TYR Tactical

Posts Tagged ‘New Balance’

Have You Considered New Balance Minimus?

Friday, August 5th, 2011

Since the Army has banned the wear of athletic footwear that feature, “five separate, individual compartments for the toes,” a lot of folks have been looking for alternatives. Even Vibram, makers of the Five Fingers brand, knew that their shoes weren’t for everyone and developed a more more traditional alternative sole for New Balance and Merrel. While I haven’t had a chance to try out the Merrel models yet, I have had a pair of the New Balance Minimus Trail 10 running shoe since January. They run true to size and are comfortable. I generally run them without socks and they are well ventilated so guys running in areas with lots of sand or loose dirt keep that in mind. They are super lightweight and weigh about half as much as a traditional running shoe.

Tactical Distributors has the New Balance line in stock including both Men and Women’s style of the Trail running, Cross training (crossfit shoe), Wellness/Walking shoe and the Running shoe. They offer offering free overnight shipping on all NB Minimus shoes. Use promo code “FREEOVNSHIP” to receive the offer. As an added bonus, there is a 10% discount for military members.

www.tacticaldistributors.com/New-Balance

OTB Tactical Athletic Boot

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

Coming in under the radar is this new model from New Balance’s OTB Boots. The Tactical Athletic Boot (TAB) is built to AR 670-1 standards but designed for use as a trainer for events such as ruck marches, combatives training, obstacle courses, etc.

The TAB is available in Tan, with or without side zip and steel toe. They can be pre-ordered from AFMO or www.uscav.com.

Army Says “No” to Five Fingers in Uniform

Monday, July 11th, 2011

Late last month, the US Army officially banned the wearing of Vibram’s Five Fingers and other similar barefoot running brands that feature, “five separate, individual compartments for the toes,” as they, “detract from a professional military image.”

This edict was passed down from on high through an ALARACT (241/2011) message.

SUBJECT: MODIFYING WEAR OF IMPROVED PHYSICAL FITNESS UNIFORM (IPFU)

1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO MODIFY THE EXISTING WEAR POLICY FOR THE IPFU.

2. THERE ARE A VARIETY OF MINIMALIST RUNNING SHOES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AND WEAR. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, ONLY THOSE SHOES THAT ACCOMMODATE ALL FIVE TOES IN ONE COMPARTMENT ARE AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR. THOSE SHOES THAT FEATURE FIVE SEPARATE, INDIVIDUAL COMPARTMENTS FOR THE TOES, DETRACT FROM A PROFESSIONAL MILITARY IMAGE AND ARE PROHIBITED FOR WEAR WITH THE IPFU OR WHEN CONDUCTING PHYSICAL TRAINING IN MILITARY FORMATION. THIS CHANGE WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE NEXT UPDATE OF AR 670-1.

For uniformed Five Fingers fans this must come as quite a blow. Fortunately, Vibram, makers of the famed Five Fingers foresaw issues with their unconventional footwear and developed specialized soles that mimic the benefits of their compartmented models. Currently, both New Balance and Merrell have released numerous barefoot running models. For instance, the Minimus from New Balance comes in a very Army-esque Black and Yellow. What’s more, they have a reflective logo. How could a 1SG say ‘No” to that?

In spite of the Army’s decision, you can still wear Five Fingers while training out of uniform. Additionally, you can always explore alternatives.

Finally, while I support the Army’s decision for the sake of uniformity, once again, it’s yet another case of the Army’s leadership ignoring their institutional process of change (the Army Uniform Board) and making unilateral decisions about the uniform. From a leadership standpoint, this just doesn’t cut it. You don’t put a process in place and then ignore it when the mood suits you. How can you discipline Soldiers for doing the same thing? The new CSA and SMA both need to both conduct an azimuth check and take a look at the message they send when they ignore the “rules.”

Why Aren’t There Berry Compliant Running Shoes?

Thursday, June 23rd, 2011

A recent editorial in the Coastal Maine’s “The Times Record” makes the case that the Berry Amendment is an important, valid rule for procuring Soldier equipment. But the author brings up an interesting pint which is that there is currently a Berry waiver for athletic footwear. Fortunately, Sen Susan Collins, (R-Maine) along with other Congressional members are asking DoD why.

According to the editorial, the Pentagon is hiding behind the contention that one shoe will not do it all. Hopefully, this isn’t their real fall back position as they don’t rely on one boot to do it all. Why would they expect one running shoe to be all things to all service members?

Apparently, Senator Collins was satisfied with this answer either so she inserted language into the Fiscal Year 2012 National Defense Authorization bill requiring them to provide the proof that there are no American made athletic shoes that fit the bill.

