Pockets
- Thread starter JoeZhang
- Start date
The uniforms do seem to sport pocketlike attributes when needed. A seemingly pocket-free TNG uniform can suddenly sprout a holster for a phaser and a tricorder, for example.
We could assume that the apparently seamless fabric of these uniforms is designed to open and stretch in a suitable manner when a pocket is needed - much like a uniform jacket opens seamlessly when needed, as we see in "Ensign Ro".
That's something I could easily see as advantageous: pockets that are there only when one needs them. The rest of the time, they don't chafe on your thighs or gather strange yellow-grey goo or toothsticks.
Of course, this magic fabric probably isn't a completely perfected product in the 24th century yet. We have seen this fabric rip under stress. So for storing big, heavy or sharp objects, a somewhat more conventional pocketed harness or vest is still practical, as seen on our engineers every now and then. But give it a hundred more years... Eventually, all items such as tools might be carried on a seamless costume seamlessly, requiring no pockets, loops or holsters, and there would be no need for things such as belts, belt buckles, shoes, shoelaces and so forth. The costumes would become unsoilable, thermally ideal, perhaps phaser-proof as well. That's simply something that's just beyond the horizon in TNG, or perhaps already peeking a little.
Timo Saloniemi
We could assume that the apparently seamless fabric of these uniforms is designed to open and stretch in a suitable manner when a pocket is needed - much like a uniform jacket opens seamlessly when needed, as we see in "Ensign Ro".
That's something I could easily see as advantageous: pockets that are there only when one needs them. The rest of the time, they don't chafe on your thighs or gather strange yellow-grey goo or toothsticks.
Of course, this magic fabric probably isn't a completely perfected product in the 24th century yet. We have seen this fabric rip under stress. So for storing big, heavy or sharp objects, a somewhat more conventional pocketed harness or vest is still practical, as seen on our engineers every now and then. But give it a hundred more years... Eventually, all items such as tools might be carried on a seamless costume seamlessly, requiring no pockets, loops or holsters, and there would be no need for things such as belts, belt buckles, shoes, shoelaces and so forth. The costumes would become unsoilable, thermally ideal, perhaps phaser-proof as well. That's simply something that's just beyond the horizon in TNG, or perhaps already peeking a little.
Timo Saloniemi
It did seem strange in TOS that the typical T-shirt and trousers -style fatigues had no apparent pockets. At least, I don't remember any. McCoy did use an external medikit pouch, apparently attached to the trousers by velcro. (I'd like to know if anyone ever did any drawings of McCoy's rather ingeniously designed hip pouch)
I think I remember the TOS crewmen jumpsuits having pockets, though.
I think I remember the TOS crewmen jumpsuits having pockets, though.
I'd say TOS jumpsuits, period. At least Lieutenant Kyle wore one.
In TNG, LaForge and Leah Brahms wore those for dirty work, in fashionable yellow; however, later on, the same sort of dirty work (crawling in the new Jeffries tube sets) was done in regular uniforms.
Perhaps those were always meant to be quickly donned on top of one's regular wear for forays into the grease pit, and then discarded? "Simple", "primitive" pockets instead of the neat velcro auxiliaries would then be found on the disposable coveralls.
Timo Saloniemi
Well, we know that backpacks, tool kits, and duffel bags are still around in the 24th-Century. Stuff can be presumably carried about in those. Otherwise, away teams seem to rely on transporters to beam things in or out they need. In the rare event a transporter is unavailable, Starfleet crews seem trained to improvise and create things they need from what's available around them.
Well, whatever had gotten into the heads of Starfleet's wardrobe bureau by the 24th century, the uniforms of Earth Starfleet in the 22n'd century weren't lacking in pockets, that's for sure. Almost makes me think that the pocket-less uniforms were influenced by the designs of other species within the Federation. Many of the aliens we see seem to rely on outside pouches, holsters, or bags to carry their stuff...so maybe pockets are a predominantly human thing? (or at least, carrying enough crap to make pockets necessary is a human thing).
For what it's worth, looking at the Playmates figures from nuTrek, it appears that the uniform pants have hip pockets.
For what it's worth, looking at the Playmates figures from nuTrek, it appears that the uniform pants have hip pockets.
Indeed. Besides the almost magical idea that the ship could clean itself (Up the Long Ladder), there were no other interesting technologies presented. They could have at least hinted at or shown an improvement on the TMP sonic shower that cleans and clothes you.
I don't think that there's any advantage to pocketless uniforms. It's simply a mistake, a silliness in Star Trek that was justified by the producers in a really unobservant way. I suspect that the real "production reason" was that it was faster and cheaper to manufacture costumes without pockets; TOS uniforms were, while really cool looking, about as simple and basic in construction as costumes could be. The only design detail that was at all challenging was the tunic closure.
Off the top of my head I can think of four instances where we see pockets being used in TOS:
-The field jackets in The Cage have what appear to be pockets.
-Pike pulls sugar from the pocket of his jacket for the horse Tango.
-Daystrom's jumper had pockets and he even has his hands in them in one scene on the bridge,
-Larry Marvick pulls a phaser I out of his pocket when he tries to kill the Medusan ambassador.
On TNG I also remember that Geordi pulls a type I phaser out of his uniform's pocket in "The Mind's Eye" when he had been co-opted by the Romulans to kill the Klingon Governor.
-The field jackets in The Cage have what appear to be pockets.
-Pike pulls sugar from the pocket of his jacket for the horse Tango.
-Daystrom's jumper had pockets and he even has his hands in them in one scene on the bridge,
-Larry Marvick pulls a phaser I out of his pocket when he tries to kill the Medusan ambassador.
On TNG I also remember that Geordi pulls a type I phaser out of his uniform's pocket in "The Mind's Eye" when he had been co-opted by the Romulans to kill the Klingon Governor.
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