After suffering for several months with awkward part number based names for their new line of military and discrete packs, Blue Force Gear has decided to run a contest on Soldier Systems Daily to help them name 4 different packs. The contest will run from now until the 10th of September. If your pack name is selected you will receive a free pack of that style! In the event multiple entries are received with the same suggested name, only the first submission received by Blue Force Gear will be awarded a free pack so get them in as quickly as possible! Send your ideas to namethatpack@blueforcegear.com.
Here’s what you’ve got to work with:
Medium Pack – Military (02)
The 02 Pack is a super light-weight three day style pack that is covered in MOLLE compatible webbing. It has a removable beavertail on the front for carrying quick access items like a helmet, jacket, or even one of our original Micro Packs. The inside surface of the beavertail is lined with Loop Velcro to attach any of the Dapper accessory pouches. The inside of the pack is also lined with loop so that the pack can be configured in an infinite number of storage options. The bottom of the pack is made of High Abrasion Neoprene for long term durability. There is a sheet of HDPE sewn into the back panel so that you’re not forced to buy a frame sheet for improved load carriage capability. The pack weighs 43oz and the main compartment is ~2000 cubic inches. Made in the USA!
Medium Pack – Discrete (03)
The 03 Pack is built on the same production line as our military version, but with a more discrete, stylized appearance for everyday use. It has some of the same features like the removable beavertail on the front. The inside surface of the beavertail is lined with Loop Velcro to attach any of the Dapper accessory pouches. The inside of the pack is also lined with loop so that the pack can be configured in an infinite number of storage options. There are also two accessory pouches on either side of the pack designed to fit a 1L Nalgene style bottom. The bottom of the pack is made of High Abrasion Neoprene for long term durability. There is a sheet of HDPE sewn into the back panel so that you’re not forced to buy a frame sheet for improved load carriage capability. The pack weighs 49oz and the main compartment is ~2000 cubic inches. Made in the USA!
Small Pack – Military (04)
The Small Military is based loosely off the original Micro Pack. There is a little more depth in the main compartment and on the military version the face of the pack is covered with MOLLE compatible webbing. The shoulder straps are lightly padded and the interior of the pack is lined with Loop Velcro so that it is compatible with the full line of Blue Force Gear accessory Dappers. There is a sheet of HDPE sewn into the back panel so that you’re not forced to buy a frame sheet for improved load carriage capability. The pack weighs 28oz and the main compartment is ~1000 cubic inches. Made in the USA!
Small Pack – Discrete (05)
The Small Discrete is very similar to the original Micro Pack. There is a little more depth in the main compartment and the face of the pack is stylized to appear more like a high end commercial pack. The shoulder straps are lightly padded and the interior of the pack is lined with Loop Velcro so that it is compatible with the full line of Blue Force Gear accessory Dappers. There is a sheet of HDPE sewn into the back panel so that you’re not forced to buy a frame sheet for improved load carriage capability. The pack weighs 28oz and the main compartment is ~1000 cubic inches. Made in the USA!
All Blue Force gear products are proudly Made in the USA! so Berry compliance is never at question. Be sure to check out the product pages at www.BlueForceGear.com as they offer a wide variety of color schemes depending on teh product and its intended use.
Apparently, ’tis the season to upgrade websites. Fortunately, all of the ones we have seen are very well done and the new site from Excalibur Products is no exception. We have mentioned their packs in the past and they also offer a couple of sleep system options but according to the main graphic on the new site, they have quite a bit on their plate and we are looking forward to seeing some more of their products.
The new Mk 4 Osprey body armor is a huge evolutionary step for the British Soldier and will make its combat debut this Fall in Afghanistan on the backs of the 16th Air Assault Brigade.
In addition to better protection, some of the improvements over the current version include non-skid shoulders, the plate is now carried in a pocket inside the vest making it less bulky, and has a new ribbed material lining to improve breathability.
The Osprey Mk 4 also integrates even more PALS webbing than its predecessor and will be issued with 23 pouches which include:
* 3 x SA80 single magazine
* 4 x SA80 double magazine
* 3 x single SA80 magazine with elastic pull-cord
* 2 x smoke grenade
* 2 x anti-personnel grenade
* sharpshooter magazine
* utility
* water bottle
* light machine gun magazine – 100 round
* first aid kit
* 2 x 9mm pistol magazine
* underslung grenade launcher – 8 round
* commander’s pouch
The photo is a great comparison shot from the Osprey Mk 3 and desert DPM to the new Mk 4 and Crye Precision developed Multi Terrain Pattern combat uniform. Armor that is actually fielded will also be in MTP.
