Rajuga is a professional military company that specializes in the production of state of the art camouflage and concealment equipment. Hence our excitement when we finally got to try out their new Balaclava. Note that this face mask is standard gear for Special Operations Forces in the IDF.

Design:

Unlike most other face masks, the Rajuga balaclava features a design whereby you can choose to fully cover your face, partially or only your neck. They achieved this by sowing on the front part separately, as opposed to the whole face mask being one piece which limits functionality. Here’s where the really unique functions of the face mask come into play. The balaclava comes with holes for tactical and shooting glasses (or regular glasses). This avoids the annoyance of having to wear glasses over the ear from the outside, where it’ll inevitably end up “floating” and the risk of losing them in certain situations is higher. In addition, for soldiers who wear ear protection this is definitely a blessing seeing as glasses become way more compatible with this system. On top of that, about 2 inches below the ear, on both sides, there’s a cutout that allows for cables/comms to easily pass through. This is not always critical but very nice if you want your cables to not be obstructive in any way or accidentally bend and get damaged. The neckline of the face mask is somewhat different from the regular face masks available. The neckline is very low so it covers your neck properly. However, Rajuga has opted for a wide broad flowing neckpiece as opposed to a tight fitting neck lining. While this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it is important to understand the mindset behind the company. As stated before, Rajuga specializes in concealment, and when wearing camouflage suits or generally being concealed, freeflowing objects tend to be less noticeable than smooth curves. These balaclavas are often worn by snipers and others and so, functions way better to conceal them, even if the loose neck piece may take a little getting used to.

“This works great with standard military comms where there’s no more dangling cables, just a tight fit when pulled through the mask” -First Sergeant K.-

Material:

Rajuga tends to not release too many technical specs of their products but from what we can see, the mask is built of very high quality thin breathable fabric. Even when used for a prolonged time period and under exertion, the mask is very breathable and moisture wicking. When used in the sun, it definitely doesn’t absorb a whole lot of heat, which is great. Breathing too, is very easy and not at all obstructed. The mask comes in a single size which is “one size fits all”. The stitching is all on the inside for a smooth finish and is really excellent. It weighs around 46g which is completely negligible. The mask has antibacterial properties and thus avoids unpleasant odors after prolonged wearing. On the inside, instead of the camo, you have a silver grey color which could be problematic when a wrong fold causes exposure to a color that really stands out. We tested the face mask in Dark Stone color, seeing as this is the color used by most IDF SOF. The balaclava is also available in Black, Woodland and Desert.

Comfort:

Definitely one of the more comfortable face masks out there. Smooth feel on the inside and while very snug, it doesn’t feel constricting at all. As noted previously, it allows you to breathe comfortably. It’s comfortable to wear, even in heavy heat and under a helmet. When sweating, the mask doesn’t cling to your skin whatsoever and the sweat wicking material works wonders, especially with a nice breeze.

Storage:

The Rajuga mask, because of its thin fabric, can be folded into a tiny cube which you can insert anywhere, However, Rajuga ships these with a neat little pouch with a D-Ring for portability. No folding or effort of any kind is needed to insert the mask. Simply push it in and it fits perfectly.

“As a person who likes to put his balaclava in the battery compartment of the helmet cover, this is perfect for me. It doesn’t bulge and fits well.” -First Sergeant M.-

Versatility:

The options on this face mask are limitless. Beside the standard wear, you can pull down the hood for a basic face cover or use it as a shawl or neck cover when pulled down. It all works smoothly. Using this in conjunction with a variety of other hardware is seamless. The mask is superb for use with a helmet, headsets and pretty much anything else.

Price:

At around $50 this face mask is definitely a pricey option. However, Rajuga caters to professional soldiers and LEO who want only the best. For this brilliant design this is definitely a price worth paying when in need of this. Rajuga uses very expensive materials that warrant the price tag.

Used as the standard face mask by the IDF Special forces, this serves as a testament to its quality and functionality. This balaclava definitely features some of the smartest design choices on the market and is a reliable choice for all Military and LEO looking for that perfect face mask. If you can afford it, this is definitely the mask to get!