I just want to know what that box thing on their back is. And is it part of the trench coat? Or separate, with the trench coat cut out around it. The reason i want to know is i am making a vet ranger armor costume and want to get it all right.

its a water pack so they can go trekking across the wastes without having to worry (too much) about water (unless someone shoots the pouch, in which case, crap)

well is it like attached to their armor? because there is no straps on the outside holding it on. and what is your source? sorry for being picky, but i want to make this look great.

I wonder if they developed a counterpart the still suit from Dune?

That's the first thing i thought! But, they just wear combat armor over their torso, and jeans on their legs, so i think that is very improbable. Also, the tube isn't present ingame. Only on the ones in animated scenes or pictures. And, I would really like to leave speculation out, and if somebody actually knows anything, please tell me. Thanks!

On the http://beefjack.com/files/2010/11/concept-art-8.jpg it says it's a water backpack, but there it most likely can be attached to some of those straps or whatnot, I don't know what it would be attached to on the trench coat on the ranger combat armor though. Velcro, maybe? ^^

Ahh thank you, that is helpful! (: If it's a camel back like it looks, it is probably attached by straps, yes. But on the http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/NCR_Ranger_combat_armor it shows a very different picture... Also, there is no tube connecting the face to the pack in the game, and that picture. But hey, water pack is the best guess so far! xD I have asked Josh Sawyer on his formspring, so once he answers we will know!

Or possibly something to do the mask? Air filter? If it's an air filter the coat would be cut out around it so that it can poke out, and it's strapped to the torso of the user underneath the coat.