This might seem like a dumb question to some but i'm a probie out in Nevada who was a Reserve FF in California. MOST where I came from would just wear shorts or boxers under your bunker pants. The new department i'm at all wear full pants underneath there bunker gear. I now wear full pants under my bunker pants as well and am adjusting to the change. But they all thought it was "weird" or "funny" that I just wore shorts or boxers underneath my bunker pants.
What do you guys think and how do the majority of your firefighters dress down?
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09-18-2006, 12:18 PM #1
What do you wear under your bunker pants?
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09-18-2006, 12:25 PM #2Forum Member
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whenever possible i wear long pants.
had bad experiences wearing shorts under bunkers.
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09-18-2006, 12:31 PM #3
This is a very personal question.....
I tend to put on my bunker pants on over the pair of pants I am already wearing for the day.You need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and shouldn't, use the duct tape.
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09-18-2006, 12:41 PM #4
Commando style baby!!!

j/k...that certainly wouldn't be very comfortable. Usually a pair of jeans or dickies for me.Tom Warshaw
Station 13 (Bethel)
Sumter Fire Department
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All opinions stated are my own and do not reflect the opinions of my department or any organization I may belong to.
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09-18-2006, 12:42 PM #5Forum Member
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Nothing!! - Sorry, couldn't resist.
Whatever I have on at the moment the call comes in, jeans, shorts, dress pants, etc.
I think it is more important in the summer if you wear sandals, to have socks by your boots. Went sockless one time, really ripped up the feet.
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09-18-2006, 12:42 PM #6Forum Member
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as Bill Murray said " I prefer a low rise bikini, preferrable mesh"...
Actually other than the three months of warm weather we get a year it's usually jeans. Shorts if I have them on but the majority of the time even in the summer it's jeans.
Larry
darn proud of my pasty white legs
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09-18-2006, 12:47 PM #7MembersZone Subscriber
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How about "Legs"?

