Windpants

[the-shepherd]

I'm going up to meaford this weekend, and it's my first time in the field and I was told to bring my windpants, but I have no idea which those are. Could anyone just give me a brief description of them? Thanks.

 

[Nfld Sapper]

I will make the assumption that you already have the Gortex kit.

This is what the windpants look like

If you don't have the Gortex Kit  your windpants will be a bit thicker than your current issued CADPAT pants but would be OD Green.

 

[Lerch]

Like Sapper said, the older windpants are basically thick combat trousers. Made out of heavy nylon aren't they?

 

[RHFC_piper]

I'm going up to meaford this weekend, and it's my first time in the field and I was told to bring my windpants, but I have no idea which those are. Could anyone just give me a brief description of them? Thanks.

As your original question has pretty much been answered, I just wanted to make a quick comment, just a little tidbit from my short 8 years in;  Personally, I take my windpants on every exercise.  They roll up nice and tight, and even if you have a stalth suit or other Gucci gear, windpants are always a good idea.  You never know when you'll have to sit in an OP for hours, or if you know you have to sit in an ORV for a while, pack them in a small pack and slip them on once you get into position (noise discipline permitting)... just make sure you slip them off before you move out of the ORV or OP (weather permitting).  Even if you bring them, and don't use them, you'll appreciate them when you need them.  Forgetting them and needing them is a mistake you'll only make once.

btw...  don't forget to throw some suspenders on them (if you get them issued) there are even buttons on the windpants for them.

 

[Bzzliteyr]

I second that motion.  I am an Armour Crewman and those are the cat's meow!!  On very cold days, the fleece bottoms in them will keep you nice and toasty.  For regular adverse weather, as was stated.. use them with yer regular pants.  I personally don't use the suspenders as I find it MUCH easier to slip them on and off without them.  To each his own.

 

[NL_engineer]

btw...  don't forget to throw some suspenders on them (if you get them issued) there are even buttons on the windpants for them.

I've switched back to the suspenders.  I used have a belt on them, but it started getting annoying having two belts on (mainly because they started giving me friction burns on my side)  :. 

 

[Nfld Sapper]

I've switched back to the suspenders.  I used have a belt on them, but it started getting annoying having two belts on (mainly because they started giving me friction burns on my side)  :. 

Sounds like a personal problem there  ;D

 

[Douke]

As your original question has pretty much been answered, I just wanted to make a quick comment, just a little tidbit from my short 8 years in;  Personally, I take my windpants on every exercise.  They roll up nice and tight, and even if you have a stalth suit or other Gucci gear, windpants are always a good idea.  You never know when you'll have to sit in an OP for hours, or if you know you have to sit in an ORV for a while, pack them in a small pack and slip them on once you get into position (noise discipline permitting)... just make sure you slip them off before you move out of the ORV or OP (weather permitting).  Even if you bring them, and don't use them, you'll appreciate them when you need them.  Forgetting them and needing them is a mistake you'll only make once.

btw...  don't forget to throw some suspenders on them (if you get them issued) there are even buttons on the windpants for them.

+1

I carry them to every exercise with some ductape. Add to every formentioned uses crossing water while keeping yourself dry. The windpants are the most waterproof pants in your kit, put goretex boots on, and tape the bottom of your windpants on em, and youll be as dry as possible on the other end ! Well it works for me anyway. Sorry for my English !

 

[Nfld Sapper]

+1

I carry them to every exercise with some ductape. Add to every formentioned uses crossing water while keeping yourself dry. The windpants are the most waterproof pants in your kit, put goretex boots on, and tape the bottom of your windpants on em, and youll be as dry as possible on the other end ! Well it works for me anyway. Sorry for my English !

+1

Your english is mieux que mon français  ;D

 

[NL_engineer]

Sounds like a personal problem there  ;D

Hey I had to ruck the 6K, not drive the skidoo  :

 

[Bzzliteyr]

Wow, the duct tape trick sounds like a keeper!!

