provided by: 
We all know the feeling. Sweating. Freezing. Sweating, then freezing from the sweating.
It's not fun. For law enforcement officers, staying warm, cool or just comfortable is a challenge in all climates.
To battle the sweaty armpits and freezing hands of officers nationwide, climate-control apparel is making a name for itself.
"You can spend most of your time in the cruiser where you're nice and comfortable," says Lt. Brian Williams with the East Grand Rapids (Michigan) Public Safety Department. "But then you're called to duty outside of it, have to carry your equipment and be prepared for anything, especially during Michigan winters."
From Goretex to Polartec, and WindStopper to SmartFabric, the technologies for climate control apparel are aiding officers from hot to cold, coast to coast, and even overseas.
Test of the Midwest
In western Michigan, Williams' department must keep pace with the changing Midwestern lake effect.
Lake Michigan stays warmer during the winter months, though the wind drifts cold air right across it. "It can be snowing and bright sunny at the same time," he says. "It's crazy weather here."
The agency offers its officers a light pair of trousers and a heavier set for seasonal comfort.
Some will choose just the heavier set, and "sweat a little more in the summer," while others go with the lighter "and are a little colder in the winter," says Williams.
Then, even more will choose the lightweight apparel for the spring and summer months, and heavier fabrics for the fall and winter.
It is mandatory each officer wear the same pants, shirt, jacket and hat, whichever weight, "however they do have some options in their footwear," he adds.
Insulation has been a major improvement Williams has seen throughout his nearly two decades in the law enforcement industry.
This trend, he says, is especially prevalent in the boots' arena.
"I remember 18 years ago, your feet would sweat all the time, and once they sweat, they get cold," he says. "The technology now is that you can be quite active in them and not perspire much."
Meeting the heat
"It's extremely hot, I don't know any other way to describe it," says Lt. Joe Lopez of the Florida Highway Patrol.
The humidity in Orlando can reach 75 to 85 percent in the summer months.
The need for light clothing that still maintains its shape and uniform look is essential for officers working in such a hot, humid climate.
Having worked the traffic/homicide beat, Lopez knows this need firsthand.
"When you work traffic/homicide, you can't find refuge," he says. "You can't just go in your car and sit there when you have a crime scene investigation to do. We walk around with towels and water bottles. Sometimes it gets so hot your weapon will fall out of your hand."
Because of the extreme heat, Lopez says its difficult to find any uniform that changes the temperature drastically. "We go from A/C to A/C to deal with it," he adds. "If we could have A/C plugged to our backs, that would be nice one day," he says jokingly.
However, the department has seen advancements in the body armor it wears.
"We carry so much equipment that we want something that's less bulky and thinner," he says.
In the Army now
In Iraq, the average temperature at this time of year is 117 degrees Fahrenheit, dry air.
It's hot.
"When it's hot and dirty, it doesn't take long before you start stinking," says Tim Burke, who is serving his third tour in Iraqi as a police trainer. "And you know, you don't change pants every day."
Burke works in a unique climate compared to most of those in the United States. He says he needs a uniform which keeps him cool, as well as provides a high level of functionality, meaning many pockets.
"Everything I need I have to carry with me," he says. "The hidden pockets, which I really like, I keep IDs and money in."
The material of the uniforms is what he says has changed the most over the years. "Back in the Vietnam days, they came out with a nice jungle material that was thin, took moisture and evaporated quickly," he says. "It kept you cool, but rotted right off your body."
The last uniforms he had were cool and loose, but smelled. "Honestly, after a few days, in a very hot, dirty climate, you wish you were wearing something else," says Burke.
In the Iraqi desert conditions, with 117-degree days, an officer doesn't sweat. The biggest challenge is staying hydrated and cool.
Before climate-control uniforms there was cotton. "When you're in a climate as hot and hostile as Iraq or Afghanistan, the old army cotton uniform was terrible," he adds.
