Bunker Gear Ensemble

Bunker Gear. When I first heard we were going to this set up I was dumbfounded and disappointed in the decision. Safety this, safety that and other alleged factors that contributed to the decision.

 Fast forward to when we received the set up. I put it on and thought the coat fits well, short but comfortable. The pants, well that's another story. Uncomfortable, bulky and definitely poor quality. Certain companies had tried different manufacturers sets and said the pants they tried felt much better, but low-bid is the rule of the job.

 Getting used to them took a while but eventually I did and they were o.k. at best. The first time I had to ascend a ladder with the pants on I knew I would never care for them. Range of motion was limited and the pant legs rode up and over the top of the cheap rubber boots we were also given.

 The couple of things I will say I like are :

 1) Your legs don't get as cold in the winter 

 2) Minor cuts & abrasions are almost eliminated

 3) While advancing a line the extra cushioning of the pants seemed to save your knees 

I can't think of anything else to say positive about the pants.

They say the Bunker Gear is safer but never provide any stats or information to back it up. When we experimented with not wearing them the rate of leg injuries did not rise. I know of 2 leg burn injuries that occurred and both times the members were wearing the pants.

 I wonder sometimes if any of the agencies or groups who think up all these standards for the job are on Planet Reality or are they more concerned with continuing their existence. Helmets, trucks, and other equipment we use are getting bigger and more importantly costlier. I love the job and realize times are changing but at the end of the day it's still about putting the wet stuff on the red stuff.