Posted by Todd Wilson on Sunday, December 24, 2006 at 13:19:09 :
In Reply to: Re: OT - Army Wet weather gear - Tech manual posted by MoparNorm on Sunday, December 24, 2006 at 12:43:19 :
My M65 in a rain storm would soak up in a hurry. Using the improved wet weather rain coat over it and its an awesome combo. I wore my M65 last night outside in about 23 degree weather and wasnt the least bit cold. I do have the cold weather insulated liner buttoned into it! The coat by itself is rather cold in winter temperatures. The neat thing I like about this entire setup is you can adjust for various temperatures. Cool outside - take the liner out. Cold outside put the liner in. Raining - add the wet weather coat over it OR button the cold weather liner into the rain coat.
The gloves are a mitton type to keep your hands warm but they have a trigger finger. Makes writing or doing things easier then a mitton with the trigger finger there. They have insulation similiar to the M65 liner. If thats not good enough theres wool inserts that go in to the gloves. The gloves have a giant cuff that will fit over your jacket cuffs and then you pull a belt deal to tighten the gloves around your wrist. With the velcro snugged on the jacket around your wrists and the mitton snugged up with the giant cuffs it all works great as a system.
Here is the outfit that makes this stuff for the military.
http://www.herculeswear.com/products.asp?cat_id=3
The improved wet weather (IRS) is what has impressed me the most. At the top. As a hood that rolls up and fits in the collar area. Snug up the waist with cords and velcro the wrists and you are sealed up.
The standard wet suit blocks wind nicely but it dont breath so you can get soaked inside from sweating too much. Its at the bottom.
I am picking this stuff up for 7$ and 14$ a piece for coats and pants at my surplus store. They also have gortex pants and coats there as well. I havent got them yet. They appear to be more of a warm wet weather setup as there doesnt seem to be a way to button a liner in to them and they have interior things that would get in the way.
I bought my M65 jacket and it was rather cool on the cold nights here in Kansas. Called my army buddy and he said you need to get the liner so I went back and got a liner and then started looking at the other items and have been impressed with the setup. As for coats yes there are better coats out there. I have several carhart coats for work and they are hard to beat. Thinsulate gloves and other items out there are good and probably better but I dont have the $$$ into the army setup like I would with the carhart gear and I havent seen a rain coat setup that is close to this improved wet weather stuff and for the money I probably wont. I have a nice Cabella rain gear setup with a cloth type liner inside to help wick moisture away and its a good setup but you still get damp inside working in the rain.
Like I said the improved wet weather gear was the most impressive thing I saw and I do like how all the pieces and parts work together to adjust for various weather conditions with the army setup.
Todd
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