BDUs ??

“As a youngen I wore BDUs all the time on camp outs now I wear only BP clothing, do any of you guys wear cammo, and if not why not. I know it is kind of heavey but its strong.”

“It's ugly!”

“It's cotton and cotton kills.
I have worn them on trips when I know I won't get wet.
I mostly just use Cammos for playing Paintball.”

“They do make synthetic camo clothing. I don't have much but I don't mind it at all.”

“I stabbed and burned every last set of BDU's I had when I left the service. They used to chafe the hell out of me, even the summer weight ones were crap when it came to that. Plus, the army's boots suck for hiking, their packs sucked, everything sucked. Ask Dare. He made the switch to regular backpacking gear from his army issue stuff, and he's still in the army.”

“I know army gear sucks, but I do like the BDUs”

“BDU's were perhaps the worst part of the gear for me since I had to wear them all the time- They'd chafe you whenever you worked up a sweat, not just when you were marching around with a pack on your back. Of course, I was stationed in Georgia, which meant I did a lot of sweating. They are good for paintball, though, like walkindude says.”

“I have used 50/50 nycot BDU's for chore clothes and some hiking/camping (actually did one Isle Royale trip with camo pants). The blend fabric is much better with moisture, and really wear resistant, compared to all cotton versions.

The heavier weight fabric might make me lean toward them in cool weather compared to my very light, quick-drying all-nylon BPing cargo pants, especially if I don't want to have to wear another layer underneath them.”

“I wore them for seven years and when I got out of the service (12 years ago),just before Operation Desert Storm, I sold every damn thing I had except my dress jacket in my mom's garage sale. I made a ton of money on it all, too. I didn't mind them while I was in but when I got out, I never wanted to wear black, brown, OD green or tan ever again. Now, I wear black, brown, green, and tan but not all swirled together. And he is right...they DO chafe.”

“Try crossing a river in them.

But I do like the big pockets.”

“I agree with the Corp. I used to think they were so cool when I joined, but after using the civilian gear, Ill never willing go back. As for BDU's rubbing you raw, he's right again. I wore them in Saudi and I cant tell you how much they will tear your skin up when you sweat.

I did like the boots though. They hurt till you break them in, but to me they were pretty comfortable. They are alot heavier then the civilian hiking boots, but I kinda liked the weight. I know that makes the super lightweight fanatics(AmyG) cringe.

They Army packs suck. Im trying to think of a good thing to say about them, but I cant. I've never had a ruck sack that worked or fit right.

BDU's are only good for picking up girls. Make no mistake, the uniform did improve several soldiers dating chances. Not that I would know anything about that.”

“I was in a marine surplus store near Camp Lejeune a couple weeks ago and they had a lot of polypropolene shirts. I didn't check the BDUs so I don't know if they have made any advances in those recently. I do know that there is some movement from the antiquated gear designs (they were still using the two tarp tent system from the freaking civil war for gods sake) to the lighterweight gear developed by the backpacking industry. Of course, there stuff has to take more use and abuse, so will always be heavier than recreation gear.”

“I never could figure out why we had to starch the damn BDU's.

I mean, go figure, you take a utility uniform, that is cotton and will just melt in a tropical or humid climate. And you completely cut off its ability to breathe with heavy starch.

You look good going out the door but feel miserable about two seconds later.”

“uh chili you did figure it out, your supposed to be miserable....”

“It worked DOM, I was.”

“We had it better in the Navy. We wore jeans and cotton shirts as work duds and spiffing form-fitting, 13-button slacks to party in when we left the base. The navy was even kind enough to allow us to go out wearing a weopon around our necks (get hit in the face with $10 in quarters rolled up in a scarf and you'll agree its a weapon). I never starched anything while I was in. Well, I did starch my hands peeling taters for a few days during bootcamp.”

“Camo is really hard to see. In case of something going really wrong on a trip, I would prefer to be wearing something that would at least stand out a little against my surroundings.”

“Good point rox, there is a reason why it is called "camo"”

“Just don't let Congress hear about this. Next thing you know, some nut will be introducing legislation to mke the Armed Forces use less-efficient camo "so our poor wounded boys will be easier to find".”

