Soldier Systems

It seems like we write an awful lot about TAD Gear but what can we say? We love TAD Gear. And besides, they are constantly bringing out innovative new products. In fact, they just released 5 additional designs to their innovative Ranger Eye line. The v3.0 Glow In The Dark (GITD) Ranger Eyes feature new artwork including (clockwise) Skull Spade, Grizzly Titus, Skull Bones, MOD Skull, Affonso Rhino, and the Terminator Skull from the v2.0 line is still available as well. The animal characters are from Rocket World’s I.W.G. line which has spawned an entire line of designer toys.

They are 3/4″ tall and manufactured from PVC. The Ranger Eyes attach to caps, packs, clothing, or anything with a patch of velcro pile.

As you can see, the designs stand out quite well in the dark. Sold in matched pairs, significant discounts are applied for purchase of multiple sets. Go here to purchase.

It’s not like Triple Aught Designs ever has a problem selling out any of their limited production run custom knives and tool. Notice I said “selling out” and just “selling”. Items like the new Ti Skeleton Key sell so well that TAD employees can’t even get copies. In fact, telling the whole world about these works of art will probably ensure that there won’t be any in stock when I attempt to order one but how can I keep quiet about these?

TAD has these babies pumped out by their local machine shop which also makes parts for the F-22. Machined from a billet of 0.185″ 6Al-4V titanium. As you can see below, there are a variety of tools built right into the Skeleton Key but its use is only limited by your imagination.

The Ti Skeleton key features the following: Terminator skull graphic, flathead screw driver, spanner wrench tip, pry tip, nail puller, and bottle cap lifter.

Note that the spanner wrench tip is the perfect size to perform that oft delayed Strider maintenance.

Available soon from Triple Aught Designs.

Photos courtesy of TAD.

A few weeks ago we mentioned that Triple Aught Designs had begun to develop a line of niche load carrying solutions. They recently introduced the Bandoleer. Designed as a versatile, grab and go platform, the Bandoleer is as useful at work as it is at play. A friend sent us this photo of him using the Bandoleer during a recent fishing trip and he told us, “The fish never saw me coming”.

The Bandoleer can be configured for right or left handed carry and is quickly donned and an anti-sway strap keeps the Bandoleer stable during strenuous activity. Worn like a sash, the padded Cordura panels are lined with Coolmax for comfort and the shoulder pad features a no-slip surface to keep it where it belongs. Fully compatible with MOLLE pouches, the Bandoleer also accommodates the ever expanding range of specialized TAD pouches which utilize the 2TIBS attaching system. The Bandoleer is an excellent foundation for a Bug Out Kit, especially for mounted troops or Law Enforcement professionals who find themselves constantly in the confined space of a vehicle.

We have already seen similar versions from their competitors but this one is the original. The Bandoleer is available in Black, Foliage Green, and Multicam and can be purchased from TAD or authorized dealers.

One of the goals of Soldier Systems Blog is to introduce cutting edge products and services to our audience. Triple Aught Designs stands as the perfect example. If you had to pick one word to describe TAD, it would be “tacticool”.

From somewhat humble beginnings, they have carved out a market niche offering high end tacti-gadgets from a variety of the world’s best suppliers and have further expanded their offerings with their own signature brands to cover market voids. One example is tactical clothing. Their designs blend the best designs and construction techniques of the commercial outdoor clothing market with innovative tactical features. Their success is finesse. They have developed a subtle yet effective color palette and incorporated features, that are at once both effective and subtle. With the exception of the products offered in Multicam, nothing screams “gun”. I have been using TAD products for several years now and have watched their textiles evolve into one of the finest tactical clothing lines available. In fact, it would be hard to believe but TAD has been producing specialized clothing for the past seven years except that they apply every lessoned learned in each new generation of products. What’s more, they have gone from small production runs that sold out as pre-orders, to large production runs that well out within days of release. At one time you could say they had a cult following, but not anymore. While they maintain a devoted customer base on the the Usual Suspects Network forum, their clothing is being used by armed and other service professionals the world over. If anyone doubts their market penetration, you can easily gauge their success by the amount copies you can find on the web.

Not content with just taking the tactical clothing market by storm, they have recently begun to launch a family of specialized nylon load carrying solutions. They aren’t reinventing the wheel here. Every design they offer fills a vacuum in the market. A classic example is the PSP pouch they made up as a “tacticool” accessory. They had initially only planned on making 100 but once it was featured in the Army Times newspaper, demand was so great that they streamlined the design and put it back into production, at a lower price point. This product in particular has drown the interest of competitors. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then TAD is very well liked indeed.

I recently acquired both the Combat Anorak and Bug Out Anorak. I love the design and appreciate the different materials. The pic below is of me conducting testing of an armor panel. The day was rainy and I was wearing the Big Out Anorak.

Check the entire line of TAD products at Triple Aught Designs

As TAD releases new products we will endeavor to keep up with them here.