What our best people wear in the worst places.
Working closely with military program managers and clothing offices around the world, we continue to develop a variety of innovative Polartec® fabrics. These fabrics provide soldiers with the comfort and protection necessary to achieve their mission in the world’s most hostile environments.
For more information on Polartec® military programs, click on the following links or e-mail us at: military@polartec.com
- GEN III ECWCS - A Personal Note
"There are people who thank us for what we do. I thank you for what you do. Your gear has never let us down.In the rain, the cold, the snow, your gear always worked.”
–SFC Chris Dempsey
- GEN III ECWCS - Soldier TestimonialsHear from those who who know our GEN III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) the best - Our Men and Women in uniform.
GEN III ECWCS Soldier Testimony: CSM Steven Womack
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GEN III ECWCS Soldier Testimony: CSM Sam Young
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GEN III ECWCS Soldier Testimony: A montage of soldiers speaking about using the GEN III ECWCS in the field
Watch now » - Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) GEN III
The 3rd Generation of the Army’s Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) is a radical redesign of the cold weather clothing system for the U.S. Army. ECWCS GEN III features seven new layers of insulation including three Polartec® fabrics: two layers of Polartec® Power Dry® and a layer of Polartec® Thermal Pro® High Loft. The system is currently undergoing a large-scale user evaluation and is planned for fielding in its final version in the Fall. Compared to ECWCS Gen II, GEN III offers a systems approach for clothing design—each piece fits and functions either alone or when used in the system to provide the most options for the soldier.
The introduction of GEN III would not have been possible without the vision of PM soldier in Ft. Belvoir, VA, and US Army Natick Soldier Center in Natick, MA. The developmental partnership between Polartec®, PM Soldier and Natick is ensuring that our soldiers have the best available products to complete their mission.
- Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) GEN II
2nd Generation Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (2G ECWCS) includes two different layers made with Polartec® fabrics: Polartec® Classic 300 shirt and Polartec® Classic 200 overalls. When used in combination with other layers in the ECWCS system, the system will provide protection between 40°F and -40°F (44° - 51° Celsius). Currently being worn by the United States Marines, Special Forces, Army and Air Force soldiers stationed in the most extreme environments—from Norway and Bosnia to Afghanistan.
- USMC Cold Weather Layering System
The U.S. Marine Corps’ Cold Weather Layering System (CWLS) is designed to provide war-fighters with a set of clothing to facilitate expeditionary operations in mountainous and cold-weather environments.
- Special Forces Protective Combat Uniform
Made with high-performance Polartec® materials, the Special Forces Protective Combat Uniform is a seven-piece base and thermal layering system created to give our troops unprecedented flexibility and comfort in the most hostile environments on Earth.
- Navy Multi-Climate Protection System
The MCPS, developed by the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), greatly enhances the safety, comfort, and performance of aviators and aircrew. This modular garment system is made using state-of-the-art materials specifically developed to provide flame resistance, moisture management, insulation, and wind and water protection. The MCPS uses seven garments, which are made of three unique flame resistant Polartec® fabrics specifically engineered for this application.
- USMC Polartec® Power Dry® FR Grid
Polartec® Power Dry® FR Grid was developed in response to field reports of garments melting under the heat of exploding IEDs and roadside bombs. Utilizing the most advanced yarn and fiber options available, Polartec® Power Dry® FR Grid helps to keep our soldiers safe and comfortable by not only providing warmth, moisture wicking, and stretch, but also no melt and no drip performance when exposed to flame and flash fire.
Polartec® Power Dry® FR Grid also won a 2009 North American Apex Award, and you can learn more by clicking the below link.
APEX Awards
- Polartec® Classic Micro Series Cap
Replacing the WWII era Black Wool Watch Cap, hats made using Polartec® Classic Micro Series with Comfort Stretch bring lightweight warmth, great breathability, and comfort to U.S Military caps. The tight-knit micro-fiber construction is quick drying and non-irritating.
- USMC Polartec® Half-Zip Pullover
Polartec® Classic 100 Series half-zip pullover has received a 97% approval rating by U.S. Marines in extensive cold-weather field testing. This is the highest rating ever received for a piece of issued gear. The Polartec® Classic 100 Series half-zip pullover replaces three items of clothing in the current inventory, saving money while providing comfort, warmth, lightweight breathability, packability and versatility.
- USPS All-Weather Gear
Polartec® is proud to be an integral part of the All-Weather Gear performance clothing system that provides the U.S. Postal Service with multifunctional, lightweight, waterproof, windproof, breathable and insulating garments for the most extreme conditions.
- US Army's Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble (FREE)
ThThe US Army’s new Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble (FREE) will provide the Army soldier with inherent protection from flame and heat threats present in combat conditions, while remaining highly functional in a spectrum of cold and wet weather climates.
- U.S. Coast Guard Foul Weather II Liner
Polartec® is proud to be an integral part of the Foul Weather II Liner performance clothing system that provides the U.S. Coast Guard with a multi-functional, lightweight, waterproof, windproof, breathable, and insulating garments for use in the most extreme conditions.
The Foul Weather Parka includes a Polartec® Classic 200 with DWR zip front and a Gore-tex® shell for waterproof and windproof protection. The Polartec® Classic 200 with DWR zip front jacket provides warmth without weight, great breathability, and packability to the garment system. Plus, the DWR allows this garment to be worn either as a liner for the shell or as a stand alone jacket.
- Canada Integrated Clothing Ensemble
Polartec® is proud to be an integral component of the Integrated Clothing Ensemble (ICE) under the Clothe The Soldier project that provides the Canadian Forces with multifunctional, lightweight, waterproof, windproof, breathable, and insulating garments for use in the most extreme conditions.
Developed and printed exclusively for the Canadian Department of National Defense, the CADPAT™ camo pattern is applied to this insulation layer, which is made from Polartec® Classic. The style provides soldiers warmth without weight, great breathability, and packability to the garment system.
- Republic of Latvia Field Uniform
In need of protection for varying environments, the Republic of Latvia has chosen Polartec® as an integral component of the National Armed Forces Field Uniform.
Polartec® Power Dry® and Polartec® Power Stretch® were chosen for their superior moisture management, breathability and comfort. In addition, Polartec® Power Stretch® with X-Static® combines the performance features of standard Polartec® Power Stretch® material with X-Static®, providing permanent odor protection by inhibiting the growth of odor-causing bacteria in the fabric. The use of Polartec® Classic Micro and Polartec® Classic 300 fabrics provides soldiers with warmth without weight and bulk.