The Ground Warrior Augmentation Kit (GWAK) from SO Tech is comprised of their most common pouches and accessory items purchased by military units to supplement issue kit regardless of service. Everything is Berry compliant and available in several color options in addition to being PALS-compatible where required.
Bulldog Equipment is poised to launch a sister company; Venom Industries, LLC. Their first group of products will be called the Cobra series and they recently gave Soldier Systems Daily a sneak peek. Their debut is the Cobra Concealment Pouch which will soon be joined by a Bag as well as a Pack. The Cobra Concealment Pouch is ambidextrous and will conceal a full sized pistol or other items attached to the interior of the front flap on a Velcro grid. Additionally, there is a GP pocket behind the main flap. The pouch is designed to connect to a PALS grid via MALICE clips or similar attachment media. Available soon.
I am very excited about this for a couple of reasons. For one thing, they will be introducing several new products into the market but they also are going to use Venom as a vehicle to offer Bulldog Equipment to civilians. As always their web address remains www.bulldogequipment.us. Look for a new web site soon for Venom Industries.
Somehow this baby slipped below our RADAR but it is definitely worth taking a look at if you are fortunate enough to be issued the Harris AN/PRC-117G but are saddled with the issue bag. It is designed to be worn with the removable shoulder straps or attached directly to the back of armor or load bearing vest with the integrated PALS compatible attachment system. Additionally, the body features PALS webbing so that radio accessories can be attached to the bag.
The PRC-117G Assault Bag is available in Black, Coyote, Ranger Green, UCP, and MultiCam from Mayflower.
Bulldog Equipment offers an entire line of Berry Compliant tactical nylon. One of their latest products is a pouch for the AN/PRC-148 Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio (MBITR).
What makes Bulldog’s offering unique is that it is designed to have the radio pulled away from the body to facilitate manipulation of the controls. The radio is pulled forward so all you do is look down and you can see the face. Additionally, the retention system keeps the radio attached even if the top buckle is undone. The pouch is PALS compatible but can also be belt mounted.
The Tactical Tailor is revamping much of their line in addition to launching new items. The Low Profile Armor Carrier (L.P.A.C.) is just such a product. The slim and lightweight design of the LPAC was envisioned for those needing to don and remove their vest quickly or those needing the option of soft ballistic armor and hard plates without the extra weight of a larger tactical vest. The LPAC features Tactical Tailor’s safety features such as side entry system which ensures proper vest positioning for maximum protection as well as providing for quick vest removal in emergency situations.
Constructed from 1000D Cordura, the LPAC features padded shoulder straps with integrated microphone epaulets and a heavy duty drag handle. Internal pockets accommodate standard size plates as well as soft armor from most ballistic vests up to 17″ x 24″ front and 18″ x 22″ rear for Large/X-Large and 14” x 21” front and 16” x 20” rear for Small/Medium. Modular webbing on all sides allows for nearly unlimited options for attachment of MOLLE/PALS style equipment to meet almost any mission requirement. What’s more, the LPAC weighs in at an astounding 1.25 pounds empty.
Berry Compliant and available in Available in Black, Coyote Brown, Olive Drab and MultiCam from Tactical Tailor and their network of dealers.
215 Gear has just released new Horizontal and Vertical Shotgun Shell Holders. They provide a low-profile option to carry shotgun shells at the ready on any PALS equipped platform. Mil-spec elastic holds six shells on the Horizontal panel and five on the Vertical.
Both are available in Coyote and Black and Berry Compliant (of course). Coming soon from 215 Gear or Grey Group Training.
The Team Wendy Portable Seat and Tactical Storage Cover is comprised of three components; Tactical Storage Cover with Pouches, a Portable Seat Pad, and Lumbar Cushion. It is modular in design making it easy to install. The Portable Seat Pad has been available for some time and proven quite popular with military and civilians alike. Imagine the same type of padding you enjoy in your helmet pads but in your seat. It works with or without the Lumbar Cushion to accommodate body armor systems. You can see in the photo that it is removable.
