"tropical wool" trousers

schorsch · Post by **schorsch** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 3:39 pm

Hey gang,

I was just at my local Army surplus store, and I found a stack of "tropical wool" USMC trousers. These were perfect Indy pants, in everything except the color (they were brown and olive drab). They have the drape and look, which to me is most important, since I'm going for the "feel" of Indy gear, and not screen accuracy. They even have the flaps over the back pockets. Unfortunately, they did not have my size, and they said that these mostly come to them in the small sizes.

I've been searching surplus sites online for an hour now, and I still can't find these. Does anyone know where I can find a pair? If any of you visit your local surplus store, and find a 36W 32L pair (give or take an inch in either measurement), pick it up for me, and I'll try to return the favor somehow (and of course I'll pay for everything).

Thanks,
jp

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 4:20 pm

could we have a pic of them?

Vannevar · Post by **Vannevar** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 4:43 pm

hey dude, http://www.sportsmansguide.com/ might have what your looking for.

schorsch · Post by **schorsch** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:15 pm

I think I found them. They were considerably less expensive at my local surplus store, but these guys have them in stock:

http://www.armynavysales.com/Merchant2/ ... y_Code=PNT
The color in this picture is pretty true to life.

-jp

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:44 pm

schorsch wrote:I think I found them. They were considerably less expensive at my local surplus store, but these guys have them in stock:

How much at your local surplus store?

schorsch · Post by **schorsch** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:55 pm

They were about $15, so about half price. I ordered a pair of these, against my better judgement, so I'll let you know how they are.

-jp

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 6:58 pm

What colour are they?

schorsch · Post by **schorsch** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 7:24 pm

greenish brown. The same color you see in the picture above.

Mat Cauthon · Post by **Mat Cauthon** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 7:54 pm

So do these pants come long and unhemmed so you can fit them to size for the length?

Brendon

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 10:14 pm

The military issue pants are plain front.

schorsch · Post by **schorsch** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 12:04 am

Re: plain fronts: I like 'em that way. Like I said, these pants have the "Indy feel", but are not really screen-accurate. For less than $20, they'll do.

Re: length: they come in the three military lengths: R, L, XL. I just know that the L's are around 32".

I may have found a source, who will sell them, with shipping, for $16. I'll keep you updated.

-jp

Mat Cauthon · Post by **Mat Cauthon** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 12:39 am

Well how do they know what one of there three lengths to send when all they ask for is the waist Size? I'm curiouse cause I ordered a pair due to the fact they were cheap. The size I ordered was a size 30 but the length i am hopping will be at least a 31 or 32

Brendon

schorsch · Post by **schorsch** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 12:43 am

I'd email them. I originally placed an order through the link above, then I sent out some emails asking around, and I found someone who sells them for cheaper, so I canceled my order. I'll ask if they have more, and if they want their info posted here, then I'll post it.

Mat Cauthon · Post by **Mat Cauthon** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 1:43 am

I would rather not go though the hassle of canceling the order but if they are not going to be long enough then I guess I will have to. I emailed them about it so I guess I will just have to wate for a reply befor I do anything else

Brendon

schorsch · Post by **schorsch** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 2:08 pm

My source said it's OK to distribute her email: jackrose714@hotmail.com

To get the pant that I posted above, ask for: Mens Poly/Wool Marine Corps Green Shade 2212.

She also has Army, and I believe Navy, in other sizes/colors.

-jp

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 12:02 pm

How much is the shipping Europe?

schorsch · Post by **schorsch** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 1:33 pm

You'd have to email her to ask about shipping to Europe. I'm sure it's standard FedEx/UPS/whatever charges.

=jp=

Mojave Jack · Post by **Mojave Jack** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 4:18 pm

schorsch wrote:My source said it's OK to distribute her email: jackrose714@hotmail.com

To get the pant that I posted above, ask for: Mens Poly/Wool Marine Corps Green Shade 2212.

She also has Army, and I believe Navy, in other sizes/colors.

-jp

Just a note, the picture above appears pretty brown on my monitor, both at work and at home. Having worn the above mentioned pants for many years, they are most definately green, not brown. Soylent green is people! Oh, wait...sorry.

