What Is Turnout Gear?

The phrase turnout gear is synonymous with the phrase bunker gear and the phrase structural turnouts. Turnout gear, bunker gear and structural turnouts are three words which basically have the same meaning (and are, therefore, interchangeable).

They are all terms which are used in fire departments to refer to the system of outer protective clothing. It is worn by fire fighters. Bunker gear or turnout gear can be used either to refer to the trousers, the boots, the pants and the jacket which are worn by fire fighters or to the entire combination of personal protective equipment which is worn by fire fighters.

The name, bunker gear, has been derived from the fact that the fire fighters' pants and boots were traditionally kept by the bunk of each fire fighter at the fire station. Keeping their pants and boots by the bunk of each fire fighter at the fire station helped them to find their clothes easily whenever they wanted them.