Military Fishnet/Mesh Underwear AKA String Vest

[Pinemarten]

I came across mention of what is referred to as a "string vest" in a hiking book by Colin Fletcher. Fletcher was in the Royal Marines in WWII and he mentions how these vests were made from fishing twine and were worn by the military as a way to keep warm.

Googling a bit further, I came across info on the web where the English MoD even did tests on them and found them to be efficient.

Question, do any military forces still use fishnet/mesh underwear today as a means of keeping warm?

I have seen where SPLAV markets something called a WARMSAVER suit allegedly used by the Russians and I think the Finns use a type of shirt with solid panels but mesh parts to allow easier evaporation of sweat..cannot recall the Finnish term for the shirt.

Any more sources of info to look for or anyone here have any experience with these types of garments?

Thanks in advance,
Pinemarten

[Trenk]

norwegians use them too, it´s supposed to keep air layer between body and clothes, for thermoregulation reasons and also to prevent mosquitos to reach the skin... but I think it could pretty f.ck your shoulders when wearing under rucksack straps, but I never used that by myself so I am just guessing

however, this one looks cool:
http://www.aclima.no/
but for me, issued polypro underwear works just fine

[Finnbatt]

http://www.kalastus.com/keskustelu/messages/42756/28810.jpg

FDF model. Really warm.

[domokun]

..cannot recall the Finnish term for the shirt.

Pinemarten

Verkkopaita= literally net shirt.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg241/762rk95/36879.jpg

[Pinemarten]

Thanks for the replies, fellows.

Finnbatt, do you have a link to the FDF model?

Trenk, thanks for the Aclima site. That is an interesting design-the mesh body and the solid panels on the shoulders. I did run across something like this in the U.S. in an old camping supply store...made out of cotton but it was too small for me. The American garment was made by Duofold! Some of our American members might recognise the company name.

domokun,

thanks for the picture. I can see why that chap looks a bit ragged. That's a horse plow-difficult as hell to manage and horribly heavy-I remember my father using a plow like that with a mare pulling in the field. Hee, if you are plowing too long a person will look like that poor chap!

Thanks again.
Pinemarten

[Ubar]

Brynje is a brand someone recommended in the past, I decided to get merino wool instead in the end though

[Royal]

We picked up some Brynje stuff in Norway in the 90s. I never found a problem with rubbing when carrying a bergan, but found that silk felt better next to the skin p-) and also wicked better.........

[Sabre]

That was just on the runs ashore though....

[STEPAN1983]

In Russia this kind of underwear (made by Splav, SPOSN and others) - often called "Telohranitel" ("bodyguard") has long sleeves (full set consist of shirt, pants and hood, sometimes a scarf). Newer versions have inserts, made of common flat fabric instead of net. It is used also to protect skin from moscittos, because insects can bite through your clothes and thick net underwear dont let sting to touch you. This inderwear is not popular because of few reasons:

Made of cotton, its heavy when dry and f heavy when wet...

It rubs skin, expecially shoulders where backpack suspensers located.

Suvorov/Rezun's book where he mentioned about this net underwear as a part of special forces gear is a total fiction. The part about gear is not a excluson.

[Walker-69]

I use this kind of shirt myself still when I do some work and it's cold. The basic idea is very sound, when you are sweating the sweat evaporates, and then when you rest you don't freeze - with the wrong kind of clothes the sweat remains on your skin and then you will get a flu for sure.

There are also pants made of similar netting, but the material would be polypropylene instead of cotton. They are not very sexy on men, but that's not the purpose either.

It would be interesting to test these shirts and pants against other kinds of materials. Merino wool would beat the netshirts and netpants in *** appeal, but it's also more expensive.

I think that you can also find netshirts made out of polypropylene instead of cotton, if you go to a specialty outdoors shop. I really wouldn't know what advantages the polypropylene has - maybe it stays in shape better and hugs the skin more tight.

[STEPAN1983]

Cotton absorbs sweat well, but stays wet for a long time. Its better not to use cotton underwear and socks if you are going to sweat a lot. Also cotton is not very elastic and change its size after washing (decrease) and long time wearing (increasing) Thats why synthetics (and wool, expecialle merino) are better.
If you sweat inside a net shirt, some of your sweat stays on your skin. If you wear ''*** appeal'' underwear all surface of your skin is covered with fabric and its absorb sweat.

[Aldo Penniconi]

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/12_01/RabCNesbitt_468x641.jpg

[Walker-69]

Hey, I found my mesh pants. I haven't really used them very much. They are made by some company called "Finn Svala". The material is polypropylene - I am sure that it doesn't retain moisture anywhere as much as cotton, ie. it doesn't get wet, but it does feel a bit cheap. I have also read in the "Erä" magazine that polypropylene underwear starts to stink bad when it's used for a longer time. So then, if you are backpacking/skiing/mountain climbing with women, choose merino wool instead p-)

These pants are 3/4 length, they can also be had full length.

http://i403.photobucket.com/albums/pp114/arvi_net/mesh.jpg

Regarding military use, an interesting question arises: if you stink real bad, is the enemy going to find you because of your foul smell?

[Trenk]

well, if here is some military guy who used this stuff and can compare it towards classic polypro and underarmour design, that would be useful

[Pinemarten]

For reference, the book I came across with the mention of this underwear is The Complete Walker by Colin Fletcher.

Interesting fellow-he has done a lot of hiking and discusses what to carry on your back, etc.
Pinemarten

[Finnbatt]

Finnbatt, do you have a link to the FDF model?

Here is one from the company that used to manufacture all fdf stuff...
http://www.boreus.fi/index.php?product=913&prodgroup2=200

[STEPAN1983]

mesh underwear, made by SPOSN (not sure if they sell it now):

http://s40.radikal.ru/i088/0901/68/06e26ae11bca.jpg (http://www.radikal.ru)

scarf:

http://i026.radikal.ru/0901/bc/8e44005d8a12.jpg (http://www.radikal.ru)

[Pinemarten]

FinnBatt, thanks for that posting that source.

STEPAN1983, thanks for posting the pic.

What's with the mesh hat? Is that supposed to allow better cooling..never saw something like that before! Interesting!

[Pinemarten]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1493136/String-vest-was-hot-topic-in-Suez-crisis.html

The British military did trials on string vests some time back.

Some companies have been kicking the concept around for use under body armour/flak vests.

A company called Vent-L-Lite makes a mesh vest to wear over your uniform yet under body armour to allow for better airflow.
Another version is Protective Products International Mesh Cooling Vest sold by sourceonetactical.com. Interesting, this version is restricted to military/police. Both companies mention their vests are being used in Iraq and there apparently have been trials on them by the military.

[Pinemarten]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4638977.stm

Another story with pictures of the types of vests being tested.

Trenk,
the only comments on mesh undergarments I have found are on outdoors and cycling forums. Royal mentioned in a PM he prefers silk to the mesh.

Hugh McManners a RM Commando in his Falklands War memoir mentioned he wore a string vest along with a whole pile of other gear yet complained he was still cold...could be due to a bad layering system he had.

Brynje on their site under Special Models do sell a version with patch material on shoulder areas to avoid imprints/pressing against the skin.

Also under the Press section they list a report from STINEF which claims more favorable testing results for mesh over solid material garments.

One other source is wiggys.com in the Archives area they mention favorably fishnet/mesh undergarments to keeping you warm-Wiggys do stress that the mesh has to be loose fitting where as I notice the Brynje garments are more form fitting and fit closer to the skin....