One other note, if you have any aversion to wool at all don't get these pants! It may be my own prejudice against rough, itchy wool, combined with non-breathable polyester, but I would never consider wearing these pants unless I was ordered to. Of course I might be biased, having spent far too many hours in the sun in southern California and North Carolina in these pants wishing the inspection/parade/ceremony was over!

Prairie Jones, I think you can back me up on this point!

schorsch · Post by **schorsch** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 12:45 am

hmmmm.... If the pants that I get from her are the same that I saw in the store, then they seemed to be made out of a very smooth, poly/wool blend. I wore them, and they felt like a more rugged version of wool dress pants, which are very cool in the summer. There were definitely rough, itchy wool pants next to them, but the difference (according to the tag) was that these are the "tropical" versions. And the ones that I saw were greenish, but were definitely dark, and brownish under the store lights. I was also informed that these are no longer issued.

I'm hoping that these are the same pants that are mentioned frequently in older (50's and 60's) hiking and canoeing books that I have. Tropical pants are often recommended for their quick drying, cool-yet-warm properties.

I'll post a picture and review when I get mine, if anyone is still interested.

Erri · Post by **Erri** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 6:06 am

schorsch wrote: I'll post a picture and review when I get mine, if anyone is still interested.

Yes, very

Mojave Jack wrote: Soylent green is people! Oh, wait...sorry.

that was great

curiously i watched that film right yesterday

Mojave Jack · Post by **Mojave Jack** » Tue Aug 23, 2005 4:17 pm

schorsch wrote:hmmmm.... If the pants that I get from her are the same that I saw in the store, then they seemed to be made out of a very smooth, poly/wool blend. I wore them, and they felt like a more rugged version of wool dress pants, which are very cool in the summer. There were definitely rough, itchy wool pants next to them, but the difference (according to the tag) was that these are the "tropical" versions. And the ones that I saw were greenish, but were definitely dark, and brownish under the store lights. I was also informed that these are no longer issued.

I'm hoping that these are the same pants that are mentioned frequently in older (50's and 60's) hiking and canoeing books that I have. Tropical pants are often recommended for their quick drying, cool-yet-warm properties.

I'll post a picture and review when I get mine, if anyone is still interested.

Yes, we were issued two sets, one winter and one summer. The winter wool was definately worse, but it may all be a matter of personal preference. My wife absolutely loves wool sweaters, but I feel like I've been rolling in fiberglass insulation every time I wear one! So it may just be that I am overly sensitive to wool. Heck, I am such a sensitive guy in general, that could only be the case!

I don't think the poly/wool blend was being issued before the 70s, though. I'll ask some of the old salts around here, but I think that they were 100% wool prior to the "polyester revolution" of the early 70s.

You are definately right about the properties of wool; it insulates when wet. It also wicks the sweat away from your skin. Those old Maine hunting clothes are testament to that. Modern ployester fleece has the same properties, though, and I think fleece and goretex have quickly replaced the wool stuff for most outdoor activities.

Mat Cauthon · Post by **Mat Cauthon** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:18 pm

Well I got a pair of the pant's in the mail

And they fit and are very comfortable. I am ordering another from the email address so that I can take them apart, make a pattern and have pleats on it and then make a few pairs out of a matterial that is machine washable, and the right color. I will let you all know how that project goes after I get the pants and get started on It

Brendon

schorsch · Post by **schorsch** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 12:14 pm

Update:
I got my pair from the above source, only to find out that they run small, compared to jeans sizes. I measured the waistband of these pants, and they are, exactly as advertised, 36 inches. I then measured a couple pairs of jeans, and found that they were all 38 inches. So it seems that these are actually correct, and other casual pants are actually larger. I've ordered a size 38 from another source.

As far as the wool on these pants, I hate wool sweaters, but these are actually comfortable, just like dress pants. I'm also in over 100F heat here, and I could wear them without dying. Of course, it's almost impossibel to wear long pants here until winter.

I saw "The Great Raid" this weekend, and they were all wearing tropical wool uniforms. I'm still looking for an authentic pair of these field pants. I've had a couple leads, but it seems that everyone who fought in that war was really small. I'm certainly not fat, but I don't think they grew 'em as big as me back then.

"tropical wool" trousers

"tropical wool" trousers

Re: "tropical wool" trousers