The Tactical Storage Cover folds over to cover both the front and back of the vehicle seat and zippers to the Seat Base. Elastic straps secure the cover around the vehicle seat back and non-slip Grippium™ strips help keep the cover in position on the seat frame. While others have produced what are essentially seat covers swathed in PALS webbing, the Team Wendy design is unique. Stout pull handles are attached to the PALS panels which allow them to be “torn away” in an emergency. The PALS panels are attached to the Tactical Storage Cover via a combination of hook and pile tape and snaps in order to keep full panels from sagging during extended operations. In fact, this set up is secure enough to support up to a 50 lbs load in the pouches. What’s more, the tear away panels can be pulled open to reveal small storage cubbies. In addition to large and small utility pouches offered by Team Wendy, any PALS-compatible pouch will fit on the TSC.
The TSC Set includes Tactical Storage Cover with both pouches, Portable Lumbar Pad, and Portable Seat Pad. The entire set is Berry Compliant available in Coyote Brown, Universal Camo, and Black.ADS offers the Portable Seat and Tactical Storage Cover. To order visit www.adsinc.com.
Magpul introduces its new EMAG (Export Magazine). Inspired by the popular PMAG, the EMAG is optimized for foreign-made weapons such as the HK 416, FN SCAR, British SA-80, Beretta ARX-160, IMI Tavor, and others while retaining compatibility with the AR15/M16 platform. The front-to-back and side-to-side dimensions have been adjusted to ensure compatibility with as many STANAG 4179 weapons as possible, including most non-TDP spec AR15 rifles and there are a ton of those out there.
Photo by Stickman
In addition to the cosmetic changes, Magpul also integrated the large, single-side MagLevel window found on the PMAG. This is the latest version of the MagLevel so the stainless steel magazine spring is now coated with mil-spec black oxide (MIL-DTL-13924D) and the indicator coil painted with a high visibility orange color. Additionally, numerical indicators have been added to the body to identify 5, 15, and 25 loaded rounds.
Note: This item or some of its components cannot be exported from the United States of America without a valid export permit from the U.S. State Dept. due to ITAR restrictions. (Oh the irony!) Additionally, the EMAG is restricted in California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Massachusetts.
Still in the prototype phase, the AGGRESSOR LE Armor/Plate Carrier from Shellback Tactical challenges the status quo in Law Enforcement armor. Traditionally, officers have worn concealable cut armor under their uniforms. However, this trend is beginning to shift to an externally worn vest, particularly on the East coast and in areas with high humidity. In order to answer calls from the field for an external armor carrier, Shellback developed the AGGRESSOR. While the concept of an external vest has been used by the military for decades, Shellback wanted to design something specifically with the needs of Law Enforcement Officers in mind.
One item that really makes this vest stand out is that the badge can be pinned directly to the chest just like on a uniform. This design also allows an officer the flexibility to take the vest off inside the station when completing reports or booking evidence. The design makes it just as easy to don quickly if need be. As an added bonus, several agencies have also found external vests as a cost effective option when they want their officers to also have a tactical type vest at the ready since the armor can be put into this as a secondary carrier rather than having to buy a whole second set of armor with the vest. Finally, with all of these features, the AGGRESSOR can also be used for SWAT and other tactical operations.
The carrier is constructed from 500 Cordura which was selected in order to help lighten the load on an officer who often works a 12 hour shift. The collar area is covered in non-slip material to assist with shouldering firearms and to keep slings and bags from slipping off. Below the non-slip is a two inch wide strip of Velcro for identification patches. As stated earlier, the AGGRESSOR also features grommets to display the Officer’s badge. Additionally, the lower portion of the carrier has PALS webbing which wraps all the way around the body of the vest to accommodate modular pouches. The rear of the vest features a four inch velcro strip across the back for ID patches. The fully adjustable shoulders are padded with foam and the entire carrier is lined with mesh for breathability. As you can see from the photo this mesh also extends around the edge of the arm hole for comfort.
Designed to carry soft armor, the AGGRESSOR also features interior front and rear pockets to hold full size rifle plates. As of yet, there is no info on which soft armor and plates will be accommodated.
Shellback Tactical tells us the new carrier will be available in about six weeks and should retail for under $200. It will be Made in the USA by TAG and feature a Lifetime Warranty. Look for it at www.shellbacktactical.com.
The Multi-Mission Weapon Retention from 215 Gear is a new look at the weapons catch.