 

[chrisf]

Don't know about anyone else, but for most of the winter I wear them AS PANTS... layering and all... outer layer is the windpants, inner layer is the poly pro long johns... I never understand why people wear the combat pants underneath unless you're expecting the weather to warm up... the cotton in the combat pants just soaks up moisture, doesn't help the goretex at all... for colder weather (East coast of Canada, doesn't get cold as often as it gets sloppy and wet) just add the fleece pants in the middle. Though the suspenders are an excellent option, I always use my belt to hold up the windpants, as I've usually got a half dozen tools on my belt, plus I find the belt more comfortable then the suspenders (As to two belts NL_Engineer, why not just take the one from your combat pants and put it on your wind pants when you put them on? No suspenders, one less thing to pack...)

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Hey I had to ruck the 6K, not drive the skidoo  :

Still sounds like a personal problem to me  ;D

 

[RHFC_piper]

I'm just a fan of the suspenders 'cause you don't need to worry about moving belts, rubbing or anything of the sort... just throw the windpants on and put the suspenders over your shoulders... and if you need to cool down, just unbutton the top and open the fly. They won't fall down with suspenders on.


And that duct tape idea does seem like a good idea, I'll have to give it a try.  My only issue with anything waterproof is that it's only waterproof to the top, then it's just a bucket. (Bad experience with hip-waders and a deep spot in a river).

 

[daftandbarmy]

My only issue with anything waterproof is that it's only waterproof to the top, then it's just a bucket. (Bad experience with hip-waders and a deep spot in a river).
[/quote]

LOL. I'll put that one in my memory banks, as long as the Alzheimer's holds off

 

[Douke]

And that duct tape idea does seem like a good idea, I'll have to give it a try.  My only issue with anything waterproof is that it's only waterproof to the top, then it's just a bucket. (Bad experience with hip-waders and a deep spot in a river).

Well of course it is not the miracle solution to get 10 infantry divisions across de pacific sea  , but it will get you relativly dry through shallow water. I have stepped in deep spots before, and even though it WILL fill like a bucket, it WILL NOT put yourself in danger as you just undo the ductape wrapping to release the water (of course you won't be dry anymore, but you would'nt anyway if you had tried to cross it the classical way either, and if you played it right and had your goretex socks under, you can still have your feet dry even though the rest is soaked! It all depend on how much preparation time you have before crossing that river...). I wouldn't recommend ducttaping your way through anything you suspect might go over waist-high, but it don't happen often, at least not when I'm in charge  :. It's usually faster to just find a better place to cross then being stubborn and crossing there (better for the moral of your section too), and when you don't have that choice, well make sure you have spare stuff to change cloth depending on the temperature.

 

[Lerch]

The various tidbits of information on this website are invaluable! Definitely gonna keep the gun tape/windproof pants idea close at hand during the 'wetter' seasons.

 

[NL_engineer]

(As to two belts NL_Engineer, why not just take the one from your combat pants and put it on your wind pants when you put them on? No suspenders, one less thing to pack...)

I mistake I made once.

 

[NL_engineer]

My only issue with anything waterproof is that it's only waterproof to the top, then it's just a bucket. (Bad experience with hip-waders and a deep spot in a river).


LOL. I'll put that one in my memory banks, as long as the Alzheimer's holds off

It is gortex, or whatever material the army is calling gortex.  The water will eventually be transferred out of the windpants; and if you dress the way CTS says to, you will eventually be dry (probably a number of days).

 

[Bzzliteyr]

But only if (according to recent AArs) you use the small pack as part of the whole fighting system, as so many soldiers have not been doing... tsk tsk.

My mistake.. I was ranting again.

Just to give you an idea of the versatility of the goretex windpants, in Texas recently, I had them as the only clothing item I would pack in my small pack.  I didn't even pack my rain suit.  It was great to have as an insulating layer in the cold mornings..