Clothing

The Army operates in a wide range of conditions, from those found in arctic areas to conditions found in desert areas. The clothing issued to soldiers must accommodate this wide range of conditions.

CADPAT Clothing

Since 2001 Canadian soldiers have been dressed in the camouflage known as the Canadian Disruptive Pattern (CADPAT). It is available in Temperate Woodland or TW which is primarily green, black and brown in colour, and Arid Regions or AR. AR CADPAT is composed of three different colours of brown.

Soldiers in Canada are issued TW CADPAT combat shirts and pants. As well, new field clothing and equipment is or will be available in CADPAT shortly.

This includes the wide brimmed combat hat, helmet cover, tactical vest, fragmentation protective vest, desert scarf, and rucksack covers.

More detailed information is available at the Clothe the Soldier website.

More Details

IECS

In addition to older issue clothing, since 2000, the CF has been steadily improving the clothing for the individual soldier. The Improved Environmental Clothing System (IECS) provides a fully integrated clothing system to protect the Canadian Forces (CF) soldier in conditions ranging from wet cold to extreme cold.

The IECS system is based on the principle of layering, allowing the soldier to regulate body temperature through adding or removing layers.

The IECS System includes:

Outerwear
Combat Jacket (to be issued in TW CADPAT)
Parka
Bib Overalls
Combat Trousers
Fleece Top and Bottoms

Underwear

Drawers Temperate Underwear
Brassiere Temperate Underwear
Lightweight Thermal Underwear

Footwear

Temperate Combat Boot
Wet Weather Boot

Combat Sock System

Liner Socks
Temperate Socks
Cold Weather Socks

Headwear

In addition to the beret that every CF soldier is issued, Army Reservists are also issued helmets, wide brimmed combat hats, toques, and the following IECS components:

Lightweight Thermal Balaclava (See Photo)
Lightweight Thermal Neck Gaiter

Gloves

CF soldiers are now issued four new gloves to cover a wide range of operating conditions.

Temperate Combat Glove (TW CADPAT) for general purpose use in temperate conditions of 5^oC to 35^oC. (See photo)
Lightweight Thermal/Mortar Glove – for dexterity in cold conditions while operating weapons, communications equipment, vehicles, etc.
Combat Vehicle Crew Glove – for soldiers such as reconnaissance crewmen who are assigned to combat vehicles.
Cold Wet Weather Glove – for use in cold and wet weather from +10oC to -15oC (below that temperature, arctic mitts are used).