Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

[RNR]

Would anyone recommend any clothing to buy from army/navy surplus suppliers for the sea-phase? I was thinking as there is some cross-over with our profession and thiers (working in extremes of conditions, i.e. hot or cold or wet). I know our companies supply us with some uniform and I know there is some information on the cadet wiki but I was hoping for more specific advice.

[Lewis]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

I was thinking the same. From what I've heard unless you work with passengers uniforms are rarely worn. Was thinking couple of pairs of combat trousers would be handy thing to have light weight, comfortable, hard wearing and quick drying.

[GuinnessMan]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

Don't bother buying any uniforms. Company will provide them and it's highly doubtful you will ever wear them. I've worn mine once and that was when I was going to a police station.......

[Lewis]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

Don't bother buying any uniforms. Company will provide them and it's highly doubtful you will ever wear them. I've worn mine once and that was when I was going to a police station.......

Do we get to hear the rest of that story GuinnessMan?

[Steve]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

(working in extremes of conditions, i.e. hot or cold or wet).

Any idea what climates you're expecting to sail in?

If you're heading for cold climates, invest in a couple of pairs of long johns. Also socks that you can layer. I found my feet were the hardest part to keep warm when on deck in the Arctic.

For those in the commercial sector, what are your companies like about supplying quality foul weather gear, or cold weather gear?

[Randomist]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

Uniform is stricter on cruise ships. In which case glendennings in Australia are good for quality uniforms, they supply the Australian navy. Otherwise eBay I have been told is a good source for RN shirts at low prices

[Steve]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

I'm not sure if we've discussed quality before, but a lot of the RN issue stuff is really quite good, especially the short sleeved white shirts. They're made from a quite heavy polyester/cotton mix, have chest pockets without flaps, and loops for soft tab epaulettes and eyelets for hard boards, and cost a fiver or so new from stores. They are better than any of the equivalent commercially available shirts that I have seen. Make friends with an RFA cadet or someone else with access to a naval base (may include Sea Cadets) and they can buy them for you.

You could try to get them from the contractor http://www.cooneenwattsandstone.com/ but I suspect they only sell wholesale.

[Steve]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

However, I am one step ahead of you with the long johns, I was on the hunt yesterday but to no avail.

M&S stock them (online if not in store during summer), but it may depend on your budget.

[Lewis]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

When I was in the TA we got issued with black holdalls. They were pretty handy could fit all your issue kit in it and have plenty of room for civy clothes. They also had shoulder straps making it pretty easy to carry. If you can get one in a surplus store I recommend it.

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/ ... 16351.html

[GuinnessMan]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

Do we get to hear the rest of that story GuinnessMan?

Just went with the Captain to collect a wayward crewman who decided to let the locals know exactly what he thought of them, which surprisingly didn't go down well!

[Pear]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

When I was in the TA we got issued with black holdalls. They were pretty handy could fit all your issue kit in it and have plenty of room for civy clothes. They also had shoulder straps making it pretty easy to carry. If you can get one in a surplus store I recommend it.

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/ ... 16351.html

the problem with them is that they have no wheels, so whilst everyone else will be able to drag their suitcases you're stuck carrying it.

[penfold]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

When I was in the TA we got issued with black holdalls. They were pretty handy could fit all your issue kit in it and have plenty of room for civy clothes. They also had shoulder straps making it pretty easy to carry. If you can get one in a surplus store I recommend it.

http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/ ... 16351.html

the problem with them is that they have no wheels, so whilst everyone else will be able to drag their suitcases you're stuck carrying it.

You'll also look like a lost squaddie, and therefore a flypaper for crazies, drunk squaddies and terry the terrorist; a tactical blunder on a par with the MoD's insistence on equipping 'on the bus, off the bus' manoeuvres with the only plain white coaches in the UK. I carried mine in public once and was accosted by parties 1 and 2, presumably 3 was still in Whereistan learning about those virgins.

[Lewis]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

Am not talking about a bergen. Am talking bout the civy style black bag. I have used mine to travel on holiday to my parents for xmass etc and nobody has ever mentioned it.

[Steve]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

Am talking bout the civy style black bag.

I've ranted about this before.

It's not really "civvy" though is it? It's black, tacticool looking, and apart from Forces types, who has a plain black duffle bag with matching rucksack? You'd probably look less like a lost squaddy if you had a cammo bergan instead!

[Lewis]

Re: Clothing for sea-phase from army/navy surplus?

I think your reading to much into it. My guess is unless you are (ex)forces and been issued one you wouldn't even notice.