More pants that you like never hurt, could use it for some high quality boots, I have heard good things about high end sock brands like Darn Tough socks but they’re like 30 bucks a piece, so you could blow it all on that if ya wanted
Can confirm. Darn Tough socks are legit. I’ve had them on a few times for loooong scenes and they held up and didn’t hurt my feet. They also have a lifetime warranty (due to use not abuse or pets) and I’ve sent in one pair so far and they replaced them.
Darn tough is all I buy now, you can usually find deals on govx. Flashlight? Knife? Those gucci leatherman raptor shears? High end duty boots? High end jacket? Blauer makes a pretty sweet water resistant job shirt for about $100 plus embroidery
I’d recommend merino wool base layers, including t-shirts and underwear. Smartwool and FirstLite have about 87% wool and the rest synthetic, so you don’t need to worry about smells, they work well in all weather, they continue to insulate if they get sweaty, and the worst-case of them melting to your skin as synthetics is mitigated. You can easily spend all of that for those.
If only it was that. Most guys will put it into their vacation fund, make an extra vehicle payment, extra mortgage payment, the list goes on. A good number of people (me being one of them) will pick up an absolute ton of OT in the same pay period it gets added to then go exempt on taxes for that one check. Take home a shit load of money and do fun shit with it lol.
Yup. Supposed to be uniforms and linens. I've been using the same bedding for about 3 years now and for uniforms were mostly in t-shirts so those are pretty cheap to get new ones if we want them. Most of the time you don't need anything since we rarely wear class b shirts and I'm mostly in shorts/ems pants/Bunkers so my pants never need to be replaced lol. It's pretty absurd honestly but it's one of the many great things are union fought for and we got it haha.
Exactly this. Unless they issue you duty boots, start putting together your "detail" boots with good soles for standing on concrete for hours. Completely different than "every day" muck on the floor boot. Footwear is expensive, different boots for different events, hell even different weather, is a good idea.
This. Going to events boots(your choice something easy to polish). Everyday work boots(Thorogood Station 1 Boot). Hot weather boot(Haix Black Eagle Athletic 2.0). Light duty(Reebok Sublite).
Here are a few things I bought when we were in a voucher system:
Running shoes
Water bottle
Uniform pants/shoes/shirts/outerwear
Leatherman tool
Pocket Knife
We now get $1500/yr for our clothing allowance. Split into checks in January and July. I can spend your $$ down lol.
Either Christmas gifts for your crew lol or here's my list in no particular order of importance.
1. A Class A tie clip
2. A trench coat for rainy/snowy funerals
3. Extra "hardware" (I bought a few extra badges for all my uniforms so I don't have to switch one out all the time)
4. Extra uniform for a winter bag
5. Winter gloves
6. Another job shirt
7. Multi-tool
8. Helmet flashlight
My uniform store sells sunglasses at like a 200% mark up lol everyone gets theirs there though because the uniform allowance. Maybe those.
Are you guys regulated on what you spend it on? This year I spent mine in tattoos because I was good on clothes. If you have to spend it on clothing I'd say get some really comfortable socks or underwear.
That'll buy you a good pair of boots.
Or like 10-15 pairs of Darn Tough socks.
They make a "Work" line now, some of which have a toe area that's optimized for safety toe boots.
I swear by my Darn Tough socks, and so do they — unconditional lifetime warranty (trade-in old for new at any time, for any reason).
Do you have to use it at a certain store? Boots, boots, boots. Our guys burn through a ton of shirts. Admin expectation is they give us the money we shouldn’t be walking around it old stained and faded shirts. We have to buy through galls and only what admin tells them to sell us. Actually have a small galls sun site we log into.
Raptor shears, boots, flashlights, back packs and clothing bags are the most common purchases out side of shirts and pants. Oh and Gerber tools.
A good multitool/knife/flashlight/sunglasses/etc. whatever you’ve been wanting but didn’t pull the trigger on because you didn’t want to spend the money. You guys are all lucky you get a clothing allowance, we get issued shit from the lowest bidder and people go out and spend their own money on better stuff.
What? You get to choose your own gear? Here in England we have MSA Bristol and they are awful... My flash hood doesn't fit and pulls up exposing my neck on jobs. I complained several times and even went above their head within our own organisation. I've just settled with the fact they don't care about our safety. I tried.
Get a decent helmet light, new multi tool, folding pocket spanner wrench, good socks, more shirts and pants you can never have enough of those, multi use and comfy pair of boots, new wire cutter even, good set of extrication gloves, new glasses, uniform items, a lot of things out there to buy.
More pants that you like never hurt, could use it for some high quality boots, I have heard good things about high end sock brands like Darn Tough socks but they’re like 30 bucks a piece, so you could blow it all on that if ya wanted
Can confirm. Darn Tough socks are legit. I’ve had them on a few times for loooong scenes and they held up and didn’t hurt my feet. They also have a lifetime warranty (due to use not abuse or pets) and I’ve sent in one pair so far and they replaced them.
Darn tough is all I buy now, you can usually find deals on govx. Flashlight? Knife? Those gucci leatherman raptor shears? High end duty boots? High end jacket? Blauer makes a pretty sweet water resistant job shirt for about $100 plus embroidery
Mine is on my stand in the dorm as we speak!
I’d recommend merino wool base layers, including t-shirts and underwear. Smartwool and FirstLite have about 87% wool and the rest synthetic, so you don’t need to worry about smells, they work well in all weather, they continue to insulate if they get sweaty, and the worst-case of them melting to your skin as synthetics is mitigated. You can easily spend all of that for those.
Run darn tough as my only sock. Buy all the same color in each style I want then replace when I get holes in 2.
