Nomex Undergarments

[Axe]

I am looking for some warm, fire resistant long underwear to wear while flying and engaging in other activities involving flammable liquids in the cold weather. Cotton just doesn't cut it for insulating properties when wet obviously, and polypropylene or other synthetics isn't good in fire.

Can those of you with knowledge of or experience with Nomex undergarments give your advice on what brands you like and don't like?

I saw reference to this company in a thread here in the Gear section: http://www.massif.com/nomex_clothing...it_t-shirt.php

And I found this company making fleece and t-shirts: http://www.chuckroast.com/fire-safety/fr-c2100c.php

A company called J.E. Morgan makes thermal Nomex underwear, which I found on auction on ebay.

I don't know who else might be out there and who is best. I think I am most interested in thermal underwear as a base for my purposes, rather than paying $500+ for Nomex fleece. If I have Nomex under something that might melt, I would think I would be in pretty good shape, or at least a lot better shape than if I didn't have a flash-resistant base layer of clothing.

One thing I have noticed is that regardless of brand, the Nomex stuff is freaking expensive compared to the other synthetics.

I am looking for advice on what folks are doing for flash/flame-resistant clothing, what brands they prefer, and where they purchase it to get their best value.

Anyone have any advice?

[24/7]

Sorry, I don't have any advice to give but I want to say good luck, fire retardant under garments are important. The big Army is coming out with the FREE, but that doesn't appear to be ready for prime time. http://peosoldier.army.mil/factsheets/SEQ_CIE_FREE.pdf (back in the day) I pushed to have our guys wear NOMEX instead of synthetics, at that time NOMEX was only available in white except for the black baklava.

Recently I have heard some anecdotal reports that synthetics undergarments do not get hot enough to melt when exposed to a flash fire...I don't know.

I'd be curious if any of the deployed medical guys are seeing melted undergarments on the patients exposed to flash fires?

[Hot Mess]

While the FREE sounds like a good thing, I do think they could come up with a better name than "Ensemble". That is 100% f-r-u-t-y!:rolleyes:

[Dan90]

Saw this in the last Brigade QM catalog I got:

http://www.actiongear.com/cgi-bin/tame.exe/agcatalog/results.tam?rlk=836526

[Jimbo]

Not Nomex, but fire resistant and very comfortable:
http://www.potomacfieldgear.com/flash/

There is a link somewhere on their page to an Army Times story that evaluated several shirts, including some Nomex ones. I tried to upload the pdf of the story but keep getting a 'upload failed' notice.

Their skivvies are pretty much indispensable on deployment.

[Cold1]

You may also want to check out CarbonX material along with nomex. CarbonX is better in a fire than nomex, but I cant speak about its thermal properties. Here are a few sites to check.
http://www.saferacer.com/simpson-carbon-x-underwear.html?productid=1031&gclid=CMHD9LD84pACFQspFQodqC0RWA

http://www.realtruck.com/productline/1863/1010/1/ringers_underx_thermal_undergarments.html

http://www.westernsafety.com/chicagoprotective/chicagoprotectivepg9.html

If it this doesnt meet your requirements you can always use the old standby of wool.

PS. Here is a FAQ about carbonX
http://www.carbonx.ca/faq.html

[Rotor Strike please]

I've worn just about all the major vendors' offerings. Of them all, Massif is by far the most comfortable. Patomac Field Gear is the least comfortable. DriFire comes in the middle. The Army Times article is a sham and they can eat a dick as such.

Smartwool also makes some really, really nice thermals that are naturally flame retardent.

[USP455]

Second that on the Massif products. We just got the outer jacket and pants combo. It's thin, wind/water resistant, and not too bulky for my sardine can of a cockpit.

BT
BTAR

[Axe]

I appreciate all the input, guys. Thank you.

[Adam Wilhelm]

Here´s a swedish manufacturer of wool undergarments.
They also have a special line of fire retardent garments.

http://www.woolpower.se/en/asp/info_us.asp

[PH2(NAC)]

I'm with Rotor Strike on this one. I fly in Smartwool when its cold, can't go wrong with natural fibers. Nomex is great if you can afford it but wool will do the same thing that a thin layer of nomex will, (primarily protect your ass in a post crash fire long enough to give you a chance to get out of your oven/aircraft)

I don't know what you are flying, but you could definitely get away with Smartwool underneath, and flightsuit on top. Stay away from "performance" materials like polar fleece and nylon/spandex in any layer.

