Extended Cold Weather Clothing System
Overview
The Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) is a layered insulating system adjustable to personal preference, metabolism, and prevailing weather conditions. It is designed to maintain adequate environmental protection between +40°F and -60°F (4°C and -51°C).
Components
The original ECWCS is composed of 23 individual clothing, handwear, headwear and footwear items which are used in various combinations to meet cold weather environmental requirements.
- Layer 1 - moisture wicking layer
- Polypropylene undershirt and drawers
- Layer 2 - insulating layer
- Polyester fiberpile shirt and bib overall (later replaced by black fleece shirt and overalls), field trouser liner.
- Layer 3 - insulating layer
- Field coat liner and field trousers.
- Layer 4 - waterproof, windproof layer
- ECWCS parka and trousers (later redesigned separately for the Marine Corps and the Army).
- Layer 5 - snow camouflage layer
- Overwhite parka and trousers.
- Handwear
- Light duty gloves and the glove inserts, trigger finger mitten shells and the mitten inserts, extreme cold weather mitten set, snow camouflage mitten shells.
- Headwear
- Cap with earflaps, combat vehicle crewman's hood (balaclava) (later replaced by cold weather hood).
- Footwear
- Cushion sole socks, cold weather boots (black and white).
- Accessories
- M1950 trouser suspenders.
References
- Use and Care of the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System.[pdf]
- https://www.logsa.army.mil/psmag/archives/PS2004/PS_623/623-49-51.pdf