Totally thornproof trousers / gaiters?

[outdoorstevo]

I do some volunteer search and rescue, which sometimes leads me through some very thick brambles / gorse / thorns / bushes etc.

When I'm out with a team that knows what they're doing, we take the view that if we can't get into the bush without difficulty (and can't see evidence that anyone has forced their way in), it's rather unlikely that a missing person has gone through it.

Sometimes however, when we work with a certain police force, they take the idea of a line search to mean that everyone moves very slowly in a straight line with fixed spacing regardless of what obstacles are in the way. Stupid, but true.

Anyway, the last time this happened, I got thorns stuck in my lower legs that have taken about 4 months to stop itching and heal properly. I'm trying to work out if there's a way to avoid this (other than send plod in first).

The injuries tend to be restricted ot the lower legs, as we've had to get good at trampling. I wish I could say this was without damage to the bushes.

Does anyone know of a cheap and easily available pair of gaiters or trousers that's totally thornproof? I've looked into snake chaps, but their availability and cost in the UK is prohibitive. I'm not really bothered if they're waterproof, and I'd guess that most of the goretex gaiters available would be shredded or at least punctured fairly quickly.

I have a load of unused ventile sitting around that I could use, but I'm not sure if it's a suitable use (or if I'm good enough at sewing)

thanks

 

[fast but dim]

i would suggest that the next time it happens swap your thorny place in the line with a pc who's getting paid.

as a volunteer i'd tell them to poke it. i daresay if you asked a lot of coppers to walk through brambles they'd say the same.

 

[Greg]

You could look at the Barbour waxed motorbike trousers.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....622549&cguid=ebe2122011f0a0aad3d63c06ffdd8135

I have nothing to do with this seller blah, blah, blah.

 

[outdoorstevo]

The waxed trousers look interesting, and they'd have the added benefit of making me look a bit like a pervy biker fetishist

"I've found the missing person, but they seem to be running away quite fast!"

I wonder how well they'd stand up to thorns though.

Reorganising a police run search is usually not an option. As volunteers, we're there pretty much just to find the person, so we tend to just get on with it whatever the conditions. One benefit of volunteer teams is that you know they're dedicated to getting the job done, not just getting the hours logged. Not that there aren't excellent coppers involved in search of course.

 

[Greg]

I wonder how well they'd stand up to thorns though.

Barbour Waxed gear is designed to be thorn proof.

 

[outdoorstevo]

Barbour Waxed gear is designed to be thorn proof.

Interesting, I wasn't aware of that - thanks.

 

[fast but dim]

. One benefit of volunteer teams is that you know they're dedicated to getting the job done, not just getting the hours logged.

lol. you're not wrong.
the other benefit is they dont cost the goverment anything.

waxed cotton chaps would be good, you can also buy trousers for using bruchcutters, but i'll bet they cost mucho.

 

[Shewie]

Try and find some heavy duck canvas gaiters, I`ve only just sold a pair on here

 

[outdoorstevo]

Try and find some heavy duck canvas gaiters, I`ve only just sold a pair on here

Do you mean the kind advertised as being ex British army? There seem to be a few on ebay at the moment.

I haven't managed to track down wax trousers in my size, so gaiters may be the best bet

 

[Shewie]

I think the army snow gaiters are canvas but I was thinking more along the lines of these

 

[Nonsuch]

Really heavy thornproof tweed ?

Ventile rips very easily

 

[outdoorstevo]

Really heavy thornproof tweed ?

Ventile rips very easily

I have to say, I love the idea of turning up to a search dressed like Bertie Wooster on a hunting jolly - all harris tweed and deerstalkers, and a shotgun broken over the arm instant kudos.

Thanks for the tip on ventile, I haven't used it before so I wasn't aware it rips easily (it's just a bolt of fabric without purpose at the moment)

 

[BigShot]

No answer on the gaiters front, but could it be worth having a word/writing a letter to whoever coordinates the S&R in the force you mentioned?

Perhaps they haven't considered that asking a load of people to tramp through thorns and get cut to shreds isn't a particularly good way to treat the local plant life, the volunteers or to find a missing person.
There's every chance they'll just use that age old "that's not how things are done around here" attitude, but maybe if someone pointed out the other (better?) way of searching things might change.

Particularly as you mention "a certain police force", suggesting that others aren't the same.

Just a thought.

Thanks for doing an important and worthwile job.

 

[MikeDB]

I use these.....

http://www.countryattire.com/index.php/manufacturers_id/17

Worn for beating, shooting and anything nasty round the farm. They don't restrict movement, they don't cost the earth, they pack really small, they are repairable and re-proofable and thornproof. Perfect for the job. (nope, I don't work for Barbour!)

Mike

 

[Barney]

Above link not working!

What about some leather chaps, My daughter uses these for horse riding and they are fairly strong. I would say barbed wire proof.

http://www.tackanory.co.uk/section.php?xSec=56

 

[MikeDB]

Above link not working!

Ok, it's fixed now. Oh, and using a screamer like that could be seen by some as a tad brusque.

Mike

 

[Limaed]

Hi

Ive done quite a few urban searches too with MR, the forces issue gaiter are a good choice and durable.
Another option is too wear wellies which are better for some of the ground you might be covering particulary old industrial areas and rough ground.
Some of my collegues wear overalls and a heavy duty PVC suit if conditions dictate, certainly saves wrecking your expensive Gore-Tex and decent boots. Ed

 

[SimonM]

Tamarack sell some good canvas gaiters - I have a pair and rate them highly.

Can't remember who makes them and they are in the loft so can't check easily.

Can't see them on their website either, so may be worth a phone call?

Simon

 

[Barney]

Luckily not you though Mike, My brevity has long been a cause for consternation amongst a number of folk. Fortunately I know I was trying to be helpful, take it as such.

 

[outdoorstevo]

No answer on the gaiters front, but could it be worth having a word/writing a letter to whoever coordinates the S&R in the force you mentioned?

Perhaps they haven't considered that asking a load of people to tramp through thorns and get cut to shreds isn't a particularly good way to treat the local plant life, the volunteers or to find a missing person.
There's every chance they'll just use that age old "that's not how things are done around here" attitude, but maybe if someone pointed out the other (better?) way of searching things might change.

Particularly as you mention "a certain police force", suggesting that others aren't the same.

Just a thought.

It's not a problem we've had with most forces - they tend to be quite content to let us do our thing (within their general framework), but twice with this particular force it has happened. To be fair, both times were large scale searches involving multiple search teams from around the country, as well as a large number of police and other agencies - it probably just got too complicated on the ground.

Anyway, it's not a force that we work with regularly, only when assisting another search unit. If it happens again, I'm sure we'll make some representations to get things changed, but trying to change a police search whilst it's happening doesn't really work in my experience (and for good reason).

I only really mentioned it to set the scene as to why I have to sometimes go through the middle of the thorns rather than around them.

Thanks for doing an important and worthwile job.

Thanks, and if you're interested in finding out more, google ALSAR to see if there's a team in your area. Most search teams would welcome those who aren't afraid of the woods or a bit of rain.

I use these.....

http://www.countryattire.com/index.php/manufacturers_id/17

http://www.tackanory.co.uk/section.php?xSec=56

Both interesting, thanks. I'll have to get my thinking cap on and decide what the best option is.