Jackets for a survival course

I would go with my Paramo.

This one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007NXCTU6/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687502&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B008O7OQY2&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1HFSF8KV53B9PSX1PT63

Cheapest tough (heavy okay) rain jacket I could find…and a lightweight fleece.

> Cheapest tough (heavy okay) rain jacket I could find…and a lightweight fleece.

I've got a Marmot Precip I got new for $48, wonder how that would hold up. Maybe that with a Nano-puff or a 200 weight I might not freeze in. A 100 weight fleece I think I might freeze in.

> ECWCS
Eh I'm not sure I'd want to carry that around all day. I remember wearing the outer two layers of an ECWCS a couple times and it was massively heavy.

> Paramo
Never heard of the brand. Looks nice but not sure they carry it over here.

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My current thought is to use the Precip with something using Primaloft Gold(?) underneath. Not sure what though.

I’d go with a closed cell foam float coat like they use for boating.

Or maybe a neoprene hoody like this:

here

200 wt+ fleece and/or a solid softshell … if you expect rain then a cheap rain jacket as well

you really dont want to use UL gear in these abrasive and durty situations

;)

Yeah, 200w fleece and a rain shell or poncho.

ECWCS fleece isn't ALL heavy. The 200w jacket is 17oz and there are R1/Power Dry tops that are reasonable. The 300w stuff is a boat anchor for sure.

Really cheap heavy Chinese $10 fleece, plus a few very large garbage bags hidden away somewhere. Some micropore tape might be handy as well.

Cheers

You could buy one of the old USGI plastic rain jackets for $15 from a surplus store. Walmart fleece. Maybe a poncho too.

Precip could work but you'd have to be careful with it. That wouldn't be my first choice here.

For sleeping, one of these and the matching bottoms plus a cheap fleece top. They dry really fast, weigh little, look oh so very.

http://www.unclesamsretailoutlet.com/Cold-Weather-Coat-Liner-Size-Small-p/572.htm

Add a waterproof shell, hat etc

Sew some light web to make shoulder straps on the inside of the jacket and add a large pocket inside too.

Try to find out what the instructors bring.

DavidO:

On the same page as the $7 coat liner was:

that reminds me of an old joke which starts off with a commander, in a desperate situation, saying, "Bring me my red shirt". . .

The old 50/50 wool and cotton military long johns came in two colors.

pale yellow and that nice organic brown.

Makes you wonder why they didn't go all out and make the front from the former and the back from the latter.

The only people who would wear those skivies are REMFs. Grunts et al tend to go commando for hygienic reasons. 30 days without a shower while wearing those drawers would turn your daddy parts into a scientific experiment of the worst kind. Baby wipes help some.

Yes on the long johns though. I'm sure they scanned in the color of a skidmark and said, "Make 'em this color."

Join the Army kids. Be all that you can be.

Can you bring an army poncho and liner? you can wrap up in the liner like a blanket and use the poncho as a roof or as a wind/rain bivvy.

the ECWCS is kind of heavy, but also very survival oriented. Big pockets for survival swag.

Hoe about the SOF PCU system? They are not ultralight but pretty good quality.

A Level 7 PCU michilin-man puffy jacket would offer a lot of insulation, plus they are pretty cheap.

There is also the ABU… Airmans battle uniform. They have an insulated coat that has a lot of noce featuresn built rugged. The ones in the new funky USAF pattern are cheapest.

Standard hooded rain parka, and thick/dense fleece jacket.
And rain pants.

I'm thinking I'd go with a thicker fleece like a hooded MH monkeyman, then a pair of 100wt fleece pants for warmth, and a sturdy old school rain parka and pants. Won't wet out if you're stuck in rain all night.

My knee jerk reaction is a)a 200wt fleece that I would buy for that purpose or b)my older Patagonia R2, since I already have it.

What is the purpose of taking the survival course, though?
Personally, for the sake of realism, I would take whatever clothing I would be most likely to be wearing while dayhiking or backpacking for the time of year. Whether it is best suited for "survival" would be beside the point. 'Course I don't carry a knife or saw suitable for the related tasks with me while backpacking, unless it's cold weather and I'm planning to have fire(for instance, I carried my old Blackjack #1-7 and a Corona folding saw with me this week, while I'd normally just have a Spyderco Delica and a Victorinox Classic).

^^^ What Owen said.

If someone's able to source a "survival jacket", they might as well source a "survival shelter and sleep system". (A durable fleece would be my thought as well; the only reason for buying something would be to avoid unnecessary wear on the items I already have.)

-J

Thanks guys for the advice and humor.

The course is a simple 4 day mix of orienteering, wilderness medicine, and non-rambo wilderness survival.

The goal is as was mentioned to wear something pretty close to what I would normally wear on the trails with these caveats:

1. Not ruin my typical expensive UL gear if possible, but rather comparatively warm stand-ins.

2. Remain mildly more comfortable during the course than I might during a real lost-in-the-woods scenario so that I can focus on learning a bit more than just being miserable.

All of the items allowed on the course would be things I carry anyway since I'm not a full-on UL'er – I'll have a typical 3.7oz Mora for example which most here would scoff at as overkill but that I've always carried in the woods.

Since I got the Precip for $48 new I'm not going to cry if I ruin it, and I'm going to score a 200wt fleece pullover/hoody on ebay it looks like as a stand in for a nano puff hoody. If I'm "allowed" to have rain pants as I would have on a trip, it'll probably be the new LUL event trail maintenance style rain pants (7oz) instead of the dry ducks I would normally pack.

So yes, I'm trying to maintain some realism for the sake of getting the most out of the experience, but I am cheating a tiny bit by not potentially ruining my Marmot Mica or Nano Puff.

I'd echo one of the longer napped fleeces like MH's Monkey Man, Patagonia's R3 or the like- a hood would be a very nice option.

You don't mention base layers, but I'd definitely go w/ wool.

A wool Buff stuffed in a pocket would certainly be appreciated I'd bet.

If you construct debris shelters: you will find that smaller is better, no such thing as too much insulation over and under you, you won't take your home or apartment for granted anymore :)