How to Make a Good Turnout Even Better
You value your Cairns turnout like a second skin. Or an old friend. You don’t baby it – or even give it a second thought. It has seen you through the good days and bad days and never let you down. That’s because lasting value and enhanced protection are inherently built into your Globe gear at the factory. In fact, your Cairns turnout comes standard (no extra charge) with leather cuff reinforcements and double layers of Outer Shell material on the lower half of pockets. But experience has taught you to periodically inspect and clean your turnout, because, to repeat an old adage, “Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you.”

Many firefighters want even more protection than the standard-equipped Globe turnout. And that’s a good idea. Before proceeding further, try to define as much as possible the different functions your job demands. Then, selectively adding your garment reinforcements at the time you order your turnout will not only give you added protection and more job efficiency but will also cost less and pay back big dividends in longer wear.

There are several severe-wear areas in your turnout that result from abrasion and compression. These will perform better and longer with help. Cairns recommends these fabrics for turnout reinforcements:

DRAGONHIDE

Reinforcing high-abrasion areas of firesuits has long been accomplished with traditional materials like leather, externally coated fabrics like Arashield®, and extra layers of tough shell fabrics like Millenia®. However, the optimum balance of abrasion resistance, flexibility, low water-absorption, durability, and ease of cleaning in an NFPA 1971 certified lightweight material has been elusive. That is, until now.

DragonHide™ fabric is a newly formulated version of a material that has been in use for over fifteen years in an application that had similar requirements. Initial development research work was aimed at creating a fabric which would provide similar protective functions to those of leather (including abrasion and tear resistance), with greater freedom of movement (flexible and lightweight), high water resistance (and low absorption), and resistance to soiling (easy care). Can you guess the application? Motorcycle racing.

DragonHide™ fabric weighs 10.0 oz/yd2 and is made from 100% meta-aramid back-coated with a specially formulated polymer.

Suede leather remains the king of reinforcements with respect to providing high abrasion resistance. However, leather is relatively heavy, stiffens with age and use, and can in some instances be difficult to decontaminate. Arashield® performs extremely well in abrasion resistance, water resistance, and cleaning but is relatively stiff and slippery when used for knee reinforcements. Outer shell materials are pliable and light, but not highly abrasion or water resistance.

DragonHide™ fabric combines the benefits of outer shell materials with outstanding abrasion resistance. When subjected to Taber Abrasion Tests using H-18 abrasion wheels and a constant load of 500 grams on each wheel, the results speak for themselves.

Outer Shell Material (All Shell Fabric Colors Available)
Self-reinforcements are soft and pliable, resulting in comfort and ease of movement, but in most cases they are not the most economical, water resistant or durable reinforcements. If selecting a self-reinforcement material, consider ADVANCE® or MILLENIA® (MILLENIA® being the most durable). Each is treated with Super Shelltite® durable water resistance finish.

ARASHIELD® (Gray, Black, Gold)
Polymer-coated KEVLAR® with matte finish for improved appearance and traction. This material is easy to clean, offers exceptional strength, is light weight and double coated to prevent moisture absorption. It’s a moderately priced alternative and easy to clean, but it is not as pliable as other reinforcements and like any coated fabric, can crack along stress lines.

Heavy Duty Leather (Gray, Black)
Cairns leather is the most economical reinforcement option offering the highest durability available. It can be cleaned but stains easily since it is a porous material. Cairns uses a heavy duty high quality leather not readily prone to dry-rot.

DragonHide™ is available only in the color black, is certified to NFPA 1971, and may be ordered on all models of Cairns firesuits.