two combat clothing systems, different in fabric, composition and construction were subjected to a field trial with a 35-man infantry unit each during a 9-month period. by means of four questionnaires, covering the whole period, a total of 134 characteristics were evaluated. system kat (100 cotton) showed deficiencies for 49 points, of which 21 were important, and was judged by the subjects as 'reasonable to good'. system peskat (35 polyester/65 cotton) showed 25 deficiencies, of which 5 were important, and obtained a judgment between 'reasonable to good' and 'good'. the difference between the systems is the composition rather than the fabric. parka and semipermeable waterproof liner of peskat were more functional than the water-repellent winter jacket and impermeable rain anorak of kat also, the combat shirt of peskat was more useful than the summer jacket of kat. with a number of technical improvements, including decreased bleaching of the interrupted pattern, the number of complaints can be diminished