His new uniform is cool, fits better, doesn't sag, and doesn't stink. It reflects the sunlight, making for a much cooler experience.
"This is the natural progression of the design," he says. "It's a functional uniform."
Educated customers
As law enforcement becomes more educated in the availability of climate-control fabrics, manufacturers are racing to keep up with the new demand.
"Companies should be finding lighter, thinner materials, which are very durable," says Lopez. "They need to be able to be washed, not need drycleaning, yet still stand up."
The customer also is becoming smarter in finances when it comes to uniform purchases. Law enforcement consumers are realizing that paying more initially makes for a better investment in the long run.
"Uniforms are so expensive," says Williams. "We've learned, however, that buying cheap doesn't pay. If we spend a little more on the product, it lasts longer and looks nicer."
As a public safety department, Williams' 31-person agency is responsible for all law enforcement, fire and EMS response for the city's 12,000 residents.
From a fireman's perspective, there have been major advancements with the jackets. "They're so much lighter and breathable. You used to throw those things on and immediately break out in a sweat."
The change has not been immediate, but a gradual improvement in comfort and wearability over the years, he notes.
"I have an old jacket around here," Williams says. "I still look at it once in a while and think that's ridiculous, no one would wear that now."
The new jackets, he boasts, are very lightweight and breathable. "The guys put them on when they go out on patrol and keep them on the entire time."
Customers know what they want and are asking for it.
"They want the armor as cool as possible, which relates to comfort and the ability to have longer wear periods," says Dale Taylor, director of engineering for Point Blank Body Armor.
The typical answer engineers from Point Blank receive from agencies is they want fabrics which meet those needs.
A changing mindset
"Compared to 1985, there's definitely a mindset today of comfortable, lightweight, thinner body armor while still maintaining the protection," Lopez explains.
The change in attitude, especially in body armor usage, comes in the minds of officers. "Armor that is not comfortable, that is less likely to be worn at all, does not offer any protection if the officer is not wearing it," says Taylor.
In the 1970s, he notes, armor was comprised of just the basic materials. "Most of the officers had never really worn armor and then they were being asked to as an optional policy of the department. In today's environment and over the years, it's become more of a requirement."
The mindset also has changed as far as training with armor is concerned. Training agencies are requiring students wear armor during educational lessons. This way, "the mentality that armor saves lives is in the officers' minds prior to landing on the streets," Taylor explains.
In the body armor industry, Tom Dragone, assistant director of engineering with Point Blank, says climate control is a brand-new concept. The evolution of moisture-wicking and absorbing materials in armor is the result of those being used in other garment industries, such as athletics.
Whether in Iraq, or on the streets of any-town America, the right uniform design can mean the difference between life and death.
In Iraq, Burke says a cool uniform is essential to the body's stability. When an officer is not accustomed to such intense heat, being able to keep cool is necessary.
Wearing a body armor vest while performing traffic stops is just as important as wearing one during a SWAT mission.
Encouraging officers to wear their armor is the challenge manufacturers face in making a lightweight and cool product.
"Subtle design changes have evolved over the years, and they are incorporated into our products," says Dragone.
In addition to lightness and thinness, the actual placement of the armor is changing the comfort factor of body armor. Manufacturers are integrating ergonomic carrier designs with protective ballistic panels which are evenly distributed to eliminate pressure points at protruding locations such as hip bones and shoulders.
To prevent uncomfortable seams on the inside, the ballistic panel is loaded into the carrier on the front side. "Traditionally, in years gone by, you accessed the panel from the inside, or the side close to the skin," says Dragone. "These engineering changes enhance the overall comfort. This is why we call it a system, a complete armor system, which incorporates the ballistic system as well as the carrier system."
Keeping your cool
The challenge of keeping cool and staying warm is just part of an officer's job.
The products available for today's law enforcement professionals are making this less of a challenge and more an everyday component of getting dressed.
From undergarments to boots, moisture-wicking pants and body armor, climate-control apparel is "hot."
author: By Jennifer Mertens