An online portal has been set up where troops can give direct feedback on new clothing items.
Redesigned combat trousers, shirts and under-body armour combat shirts (Ubacs) were introduced earlier this year promising wearers better fit and functionality.
Upgrades included stretch panels and elasticated pockets on the trousers and fragmentation-resistant collars plus removable shoulder pads on the Ubacs.
In what is thought to be a first, personnel can now offer their views straight to the SoldierWorks team, who help develop troops’ clothing and kit.
“Up until now, unless they were involved in trials, soldiers were told to pass their thoughts up the chain of command, but as soon as it went above them they had no idea whether it actually reached anyone,” said Capt Sam Durrant (R Anglian).
“We are now actively looking for feedback to support ongoing efforts to bring new items into service and to build on material performance testing.
“There is a short online form on our page on Defence Connect, as well as a space for new suggestions.
“Hopefully, providing this route will allow people to feel heard.”
The gathering of evidence was part of continuous work to upgrade the kit issued to troops, added the officer.
Army clothing must be extremely adaptable and practical
From smocks to boots, soldiers often buy clothing from commercial suppliers, but there are several reasons civvy gear may not be up to spec.
Every issued garment is designed, manufactured and tested to set criteria, which is not necessarily true for bought items. These are some of the extra boxes army kit has to tick…
Robustness
The material and colouring must be tough enough to last through operational deployments, including being tear-resistant and not prone to pilling.
Environmental suitability
Garments must perform in the conditions they were designed for in terms of UV resistance, wicking and evaporation properties, thermal protection and wind and water permeability.
Camouflage
The wrong pattern or IR performance – with too much or too little reflectivity – can make the wearer stand out from their surroundings.
Insect-repellent spec
Most issued camouflage items are treated with a hard-wearing repellent, designed to last for 50 washes.
Material choice
Fabric is specifically selected by thread-count, weight and strength characteristics, while every seam and stitch type is specified for comfort, performance and durability. The latest personal clothing system was comprehensively tested by soldiers and compared to popular commercial brands.
Sizing
A great number of sizes are made available for users, for example the new Ubacs has 16 individual sizes, plus outsize options, where a civvy retailer typically offers 4-7.
