From “National Defense” magazine’s online edition comes this article on new displays. “Computers That Even Soldiers Can’t Break” details work being accomplished by the Display Center at Arizona State University. The goal is to produce flexible displays that are cheaply manufactured and come in rolls.
I don’t know how we missed this. Japanese Astronaut Koichi Wakata is testing a new style of space-aged odor eating underwear during his stay on the ISS. The current garment must be changed every three days but the test item is designed to last a whopping seven days. Additionally, the wicking garment has FR properties.
So, they prevent stink for up to seven days, wick sweat, AND are FR? Sounds like heaven.
Due to concerns over the sounds produced by partially loaded SAW drums, Polymer Technologies Inc. of Clifton, NJ, has developed an improved 200 round soft pack for the M249. The new pack is quieter and comes in UCP.
We have fielded a lot of questions recently about Boonie Hats, particularly since Crye did not re-release their previous design. The word we have received is that a Booonie will be coming from Crye in the future but it won’t have all of the bells and whistles of the previous design.
There are a lot of options out there but they are all pretty much cookie cutter copies of the US GI-issue Sun Hat. However, one design stands out and is available now and our recommendation goes to it. Last June we wrote an article about the Special Operations Department Boonie. They took inspiration from the discontinued Crye Boonie and made further improvements.
It features two Velcro patches (crown and under rear brim), a sweat band, four slash vents, and a tightening band around the crown. They are available in Multicam, Tan, Black, Night Blue, Desertico CB62 (the desert pattern of Italian SF), Desertico EI (standard Italian Army desert pattern), and Vegetato EI. Be sure to reference the original article for further details. To order go to SODgear.com. Prices are in Euros.
South West Research Institute, in effort to further reduce the weight of body armor decided to adapt the reactive armor technology developed for tanks and the design was patented in 2002.
The Reactive Stiffening Armor System is “a reactive armor system that is effective against armor piercing projectiles and lightweight enough to be worn by humans”. It works by delaying the penetrator from fracturing the ceramic plate in the armor. SWRI calculated that delaying a bullet by just three microseconds is enough to increase protection (as measured by the kinetic energy of the bullet) by ten per cent.
The question is, what will it do to the wearer?
To read more visit Wired’s Danger Room.
Last Summer we broke the story about the Nike SF Boot and the Editor has been wearing a pair in Tan off and on since then. It is an excellent ultra lightweight boot built on the Nike Free sole.
Previously, the boots in Tan and Black could only be purchased through a special website but they are now available to everyone. They can be purchased at Nike Town. However, a word of caution. Nike is notorious for changing their web content on a regular basis so the link may not be valid for long.
Popular Mechanics conducted a test of the leading brands of duct tape. They pitted them against three challenges: tensile strength, the tenacity of adhesive, and how it worked after a week underwater.
We don’t want to ruin it for you but the winner isn’t duct tape. For the entire report visit Popular Mechanics.
You asked and they listened. 215 Gear has added the Army’s Universal Camouflage Pattern to the Blended Operator Hat lineup.
Still manufactured in the USA and still comes with a lifetime guarantee. Available now from 215 Gear.
