Field Uniform

[Shamrock Holmes]

Everyone has their own favourites as far as Starfleet uniform goes, however while most if not all of them make for decent ship-board uniforms (generally of the 'service uniform' type, but the ESF 'jumpsuits', the 'VOY' jumpsuits and even the 'FC' uniforms make for half-decent 'working uniforms' (tho TOS and TNG also had the 'overalls' for that as well).

However, with the possible exception of ENT, I personally think that we rarely if ever saw a decent 'field uniform' (and even then I prefer the 'desert khakis' over the ship-side 'blues' and jacket combo). I think VOY also experimented with a couple variations (including but not limited to "Blood Oath" and "Friendship One") but I think even those were flawed not so much in the uniforms themselves (which were IMO better than the standard ones) but more what was missing. Body armor is a difficult topic (anti-phaser personal armor is likely impossible) but there are many reasons why helmets, equipment vest or rucksacks should be a standard part of an away team's equipment (first aid kit, food and water, portable computer/subspace radio (I refuse to believe that that filing cabinet-sized unit from "The Ascent" is the best they can do), space blankets etc) given that experience has shown that away teams can't always rely on the transporter to be able (or even available) to pluck them out of danger.

NB: Episodes where officers are going 'undercover' (esp on primitive pre-Contact worlds) have their own issues and to and extent get a pass on this (though to my mind, a proper 'base camp' should ideally be established planet-side in this case with as close as possible to the proper equipment).

Shamrock Holmes

 

[T'Girl]

The "field uniform" in The Cage was pretty nice, and there was one man with a fair sized backpack. For most landing/away parties, the ship itself would be the base camp.

When you finish a days work, beam up.

 

[Esirprus]

Everyone has their own favourites as far as Starfleet uniform goes, however while most if not all of them make for decent ship-board uniforms (generally of the 'service uniform' type, but the ESF 'jumpsuits', the 'VOY' jumpsuits and even the 'FC' uniforms make for half-decent 'working uniforms' (tho TOS and TNG also had the 'overalls' for that as well).

However, with the possible exception of ENT, I personally think that we rarely if ever saw a decent 'field uniform' (and even then I prefer the 'desert khakis' over the ship-side 'blues' and jacket combo). I think VOY also experimented with a couple variations (including but not limited to "Blood Oath" and "Friendship One") but I think even those were flawed not so much in the uniforms themselves (which were IMO better than the standard ones) but more what was missing. Body armor is a difficult topic (anti-phaser personal armor is likely impossible) but there are many reasons why helmets, equipment vest or rucksacks should be a standard part of an away team's equipment (first aid kit, food and water, portable computer/subspace radio (I refuse to believe that that filing cabinet-sized unit from "The Ascent" is the best they can do), space blankets etc) given that experience has shown that away teams can't always rely on the transporter to be able (or even available) to pluck them out of danger.

NB: Episodes where officers are going 'undercover' (esp on primitive pre-Contact worlds) have their own issues and to and extent get a pass on this (though to my mind, a proper 'base camp' should ideally be established planet-side in this case with as close as possible to the proper equipment).

Shamrock Holmes

I think you'll be satisfied when the next Trek comes out.

 

[Jeffe525]

I personally like the last uniforms best (FC, INS, NEM, late DS9).

VOY would come in second.

I can appreciate the ENT uniforms because they were going for a NASA/TOS hybrid. Actually I think they ended up with a NASA/TNG hybrid, but either way it made sense and that one was the most functional.

I just always accepted that the TOS uniform was a product of its time. At least it matched the set though.

Early TNG? No thanks, I'll pass on the unapologetic onesie.

I like how in the last few years Starfleet actually started to recognize (and properly identify) NCOs and enlisted personelle. The problem is that the rank is really REALLY hard to see on screen. So if I had my way, I would stick with the Black/Grey FC+ uniform for officers, go back to the VOY uniform for NCO and enlisted, and a grey-bottomed VOY variant for recruits and cadets. Engineers and other high hazard personnel should be wearing something flame retardant and functional (like a mix between ENT and Scotty's white jumper from STII: TWoK) while on duty.

While we're at it, lets add some more category colors to better identify specialties. For instance, it doesn't make sense to bulk all sciences into a blue uniform. When all hell is breaking lose, the captain shouldn't have to wonder if he's ordering a doctor or an astrophysicist to come treat his bleeding helmsman.

 

[Sector 7]

I personally like the last uniforms best (FC, INS, NEM, late DS9).

VOY would come in second.

I can appreciate the ENT uniforms because they were going for a NASA/TOS hybrid. Actually I think they ended up with a NASA/TNG hybrid, but either way it made sense and that one was the most functional.