Lest we forget to mention New Balance happens to make running shoes right here in the US of A.

Marine Corps Running Suit Now Available

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Introduced initially to new Marine boots, then Recruiters, and finally the FMF, the running suit by New Balance has been unavailable, save issue to Active Duty Marines. Now, the official USMC Physical Training Uniform is available to all active duty, retired and all DoD card holders. We have seen all of the service physical fitness gear and quite frankly, the Marine Corps got it right by working with New Balance. They have over 100 years of experience building performance products for athletes.

The New Balance Marine Corps running suit incorporates lightweight performance fabrics in an athletic design to keep you training regardless of the weather. The wind and water resistant jacket and pants have 360° reflectivity and strategically placed vents to for increased visibility and comfort. This is a Berry compliant garment meaning Made in USA with US materials.

Available through the Marine Corps Exchange as well as at www.shopnewbalance.com/USMC.

See NBS7 at Warrior Expo West

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

New Balance System 7 is an FR turn key environmental clothing. Designed from the outset to work together as a system, NBS7 offers two types of male T-shirts and drawers as well as sports bra and boy short options for the female user. Add to this lightweight and mid-weight long underwear, fleece jacket, wind jacket, and inclement weather shirt and you’ve got some serious layering options. And, unlike any other FR system out there, New Balance has also integrated a Combat Shirt and Pants into the mix. They top it all off with both soft shell and hard shell jacket and trouser options.

New Balance has assembled tried and true fabrics such as Tencate’s Defender M found in both Army and Marine Corps issued FR garments in addition to layering materials from Cocona and Drifire. Sizing options are unmatched from XX-Small – XXXX-Large. NBS7 will be available in UCP, Coyote and MultiCam. Check out the entire system at www.ADSinc.com/NBS7. They have prepared an excellent page detailing all of NBS7’s finer points for each component.

Additionally, NBS7 will be on display at Warrior Expo Westin San Diego, CA May 4 & 5. There’s still time to register. Visit www.adsinc.com/warriorexpo.

New Balance Introduces Merino Wool Clothing ADS

Monday, February 7th, 2011

Wool really makes sense for military garments but a couple of things have happened over the years that have pushed it to the back of the line. In the late 1980s new, man-made fabrics began to come on the military scene that out performed the issue wool garments which dated back to before WWI. Troops were more than happy to ditch the itchy long johns that their great grandfathers had worn into battle on the Western Front. But then came the IED. Unnaturally (pun intended), the answer was to develop new man made FR performance fabrics since the recently adopted polypropylene and polyester fabrics used in military base layers are very flammable. This was a very costly undertaking. So where was wool, nature’s performance fiber through all of this? Quite frankly, it wasn’t quite ready to make a return.

Traditionally there have been several criticisms of the use of wool:
-Comfort (that itchy feeling)
-Limited domestic availability of Merino wool (considered the best wool for next to skin use, not itchy)
-Shrinkage
-Smell
-Lack of domestic treatment due to EPA guidelines

Despite these generic criticisms, the benefits of Merino wool are myriad:
-Warm even when wet
-Comfortable in a wide range of temperatures as well as against the skin
-Antimicrobial
-Inherently FR (No Melt, No Drip)

We are now at the point where we have almost an entire Army that has never used wool undergarments, and those that have probably don’t have the fondest of memories. Truthfully, current military attention towards wool has been driven by troops with an interest in the outdoors, as commercial wool garments have gotten better and better of the past few years. This has been combined with a concern by those who keep the Army’s purse strings, as they are constantly seeking more economical ways to accomplish the mission.

To mitigate the common criticisms of wool, New Balance has combined Merino with FR Rayon to increase performance and durability. This also increases the FR properties of wool and facilitates field laundering. Then, they have treated the resulting fabric with X-static to further enhance wool’s natural anti-microbial properties to reduce stink. Additionally, there is finally an environmentally green US-based wool treatment facility. Treatment is critical to improving the comfort and performance of the wool. While the US Merino herd is small, as with all things “domestic textile”, the military is a prime customer. In fact, all of the components have just recently aligned in order to allow New Balance to produce a Berry compliant product.

New Balance has developed several garments including Base Layer long and short-sleeved T-shirts, Briefs, light and mid-weight Long Underwear Pants, and a Performance 1/4-zip Shirt. Initially, the plan was to have the Merino products available by July, but user feedback from the test items has been so strong that New Balance is looking to accelerate their schedule.

Units interested in New Balance military products should contact ADS.

