When we started making balaclavas, we first checked how people search for them and what they type into search engines. The result amused us and explained a lot at the same time. Alongside the correct name, there are balaklawa, balaklava, balaclawa, bacalava, and even "baklava hat" – a mix-up between winter headwear and a Turkish dessert. On top of that, there are tons of queries like "what is a balaclava."
This means that "balaclava" is still a word that many of us are just getting to know. That is why this text is not another lookbook. It answers basic questions: what a balaclava is, where its name came from, why it functions as "kominiarka" (ski mask) in Poland, and how to make sense of it all. Without embellishments or repeating legends that sound good but aren't entirely true.
What is a balaclava? A one-sentence definition
A balaclava is a knitted headpiece that covers the head, ears, and neck simultaneously, leaving the face partially or fully exposed. In practice, it is a hat, a hood, and a neck warmer combined into one piece.
It is worth saying right away what a balaclava is not. It is not a regular hat because it extends lower to cover the neck. It is not a scarf or a neck warmer either, because it also covers the head. It differs from a hood in that it isn't sewn to a jacket; it is a separate item that you put on independently of your outerwear. It is precisely this combination of functions that makes it so hard to name unambiguously and why so many terms circulate around it.
Where does the name "balaclava" come from? The Crimean War and a legend worth correcting
The name comes from Balaklava, a port town in Crimea, near Sevastopol. During the Crimean War, on October 25, 1854, the Battle of Balaclava took place there—the same one where the famous Charge of the Light Brigade occurred.
And here begins the legend repeated by almost every text about balaclavas: that British soldiers fought in the battle wearing knitted masks, and the name was taken from the site of the battle. The reality is less cinematic. The winter of 1854/1855 in Crimea was disastrously harsh for the British army, and the soldiers lacked proper clothing. A massive campaign began back home: women knitted warm items, including head and neck coverings, and sent them to the front.
However, the name "balaclava" only appeared in print several decades later, at the end of the 19th century. Thus, Balaklava gave the headpiece its name as a symbol of that winter and that war, not because someone invented them on the day of the battle. Similar head coverings had been used before; they just didn't have one catchy name. We prefer to say this outright, because the story of sweaters knitted for freezing soldiers is, at its core, more beautiful than the legend about the battle.
Why do we say "kominiarka" in Polish?
For decades, no one in Poland said "balaclava." They said "kominiarka," and that word is still the most commonly used today. Its origin is not definitively documented. It is most often linked to a chimney sweep (kominiarz) and their headgear used to protect against soot. Conversely, "komin" (chimney) has long meant a scarf in the form of a closed tube in fashion, so for many, "kominiarka" is simply a logical development: a chimney that extends all the way up to the head.
However, there is another side to this word, and there is no point in pretending it doesn't exist. For years in Poland, "kominiarka" was associated with a covered face: with skiers and mountaineers, but also with special forces, robberies in crime films, or football hooligans. This association stems from the fact that a classic "kominiarka" had only openings for the eyes, and sometimes the mouth.
That is why the English word "balaclava" has caught on in fashion. It is not about snobbery, but about making a distinction. A fashion balaclava almost always leaves the entire face exposed and is closer to a soft hood than a mask. The word "balaclava" immediately signals that we are talking about an accessory for a coat, not gear for the slopes or something intended to hide one's identity.
Balaclava, balaklawa, or baklava? How to spell it and what not to confuse it with
Since the word came to us from English, and the town itself is called Bałakława in Polish, several forms of spelling are in circulation. Briefly and practically:
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Balaclava is the English spelling and is currently most commonly used in fashion. You will find the most models in stores under this name.
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Balaklawa is the Polonized form, spelled as it is pronounced. It is also in use and is understood.
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Kominiarka is the traditional Polish term for the same thing, though it is more often associated with the sports or technical version.
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Balaklava, balaclawa, bacalava, and similar variants are simply typos and mixtures of the two spellings. Search engines usually understand what you mean anyway.
It is worth mentioning a mistake that appears in searches surprisingly often: baklava (or baklawa in Polish) is a sweet dessert made of phyllo dough, nuts, and syrup, known from Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine. It has nothing to do with headwear, other than the words sounding similar. If you've ever typed "baklava hat," you are not the only one.
Types of balaclavas. Which one are you actually looking for?
Several completely different items are hidden under one name. Before you buy anything, it is worth knowing which one you have in mind, as they differ in purpose and appearance.
1. Full balaclava, with eye openings
Covers almost the entire face, leaving only the eyes, and sometimes the mouth. This is the technical version: for skiing, scooters, working in the cold, or under a motorcycle helmet. It is usually thin and snug, made of synthetic materials or thin merino wool. In the city, it looks distinctly sporty, and this is the one associated with all the unpleasant connotations of the word "kominiarka."
2. Balaclava with an exposed face
Covers the head, ears, and neck, while the oval of the face remains entirely exposed. This is the most popular fashion model, often knitted from thicker yarn. It looks like a snug hood combined with a turtleneck.
3. Tie-front hood/neck warmer
A soft form that is closer to a hood and scarf than a hat. It is not a closed tube, but a neck warmer finished with drawstrings that you tie under the chin or at the side. This lets you decide how snugly it fits against your face: tightly in the wind, loosely on a warmer day. This is the most feminine and urban version of the balaclava. This is exactly what we make at Nudyess.
4. Balaclava-scarf and multifunctional models
A type of hybrid: a long scarf that can be pinned up as a hood, or a hood with long ends that you wrap around your neck. An interesting form, but it requires styling and is less likely to stay in place all day.
