Polyprophelene long johns

[Carl_71]

I was looking at polyprophelene long johns vs. underarmor pants for wintertime patrol and was wondering if anyone has experience wearing them. Are they too thick to wear under unform pants and do they do the same thing underarmor does?

[Goose71]

The Army issued me mine, so they were free. I bet you could get them pretty cheap at a surplus store, though.

They were really warm. I almost wonder if they might be too warm for duty wear unless you're gonna spend a LOT of time (3/4 of your shift) in the open air.

The Army issued polypro was pretty thick. Much thicker than underarmor, but warmer, too. They'll add 1 and 1/2 to two inches to your waist.

[SHU]

I use to wear them and unless you are going to be spending all of your days on a foot post, I suggest you look at something else. They made me sweat like crazy in nyc in january.

[Sabre]

I use Gander Mountain-brand fleece long-johns. The waist is a little thick because it has a pull-cord in it. So I just sag them down a bit so they don't add any thickness to the area under my belt. They are loose-fitting, very comfortable, and very warm.

Something like this: http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=403353&pdesc=Gander_Mountain_Heavyweight_Fleece_Bottoms_F or_Men&str=fleece&merchID=4005&r=view

[GGG]

Expedition weight polypro is too thick unless you wear BDU type pants. They do make lighter weight polypro, so just get the weight you need for your activity level. Silk underwear is very slim and surprisingly warm.

Some of the best stuff I have ever used, way better than UA, is Schampa. http://www.schampa.com/category_s/77.htm they have a product line called "Skinnys" that are form fitting thermal gear like UA but warmer, and has more features. I wore that stuff under a light jacket last winter and was toasty warm.

[Carl_71]

Thanks for all the input everyone.

[Jim1648]

I am resurrecting an old post here. I am looking for for warm, thin long johns. Are the polypropylene the best way to go? I can't imagine anything has changed much since the previous post, but who knows. Also, any suggestions on where to buy? Is a local place like Gander Mountain or Cabelas the best or are there internet dealers that are lower priced?

[Resq14]

I think I have these.
Hot Chillys (http://hotchillys.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=29&DatabaseID=1&SearchID=2&SearchContext=YTo3OntzOjQ6IlBhZ2UiO3M6MToiMiI7czo4 OiJTZWFyY2hJRCI7czoxOiIyIjtzOjEwOiJEYXRhYmFzZUlEIj tzOjE6IjEiO3M6NjoiR2VuZGVyIjthOjE6e2k6MDtzOjQ6Ik1h bGUiO31zOjM6IkZpdCI7YToxOntpOjA7czo3OiJfX0FMTF9fIj t9czoxNToiUHJvZHVjdENhdGVnb3J5IjthOjE6e2k6MDtzOjc6 Il9fQUxMX18iO31zOjIwOiJBZXJvYmljQWN0aXZpdHlMZXZlbC I7YToxOntpOjA7czo3OiJfX0FMTF9fIjt9fQ==)

They might have some lighterweight ones... the bulk really wasn't too bad... definetly better under BDU style pants though.

I have ECWCS rain top and rain pants... I'm thinking about getting an external insulated top and pants too, for unexpected long term outside stuff. I just can't drive around in hot pants my entire shift! :)

[Carl_71]

If you are interested in buying from Cabela's, they are giving their employee discount to military and LE on Nov 11 and 12 if you go to the store.

[Jim1648]

That is a great tip on Cabelas! I seem to recall that from previous years, too, but sometimes I hear about it too late. I wonder how much employee discount is right now? In the past I have read that it was up to 25% off in-store merchandise, with a few exclusions.

[HEDP]

If you are interested in buying from Cabela's, they are giving their employee discount to military and LE on Nov 11 and 12 if you go to the store.





Thanks, good to know.



I may look at those Schampa's that the above poster wrote about.



I think Under Armour great, but I think there might be better out there.......just got to find it.


.

[GGG]

I got us a deal on Schampa stuff for the Inauguration detail. It was a miserable cold day and afterwards the majority of our guys on the detail were thanking me profusely for getting the bulk order of Schampa done. It is good stuff.

[ArcticCop]

I live in Alaska...so I know a thing or two about the cold! Anyway, the military issue polypro in my opinion is really good stuff: you can't beat the price and it works very well. I have some silk weights I bought out of Cabela's and it also works well, but not as warm as the brown polypros.

So if I'm going to be outdoors all day and the temps are 30's-40's then I wear the silk weights If the temps are below 20's then I wear the army issue polypro.

I actually found that the skin tight UA heatgear made me COLDER! I actually like my long johns a little loose: I stay much warmer. If you want to stay warm the rule is to wear your clothing loose and in layers (the trapped air acts as an insulating layer).

Just my 2 cents (and its not worth much more than that!)

[That Guy]

Funny about the UA making you fell colder. I found that same feeling wearing the coldgear shirt. I think its just teh way it wicks the moisture away. After about 15 minutes it would get warm. I just don't like the snug fit of UA. I too used the military stuff but it would get all gooseberried after a few washings and the softness disappeared.

[Monty Ealerman]

I'm a fan of most UA gear, but some UA gear has silver in it to conduct heat, which is great if you're trying to stay cool, but counterproductive if you're trying to stay warm in a cold environment. Silver is the most electroconductive and the most thermoconductive element, and is about 200 times as thermoconductive as copper. That means that some UA gear can make you feel cold because it's doing an excellent job of conducting heat away from your body and dumping it out into the colder outside world.

I think polypropylene knit is the best material for watch caps. It insulates well thermally, it wicks well, and it doesn't itch. It's good for thermal underwear too if you get it in the right thickness (typically measured in denier - 1 denier is 1 gram per 9000 meters of yarn) for the ambient temperature.

It's important to check the physical properties of any material you use.

[sencless]

I think I have these.
Hot Chillys (http://hotchillys.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=29&DatabaseID=1&SearchID=2&SearchContext=YTo3OntzOjQ6IlBhZ2UiO3M6MToiMiI7czo4 OiJTZWFyY2hJRCI7czoxOiIyIjtzOjEwOiJEYXRhYmFzZUlEIj tzOjE6IjEiO3M6NjoiR2VuZGVyIjthOjE6e2k6MDtzOjQ6Ik1h bGUiO31zOjM6IkZpdCI7YToxOntpOjA7czo3OiJfX0FMTF9fIj t9czoxNToiUHJvZHVjdENhdGVnb3J5IjthOjE6e2k6MDtzOjc6 Il9fQUxMX18iO31zOjIwOiJBZXJvYmljQWN0aXZpdHlMZXZlbC I7YToxOntpOjA7czo3OiJfX0FMTF9fIjt9fQ==)

They might have some lighterweight ones... the bulk really wasn't too bad... definetly better under BDU style pants though.

I have ECWCS rain top and rain pants... I'm thinking about getting an external insulated top and pants too, for unexpected long term outside stuff. I just can't drive around in hot pants my entire shift! :)

I wear these for snowboarding... Check them out, they have different types for different temps. I'd compare the material feel to Nike DriFit, not bulky at all and keeps you warm.