BW Gore-Tex trousers, Flecktarn, surplus

Trousers of the current issue German Bundeswehr rain suit. Very simple and sensible hardshell overtrousers to wear when it's wet and nasty.

All in all a very simple pair of "GTX" trousers with a couple of handy features for use in the field:

• Hook 'n' loop adjustment on the waist.
• Zipper fly.
• Fixed suspenders with low profile adjustment buckles.
• Zippered legs for ease of donning with boots on.
• Cut with generous clothing allowance!

Waterproof membrane

Made of Gore-Tex or Sympatex, this membrane "breathes"; it lets moisture out, keeping the wearer dry. Microscopic holes in the membrane let water vapor pass through, but are too small for liquid water to do the same (although in the case of Sympatex the mechanism is somewhat different). However, no rain suit breathes as well as regular non-rainwear. For this reason, they're still best reserved for wet and nasty weather or blocking the wind in light activity.

On the very top there is (or has been) a DWR coating with a job of blocking most of the water before it even touches the membrane.

Size info

First the German size, then these converted to comparable easy size, followed by the user's recommended waist circumference. As these are meant to be worn over everything else, they have sized accordingly - by picking your own size you should have plenty of room for extra clothing.

The length sizes are all the same and are good for average height males, but this leaves some room to play; rain trousers don't need to extend all the way to the floor level.

Genuine BW issue

In used but perfectly serviceable condition. The DWR coating on the top of the fabric may have faded with time, but it can be revived with standard wet blocking sprays.