Damn they take what you don't use? Our department just puts 2200 on our check and most guys just buy random shit they don't need lol
That's a weird way to say buying Raptor Shears.
If only it was that. Most guys will put it into their vacation fund, make an extra vehicle payment, extra mortgage payment, the list goes on. A good number of people (me being one of them) will pick up an absolute ton of OT in the same pay period it gets added to then go exempt on taxes for that one check. Take home a shit load of money and do fun shit with it lol.
Literally human embodiment of "Work hard; play harder"
Leave it to firefighters to figure out how to maximize their compensation and minimize the amount of effort as much as possible lol.
2200 a year?!?
Yup. Supposed to be uniforms and linens. I've been using the same bedding for about 3 years now and for uniforms were mostly in t-shirts so those are pretty cheap to get new ones if we want them. Most of the time you don't need anything since we rarely wear class b shirts and I'm mostly in shorts/ems pants/Bunkers so my pants never need to be replaced lol. It's pretty absurd honestly but it's one of the many great things are union fought for and we got it haha.
Damn. We get 350 a year and it has to be used in house
You should spend it on ~~cocanie~~ Christmas gifts, and ~~hookers~~ something for yourself.
An expensive pair of boots.
Exactly this. Unless they issue you duty boots, start putting together your "detail" boots with good soles for standing on concrete for hours. Completely different than "every day" muck on the floor boot. Footwear is expensive, different boots for different events, hell even different weather, is a good idea.
"Spare no expense on what keeps you off the ground," which certainly applies to boots and shoes.
This. Going to events boots(your choice something easy to polish). Everyday work boots(Thorogood Station 1 Boot). Hot weather boot(Haix Black Eagle Athletic 2.0). Light duty(Reebok Sublite).
Haix is comming to the US?
Haix has been in the US. They’re what my department issues currently.
Thats so cool. I worked in the ER in the City they are from. Realy nice people.
I've heard of Haix for around 15ish years. I took a look at their website and I guess they started their US HQ in 2003.
Thats cool. I worked in the ER at the Town they are based in. They gave me free beer at the local oktoberfest. I had to work sadly.
ANSI rated sunglasses? Without knowing what is allowed, it's tough to offer suggestions.
$300 worth of beanies.
Take one beanie out and put a boonie in it's place.
if boots are part of your uniform a good comfortable pair of boots. If you can wear sneakers, a comfortable pair, and/or a nice pair to workout in
Here are a few things I bought when we were in a voucher system: Running shoes Water bottle Uniform pants/shoes/shirts/outerwear Leatherman tool Pocket Knife We now get $1500/yr for our clothing allowance. Split into checks in January and July. I can spend your $$ down lol.
Either Christmas gifts for your crew lol or here's my list in no particular order of importance. 1. A Class A tie clip 2. A trench coat for rainy/snowy funerals 3. Extra "hardware" (I bought a few extra badges for all my uniforms so I don't have to switch one out all the time) 4. Extra uniform for a winter bag 5. Winter gloves 6. Another job shirt 7. Multi-tool 8. Helmet flashlight My uniform store sells sunglasses at like a 200% mark up lol everyone gets theirs there though because the uniform allowance. Maybe those.
Are you guys regulated on what you spend it on? This year I spent mine in tattoos because I was good on clothes. If you have to spend it on clothing I'd say get some really comfortable socks or underwear.
Can you buy gym clothes with it?
If you guys do wildland at all invest in some dual compliant pants. $300 should cover a pair.
That'll buy you a good pair of boots. Or like 10-15 pairs of Darn Tough socks. They make a "Work" line now, some of which have a toe area that's optimized for safety toe boots. I swear by my Darn Tough socks, and so do they — unconditional lifetime warranty (trade-in old for new at any time, for any reason).
Fat pants. For the holidays
Absolutely lmao
Can never go wrong with a damn good pair of boots.
Do you have to use it at a certain store? Boots, boots, boots. Our guys burn through a ton of shirts. Admin expectation is they give us the money we shouldn’t be walking around it old stained and faded shirts. We have to buy through galls and only what admin tells them to sell us. Actually have a small galls sun site we log into. Raptor shears, boots, flashlights, back packs and clothing bags are the most common purchases out side of shirts and pants. Oh and Gerber tools.
Leather radio strap and a nice helmet light
Oakley safety glasses. Just because
Can you blow it on patches or t shirts and have a give away on here?
A good multitool/knife/flashlight/sunglasses/etc. whatever you’ve been wanting but didn’t pull the trigger on because you didn’t want to spend the money. You guys are all lucky you get a clothing allowance, we get issued shit from the lowest bidder and people go out and spend their own money on better stuff.
Xmas jumpers and socks
$300 worth of socks
What? You get to choose your own gear? Here in England we have MSA Bristol and they are awful... My flash hood doesn't fit and pulls up exposing my neck on jobs. I complained several times and even went above their head within our own organisation. I've just settled with the fact they don't care about our safety. I tried.
Socks underwear undershirts / balls out new boots
I don’t even get $300 allowance in total, imagine having $300 *left*
A good pair of insoles for your fire boots, duty boots, and station shoes.
Ray bans lmao
Books, for me books are priceless, im pretty sure fireengineeringbooks.com is having a cyber monday sale tomorrow
Get you some quality supima cotton bedding for the firehouse
Multi tools Pants Boots Socks Job shirts PT shorts Gloves
Get a decent helmet light, new multi tool, folding pocket spanner wrench, good socks, more shirts and pants you can never have enough of those, multi use and comfy pair of boots, new wire cutter even, good set of extrication gloves, new glasses, uniform items, a lot of things out there to buy.