Volksgrenadier Summer Uniform?

[fngvonfriedrichsdorf]

So, Im fairly new to WWII airsofting ,and as of late im having some minor issues with my 43 wool Uniform Because, I recently Moved from Minnisota to California , and wearing a mainly wool uniform in 90 degrees has proven to be incredebly impractical. so Ive tried lookingaround for information in various places about the possibility of wearing HBT's and havent really found anything that I think is reliable. if anyone could help me out that would be great.

[LϟϟAH1944]

Honestly, wool isn't bad in the summer. it breathes. HBT, in some cases, will keep you warmer then wool does.

[Dracul]

Not sure if you ever been to Cali, Graham, but wool is a no go. Trust me, I was just got out of there last March from being stationed in SoCal for 5 years at Camp Pendleton. Not once have I ever though that wool would be a good idea. That place never once got cold. Maybe the wool in the humid heat out here in the North East is alright, but in the dry heat of Cali, his concerns are legit.

[LϟϟAH1944]

Have you ever tried german HBT to wool? unless youre talking about the upper cheapo HBT that is lingerie weight, then no. HBT will trap your body heat in completely, wool breathes. Shaving the wool down will also help. What type of service shirt do you have? The knit ones will probably be better.

[LϟϟAH1944]

Or, get one of ATF's new tunics. Thinner wool, still realistic, but thinner, so it should be better.

[Dracul]

Fair enough. Just saying heat is a legitimate concern down there. Especially to those who came from the north. 

[huxy]

At one summer game, a friend of mine dressed up in so much cloth (thick service shirt, wool uniform and then a greatcoat) that he insulated himself from the sun's radiating heat. He was comfy, the rest of us were sweating!!

[luftwelle93]

Jan 11, 2015 20:01:18 GMT -5 huxy said:

At one summer game, a friend of mine dressed up in so much cloth (thick service shirt, wool uniform and then a greatcoat) that he insulated himself from the sun's radiating heat. He was comfy, the rest of us were sweating!!

How can that be anything but comfy!!!I'm not sure how hot it is summertime over your end Huxy but in Ohio summer that's suicide

[insterburger]

I don't know, Huxy's friend may have a point. Look at how the bedouin dress, layer upon layer of fairly substantial cloth in some of the hottest climates in the world. Layering, if done properly, can indeed keep the heat out.

Last summer, however, that didn't work for me. Had a wool officer's uniform with a service shirt underneath, and it was like a sauna. At least all the sweat helped the uni get a bit more, uh, "authentic."

[huxy]

What Insterburger said... It was pretty warm, around 30 degrees celcius. It was in Sweden however!

Layer yourself in a good way and you will indeed shut heat out! It looks Guy on a short bused though. Everyone in T-shirts and shorts, and one guy dressed up like he got a major skin desease....

[fngvonfriedrichsdorf]

Thanks for the insight ,but im really wondering if any hbts could possibly be used for a volksgrenadier impression. if not I could always just wear my 1943 wool pants with a splinter smock over my service shirt but I would rather not do something like that.

[LϟϟAH1944]

HBTs are far rarer then reenactors make them.

[zam]

Volksgrenadier divisions formed in Autumn 1944, the war in Europe end in may 1945, no time for a volksgrenadier to wear summer uniforms.

Change in Panzergrenadier you could do every seasons ! 

[volkssturm]

Regarding Arab dress, they not only dress in layers, to keep the sun off, they wear voluminous clothing that allows air circulation underneath, and also as they move the material flapping around keeps air moving. That's very different from layers of comparatively close fitting European clothing.

[Jerry-ADK]

I just got to add my 2 cents to this discussion.  I have worn both wool and HBT uniforms in the summer here in the North East and I got to say, I prefer the HBT for comfort over wool any day.  That's my preference, wool is itchy and I get to hot.  I realize that for authenticity's sake HBT was less common, but it was available to troops, both US and German.  It seems more common for US troops though from looking at period photos.  But I'm not saying that I would never wear wool tunics and trousers in the summer, at BF events wear standards are higher for authenticity I would wear what I am supposed to for my particular unit.

[insterburger]

Jan 25, 2015 14:48:08 GMT -5 volkssturm said:

Regarding Arab dress, they not only dress in layers, to keep the sun off, they wear voluminous clothing that allows air circulation underneath, and also as they move the material flapping around keeps air moving. That's very different from layers of comparatively close fitting European clothing.

Oddly enough, we studied Arab dress in architecture school (of all places). The dresslike quality does permit air circulation near the body, but the layering actually traps air and creates a thermal break in the clothes, much like the air gap between an exterior and interior building wall.

As you say, it's a different deal than Euro clothing, although given the right conditions (i.e. oversized and bloused outer layer) you might, theoretically, get some of the same effect. But as I said, I certainly never did.