Cheapest turnouts?

[explr985]

I am looking to buy my own set of turnouts, and I went price searching on the internet. Cheapest place I found was firestore.com, they had the advance gear like I want for $865.00. Galls was around the same, but does anyone know where I can get a set of new advanced nomex gear at? Please e-mail me with the answer, I do not look at this site but about once a week. Thanks in advance, Christopher

[SIGNAL99COM]

Turnouts

I read your post and now I am here wondering, why is this kid buying ppe for himself? Why isn't his department supplying him with ppe? There is no way this poor kid should have to spend his own money on ppe!

From the looks of your post, I am guessing you are an explorer. That's great and hopefully your full of **** and vinegar like I was when I was an explorer (1988-1992). Those are the explorers I like, not old enough to be a firefighter, however mature enough to work by my side and assist me doing certain jobs at the scene and around the station. Back to you buying your own gear. I am going to guess that the reason why your looking into this idea is either your department doesn't offer your explorers gear or that they do, but it's used gear which was maybe passed down from what the firefighters onced used and the though of purchasing your own brand new gear would be well worth it to you.

Either way, don't do it. I don't know how old you are, but your time as an explorer is going to go by very fast. Don't feel as if you need to spend your own hard earned cash on gear. If you need it, your department should be supplying it. It won't be long before your a firefighter and then your department has no choice but to get you gear. Think about this.

The explorers in my department are issued Globe black nomex, gear that our firefighters used back in the 80's and very early 90's. It's not the greatest, but it works.

[FiRsqDvr45]

A maxim to remember when buying anything related to the fire service:

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

Don't skimp on something that you will use to cover your bacon.

[drparasite]

I agree with chris. You guys are explorers. why are you buying your own gear? The dept I was with when i was a junior gave me structural gear. if your dept doesn't then you shouldn't be on a fire scene (OSHA requirement: an employee must be given proper protection to do the job)

I've been doing this for a little more than 4 years. in that time, the only PPE I have bought is a pair of leather boots and a cheap turnout coat for MVCs (cost me $25). that's it. wait until you become a senior FF to get your own set of gear. it's not worth it to buy your own stuff while your an explorer.

[drparasite]

Originally posted by FiRsqDvr45
A maxim to remember when buying anything related to the fire service:

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

Don't skimp on something that you will use to cover your bacon.

and remember, your fire apparatus was probably purchased from the lowest bidder

[explr985]

I see what you guys are saying, we are supplied with gear from the city ( 18 year old globe ) that is burned, torn, and the reflective is so black that you can't even see it anymore, I have tried to clean it 5-10 times and it is still black. It is the gear that the pants have bibs on both sides that come up about 2-2 1/2 ichs above my zyphoid process, they are impossible to put on going down the road in the aerial, nearly impossible in the engine, they always fall down when I walk. We don't have coats that fit me( all are too small, or are way to big ), the boots I have are too small now for me now, and the suspenders I have dont work well on the pants( will not take up enough ). So I am going to buy my own gear so I have something that fits well, looks like what everyone else has( the paid guys ), and enough clean reflective to be seen.

[FyredUp]

explr985...

I guess it is after all your money. But as a member fo the FD, even as an explorer they should be supplying you with servicable turn-out gear.

I do have a question for you though. How are you seated and belted in either the engine or the ladder when you are getting dressed on the way to the call?

FyredUp

[RyanEMVFD]

while i agree with everyone else, i will provide a possible solution to you.

http://www.glensemeq.com/

i bought a pass device here a couple of years ago. they mostly used stuff but is supposed to have some new stuff.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price, and when it comes to covering one's butt, you want the best that money can buy!

[Firebraun]

Also, consider that there may be a good reason for you to use the old gear. Your department may issue explorers old gear passed down by the firefighters because it looks different than what they are currently wearing.

That may make identifying an explorer easier at a scene and prevent you from accidentally being given an assignment you are not qualified to perform by an IC. If you spend a bunch of your own bucks on some brand new turnouts that "looks like what everyone else has( the paid guys)," you might just get told you can't wear it. Good idea to ask first.

