USGI Bear Suit Overalls

Fiber Pile Bib Overalls

These are US Army cold weather bib overalls, known to soldiers as the bear suit because of the thick brown pile that lines them. They are an insulating layer, worn under a windproof or waterproof shell to keep heat in when the temperature drops well below freezing. Hunters on a stand, ice fishermen, winter campers and anyone working outdoors through the cold months use them, as do collectors of US cold weather kit.

Features

• 100% Polyester Fiber Pile — Fiber pile is a deep, furry synthetic fabric that traps warm air the way animal fur does and keeps insulating when damp.
• Bib Overall Cut — The high front and back cover the lower torso as well as the legs, so there is no cold gap at the waist when you bend or sit.
• Adjustable Suspenders — Black webbing straps with plastic buckles carry the overalls from the shoulders and adjust for torso length.
• Built For Layering — The overalls are designed as a middle layer that sits between your base layer and an outer shell trouser.
• Brown Issue Color — The pile is the dark brown worn across this generation of US military cold weather liners.
• NSN-Labeled — The sewn-in label carries a National Stock Number, the code the US military uses to catalogue every issued item, along with size and nomenclature.
• Printed Care Instructions — The label gives field and machine laundering directions, including no bleach, no starch and no dry cleaning.
• Military Contract Production — These were made under government contract for issue to US forces, not for the commercial market.

Original Issue Spec

The label identifies the item as Overalls, Bib, Cold Weather, 100% Polyester Fiberpile. The example pictured is marked Medium-Long and was made by Tennier Industries, Inc. on a Defense Logistics Agency contract. Because they are a liner, the bear suit is meant to fit fairly close so a shell trouser can go over the top. Check the size label against your usual measurements and allow for whatever you plan to wear above and below it.