Coveralls (spare pair)

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Coveralls (spare pair)

Postby Caver1402 » Jun 18, 2007 4:24 pm

I have a pair of expensive coveralls ... they are great. I don't have the money to purchase a second pair like that. Does anyone know a good place to pick up (probably online) a second/spare pair?

I once tried to get a pair of Dickies ... they all towered over my head. And I'm not that short! 5'5".

I found a couple possibilities ... but what the heck is aramid?

http://www.rddusa.com/product_info.php? ... cts_id=113
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Postby Andy Shoun » Jun 19, 2007 8:05 am

Aramid is the stuff that bullet proof vests are made of! We use it to reinforce tires to increase high speed limit. I don't have any practical knowledge of its use in coveralls, but it sounds like a great tear resistant fiber. I'm not sure about about how it absorbs water. You cna't beat that price.
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Postby VACaver » Jun 19, 2007 8:25 am

I wore a Nomex flight suit for 20 years in the AF and wouldn't even think of going caving in one...they're hot in the summer and cold in the winter.

They don't breath well at all and, despite the aramid material, will tear fairly easily.

For a spare pair of coveralls, I think I'd just pick up a pair of Dickies and sew the pockets shut.
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Postby Caver1402 » Jun 19, 2007 8:59 am

Any ideas where I can buy a pair of Dickie's for someone not 6 feet tall?? :doh:
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Postby Adam Craig » Jun 19, 2007 9:35 am

Have you tried dickies.com? They have a large assortment of sizes, including "short". I've got a pair of Dickies and I've been quite happy so far. I ordered from their website.
Last edited by Adam Craig on Jun 19, 2007 9:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby VACaver » Jun 19, 2007 9:35 am

Contact them directly and see how they can help you find a fit.

http://www.dickies.com/web/default.asp
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Postby hunter » Jun 19, 2007 9:58 am

I wouldn't bail on the flight coveralls as a backup. I used two pairs I picked up at a surplus store for a year or two. They were made from nomex (a meta-aramid whatever that means) and despite some issues worked pretty well. These are the features I foudn of interest to caving:
-Tough zippers but they are zippers and can jam due to mud.
-Thin, light, and pack small (cool compared to normal coveralls)
-Not super tear resistant (might be better for the ones you listed)
-Many pockets
-Non-optimum cloth for use in a dirty enviornment. They tend to suck up way more mud/dirt/water than nylon coveralls.
-Super cheap (mine were like 10$)

Anyway, they aren't the best but I certainly found flightsuits to be functional as cave coveralls and they would work fine as a backup.

If you can find them I've had excellent luck with German tanker coveralls (more durable mostly) from surplus catalogs. The main issue is finding size small (fits my girlfriend at 5'5"). Medium are way easier to find but are comfy on me at 6'1"....

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Postby JoeyS » Jun 19, 2007 10:11 am

Thankfully, women commit crime too, so you can get your size:

http://www.nationaltextile.us/inc/sdetail/496

Not sure about the short sleeves, but you could always use a polypro top with them.
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Postby Caver1402 » Jun 19, 2007 10:43 am

LoL, JoeyS -- that is hilarious. What do you suppose the tour guide would say if they saw me wearing that while surveying in Mammoth? :rofl:

In all seriousness, that might be a good, feasible idea, too. Thank you guys!
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Postby Caver1402 » Aug 3, 2007 9:23 am

I'm still searching! Anyone, any advice on these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/US-ARMY-CVC-COMBAT- ... dZViewItem

They are cheap enough!
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Postby hunter » Aug 3, 2007 12:47 pm

These are probably pretty good. I use German tanker coveralls a good bit and they are tougher than flight suits but not quite as tough as cave suits. Couple of thoughts:
-I didn't see info in the description but these are probably part cotton and won't be nylon(due to fire) so not real good in very wet/cold caves.
-The sizing may be off. I am 6'1" and wear medium in most military size coveralls and they tend to be a bit baggy on me.
-For 5$ if they don't fit I bet you can find a caver they do fit.

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Postby maek » Aug 3, 2007 12:54 pm

You won't lose much on that bid.

To comment on the rest of the thread:
I have a pair of short Dickies (36 chest) and they would fit me perfectly if I were 6 months pregnant.

The BF recently bought these in 34:

[url]http://www.automotiveworkwear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=AW&Product_Code=CT10&Category_Code=C
[/url]

I tried them on and they fit a lot less baggy, though the inseam is 2-3" longer. I'm 5' 3.75" tall. I'm getting a pair of them, because I'm tired of getting caught on everything. I'm pretty sure I won't have to hem them up (tried it on barefoot).
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Postby Komebeaux » Aug 3, 2007 1:40 pm

JoeyS wrote:Thankfully, women commit crime too, so you can get your size:

http://www.nationaltextile.us/inc/sdetail/496

Not sure about the short sleeves, but you could always use a polypro top with them.


That's awesome!

I am considering getting an orange one for caving and just wear my polypro underneath. It's probably less constricting than Dickies or the nylon ones.

Plus, it's funny.
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Postby Caver1402 » Aug 3, 2007 1:51 pm

I'm still debating the orange jumpsuit myself! :kewl:

I went ahead and bid on that pair because you're all right ... if they don't fit me, they will fit someone! I'm not worried about how they'll be in cold/wet caves because they are my spare pair, which means they'll get used on 2nd day whimpy cave trips. :woohoo:
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