Greens in hot weather… is it actually any cooler?

Adult Staff The Staff Mess
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Genuinely interested in thoughts.

It feels that more and more often we default to “warm weather= greens” as an organisation.

If we wore it as my good colleagues designed it (untucked) I would concur that it is designed to be worn in warmer climes.

But we don’t.

Therefore looking for opinions- is MTP PCS actually benefitting anyone with regards overheating when compared with 2c?

Yes, I understand we can then have the added flexibility of stripping to t-shirt…

Just my brain shorts out that anyone can consider 2 layers to be superior to a single layer in warmer weather!

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Yes because barracks shirt = no undershirt = ally = cooler = saves lives

In all seriousness, the trousers are thinner and more breathable, and the shirt more comfortable

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IF the cadets have been able to lay their hands on warm weather PCS. Else the wind proof or temperate can be just as thick?

Mostly just chalking the comfort level due to the fitting of the clothing cut above anything actually temperature related.

Hell, even white tropical uniform in white can feel unbreathable take it from me!

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I still think regular pcs is more bearable than the blues trousers, then again I have a real vendetta against them

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See I think the current blue trousers and dark blue shirt are more breathable than No 3….

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Than PCS 23, maybe. But the old PCS and CS95-MTP trousers are alot thiner than Blues

Also to answer the main question, yes because

UBACS with hero sleeves = breathable = cool = ally = saves lives = Less HIP training
Barrack shirt with hero sleeves = breathable = cool = ally = saves lives = Less HIP training

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7

It depends on which version of blues you’re wearing.

Short sleeved, light blue shirt (that CFAVs can wear) is more breathable and lighter than greens, thus cooler in the warmer weather. The dark blue shirts that cadets have to wear aren’t.

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The fact you can wear a wicking t-shirt beneath a barrack shirt etc helps a lot with overall comfort.

It’s not just about whether or not you’re sweating, but how your clothing then deals with the sweat. Acclimatisation doesn’t mean you’re not sweating, it just means your body is now efficient at maintaining the correct temperature.

In this regard, light blue shirts were always a bit better than dark blue (they’d also absorb less heat), but I’m not sure I’d stand by that now that they’re mostly plastic — again, another reason to have our uniform made of natural fibres (or being selective with the purposeful use of man-made fibres).

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My latest light blue shirt literally feels like a plastic bag, it’s so hard and unpliable. The dark blue shirts seem much softer and mouldable to the body, especially with rolled sleeves

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Genuinely if we are having a conversation of what uniform to wear because it’s too hot We should ask ourselves,

  1. is it actually safe to actually do cadet activities

And

  1. can civvies suffice? It’s perfectly pragmatic at times to just dress down to shorts and T shirts, especially for general parade night activities
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11

I think we ought to take a leaf out of Cyprus sqn’s book and start issuing tropical kit :face_with_peeking_eye:

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12

Well the RAF are sunsetting that for No 3

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But they have regular heat, they get chance to acclimatise to the heat.

We have days in mid-20s, followed by a few days in high-20s/low-30s, then back to mid-20. No time to acclimatise!

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What, they’re getting rid of the lighter weight MTP stuff

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No the khaki stuff

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16

Has this changed back?
The last ones I got actually had a sensible amount of cotton in them :disappointed_face:

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My female staff tell me No3 is far more comfortable than skirt & tights. And I agree that the No2 trousers are horrible in the heat.

but yes as @AlexCorbin says, civvies is also an appropriate option

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18

Be careful. If HQAC hear about this, they’ll stop all activities above 20C if they think blues or MTP are not the right kit to wear.

We can’t be seen to do things in civvies!!

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After carefully reading all of the above, the obvious solution here is clearly (well washed and worn) PCS trousers with a short sleeved No.2 shirt (ideally really old or brand new, not the Chinese-made mostly plastic ones in between).

And a field service cap, because berets are woollen.

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I’m in Sussex today. I’d not wanting to be getting into any kind of uniform right now. I’ve stood down before when it’s this hot. And if not, comfortable civvies all the way.

Car said 40C when I got in it earlier! And even after driving only went down to 33C. Not even June yet!