A ski mask, which also goes by the name of balaclava or balaclava helmet, is headgear made of cloth that is designed to cover most of your face. The name balaclava is derived from the use of these ski masks in the Battle of Balaclava. This is a town located close to Sevastopol, Crimea. The battle was fought in the Crimean war.
There are a variety of styles available and depending on the way that you wear it, you can expose just your eyes, or also your nose and mouth. You may also wear it so that your entire face is exposed. If you go with the design that exposes the whole face, you could roll it to make a hat that will cover your head or it may fold down so that it looks like a collar.
Balaclavas are worn outdoors especially by people who engage in winter sports including snowmobiling, snowboarding and skiing. They are a protection for the face against the lash of cold winds and help to maintain warmth. Lately they have also become part of what motorcyclists wear since they too have to deal with the lash of the wind.
Interestingly, firefighters also wear them although theirs are fire resistant and are made from a material known as nomex. The face opening on these modified ski masks is then covered by an SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus). Fire retardant balaclavas are also worn by race drivers who must put them on under their helmets. In the racing events, various rally stages, hill climbs and the like, it has become mandatory for these to be worn along with other protective gear such as gloves, socks, long underwear and special shoes. Electrical workers also have a modified balaclava. Theirs is arc-flash rated and is usually worn with a shield over the face as well as other PPE to protect them as they work on their equipment.
Balaclavas can be purchased in a retail shop that sells sports gear or winter sports gear. Anyone running such a shop would have to purchase the wholesale ski mask from a wholesaler. They are actually able to select the style of balaclava to sell including casual, active, classic and formal. Since they come in a variety of colors and patterns, as a retailer, you can get the most attractive for your store. There are multicolored ones, plaid, print designs, striped and solid color ones too.
Of course it is cheaper to make a bulk order if you are a retailer than purchasing in small amounts. You may need to get on the internet and find wholesalers that will give you a good price before you can make a purchase. Saving money is always welcome. However, it is important to find a balance between quality and price. Cheap can end up being very costly, but you can also find well priced products of good quality. Payment methods will vary depending on the company you buy from. However, if you are required to make an online payment, you will find that for most of them, even PayPal is a valid payment option.