Double-P Cold Weather Clothing

<XMP><BODY></xmp> Double-P Cold Weather Clothing

Double-P Cold Weather Combat Gear.

        For convenience in the following article I'll use the term "Arctic" to designate any Cold-Dry environment, regardless of its geographic location.
        I'm not an employee of Buffalo clothing but do own a Special 6 shirt that has served me well when the snow was on the ground. I advocate this system for Cold-dry conditions because I feel it will lighten the soldier's load while proving more effective.

        A typical example of the clothing worn by a soldier in sub-zero conditions includes thermal underwear, a duvet layer (usually down), windproof combat gear, a Gore-Tex waterproof and a set of over-whites.
        Many of these garments loose a lot of their insulating ability if they become wet, hence the need for the waterproof to protect them from snowmelt. However, Gore-Tex only has a finite capacity to breathe, and in very cold conditions perspiration can condense before it is passed to the outside world, wetting the garments and chilling the wearer. As temperature or level of physical activity change, layers need to be added or removed to keep the wearer warm while avoiding excessive perspiration. In a tactical situation this may not be very practical, and there is the problem of carrying unworn clothing when the arctic soldier already has enough other equipment.
        The real experts at cold weather survival are the Eskimos. It's well known that they wear seal skin, but what is not so well know is that their skins are just made of two layers, and are worn next to the skin.
        Equipping a large military force with sealskins is not particularly practical. Is there any other equivalent system?
        A system of clothing that has been successfully used in sub-zero conditions by climbers is the Buffalo Double-P system, made from fibre pile bonded to pertex. Fibre-pile is basically synthetic fur, while pertex is a windproof, full breathable material that is shower proof and very fast drying.
        Double-P clothing is worn next to the skin, trapping a layer of warm air but allowing the rapid removal of perspiration. Zips at the neck and under the arms assist in venting and temperature regulation.
        To think of Double-P items as a sort of fleece is not to realize its most effective application. Better to think of it as a suit of "Super-Underwear".
        Double-P clothing does not loose its insulating abilities when wet and is very fast drying. I've seen a friend wade into a lake on an icy November morning while wearing Double-P trousers. Ten minutes later he was nearly dry and suffered no ill effects.
        Another advantage of the Double-P system is that a Double-P shirt and trousers or salopettes cost much less than the equivalent protection provided by separate thermal underwear, fleece or down jacket and windproofs.
        An arctic soldier could reduce his burden and operate more effectively by being equipped with a Double-P suit and set of Over-whites (snowshirt and trousers).
        Factors like wind-chill can produce sub-zero conditions without there being snow on the ground, and in such situations the Double-P suit is worn under standard BDUs.
        Buffalo Double-P clothing is available in green, and this can be used for trials. For a military issue suit several changes may need to be made.

Since the arctic trooper doesn't need to wear his BDUs (which are cotton and therefore dangerous if wetted) the Double-P suit needs pocket capacity at least equal to BDUs. Trousers or salopettes need thigh pockets for items such as survival kit. Extra capacity may be wise to cater for items such as hats, scarves and gloves. A set of "kidney pockets" over the small of the back may be useful for these.
The shirt comes with a hood attached by velcro. A more secure system such as at least one button will prevent the hood being lost when moving through undergrowth.
The lining of the hood should be a stone-grey colour to improve camouflage when worn down in snow or snowless cold weather. Possibly the hood can be rolled to form a collar.
The hood should also have attachment points to mate with the hood of the snowshirt.
The military Double-P outfit should be khaki-drab or grey-green in colour, so as not to compromise camouflage when worn with either Over-whites or BDUs.
The extended metal zip pulls of the underarm zips should be replace with cords that will not rattle.
A short piece of elastic with a small plastic snap link should be added to the end of each sleeve to secure gloves.

        A single layer of Double-P clothing under a set of Over-whites or BDUs may not be warm enough for certain situations. Buffalo produce several types of jacket to be worn over the shirt, but I suggest that a down-filled vest or jacket would be more useful to the arctic soldier.
        Since this will mainly be used in very cold conditions or when in a fairly static role, wetting from perspiration is not likely to be a problem. When not being worn the down garment is light and can be packed very small. Many available jackets can be packed down to the size of a rugby ball, and such a bundle can easily be carried strapped to the back of a webbing yoke.
        Protected by a stuff sack it is not likely to be wetted if the rucksac is immersed.

        Footwear. –The Sub-Zero Boot.
        Footwear suitable for Cold-dry conditions is often a problem. Two of the most successful solutions are the Eskimo sealskin "Mukluks" and Russian felt "Valenki". Although of different materials, both types of footwear are well insulated while being windproof and very vapor permeable.
        An obvious idea is to try a pair of Double-P Cold weather boots, rather like an pile lined jungle boot with a pertex outer. These could be made for trials by adapting bivi boots.
        Like the Mukluks and Vakenki this should be a high boot to insulate the calf when worn with a long coat such as a greatcoat or skirted parka.
        Mukluks and Valenki don't have a hard soles since such are unnecessary on the snow and are said to conduct heat to the ground. The Double-P CW boot will also have to be used on ice and in urban situations, so will need a well insulated hard sole with good tread. Such a boot must naturally be compatible with snowshoes, skis and crampons.
        The boot should be of a "dirty snow" colour.

Ref.

http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/dpmain.htm

http://www.needlesports.com/gearreviews/buffalo.htm

http://www.mtn.co.uk/reviews/pile1.htm

http://www.needlesports.co.uk/acatalog/Mail_Order_Buffalo_41.html

http://www.enteract.com/~icebike/Clothing/ColdWet.htm

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