Pants (not a cookie-cutter question).

[MDA]

How many of you wear straight leg regular EMS/EMT pants WITHOUT the cargo/leg pockets?

I'm honestly not a huge fan of them. I wear a long sleeve uniform shirt every all the time, even in the summer due to tattoos, plus I find the look more professional. Anything I need to carry directly I can fit in my shirt pocket (small notepad/pen). I lock my wallet/cell phone in the glovebox or something when on calls. Everything else I would need is in the jump bag/rig. I don't want to weigh myself down or alter my mobility because I have tons of stuff in all available pockets.

So why is it 99% of people in EMS pick the cargo style pants? A lot of people I know specifically don't even use the pockets on the sides, haha.

Share your thoughts/opinions. When you see someone without cargo pockets do you notice or think any differently?

Weird question I know, but it's interesting.

 

[TransportJockey]

A lot of FDs I know of only wear straight legs. I prefer my cargos, but I don't have a place in the rig I trust my wallet and cell, so they both go in the inside leg pockes (in the big leg pockets). I also like having my penlight on my right leg in the EMS pockets and my shears in the left ems pockets. And since I hate having my steth around my neck it goes in the right leg pocket

 

[MDA]

A lot of FDs I know of only wear straight legs. I prefer my cargos, but I don't have a place in the rig I trust my wallet and cell, so they both go in the inside leg pockes (in the big leg pockets). I also like having my penlight on my right leg in the EMS pockets and my shears in the left ems pockets. And since I hate having my steth around my neck it goes in the right leg pocket

Makes sense, and it's a valid argument.

I just seem to have back luck with stuff in leg pockets, either getting in/out of the rig, hitting them on doorways, and things like that. Plus I'm kind of thin, so the pants with the leg pockets seem to just look funny on me anyway. We have pretty adequate jump bags, and of course they're always checked before calls so I know it has what I need.

I've never had the choice before. Last company I worked for issued everything for us from top to bottom. This time it's supplied for me, colors are the same, and all uniform shirts are the same I just have a choice on pant style/boots so I'm like a kid in a candy store haha. I'm just undecided on what I want so I thought I would bring up the topic.

 

[Sassafras]

I'm another one to shove my steth in the side pocket and prefer bdu type pants for the crotch area. I'm always afraid regular crotch seams will split if I am squating working with a patient.

 

[MDA]

I'm another one to shove my steth in the side pocket and prefer bdu type pants for the crotch area. I'm always afraid regular crotch seams will split if I am squating working with a patient.

Another good point.

 

[DrParasite]

My former FT job (that is now my PT job) didn't allow EMT pants to be worn. only black ****ies. sucks. fortunately my new FT job does, and even in dispatch, I always wear EMT cargo pants.

1) I always want my wallet with me. has my DL, my ID, cash, etc. I want it on me. I hate having it in my back pocket, since I don't like sitting on it. side leg is great. esp since spiwak ones have zipper closures.

2) at my former FT job, we wore bat belts. almost everyone. we also had minitor pagers, but my minitor pager doesn't fit on my bat belt. admin finally let us get the small note pad sized pockets on one leg, and that's where it went.

3) Sheers go in the cargo pants (on belt at cargoless jobs), and occasionally so does my scope (when it isn't around my neck).

4) skell gloves go in back pocket of my pants. either pair of pants

I wish my old agency would lets us wear cargo, but the boss says no. so it isn't my choice, but rather the director's that prohibits it.

 

[ExpatMedic0]

Makes sense, and it's a valid argument.

I just seem to have back luck with stuff in leg pockets, either getting in/out of the rig, hitting them on doorways, and things like that. Plus I'm kind of thin, so the pants with the leg pockets seem to just look funny on me anyway. We have pretty adequate jump bags, and of course they're always checked before calls so I know it has what I need.

I've never had the choice before. Last company I worked for issued everything for us from top to bottom. This time it's supplied for me, colors are the same, and all uniform shirts are the same I just have a choice on pant style/boots so I'm like a kid in a candy store haha. I'm just undecided on what I want so I thought I would bring up the topic.