“Have you seen the new camo pattern. It looks like a 5 meg GIF pic of a woodsy scene printed on a dot matrix printer.”

“Thanks for the memories hyway, I never did get around to installing a zipper or having the cuffs done...too much san miguel....”

“No problem DOM, we bellbottom wearing fightin men gotta stick together when we get surrounded by all these dirt eating, ground pounders.”

“what about bellbottom wearin women hyway?
i have to say, i don't think i've ever heard anyone say they were glad they got to wear dungarees instead of BDUs though...
there's a reason we aren't allowed to were them in public (off base)...i actually had the misfortune of running out of gas in MD n the way home from a midwatch and had to walk 5 miles to the nearest gas station right past a women's prison...i can't imagine the number of people who probably thought i just
escaped :)
i tried the BDU's though to hike in and they just aren't comfortable, they're hot and heavy and they take forever to dry...
i agree with you though dare, i still wear my boots, love 'em”

“Especially the Jump boots. They rule.”

“I was a boiler technician. I would have rather gone naked than wear those heavy BDU's the dogfaces wore. The dungeries worked just fine for me.

And of course, I meant the women sailors too. It why I joined the Navy in the first place - to ride the waves ;) (I'm sure you've never heard that one before LOL).”

“I think men in camo are incredibly sexy :)”

“lol...ride the waves...actually that is one i haven't heard...(didn't think there were many left)
i just wear regular old boot issue combat boots dare, i never tried the jump boots...i have to wear steel toes for work and (as the only girl) they all teas me that if i ever have kids they can really say "your momma wears combat boots..."”

“nice image hyway...naked boiler techs...could be dangerous :o)

i was a spook and got stuck on shore duty my whole tour...didn't have the same conditions you guys had to deal with...”

“I wasn't going to say this earlier, but since you mentioned you were stuck with shore duty, I will. I was in late 70's early 80's when women weren't allowed to serve on combat vessels. Which meant that they took up all the good shore duty. That always pissed me off. I didn't have any problem with women in the military, but I did have one with the fact that they didn't have to scrub the muck off the bottom of a bilge room.”

“i completely understand hyway, if you want to be in then you better be all the way in...
i wouldn't want to work with someone who could only do the cake part of our job while still getting the same pay...”

“now, I would probably pay money to see a naked wave scrubbing bilges.”

“i think most sailors would ;)

though i've seen some female navy asses squeezed into dungarees that just shouldn't be released...”

“I wish most of my gear was in REALTREE or earthier tones. I find more fitting to blend and mimic nature by lessening my outward visual impact on my surroundings. I feel closer to nature when in camo or earthy tones when on a trail. Plus, it's easy on the eyes.

I have seen some nice Gtex camo wear in the standard BDU shade. Basically it was a TNF MTlite parka.

Tea, shop around. Checkout uscav.com and other similar sites.”

“So as not to appear dumb, I did a search engine on "BDU" to see what the heck it is. And now that I know, I thought I'd share that with ya. LOL!”

“You're so, so, INFORMED, Lizzy.”

“Best form of hiking clothing out there unless it is cold and wet. I use them all the time so don't let any idiot tell you otherwise. Most that complain have never had them "issued" so complain about them because they are trite and consider them cheap. The armed service doesn't buy anything cheap. A hammer cost 500.00!! haha In all honesty though the're not to cool, or should I say warm if you get wet. Go with wool on cold wet days.”

“Dirt eating ground pounders eh? Well mabey so"Benning was all clay,anyways I,ll bet it was great to get off that ship,go on shore leave and make love face to face for a change,have a nice day!”

“In the desert BDU's are awesome for two reasons:

1. They're cotton and keep you cool

2. Crazy people in the desert think you're a wacked out vet and leave you alone (unless they'er a wacked out vet, and then they challenge you)

3. They're comfortable (debatable)

my brother swears by them”

“Next chapter,interservice rivalry!Dad was a swabbie,just kidding guys!I did get a tour on the Saratoga once,what a way to take a cruise!”