From what I've read and seen when it comes to the Fallout universe, there's been no specifically stated reasoning behind the creation and use of the vault suits. The quickest possibility I could think of was for the sake of conformity-with exceptions for things such as security, which has a slightly different outfit for better protection. Even now there's nothing in my mind, based on my knowledge on the matter of the Fallout series, to explain it otherwise. However, I've been wrong before-often, really. It doesn't help that I haven't played Fallout 1 or 2 as of yet. Typically I'm ignorant of some little detail or other that at least partially explains the game.

So, is there any specific purpose? Or no?

My guess is, is that its a part of stockpiling required goods. Buying a dozen or so indentical suits for 61,000 men and 61,000 women is cheaper than providing a variety of clothing.

It also simplifies clothing production: you don't need an elaborate set up capable of making a variety of clothes.

In the original games vault suites had an extrude if I remember correctly as they had a more latex-like consistency. Vault suits in FO3 and FONV appear to be tailored but this could still be a largely automatic process and in that case it's still simpler to have one basic design with some variables rather than a wide selection.

Ah, okay. That makes significantly more sense. :]

But then I come to the question as to how the Tunnel Snakes in Vault 101 obtained those special jackets, does the vault have the material to create clothing like that? Is it something simply not fitting into Fallout's cannon? Or is it just clothing the first vault dwellers might have brought with them, only messed with a bit?

That's a question I don't know the answer to, though I suppose it's possible that the people who originally went into Vault 101 brought some leather jackets with them, why? I don't know. But considering the presence of BB guns, switchblades, comic books and such in the vault, it seems that vault dwellers were able to bring some personal possessions that weren't vital to the normal operation of the vault, and the Tunnel Snakes just decided to use them and modified them somewhat to suit their needs. Either that, or it's just one of those things that really doesn't have much of a logical explanation for it, and when you find yourself wondering about it, the only thing you can really do is repeat to yourself "It's just a game, I should really just relax." Either one works for me.

I certainly doubt they were custom made in the vault, since they look like leather jackets to me and I don't see any cows in the vault, unless it's some form of synthetic material that has the texture and look of leather but can created using the facilities in the vault, I suppose. Which maybe could be true.

The old one's were tight spandex.
The purpose?
They're sixy.

The same reason they all wear the same outfit in a prison.

If you read the overseers terminal thingy you see that they have left the vault before. Why wouldn't they bring things back? So that explains 101 which is the only vault that applies to the discussion.

Vault 8. :whistling:

Nobody actually lives in vault 8 anymore though, they all live in the surface with the residential quarters used for storage.

As others have said it simplifies clothing. One style for all. Watching a show on real fallout shelters build to house usa government officials. All clothing would be removed and burned shortly after entering to remove radiation. Anything they brought with them would have to be burned as well. After a decontamination shower they would be given identical jumpsuits.

The Vault suits remind me of the "poopy suits" (blue one piece jumpsuits) we wore on submarines...and maybe they still do. They're comfortable and easy to take care of. They were a big no-no to wear in port though for some reason, we had to wear dungarees instead.

Visualize an overweight hairy guy in one.

Then I dare you to say that again.


on topic: The Vault Suits as mentioned do seem to be a measure of conformity. The Vaults may have had a mix of the well off, the better off and the working class, so the use of Vault suits eliminates monetary differences that would have been evident with normal clothing.

It's for solidarity really. A community that looks equal is eventually going to see itself that way. so the Vault is going to be more productive as its inhabitants are more likely to work together. Plus the ability to function as a single entity makes it easier for the Overseer to control them and makes them more useful for the various experiments.

Why do my panties feel like they're getting smaller... :drool:

I doubt that, Vault spaces were probably really expensive. Actually Carol in FO3 mentions how they couldn't afford one, hence the ghoulification.

whoopsie doublepost

This is by no means to be rude or anything like that, but why would they burn clothing because of radiation issues? They entered the vaults(at least they were supposed to) before the bombs fell, not after. Correct me if I'm wrong. =]

Unless you're talking about hypothetical fallout shelters in general, and not the vaults from the series itself-I'm a tad confused by your post.

Sorry for the confusion I was talking about real world fallout shelters, still it could apply to Fallout because the great war only last two hours. How could they get people to the Vaults a head of time before the bombs without knowing in advance of the attacks? It is also known that due to many false alarms people did not take the real warning seriously.

No problem; thanks for explaining. =]

And true enough, I just had figured earlier the vaults were caught off-with or without everyone-once the bombs were about to fall(at least most of the time). But I'm really only roughly aware about Fallout lore.