AF Announces Adoption of OCP for Deployers

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Making good on their promise of 24 August, the Air Force has officially announced what was already happening. Personnel deploying to Operation Enduring Freedom will be issued clothing and equipment in the OEF Camouflage Pattern (OCP), commercially known as MultiCam. The Army had begun issuing OCP to its Afghanistan-bound forces last summer and included some Air Force deployers due to the nature of their mission such as Joint Terminal Attack Controllers which embed with Army maneuver forces.

In a USAF press release, Lt. Col. Shawna McGowan, the Air Force future programs branch chief made several statements regarding the fielding.

“At first, Airmen receiving the (Airman Battle System-Ground, or ABS-G) uniforms with mission responsibilities outside the wire in Afghanistan will have priority for the OCP.”

But the plan is for the OCP uniform to eventually become the only ground-combat uniform worn by Airmen in Afghanistan both inside and outside the wire, she said. This also will minimize the number of bags Airmen will carry into and out of the theater.

“The OCP uniform is scientifically developed to blend in with Afghanistan’s terrain, which will make our Airmen safer and more effective on the battlefield,” she said. “The new material is also flame resistant and lighter weight than either the ABS-G or the (Airman Battle Uniforms, or ABUs).”

The material also contains a bug repellant to protect our deployed Airmen, she added.

And, the colonel said, not only is this uniform better than its predecessors, but working jointly with the Army to use a tested uniform is the fiscally responsible thing to do.

“It’s not only a joint use of the best ground combat uniform available,” Colonel McGowan said, “it saves fiscal resources and also aligns with the National Defense Authorization Act language that encourages collaborative efforts between the services.”

Since the OCP is replacing the other uniforms, there also will be a savings that will come from not needing to store and supply both the ABS-G and ABU, she said.

So, reading this, I come away with the understanding that the Air Force will be purchasing OCP clothing and equipment from Army stocks and issuing them to Airmen who are deploying to OEF. However, it is interesting that Lt Col McGowan would claim that the OCP uniform is better than the ABS-G or that the Air Force will realize cost savings due to the fielding of OCP.

Since the entire Air Force is still going to use the ABU for all home station forces outside of Afghanistan and those deploying to a combat zone still require the ABS-G in the digital pattern, the Air Force will be adding a third uniform ensemble. Sounds like it will cost more to me. Want to truly save money Air Force? Dump the Digital Tiger Stripe pattern and adopt MultiCam across the board. One uniform for all regardless of location.

As for her assertion that the uniform is more effective. From a camouflage standpoint it most definitely is. The Army adopted OCP for use in Afghanistan for a reason. While Air Force Digital Tiger Stripe was not included in the Army’s camo testing regimen conducted in 2009 in Afghanistan, the colorway is based on UCP with Slate Blue as an additional fourth color. As a camouflage pattern it performs in a similar manner to UCP; abysmally. However, the ABS-G itself is actually a great system. The fabric used in the actual field uniform is the same as used in the Army’s A2CU and is lighter and more breathable than that used in the FR ACU. Additionally, the ABS-G is a total system that incorporates FR insulation layers. The Army’s Gen III ECWCS does not.

The article goes on to warn troops as well as units that they cannot purchase clothing and equipment in OCP.

“The only authorized OCP uniforms are those purchased and issued by Air Force Central Command,” Colonel McGowan said. “While some units are interested in procuring the OCP for training, future deployments and such, they won’t be authorized to do so because those orders would take away from supplies that are prioritized for the most at-risk deployers.”

She also discouraged individuals from purchasing their own uniforms as that could result in them receiving non-tested, non-compliant uniforms that ultimately could put lives at risk. With any new uniform, ‘knock-offs’ are readily available and Airmen need to use sound judgment and not spend personal funds on potentially non-compliant OCP assets, she said.

“Essentially, any unauthorized purchase of the OCP uniforms could result in putting Airmen at risk either on the front lines or at home,” the colonel said.

All good advice, except that it’s a bit melodramatic. Air Force elements were in MultiCam long before this decision by the Air Staff and will continue to do so in the future based on mission. They have had no trouble finding ample supplies of clothing and equipment. The real issue here is that the MultiCam version of the FR ACU which is referred to as the OCP uniform is simply not available commercially. However, ample stocks of alternative FR clothing items in MultiCam are freely available such as New Balance’s System 7. In fact, the Airman Battle Shirt is produced by vendor Massif. They also just so happen to manufacture the Army Combat Shirt in UCP as well as MultiCam and have recently introduced an entire line of commercially available certified FR MultiCam clothing. As for field equipment, pick a vendor and they are making it in MultiCam. Some of it is excellent and some of it is pure junk. Caveat Emptor.