Ballys Skully Balaclava/Face Mask Product Review 8/10

THE GOOD: COOL DESIGN, VERY WARM, CUTS WIND

THE BAD: A BIT EXPENSIVE, DESIGN SLIGHTLY FADED

WARNING: NOT A LICENSE TO TAKE ON RUSSIAN TERRORISTS

One of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s more memorable characters, Ghost, was never seen without his badass looking balaclava. Ghost’s mask featured a large, intimidating skull, and did wonders for his characterization. And now you too can own the mask that Ghost is seen wearing throughout Modern Warfare 2! Be warned however, badass-edness is not included.



Ballys, a company which sells balaclavas, has replicated the mask that Ghost wears, and sells them at their website, www.ballys.bigcartel.com. Ballys is an overseas company that operates out of the United Kingdom, and likewise, their products ship from the U.K.

As a motorcycle rider and resident of northern Illinois, my need for something to keep my face warm is pretty high. And being a Modern Warfare 2 fan, I thought I’d discovered the jackpot in Ballys’ product. Upon seeing them highlighted on Bitmob, I took the plunge and ordered one.

My total, post shipping, was 18 pounds, which at the time equated to roughly 31 U.S dollars; a bit on the pricey side for a face mask I thought, but I went ahead and placed my order anyway. Roughly two weeks later I received my item.



Upon trying the balaclava on, my face was comfortably blanketed in warmth. I was happily surprised to see that the mask wasn’t made from a scratchy wool, but instead a soft fleece and cotton mixture. I immediately went outside into the bitter Illinois winter and put it to the test.

The temperature outside was a chilly 15 degrees fahrenheit, but the entire time I was outside working, my face stayed warm. Honestly, I didn’t expect it to keep me as warm as it did, especially considering how thin the material felt in my hands.

The mask also does an excellent job at cutting the wind around your face. While I was outside, the wind picked up, and while I could feel it through my coat and pants, my face stayed very warm.

With it being winter I haven’t had the opportunity to wear the balaclava while motorcycle riding, but I imagine that it will serve its purpose as it did outstanding in the bitter, winter cold as well as the wind. However, I was slightly disappointed to see that the design was a bit more faded than it appeared on the product’s website. The skull is still vibrant enough to make out what it is though, even from a distance.

Overall, Ballys has an excellent product that serves its purpose as a face mask while remaining able to look cool, which is where most masks fall short. However, interested buyers should be prepared to pay for it and not be deceived by the vividness of the product online. I give the Ballys brand Skully Balaclava an 8 out of 10.