How Much Does Firefighter Gear Weigh?
Basic firefighter gear, consisting of a helmet, pants, a coat, gloves, boots and an air pack, weighs 45 pounds. Once this gear gets wet, it adds even more weight.
Many firefighters also carry a thermal imaging camera, a radio, a flashlight and heavy duty tools, which bring the weight up to about 77 pounds. Firefighters must wear each of the essential pieces to protect themselves from hazardous fire and smoke. The basic gear collection is often referred to as personal protection equipment, turnouts or bunker gear. The clothing pieces are constructed from fire-retardant Nomex or Kevlar. The helmet is made from leather or heavily reinforced plastic and includes a breathing system that provides clean air to the wearer.