Anybody have a particular recommendation on an eBay or other vendor for good condition BDUs for cadets?
Would prefer a source for MILSPEC-quality.
I know there's a couple preferred vendors for service uniforms on eBay. (Actually, other than Wardog, would like to look at some of those too)
http://www.ebay.com/usr/werdnerauctions?_trksid=p2047675.l2559 (http://www.ebay.com/usr/werdnerauctions?_trksid=p2047675.l2559)
I've gotten good things from here.
One of the surplus shops in my area makes Tru-Spec BDUs. I asked them if they would consider mail order, and they said yes, within reason. Meaning, you would have to know the milspec measuring system so as to lower the cost of returning and so on. I can give you their info...
I've always had good results and service from Wardens.
http://wardenssupplyco.com/shop/index.php (http://wardenssupplyco.com/shop/index.php)
I know that every dollar matters, but for just a few dollars more, you can get new BDUs, in all sizes, fast/reasonably priced shipping from some online vendors. My favorite is tacticalgear.com. They have a 365 day return policy (which is nice for building up a small stock for units to have BDUs on hand for new cadets/parents to try on, and if they just don't move, you can return them at no cost (except for the small shipping fees).
For example, for $24.99, New Woodland BDU Shirt (all sizes available, from Extra Small Regular to 3X Large Regular):
http://tacticalgear.com/genuine-gear-poly-cotton-ripstop-bdu-coats-woodland-camo (http://tacticalgear.com/genuine-gear-poly-cotton-ripstop-bdu-coats-woodland-camo)
Matching Pants ($24.99):
http://tacticalgear.com/genuine-gear-poly-cotton-ripstop-bdu-pants-woodland-camo (http://tacticalgear.com/genuine-gear-poly-cotton-ripstop-bdu-pants-woodland-camo)
If you live in a high heat area, then the 100% cotton is a better choice at $5 more:
http://tacticalgear.com/propper-cotton-ripstop-bdu-coats-woodland (http://tacticalgear.com/propper-cotton-ripstop-bdu-coats-woodland)
http://tacticalgear.com/propper-cotton-ripstop-bdu-pants-woodland (http://tacticalgear.com/propper-cotton-ripstop-bdu-pants-woodland)
And for our smallest cadets, when the adult Extra Small Regular sizes are still too big, there are kids sizes ($16.99):
http://tacticalgear.com/kids-propper-nylon-cotton-twill-bdu-coats-woodland (http://tacticalgear.com/kids-propper-nylon-cotton-twill-bdu-coats-woodland)
http://tacticalgear.com/kids-propper-nylon-cotton-twill-kids-bdu-pants-woodland (http://tacticalgear.com/kids-propper-nylon-cotton-twill-kids-bdu-pants-woodland)
Note: The kids sizes have slightly different buttons on the pockets, but I would always choose that over putting a cadet in an ill-fitting, baggy BDU.
Cadets know when they look good and if their uniform fits, so especially for our newest cadets, who are focused on fitting in in their first 60 days, having a good uniform seems to always pay off.
Final comment: TacticalGear.com offers a 10% discount off the entire purchase for active duty, retirees, veterans, first responders, military spouses and military family members. I'm a vet, so I qualify that way, but I just opened a support ticket to find out if CAP members also qualify, and I will post back once I have an answer.
I don't know which commercial brands or product lines are close to MILSPEC, for new uniforms.
I have both UNICOR and Propper MILSPEC BDUs from AAFES. I just sewed a Propper BDU shirt purchased through Vanguard for someone. It was an import - VERY low quality material that faded heavily in his first washing. It was similar to some of the cheap import BDUs The Hock Shop once sold. I would not like the cadets to get them.
I think it has a lot to do with the fabric composition. The Vanguard uniform was probably 100% cotton, whereas the AAFES ones were likely nylon cotton ripstop. I would avoid the 100% cottons and the twill uniforms.
It would be nice if CAP could update to a current issue uniform so that quality uniforms and accoutraments could be acquired via official sources. >:D
It is definitely a fabric issue. The fabric was flimsy, the color a bit off, and it was that material on which the rip-stop really "pops" white very distinctly (and quickly - a single wash....seriously? and for $70 a set?).
On the other hand, I sewed a small uniform made by American Apparel (a uniform manufacturer in AL). The quality was near MILSPEC. But where can I consistently buy them if I want to make sure to get that brand and fabric quality?
I don't think it's too much to ask that they have a complete uniform that looks new, for which the shirt, pants, and cap match in color/fabric. This is a bizarre philosophy called "uniformity."
Quote from: JC004 on October 07, 2015, 05:44:48 AM
I don't think it's too much to ask that they have a complete uniform that looks new, for which the shirt, pants, and cap match in color/fabric. This is a bizarre philosophy called "uniformity."
:clap: I applaud your sarcasm sir
But seriously, that is an issue that MANY members have to deal with, and it is terribly ironic that vendors uniforms are often, in fact, not uniform,