New Russian Uniforms are not fit for use in winter

**Brandy Blue** · 12-16-2010, 03:46

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101215...fashionoffbeat

Can this be true? I would have thought that of all people the Russians would know how to dress their troops in winter.

OK we Americans sent off our troops on Operation Desert Storm wearing boots designed for use in jungles, so I guess we can't talk.

**drone** · 12-16-2010, 04:10

Considering that winter plays a primary role in the defense of the country, you would think they could do a little better...

**A Nerd** · 12-16-2010, 04:42

I assume there is some wool in them, at least a little. Perhaps the military only functions in the summer months? I had some Swedish Army military pants I bought in an Army/Navy store some years ago, quite warm in the most bitterly cold of days.

**Kagemusha** · 12-16-2010, 15:13

Well those are parade uniforms.I am sure that the field gear reacts to the weather bit differently.

**Brandy Blue** · 12-17-2010, 02:24

That is true, Kagemusha, but still the uniforms either were designed wrong or else used in conditions they were not designed for. Otherwise people would not be getting sick from the cold.

**PanzerJaeger** · 12-17-2010, 03:32

Originally Posted by Kagemusha

Well those are parade uniforms.I am sure that the field gear reacts to the weather bit differently.

Yes. Russian combat fatigues are very high quality. I personally like their camo options more than the new 'digital' US camo, although I trust the Marines that the new stuff is superior.

**KrooK** · 12-20-2010, 21:55

You know - even best winter uniform can be a bit not enough into -47*C.
I have heard they are designed up to -40*C.
Anyway Adolf Hitler smiles into his tomb :)

**Beskar** · 12-21-2010, 20:41

Originally Posted by Brandy Blue

That is true, Kagemusha, but still the uniforms either were designed wrong or else used in conditions they were not designed for. Otherwise people would not be getting sick from the cold.

You don't get the 'cold' from being 'cold', neither you get the 'flu' from being cold either. You do get hypothermia from being too cold though.

**Brandy Blue** · 12-23-2010, 04:09

Yes, I know that flu and colds are caused by germs, not cold weather. However, cold appears to be a factor in whether or not you get sick. There are various theories about why, and last I heard no one had conclusively proven why. Nevertheless, the experience of millions of people is that weather conditions effect their health, and not just because of hypothermia.

**Husar** · 12-23-2010, 12:23

I thought when it's cold the blood "retreats" into your body, so the skin is less protected, making it easier to get an infection. I'm not sure how the blood does that, given that it's more or less passively pumped though all your arteries but I suppose the arteries exposed to the cold become smaller so less blood can flow through them.
Of course in a group of soldiers on parade it's more likely that there is one soldier carrying some germs and virii, happily spreading them to the others and now that they're more vulnerable, a lot of them can get infected, so yeah, guess it makes sense.

**Fisherking** · 12-23-2010, 15:37

Temperature extremes also stress the body and lower the immune system’s response which can lead to a higher rate of infections.

I wouldn’t say it is the fault of the dress uniform making them sick either. It is the idiots who have them on parade in it at sub-zero temperatures.

**InsaneApache** · 12-23-2010, 16:07

Hypothermia isn't the only problem caused by the cold. As has been stated the body core is protected at the expense of the arms and legs. Frostbite hurts.

Also the blood gets thicker when it's cold. So thick in fact that it can and does cause heart attacks. Take it from me, that hurts more than a frostbite.