215 Gear’s unique design allows for a low footprint mount on the PALS grid on your armor or vest, rather than the belt mount found on other catches. It also allows for fast access to your weapon after a manual breach or fastrope and the no drag design doesn’t catch on objects if left unfastened, unlike some homemade options, and falls to the rear. It is easily closed by making a sweeping movement with your hand from rear to front which will bring the buckle to your hand. Made from heavy shock cord, the Weapons Retention is mounted to equipment via a aluminum fitting that only takes up one channel of PALS. Made in the USA with Mil-spec materials.
Blade Tech’s Tactical Can Pouch was designed to keep a can of dip handy. The Kydex holds it securely in place. Multiple belt attachments are available to accommodate belts from 1-1/4″ to 1-3/4″ as well as the MOLLE-Lock for PALS webbing.
To order in any color as long as it’s Black, visit Blade Tech.
NEMO has been producing lightweight, innovative shelters for several years now. Their hallmark is the AirSupported Technology which precludes the need for traditional poles. Developed by NEMO’s founder after his work on spacesuits and inflatable architecture with NASA, AST™ is a system of low-pressure inflatable tubes (called airbeams) and lightweight pumps that provide a high performance alternative to traditional tent poles. Airbeams are made of two layers, similar to a bicycle tire. An outer layer provides the shape, strength and puncture resistance, while a thin inner bladder holds the air. Feeling winded from a long day humping a ruck? No problem. Each shelter comes with an innovative pump that can be operated by hand or foot and will not over inflate the airbeam.
Over the last year or so they have begun to adapt their innovative designs for military use. In fact, the Gogo was provided for use during the REF’s lightweight equipment demonstration.
The Gogo is a single wall, one person shelter. It includes a pump and stores in a dry-bag style stuff sack. It has 19 sq ft of floor space with an additional 4.5 sq ft under the vestibule. It’s low profile design is perfect for tactical bivouacs being just 27″ high yet the 42″ width and 113″ length allow you to spread out. It is lightweight (1.9 lbs) and packs to a compact 7” X 5.5”. It features a quick set up (15 sec) and strikes even more quickly (5 sec).
The NEMO Gogo SE™ (shown in Multicam) shares of all the same stats of the standard Gogo but features an extra six inches of length. It also boasts an additional side door for entry, exit, and ventilation.
NEMO tactical shelters come standard in OD, but can be special ordered in special colors like the Multicam shown with a minimum order requirement. All of NEMO’s tactical shelters are available from ADS.
The Tactical Tailor Hybrid Enhanced Vest (H.E.V.) is manufactured from 1000D Cordura with an air mesh lining. The design features modular webbing on all sides and is fully adjustable to fit most wearers. Safety features include a dual cummerbund system for proper vest posture and positioning on the body as well as a pull-over flap for quick removal in emergency situations. Internal pockets accommodate standard size plates and soft armor for most ballistic vests up to 17″ x 24″ front and 18″ x 22″ back. Also included with the H.E.V. are removal side closures with elastic for better fit and adjustment, padded shoulder straps with integrated microphone epaulets for added ease and comfort, and a heavy duty drag handle. The entire package has an empty weight of only 4.5 lbs. Soft armor packages are available exclusively to military and LE personnel with proper credentials. Available in Black, Coyote Brown, Ranger Green, and Multicam from www.tacticaltailor.com.
Ever wanted to attach your chest rig directly to your armor but wanted to to be able to get it off quickly?
Down Range Gear can help you do just that. Providing more of a service than a product, according the the owner of Down Range Gear, they work directly with the customer to develop a custom product. The goal is to identify the equipment used and deliver a set of buckles customized for the combination of vest and rig along with instructions on how to set it up but just as importantly, how to use it. Using the four to six points of attachment found on most chest rigs they anchor compatible buckles directly to the vest in order to support attachment of the chest rig.
Customer participation is necessary to make the process work and pictures of the vest and the chest rig are almost always required to determine the best course of action. Further customer interaction and input is solicited through the build process in order to ensure a custom fit. With the myriad possible vest and chest rig combinations, there is no definite, single system and end user preference figures heavily in the final product.
Lastly, no matter what happens, Down Range Gear makes every effort to:
1. Not have the customer send any equipment in.
2. Not permanently alter either piece of equipment and ensure the chest rig can continue to be used with the harness as originally designed.
3. Ensure the anchor points and mating solution are easily understood, can be installed by the user and modified or repaired in field conditions.