But seriously, either uniform pants (here in FX Co) or would have been jeans back in the Old Country.
I always had a long pair of pants or sweat pants in my locker back home because I never really liked crawling around while wearing shorts in summer. Too hard on the knees that are already "shot".
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09-18-2006, 01:03 PM #8
Done the boxers thing before... Made the mistake of doing it in winter too.
Originally Posted by ThNozzleMan
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09-18-2006, 01:16 PM #9Forum Member
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OK, so now I'm curious.
Originally Posted by BKDRAFT
Nothing too graphic please, I'm going to assume you guys didn't walk around the station in your boxers, at least i would hope not. So when you get a call you all rip your pants off before gearing up?
That must be kinda funny to watch.
Imagine doing a ride along and seeing that. That would be enough to scare anyone away from the fire service.
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09-18-2006, 01:19 PM #10Forum Member
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At my career FD I wear my Dickie uniform pants during the "work day" and during down time I usually have on work out shorts and wear those. If we have a nightime call it is workout shorts. Year round this what I wear. never been cold with shorts on even in the delightful Wisconsin winter.
At my volly FD it's whatever I have on when the tones hit.
As for the sock thing....rubber boots wear socks....with the leathers if I have been caught in the shower when the call comes in I have gone without socks with no discomfort.
As for your new FD...Is the pants thing a rule or just a passed down tradition? If it's a rule then so be it, if not, after probation wear what is comfortable to you.
Fyredup
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09-18-2006, 01:38 PM #11Forum Member
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Long pants, Had shorts once and got a very small burn on lower leg. Plus the long pants dont ride up.
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09-18-2006, 02:37 PM #12
---Clothes
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09-18-2006, 04:08 PM #13Forum Member
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[QUOTE=FyredUp]At my career FD I wear my Dickie uniform pants during the "work day" and during down time I usually have on work out shorts and wear those. If we have a nightime call it is workout shorts. Year round this what I wear. never been cold with shorts on even in the delightful Wisconsin winter.
At my volly FD it's whatever I have on when the tones hit.
As for the sock thing....rubber boots wear socks....with the leathers if I have been caught in the shower when the call comes in I have gone without socks with no discomfort.
As for your new FD...Is the pants thing a rule or just a passed down tradition? If it's a rule then so be it, if not, after probation wear what is comfortable to you.
Fyred must have read my mind.
Career Dept - Warm months = Navy shorts during the day and gym shorts of a night.
Cold months - Dickies pants during the day and gym shorts or cotton PJ pants at night. I've never been cold while wearing shorts. Nothing is bad as putting your helmet and coat back on in the winter after taking it off to cool down. Ouch, that hurts.
Vollie Dept. - Whatever I have on. If I have jeans on I take them off and boxers it is! Just remember to keep your bunkers up during rehab.
"Nothing too graphic please, I'm going to assume you guys didn't walk around the station in your boxers, at least i would hope not."
I guess my career crew is weird. After 17:00 the station is our house, unless something is prearranged with a PR detail, we wear whatever. This includes, pants, shorts, boxers, or mopheads and a belt when new pukes (recruits) are around. If females are present we use caution with our evening wear. Our crew area is upstairs so if visitors show up we have time to put shorts on.
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09-18-2006, 04:26 PM #14Forum Member
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Welllll ... let's hope you guys wear your Dickies inside your bunker pants.
Back in '69 when bunkers were really just coming into style and most departments still used the old roll-up boots, we had a call at around 3 am one cold winter night that ended up embarressing the crap out of one of our Lieutenants.
He lived just down the street from one of our stations and when the engine came by, it slowed down for him to hop up into the jump seat.
When the fire was out and we were back at the station, all the guys pulled their coats and boots off and packed them back onto the engine ... everyone but the lieutenant. When asked about it he got red and replied that he couldn't take them off. When pressed about it he opened the front of the old canvas duck coat and all the guys roared. He had climbed out of bed and run out into the street (at 5 above zero), and hopped on the engine with just his socks and boxers on.
Last edited by Driver76; 09-18-2006 at 04:38 PM.
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09-18-2006, 04:34 PM #15Forum Member
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Thanks for the advise. I keep my Dickies well protected by high cut pants, zipper, safety snap, and large overlap PBI secured with velcro. With all of the bunker material it is actually hard to get your Dickies out in the cold weather. The shrinkage factor of Dickies (pants) is enormous, because of the cotton blend, in the winter. Another problem during winter firefighting operations is managing your PEE CAN. The stream really suffers!
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09-18-2006, 04:54 PM #16
Legg's "Silken Mist" pantyhose, suntan color.
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09-18-2006, 05:14 PM #17
Ok, let's get one thing straight....I am in no way in anyone else's bunker pants!!! Keep your "Dickies" to yourself!

Seriously, I try to wear jeans or uniform pants as much as possible. Sometimes I wear shorts but then my legs get dirty or rubbed raw from the boots.
Also, at all times, wear socks!!!Jason Knecht
Assistant Chief
Altoona Fire Rescue
Altoona, WI
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09-18-2006, 05:24 PM #18
This thread certainly caught my attention!!!!

Since I'm a volly, when the tones drop, it's been jeans, shorts, dress pants, sweat pants and either a dress or skirt!
Socks are a must, blisters suck! When I wear shorts and sandals and catch a run, I've got those knee high socks stuffed in one of my pockets! They make me look real cute after the call is over and packing my gear back up!Lieutenant/EMT-B
VSFFA Member
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09-18-2006, 06:01 PM #19
Shorts...all year round.
IACOJ Member
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09-18-2006, 07:16 PM #20
I've worn long johns, sweat pants, jeans, uniform pants, and dress pants, also wore shorts one time to a large grass fire....after it was out and we were back at station cleaning up...i looked down and my legs were a nice shade of black from the soot and ash being blown up the legs of the bunkers...decided then never to wear shorts under turnouts...always kept a set of spare uniform pants at the station.
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