I just always accepted that the TOS uniform was a product of its time. At least it matched the set though.

Early TNG? No thanks, I'll pass on the unapologetic onesie.

I like how in the last few years Starfleet actually started to recognize (and properly identify) NCOs and enlisted personelle. The problem is that the rank is really REALLY hard to see on screen. So if I had my way, I would stick with the Black/Grey FC+ uniform for officers, go back to the VOY uniform for NCO and enlisted, and a grey-bottomed VOY variant for recruits and cadets. Engineers and other high hazard personnel should be wearing something flame retardant and functional (like a mix between ENT and Scotty's white jumper from STII: TWoK) while on duty.

While we're at it, lets add some more category colors to better identify specialties. For instance, it doesn't make sense to bulk all sciences into a blue uniform. When all hell is breaking lose, the captain shouldn't have to wonder if he's ordering a doctor or an astrophysicist to come treat his bleeding helmsman.

When all hell is breaking loose, the captain doesn't have to wonder... when he calls for a doctor, a doctor shows up. It's called training and discipline. Too many uniform colors becomes confusing, whereas, fewer colors means less confusion during a crisis.

 

[T'Girl]

Really, Starfleet could get along with just a single uniform color.

 

[MacLeod]

All this time I though VOY used the DSN uniform, VOY was the only Trek show not to have it's own unifrom created for it. But we did see a field jacket for the TOS movies (TMP excluded)in TWOK. And my memory might be hazy but did we see a field jacket in TMP at the end.

But if the standard unifrom is suitable for most field use do you really need to have a specific unifrom for the field?

 

[The Wormhole]

All this time I though VOY used the DSN uniform, VOY was the only Trek show not to have it's own unifrom created for it.

The original plan for Voyager was they would get the new uniforms planned for Generations. The last minute decision to abandon those uniforms kind of made that undoable and the choice was made to go with the DS9 uniforms since it was felt the cast looked better wearing those.

 

[FormerLurker]

All this time I though VOY used the DSN uniform, VOY was the only Trek show not to have it's own unifrom created for it. But we did see a field jacket for the TOS movies (TMP excluded)in TWOK. And my memory might be hazy but did we see a field jacket in TMP at the end.

But if the standard unifrom is suitable for most field use do you really need to have a specific unifrom for the field?

Except we did see a field jacket in TMP. Those tan suede-looking pullovers Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Decker were wearing when the went to see V'ger up close were the field jackets. They didn't look exactly practical, but they had pockets and stuff.

 

[Jedman67]

The Voyager uniforms were modified slightly from their DS9 counterparts. Pockets were added, although being black hard to see at SD. I think the tops were detachable jumpsuit jackets, although for filming they had different uniform "costume models' so you never have to see a zipper.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Everyone has their own favourites as far as Starfleet uniform goes, however while most if not all of them make for decent ship-board uniforms (generally of the 'service uniform' type, but the ESF 'jumpsuits', the 'VOY' jumpsuits and even the 'FC' uniforms make for half-decent 'working uniforms' (tho TOS and TNG also had the 'overalls' for that as well).

However, with the possible exception of ENT, I personally think that we rarely if ever saw a decent 'field uniform' (and even then I prefer the 'desert khakis' over the ship-side 'blues' and jacket combo). I think VOY also experimented with a couple variations (including but not limited to "Blood Oath" and "Friendship One") but I think even those were flawed not so much in the uniforms themselves (which were IMO better than the standard ones) but more what was missing. Body armor is a difficult topic (anti-phaser personal armor is likely impossible) but there are many reasons why helmets, equipment vest or rucksacks should be a standard part of an away team's equipment (first aid kit, food and water, portable computer/subspace radio (I refuse to believe that that filing cabinet-sized unit from "The Ascent" is the best they can do), space blankets etc) given that experience has shown that away teams can't always rely on the transporter to be able (or even available) to pluck them out of danger.

NB: Episodes where officers are going 'undercover' (esp on primitive pre-Contact worlds) have their own issues and to and extent get a pass on this (though to my mind, a proper 'base camp' should ideally be established planet-side in this case with as close as possible to the proper equipment).

Shamrock Holmes

I think you'll be satisfied when the next Trek comes out.

Yep.

 

[Rahul]

Oh boy!

I can't express how much I love these field uniforms! They look so incredibly 50's-robots'n'rayguns-era space cowboy, I can't believe it!

That's the exact tone to make Star Trek a) popular for the blockbuster-crowd and b) different to Star Wars. This single image gives me already more hope for 'Star Trek beyond' than the previous two movies combined!

 

[Arpy]

Oh dear God, he's Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy!

