[Great for Autumn and Winter] Testing the laundry method, features, and performance of the US military adopted wear ECWCS (E-CWAX).

The author, who loves military items, accidentally found a sand camo ECWCS parka online that I like. It was cheaper than the market price, so I bought it immediately. I also researched the characteristics of GORE-TEX and how to wash it.

ECWCS (Extended Cold Weather Clothing System) refers to

ECWCS stands for "Extended Cold Weather Clothing System," which is a layering system adopted by the U.S. military for cold-weather clothing. By layering underwear, fleece, and jackets, it is capable of functioning in environments as low as -50°C, and it has been upgraded to the third generation as of now. What I acquired this time is likely a late model of the first generation GORE-TEX parka, which I was able to obtain for around 10,000 yen, which is cheaper than the market rate.

By the way, this model is made by Tennessee Apparel Corp. The official name seems to be PARKA, COLD WEATHER, DESERT CAMOUFLAGE.

Additionally, REGULAR refers to the length size, and it has been confirmed that there are also short and long sizes available.

The front length of the REGULAR is like this.

Here are the lengths of the side and back shots for your reference.

The structure features a two-layer design with a nylon inner beneath GORE-TEX material, and waterproofing treatment with seam tape has been applied to the seams of the GORE-TEX part. It gives the impression of being almost like a snowboard jacket, with very high thermal insulation.

I suddenly tried washing it

The GORE-TEX material has countless tiny holes that allow vapor, such as sweat, to escape while not letting water droplets through. However, if you don’t wash it frequently, the breathability function can decrease due to dirt, leading to a loss of functionality.

This time, I decided to wash it before using it.

It is said that hand washing in lukewarm water below 40°C is best, but to keep it simple, I closed the zipper, placed it in a laundry net, and tossed it into the washing machine.

After washing, it dries easily in the shade. I was worried that the seam tape might come off during washing, but it seems to be fine this time.

By the way, if the water-repellent function on the surface decreases, it is said to be restored by using a cloth for protection and ironing at low temperature without steam.

Worn on a rainy day below 20°C for testing

Since the laundry is complete, I tried wearing it on a rainy day with a temperature of 19°C. I wore just a long-sleeve t-shirt underneath the parka, and instead of feeling cold, I felt a slight sweat. This temperature might be a bit overkill.

So when I opened the ventilation under the armpits, it felt just right. At this rate, it seems like it will be useful for a long time from autumn to winter.

Of course, I think wearing it while camping or outdoors will be more convenient than wearing it in the city. I will be going camping this autumn season with this ECWCS.

Interview and text by Kazuma Tanaka

Here are the images of the item being worn and the tags. The manufacturer was Tennessee Apparel Corp. The model name seems to be officially PARKA, COLD WEATHER, DESERT CAMOUFLAGE. Also, REGULAR refers to the length size, and I have confirmed that there are options for short and long as well.
In the Japanese used market, it is generally distinguished by generation and pattern. Thank you for your consideration.

Search ECWCS on Amazon