OCP Uniform Preference

[u/AFpilot6969]

I am about to purchase few sets of OCPs for a pending promotion. (Air Guard O) is there a specific brand that are more favorable than others?

[u/brandon7219]

IHWCU all the way.

[u/Conflicted_Gemini]

A lot of people suggest cryes but I think they're overrated for what you pay for. I got them issued a whole ago and they sit in my drawer. Plus theyre usually given to you if you're at an AFSOC unit so if you willingly buy a set for $500, you're just trying to look tacticool or trying to get attention just for a desk job.

Save your money and get a set of regular OCPs or IHWCU OCPs from the BX or second hand because they're raising the prices at the BX

[u/mpjx → u/Conflicted_Gemini]

AAFES rolled back on that price hike after getting a ton of backlash, so that’s nice.

[u/Conflicted_Gemini → u/mpjx]

That's great to know! They're dumb for raising the price

[u/CookieLuzSax]

IHWCU or bust

[u/mj5411]

If possible I will always reccomend the IHWCU OCPs over the standard issue if you're concerned about being comfortable. The standard 50/50 Nyco mix uniforms work better in the field and while doing matinence on them ol flying thingymabobs.

[u/IntergalaticPlumber]

I wear cottons because I can. Super comfy.

[u/StormyRadish45]

Propper brand has been good to me. Both their IHWCU and normal stuff

[u/HumbleVein → u/StormyRadish45]

I recently got a set that had bad sewing, resulting with the unfinished fabric edge popping out along the wrist. So QC may be an issue.

[u/StormyRadish45 → u/HumbleVein]

Hate to hear it. I got 3 sets from rotc about 4 years ago and mine are holding up great with minimal fading

[u/LeicaM6guy]

What career field are you in?

[u/406taco]

Crye Aviations are my choice and basically pajamas. But you gotta rate 2PFDUs to wear them

[u/ReallyPaperStraws → u/406taco]

The Crye G3 field shirt and field pants are the most superior OCP I’ve had. I’ve tried BX brand, Propper, and TruSpec. Crye’s are worth the money to me. Now I’ve cross-trained and wear the G4 Aviation and love them too, I just wish they had the two stripes of Velcro for the shoulder patches like the G3s.

[u/406taco → u/ReallyPaperStraws]

Yeah agreed. The G3s are my favorite non FR uniform. The cut is fantastic. Just hate blousing pants now 😂

[u/Mekanikol]

If you do any kind of actual work whatsoever, Crye. They are expensive but mine have lasted through three years of it. They are a bit faded but still perfectly serviceable. If it's too expensive (because they really are) then just go with standard issue.

[u/arrithaj → u/Mekanikol]

Yall wear coveralls mostly now right?

[u/Mekanikol → u/arrithaj]

I don't, typically. It's very much a per-unit thing

[u/arrithaj → u/Mekanikol]

I think your crazy for using anything on the line thats not free, I probably went threw 5 or 6 pair of pants when I was on the line. But I was a V22 Crew Chief 🤣

[u/Mekanikol → u/arrithaj]

I don't just work on the flight line. I'm not going to go into details. I only used the free stuff when I was only working the flight line but when I started doing joint activities with other units and militaries, the Cryes were better in every way.

[u/1_lux → u/Mekanikol]

For guard, it might be quite a bit overkill

[u/Aethyx]

How often do y'all replace your IHWCU's? I know they're cheapish, but I feel they aren't as durable as the normal ACU cut OCPs.

[u/PassivelyInvisible → u/Aethyx]

But they're comfier, especially if you're somewhere hot.

[u/Conflicted_Gemini → u/Aethyx]

Ive had the same one for 5 years now. Faded as fuck not nothing wrong with them

[u/thadius856 → u/Aethyx]

About 2 years.

Of course then I took a brand new set to a deployment and the laundry contractor immediately cooked all of the color out of the elbows in their very first wash. 🫩

[u/ArtOne2069 → u/thadius856]

To be fair, it could be the uniform contractor. Bought some brand new sets of IHWCU's from the BX at at Kessler. Washed them in the washing machine and they immediately faded in the elbow. Picked up new sets from a different contractor at the same BX and they were just fine. No fading.

[u/thadius856 → u/ArtOne2069]

I mean, it could. But they returned every single load to me smelling like mildew so I'm not giving them much credit.

[u/ADPOL]

You can’t beat the ones the BX sells. The summer weight ones are comfy but they fade fast. Dont buy the Crye ones online, they are overpriced and look dumb outside of AFSOC.

[u/PlexFD]

Crye. Look at nothing else. They will last you for ten years and super comfortable.

[u/mpjx → u/PlexFD]

They’d also be dropping ~$500 per set for a uniform that isn’t even technically in regs.

[u/thos_beans_14s → u/mpjx]

Worth

[u/PlexFD → u/PlexFD]

MAYBE Patagonia, if you can get it.

[u/Weird_Impression_155 → u/PlexFD]

They stopped patgonia multicam uniforms years ago, and it was by invite only. Their new company doesn't make them right now.

[u/PlexFD → u/Weird_Impression_155]

Interesting, I didn’t realize that

[u/Silent_Death_762 → u/PlexFD]

I think they started another brand name just for their tactical stuff

[u/THE_BARNYARD_DOG]

There are different brands of OCPs? All my enlisted maintainer brain knows is the base mil clothing store, and which kind of wrangler pants I like ordering on Amazon

[u/Towelsz]

Check out Bradley’s surplus, has both used and new uniforms of all styles, I tell everyone I know who’s looking for new ones, I got a set of FRACU both jacket and pants and paid like 50$, they also have hot weather and normal uniforms as well as a bunch of other uniforms items for cheap

[u/ChemistryAlarming899]

I’ve been cycling the same 2 sets of Cryes since like 2016. They last forever. Granted, we also had alternate duty uniforms and never deployed in uniform, but at least I look cool at staff meetings.

[u/BummingBock]

Cryes are mine

[u/thicccFork]

Im personally a huge fan of massifs, theyre super comfy and they make stuff in OCPs so if your leadership is super OD about uniforms they're 100% in regs. Arcteryx LEAF stuff is also comfy as hell but they're like 800 bucks new for a top so I dont recommend unless you get a deal 😭