Different from Star Wars? That's Han Solo as a policeman! Trek was sci-fi while Wars was Fantasy. Guess where Trek is now

 

[BillJ]

Different from Star Wars? That's Han Solo as a policeman! Trek was sci-fi while Wars was Fantasy. Guess where Trek is now

Where it has always been, fantasy.

I'm sorry, but field jackets and uniforms are common sense for the type of work Starfleet does. I'm more in the camp of blaming previous TPTB for the last forty years for not using them (except Enterprise), than current TPTB for finally using common sense.

 

[Rahul]

Oh dear God, he's Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy!

Different from Star Wars? That's Han Solo as a policeman! Trek was sci-fi while Wars was Fantasy. Guess where Trek is now

Naw...

Starlord, Han Solo and Malcom Reynolds are loners, low-key outlaws, the equivalent to space truckers. Kirk is an explorer. An old-school astronaut. That's a uniform. And a practical one at that.

That's the key difference. And one of the reasons why I love Star Trek a little bit more.

 

[J.T.B.]

That new movie costume looks like a motorcycle racing suit, which is not a bad thing in and of itself. It is a little too cluttered with geegaws for my taste in a Trek look; I suspect it won't age well, but that's the case with many Trek costumes.

Star Wars may have been fantasy, but the original costume designer was a military uniform expert and combining his experience with Lucas's instructions that the costumes shouldn't call attention to themselves resulted in a strong, practical and more timeless look for the wardrobe overall, IMO.

 

[Arpy]

Oh dear God, he's Star-Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy!

Different from Star Wars? That's Han Solo as a policeman! Trek was sci-fi while Wars was Fantasy. Guess where Trek is now

Naw...

Starlord, Han Solo and Malcom Reynolds are loners, low-key outlaws, the equivalent to space truckers. Kirk is an explorer. An old-school astronaut. That's a uniform. And a practical one at that.

That's the key difference. And one of the reasons why I love Star Trek a little bit more.

It's the same thing only blue. With gold epaulets.

Where it has always been, fantasy.

Good luck with that.

I'm sorry, but field jackets and uniforms are common sense for the type of work Starfleet does. I'm more in the camp of blaming previous TPTB for the last forty years for not using them (except Enterprise), than current TPTB for finally using common sense.

The whole point of futuristic uniforms is that they're made of futuristic materials that do the same job with less effort. You don't need huge boots, eight layers, and a leather thigh holster to what a streamlined nano-built super-uniform would do.

Blond-haired blue-eyed smart-tongued lover-boy Chris Pine here looks exactly like blond-haired blue-eyed smart-tongued lover-boy Chris Pratt from the Trek-influenced comic-book Guardians of the Galaxy. Its multi-species Xandar/UFP and Nova Corps/Starfleet parallels are obvious. This uniform though fun, I feel is another example of why Trek today is less interested in a better future and more in being a contemporary Flash Gordon-like casual sci-fi cashcow.

 

[BillJ]

The whole point of futuristic uniforms is that they're made of futuristic materials that do the same job with less effort. You don't need huge boots, eight layers, and a leather thigh holster to what a streamlined nano-built super-uniform would do.

Obviously, Roddenberry disagreed with you to some degree. As field jackets make appearances in both "The Cage" and Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Personally, wearing the same uniform everywhere doesn't scream "THE FUTURE!!!" to me. It comes across as a cost cutting measure for a TV series strapped for cash. YMMV.

 

[Arpy]

Given the research into nanotech we're already doing, in a hundred years, we may be constructing outfits by the molecule. They'll warm you in cold and cool you in heat. They'll mask your scents and clean you as you walk. They'll camouflage you in battle and mend minor wounds. They'll be micro-environments in and of themselves. In three or four hundred years time...the mind boggles.

...Individual force-fields, jetpacks, weapons, total waste processing (solid/liquid/gas), neural interface to plug into the Matrix for R&R while on-assignment or for a long-distance meetings with HQ.

Hell, part of what annoys me about the new outfit, is that it doesn't even pretend to be a futuristic version of a field uniform. You can find outfits very similar out there today. It's shouting at you, "TURN OFF YOUR BRAIN, BUY SOME POPCORN, AND JUST ENJOY THE RIDE!" ...Well, ok, but then this isn't any better a movie or a universe than countless others, and don't be surprised if it just fades into the background.

 

[Rahul]

Dude... the concept of "clothing" has pretty much remained stable since the dawn of humanity...

It's actually nice to see the film makers put in effort, just to adress the difference between "indoor clothing" and "outdoor" clothing. (How often has that been done in Star Trek?)

Also: who's saying these field uniform doesn't actually have nice life-saving tecnologies in it?