USAF N-3B parkas - Let's talk about them!!

[Fifty150]

It's clearly a re-badged Alpha.

The company is rebadged. The founder worked for Alpha. Then he bought an Alpha building, and started making the same jackets.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Here's some photos of a military N3B dated 1992. Japanese websites always have the best photos!

 

[Fifty150]

Red is an interesting color of choice for the uniform. I wonder why that shade of red was chosen for that particular unit and their mission. I'm used to khaki, navy blue, black, green, et cetera. Once, just once, on 1 assignment, my team was dressed in gray. 50 Shades of Grey? No.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Red is an interesting color of choice for the uniform. I wonder why that shade of red was chosen for that particular unit and their mission. I'm used to khaki, navy blue, black, green, et cetera. Once, just once, on 1 assignment, my team was dressed in gray. 50 Shades of Grey? No.

They were civilian jackets presumably acquired for the Antarctic flights only and for max visibilty for maintainers and cargo crew messing around outside the aircraft in snowy situations. They also came in a green colour which you can see in some of the photos I posted. I don't know if they still use these.

 

[Cornelius]

Yeah in most contemporary photos I've seen of US staff outdoors in Antarctica nearly everyone is wearing bright red or orange outerwear. I presumed this was for ease of Search & Rescue

 

[Fifty150]

Canada Goose still makes them but they ain't cheap

Canada Goose makes great coats. There's a company named Canada Weather Gear that makes low grade coats, sold at lower prices. Similar logos. There was even a lawsuit because of that. Don't confuse the 2.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Canada Goose makes great coats. There's a company named Canada Weather Gear that makes low grade coats, sold at lower prices. Similar logos. There was even a lawsuit because of that. Don't confuse the 2.

Good point. I'm tempted to get one of those Expedition coats, but they're C$1200 and adding a pair of insulated pants + taxes would make it a couple grand or more. My rule is don't spend more than a grand on anything other than a used car. I'm trending towards a NOS military N3B with matching F1 pants, which together would be around C$650.

 

[Fifty150]

I'm trending towards a NOS military N3B with matching F1 pants

The ECWCS generation 3 level 7 is current. The pants can't be beat. I don't know where you are going, or how cold it will be. My experience is that the pants are warm in rain, snow, and wind. Just kind of ugly. I haven't seen the the top jacket half yet. But if they are like the pants, then they will be warm.

But I get it. Modern ECWCS is ugly, and has no military collector appeal. Only good for function.

 

[Doctor Damage]

The ECWCS generation 3 level 7 is current. The pants can't be beat. I don't know where you are going, or how cold it will be. My experience is that the pants are warm in rain, snow, and wind. Just kind of ugly. I haven't seen the the top jacket half yet. But if they are like the pants, then they will be warm.

But I get it. Modern ECWCS is ugly, and has no military collector appeal. Only good for function.

I was reading about that ECWCS stuff a few days ago and was going to post about it! Yeah, I'm sure it does the job well, but it's ugly and looks like a snowboarding outfit (the horror). Here's all seven levels and a clear photo of the level 7 stuff.

 

[Fifty150]

Level 7 is the top layer. You are suppose to wear a combination of the other 6 layers under it. In the civilian world, you could wear the top layer over layers of civilian apparel. Function over form. This is leaps and bounds in performance beyond the stylish gear of yesteryear.

For most people, we will never need to be in a subzero environment. And I know 1st hand that I am not going to Antarctica.

The N-3B has worked well enough for me. Helicopters, inclement weather, open top Jeeps, and even motorcycle rides. Anyone been in a situation , while wearing an N-3B, where the coat was just not good enough?

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

I lived in the upper midwest where -20° in stretches wasn't uncommon, and as low as -40° hit us a few days of the year. When I couldn't ride my bike (yep, we used bicycles year round for main transportation), I used the public bus system. My main jacket was a nicely done fashion knock-off M-65 with liner + an insulated zip-up sweatshirt. Standing in the elements and waiting for the bus and walking home were never a problem with that make-shift system. I'd love to have an N-3B for my winter walks, but when I'm more honest with myself, I almost think it would be overkill. We all deal with the cold differently, so I'm not passing judgment on their general use. For myself, I can't imagine what the conditions would have to be like for me to truly need a N-3B. If I was walking, shoveling, playing with the dogs, or moving at all, a home remedy layering system would function just fine. I still want an N-3B.

And I wore German surplus wool 6-pocket fatigues with sweat pants underneath on the lower half.

 

[Doctor Damage]

We all deal with the cold differently, so I'm not passing judgment on their general use.

I never feel warm in winter, no matter what I'm wearing, and it's getting worse as I get older. A year ago I was considering getting those battery-powered heated shirts and pants motorcyclists wear and using them for my daily walk.

 

[Fifty150]

I wore German surplus wool 6-pocket fatigues with sweat pant

ECWCS pants are super warm. I ordered 1. As I was wearing them for the first time, I went online with my phone and ordered 3 more pairs. That's how good they are.

In the surplus market, there are a few options for insulation. I like that I can wear these over my underwear, and under my clothes.

 

[Fifty150]

available on Amazon and eBay

 

[Harris HTM]

Here's some photos of a military N3B dated 1992. Japanese websites always have the best photos!

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Nice photos, thanks.
So in 1992 parkas the outer shell consisted of 50% nylon and 50% cotton, I didn't know that. My 1982 Greenbrier has a different one. I wouldn't mind more nylon to be honest, better performance in rain.

 

[Fifty150]

better performance in rain

You could try treating your garment with DWR as needed.

 

[Doctor Damage]

Fifty50, thanks for posting about those ECWS trousers. Those could be just the thing!

As soon as I free up some closet space I'll order these two items:

 

[Doctor Damage]

So in 1992 parkas the outer shell consisted of 50% nylon and 50% cotton, I didn't know that. My 1982 Greenbrier has a different one. I wouldn't mind more nylon to be honest, better performance in rain.

Geez, good eye, I didn't notice that I just posted the pics. That cloth looks and feels like 100% cotton, so I'm surprised to see it's only half cotton.

 

[Harris HTM]

Fifty50, thanks for posting about those ECWS trousers. Those could be just the thing!

As soon as I free up some closet space I'll order these two items:

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This where I had ordered my N-3B and my latest acquisition, a ground crew MA-1, from!

 

[Fifty150]

Fifty50, thanks for posting about those ECWS trousers. Those could be just the thing!

If it matters at all, I bought from Amazon.