[SN]

Not Nomex, but fire resistant and very comfortable:
http://www.potomacfieldgear.com/flash/

There is a link somewhere on their page to an Army Times story that evaluated several shirts, including some Nomex ones. I tried to upload the pdf of the story but keep getting a 'upload failed' notice.

Their skivvies are pretty much indispensable on deployment.

I have some of the Potomac Field gear and love it. AF has started to isse in short sleeve, and briefs. I bought the long sleeve shirt and long underpants. They don't act as long underwear, but I throw my non-nomex stuff on top and it's not too bad (the under armour stuff can be a little snugg).

[seabee1226]

Here is another option, found them at Extreme Outfitters (http://www.extremeoutfitters.us/index.asp) in VA Beach.

http://www.xgotech.com/flame_resistant.asp

No experience w/ them but found them there when doing a search for other gear.

[Axe]

I don't know what you are flying, but you could definitely get away with Smartwool underneath, and flightsuit on top. Stay away from "performance" materials like polar fleece and nylon/spandex in any layer.

You just answered one of the big questions remaining for me with this. I had been wondering if I could get by wearing the polarfleece I already have as long as it is over the Nomex base. It sounds like a no-go.

I hadn't thought of wearing wool over the nomex, I don't really know why. That will be my next direction to head.

I am flying light-sport aircraft with +- 30 gal avgas or unleaded auto fuel. I could wear a flightsuit, and I have one, but since they aren't commonly worn in the general aviation community, I probably won't wear it so I won't stand out like a sore thumb.

[WS-G]

You can also order Nomex undergarments at a reasonable price from http://www.flightsuits.com/

Don't even think about polypro or any of the polyester stuff, to include blends. If you wear them under a flightsuit, all you're doing is creating a firepath underneath your coverall. Never forget that when that stuff lights up, it melts and drips and runs molten and eats into your body as it burns... and drips... and runs molten.

BTW, Axe, flightsuits are not as uncommon in the working GA world as you may think; for some of us they're mandatory.

[Axe]

Thanks, WS-G. Synthetics are definitely out for me when flying. I might visit the flightsuit.

I have seen a fair number of Part 135 pilots wearing Nomex, and nobody gives them a second look, but I have seen some of the regular GA guys eyes roll at other GA private pilots wearing them.

After reading your post, WS-G, and the more I think about it, being the grey man is less important to me than being better protected from ending up shrinkwrapped in polypro. I'll start wearing the flightsuit. Nomex is warmer than cotton anyway, and warmth is what I am looking for.

This thread is a good example of what I like about SOCNET. Not only does it provide a lot of valuable information and entertainment, but it also challenges my thinking and assumptions about a wide variety of issues on a regular basis.

[WS-G]

I have seen a fair number of Part 135 pilots wearing Nomex, and nobody gives them a second look, but I have seen some of the regular GA guys eyes roll at other GA private pilots wearing them.
It's also the standard for most of the HEMES and SAR operations in my AO, as well as for those guys doing any kind of work for USFS or DOI (civil service and contractors alike --- same rules apply).

Not to mention, having a nice, loud, obnoxious-looking color that really stands out is a definite plus in the event you end up down somewhere and you absolutely, positive insist on being found, say, last week! That's the main reason all my civilian-use Nomex is either royal blue or blaze orange. I'm one of the first to agree that wearing camouflage colors such as the near-ubiquitous sage green or desert khaki when one isn't conducting combat ops does have potential for getting oneself slapped with the "wannabe" label.

Nomex is warmer than cotton anyway, and warmth is what I am looking for. Not to mention that when it gets wet, it dries very quickly!

[RGR.Montcalm]

While the FREE sounds like a good thing, I do think they could come up with a better name than "Ensemble". That is 100% f-r-u-t-y!:rolleyes:

Well, it is for pilots....:D

[WS-G]

Now that you mention it, a Scooby Snack is being offered to whomever posts the location of FRUTY.