Turnaround time is typically an astounding two to three days on a project. Only small design houses can provide service like this and it is imperative that we support them whenever possible. For more information on this service as well as the full line of Down Range Gear products, visit them on the web.
Tactical Tailor designed their new Modular Assault Panel (M.A.P.) to work specifically with the issue IOTV, allowing you to carry your normal combat load yet still remove it in seconds, without removing your vest and, more importantly, without impeding the quick release function.
As with all Tactical Tailor products, the M.A.P is made in the USA from 1000D Cordura® and features four heavy-duty Fastex buckles, velcro and their patented MALICE Clips to attach to the front panel of the IOTV.. It is available in UCP and Coyote Brown from Tactical Tailor.
One of our readers sent us this link of a review of Mayflower’s UW Chest Rig. It weighed in at an astounding 15.8 ounces! The article has many excellent photos of the vest’s various features and also contains feedback from Mayflower on issue that were brought up in the review. It is available here.
Tactical Tailor has produced the new Joey Pouch to accommodate Source Hydration’ Kangaroo Bladder. It is the perfect replacement for the traditional canteen, but it is even better. It has a drinking tube like other hydration bladders but is much more compact.
Constructed from 1000D Cordura, the Joey features a dual-pull zipper and external PALS webbing. It attaches to PALS equipped platforms with two long MALICE CLIPS®. Additionally, it will accommodate a standard Nalgene bottle.
The Joey is Made in the USA and available in UCP, Tan, and Black with or without bladder. However, the Black pouch is not available with bladder. Order from Tactical Tailor.
Part of the PLMRS (Platypus Light Modular Recovery System) pronounced ‘Plumbers’, the GRAB bag features a PALS-compatible attachment system.
The bag has a dual flap lid with sub-lid for comms systems, internal and external PALS, a waist belt, and shoulder strap. The shoulder strap has a radio microphone attachment point.
Available in Olive and Tan and made in Australia. For more info visit Plat A Tac.
The IMag Interlocking Mag Pouch System from Granite Gear we introduced you to at SHOT Show are apparently becoming quite popular with the Army Sniper community. In addition to 30 5.56 magazines, they also fit the magazine for the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) offering a universal ammunition pouch for the Sniper. Snipers also like the pouch’s locking locking closure that won’t open during a stalk.
Granite Tactical Gear products are offered by MMI and this is, in conjunction with the new Sniper Ghillie Hut are just a taste of the products they have coming for the Sniper community.
Granite Gear Tactical products are made in the USA and available in Khaki, UCP, and Multicam from www.granitetacticalgear.com.
To clarify a point from our earlier FASTmag coverage, the Gen III will not stack with mil-spec PALS-style attachments. The snaps are too thick to fit through the slot but other FASTmags as well as MALICE clips fit fine.
In the pictures you see the standard Gen II FASTmag (Left) compared to a belt-style Gen III (Right). There are two styles of Gen III, the belt-style as well as a standard PALS compatible version with the ears to tuck under an upper row of PALS to enhance stability. The belt-style has a removable bar that slides along the loops to accommodate various width belts.
Down East changed from the mil-spec MOLLE attaching system to a proprietary synthetic. Also, please notice that they have improved the security of the FASTmag to the point where they feel they could omit the bungie strap from the design.
To compliment their other products, Shellback has released the Go Time MOLLE Chest Rig. The PALS webbing provides flexibility to the wearer and the padded neck strap is curved for comfort. The rig will also fit soft armor as well as IMPAC ST 5×8 and 7×9 plates. Made in the USA from 1000DCordura, the MOLLE Go Time Chest Rig features a lifetime warranty.
The Australian Defence Force recently issued a prohibition on the use of all non-ADF issued load carrying equipment including webbing, pouches, and body armour. This comes on the heels of an accident involving a commercially produced ammo pouch. In this odd tale, live rounds were stripped from a magazine during a training range and remained at the bottom of the mag pouch. Then, miraculously, those same live rounds were inserted into a magazine later during a blank firing event. For those of you wondering, yes, the assertion is that the mag pouch somehow loaded those rounds. I say, if someone in Australia has developed a pouch that will load mags for you, let’s see that thing.
Unfortunately, this mishap has resulted in fewer options for the Australian Digger. Apparently, it is easier to ban inanimate objects than to ensure leaders and Soldiers inspect their equipment and conduct safe training operations.
