The All Purpose Environmental Clothing System (APECS) parka and trousers were developed to provide Marines with an all-purpose/all-season set of outershell garments that are lighter in weight, lower in bulk, have lower noise generation, are moisture vapor permeable and have an improved water repellency over the 2nd Generation ECWCS parka and trousers. The APECS also incorporates the Marine Pattern.
The extended cold weather parka and trousers are new ECWCS development items.The parka and trousers serve as the windproof, waterproof layer in the system.
The 2nd generation parka and trousers incorporates features requested by Marines. Improvements over the original parka and trousers include a two-way entry pocket design, water channels to protect critical area from potential leakage, removal of the taffeta nylon lining to reduce cost, improved breathability, a roll and stow hood, and a Cordura nylon reinforcement of the elbow and knee areas to improve durability.
The parka and trousers replace the original parka and trousers in the Army.
The jacket and trousers are designed for use in cold, wet conditions alternating between freezing and thawing as a hard shell layer combined with other base and insulative layers.The jacket and trousers provide a lightweight, completely waterproof, windproof and breathable level of protection against the elements.
The lightweight exposure jacket and trousers are designed for wind and rain protection in mountain conditions.
The FREE system extreme weather outer layer (EWOL) parka, fleece liner, and trousers are constructed with a lightweight, windproof, waterproof, and breathable Gore-tex fabric that combines the DuPont Nomex fiber outer material and the Gore-tex membrane. The EWOL jacket features a removable roll-and-stow hood and zip-in liner constructed from Polartec thermal FR fleece. The EWOL serves as the most external layer in the clothing system and is available in OCP or UCP.
The NWU parka is intended for use by US Navy personnel when weather conditions dictate and as the outer layer protection when used during cold/wet weather operations.
The NWU Gore-Tex trousers are the Navy version of APECS trousers.
The Improved Rain Suit (IRS) forms a waterproof outer shell worn over other clothing and gear. It is lightweight; however, IRS functions strictly as a rain barrier, offering little protection from the cold.