. It is probably the best balaclava I've had.

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Build Quality
Rated 5 out of 5
Style
Rated 5 out of 5
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
Performance
Rated 5 out of 5
Was this helpful?
Reviewed by Leo K., from United States
Verified Buyer
I recommend this product
How It FIts
Perfect
Hat Size (cm)
57
Standout Attributes
  • Comfort
  • Breathability
  • Packability
Condition
Better Than Described
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

This is an awesome balaclava

I received this balaclava the other day after ordering it less than a week before. I can't attest to how flame resistant it is, but this is both breathable and comfortable, with the perfect amount of elasticity in the right places to ensure it is tight around the bridge of the nose and forehead. You can also lower the balaclava to expose your face, or even turn it into somewhat of a neck gaiter by taking the top off your head.

I'm very happy with this purchase.

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Build Quality
Rated 5 out of 5
Style
Rated 5 out of 5
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
Performance
Rated 5 out of 5
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Reviewed by Tom P., from United States
Verified Buyer
I recommend this product
How It FIts
Perfect
Hat Size (cm)
56
Standout Attributes
  • Breathability
  • Comfort
  • Packability
Condition
Better Than Described
Rated 5 out of 5
Review posted

Good

Makes me look slightly dodgy (a good thing), hides my face and stops burns

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Build Quality
Rated 5 out of 5
Style
Rated 5 out of 5
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
Performance
Rated 5 out of 5
Image by Tom P.
Was this helpful?

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