But, to echo everyone else, don't buy it. Just get by with what you are issued. I know it may be uncomfortable, but buying your own gear might be hurting your explorer program in the long run.

If you buy your own gear, pretty soon a couple of other explorers will do the same thing because yours looks so cool. Then a few more, and so on. Next thing you know, the department's gonna say: "Well, they all supply their own gear, so we don't have to any more. Let's just sell our old stuff and make a few bucks off it."

Then you'll have gone and made it impossible to join the explorer program without first coming up with the $865.00 or so it takes to get gear. No problem for you, but some guy who's 8 years old right now might not be able to afford that when he's 16, and he might have to go and join the police explorers instead, since they don't have a "membership fee" of many hundreds of dollars....

So, anyway, just use what your issued and help prevent some other young guy from becoming a cop!

[distchief60b]

First....there is no such thing as ADVANCE Nomex......???? There is NOMEX, Advance (60% Kevlar/40% Nomex), Basofil(Basofil/Kevlar Blend), PBI (PBI/Kevlar Blend), and Milineum as well as a few others. Buying from a catalog is dangerous, because you can not see what you are getting and as others have said....."You get what you pay for". If you are spending money to buy it yourself, then spend the money and do it right. Call a manaufacturer rep and tell them what you need it for and have them spec it out for you. If you will never use it to fight fire, then go with Nomex outer, Aralite Thermal and Stedair 2000 Vapor Barrier. If you will use it to fight fire then go with Basofil Outer(do not accept any immitations...use a company that gets thiwr Basofil from BASF....), Platinum Caldura for Thermal and Stedair 2000 as vapor barrier. Add arashield reinforced padded knees, Arashielf cuffs, a radio pocket and flashlight. You are still going to be in the neighborhood of $1000.00 unless they are trying to rip you off.

[NJFFSA16]

I'm not going to even mention the gear I had to wear in 1968....as a Jr. firefighter. The words "canvas sack" come to mind.

[explr985]

Originally posted by Firebraun
Also, consider that there may be a good reason for you to use the old gear. Your department may issue explorers old gear passed down by the firefighters because it looks different than what they are currently wearing.

That may make identifying an explorer easier at a scene and prevent you from accidentally being given an assignment you are not qualified to perform by an IC. If you spend a bunch of your own bucks on some brand new turnouts that "looks like what everyone else has( the paid guys)," you might just get told you can't wear it. Good idea to ask first.

I know for a fact that we can wear gear other than black. There are some explorers in the post,( family members of paid guys ) who have it and can wear it, plus some that are also on vollie depts. wear there vollie gear and it is PBI as well. Besides we have "smurfe" helmets with explorer on them so the OIC knows who we are anyway. The gear I am looking at is a diffrent shade of tan than what the firefighters have, so it still looks diffrent. I also went price hunting on firestore.com and found some black gear that is the same style as then advanced, I belive it is made by chieften.

[Firebraun]

OK then, that issue is not an issue for you. Now, read the second part of my post and consider that. You never know what some future fire chief might come up with if he's tasked with cutting his budget, and if all of you explorers are buying your own gear, it'd be an easy place to make a cut. Just food for thought.

BTW, this firefighting gig really is a great job and I applaud you for being interested enough to get into an explorer post at a young age. You'll have a great time, and you'll have plenty of time go through of a lot of turnouts!

[FORTff]

Why?!?

Did anyone else here notice that this kid is a junior and won't be using the gear for any firefighting. At most he'll be outside helping out, but that's it. Why he's even considering spending the money on new gear is beyond me. The gear he's considering is stuff I wouldn't put my worst enemy in to wear into a fire anyway. It's all extroidanarily cheap and I wouldn't trust it at all.
Why don't you just deal with crappy gear until you're issued better stuff. I'm sure if people felt you needed better gear, you'd get better gear.
But hey, if you want to drop $900 for no good reason, you could always just mail me a check.