I wear womens EMS pants sometimes. There not incredibly baggy and more slim fit. You have to find the right cut though so they fit right in the crotch.

 

[MDA]

My former FT job (that is now my PT job) didn't allow EMT pants to be worn. only black ****ies. sucks. fortunately my new FT job does, and even in dispatch, I always wear EMT cargo pants.

1) I always want my wallet with me. has my DL, my ID, cash, etc. I want it on me. I hate having it in my back pocket, since I don't like sitting on it. side leg is great. esp since spiwak ones have zipper closures.

2) at my former FT job, we wore bat belts. almost everyone. we also had minitor pagers, but my minitor pager doesn't fit on my bat belt. admin finally let us get the small note pad sized pockets on one leg, and that's where it went.

3) Sheers go in the cargo pants (on belt at cargoless jobs), and occasionally so does my scope (when it isn't around my neck).

4) skell gloves go in back pocket of my pants. either pair of pants

I wish my old agency would lets us wear cargo, but the boss says no. so it isn't my choice, but rather the director's that prohibits it.

Interesting, you'd think it would be the other way around requiring EMS style pants. Pretty crazy, that's the first I've heard of it.

The wallet issue is my only issue, but if necessary I can put it in my pants (I only carry it in my front pocket anyway on/off duty).

I'll check out the pants you mentioned. Zipper style might be more geared toward what I'm looking for instead of larger cargo pockets.

Still leaning toward regular uniform pants though, not sure why... maybe just for the change or different look.

 

[MDA]

I wear womens EMS pants sometimes. There not incredibly baggy and more slim fit. You have to find the right cut though so they fit right in the crotch.

This was another suggestion a few friends of mine had (and that they do).
Might have to do it in person though since I have zero knowledge of girl sizes or cuts, lol.

 

[ExpatMedic0]

This was another suggestion a few friends of mine had (and that they do).
Might have to do it in person though since I have zero knowledge of girl sizes or cuts, lol.

I am a guys 32/32 and thats gives me a little room. I can squeeze into a girls size 8, but its a little tight. The 10 was to big. Anyway just to give you an idea. I am sure the cut and the brand matters also. If your going with girls try them on in person as you said.

 

[Mountain Res-Q]

I too am a cargo pockets guy... on ambo my wallet, steth, and a note pad were stored in the cargo pockets. On SAR, they make a quick place to shove items temporarily when I can't put the item in the proper place (a big reason why cargos are good in my opinion even on ambo... a quick place to shove things for the time being). Like others, I too had a "bat belt" (90% of the 180 employees did) on ambo, but only used in on shifts where I was likely to sleep so that I could just click the belt on and have my shears, light, radio, etc. on me in an instant. However, a good pair of cargos could store everything on a standard day shift from sheers, steth, radio, gloves, etc. I love cargo pockets for everything and WHEN I go back to ambo they will be be my "weapon of choice".

Sassafras, even with cargos, I once squated a little too deeply when moving a patient and ended up with a 10 inch rip along the inseem... finsished the call that way and it was the last call of the day.

 

[adamjh3]

I'm on my first EMS job and I've been issued straight leg pants, works well enough for me. Keys, wallet, and knife go in my pockets, cellphone, flashlight, and pager go on the belt. I carry all of that everywhere (less the pager) regardless of if I'm on duty or not. I can usually get it all into my pockets (except my phone) when I'm in jeans or shorts off duty.

 

[Sassafras]

Sassafras, even with cargos, I once squated a little too deeply when moving a patient and ended up with a 10 inch rip along the inseem... finsished the call that way and it was the last call of the day.

Way to mortify the new EMT! LOL Let's hope I don't have tales like that to tell. ^_^

 

[mar7967]

I only like cargo pants...I have a pen and penlight on the left side with a notepad and a pair of gloves in the pocket. On the right side, I have a roll of tape, trauma shears, and a vomit bag (never know when are gonna need one quick). My scope also goes in there when not on my neck (I am trying to keep it in there more now). On my belt I carry my pager, radio, and a glove pouch with two more pairs of gloves (can never have enough!)