Global Supply Solutions, LLC has just announced the launch NBOW, a new line of operator designed tactical gear.
“NBOW represents the culmination of years of listening to our customers. We are very proud to represent our manufacturers and deeply appreciate our relationships,†notes Emily Whittaker, CEO of GSS Gear, “but sometimes there are requirements that cannot be commercially met. We believe that NBOW is the future of delivering specific equipment for specific needs.â€
“Each NBOW product is the brainchild of a tactical gear user,†says Emily Whittaker. Product ideas are submitted for review to the GSS Gear design team. Submissions which are approved, designed, and manufactured will bear the NBOW insignia with the originator sharing in the naming of the product. Additionally a percentage of the profits from each product will be donated to the originator’s charity of choice. “We at GSS Gear cannot conceive of a better solution for the community as a whole,†remarks Whittaker.
The first NBOWTM products will be available the beginning April of 2011.
Right before last year’s SHOT Show, OTB Boots was purchased by New Balance. Now, a year later, we go to SHOT Show and see a brand new booth with banners proclaiming, “OTB, in alliance with New Balance” and “N.Tel Intelligence”. From what we can gather, the OTB line of products, along with new clothing and athletic footwear specifically tailored for the military is being combined into N.Tel.
Essentially, the message is “Your Intelligence Drives our Intelligence”. For those of you unfamiliar with this notion it actually an extrapolation of the concept “intelligence drives operations”. This means that you can’t go kill bad guys if you don’t know where they are and New Balance can’t produce their products without the input of Elite Soldier Athletes. Makes sense to me. However, I’m not too sure on how the name will play.
The only thing missing now is a dedicated website.
www.OTBboots.com,check it before it transforms into something new.
Costa Eyewear will be on display at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market this week in Salt Lake City, Utah in booth #33065. Handcrafted today in Florida, Costa’s 580â„¢ lens technology is now available in a lightweight, durable, impact resistant polycarbonate lens – the 580pâ„¢. Costa’s 580â„¢ technology is known for blocking yellow light (glare), while boosting red and green lights in order to provide clear optics, and now it is available in a ballistic version; the 580pâ„¢ which have been tested, and have found to meet or exceed ANSI Z80.3 and ANSI Z87.1 impact standards.
For those of you unfamiliar with Provengo, they deliver procurement and logistics related support to the DOD and First Responder customer base. They have particular experience with Personal Protective Equipment including but not limited to Uniforms, Footwear, Eyewear, Ballistics, Tactical and MRO gear.
Princeton Tec continues to develop the MPLS line and informed us that the NVG adapter plates developed jointly with Ops-Core are now ready for action. This only increases the versatility of the Remix Pro and EOS which can also be worn using the standard elastic headstrap or PALS adapter.
We first saw the L5AWM paired with a Beretta ARX160 and were immediately interested. Lancer uses a progressive mold to fully integrate steel feedlips into the polymer design. Additionally, they have incorporated a textured surface to facilitate a positive grip. Finally, they designed the L5ARM to even fit the H&K 416. Available in 20 and 30 round models in Translucent, Translucent Black, Translucent Brown, Black, OD, FDE, and Foliage. They are also toying with the idea of a Clear magazine for training. I am looking forward to when we can check some out.
Not only is Under Armour introducing an entire new line of footwear which includes the MultiCam Speedfreek. I haven’t worn them yet, but I can say that they are very lightweight.
They are also offering long and short sleeved T-shirts in the MultiCam print.
Under Armour has a whole slew of really cool new products as well as specialty Wounded Warrior Project wear. www.underarmour.com
We just wrote that Tactical Night Vision Company would have a new scope in their SHOT Show booth (#6502) and sure enough they revealed the new Weapon-Mounted Advanced Sighting Platform (WASP) to us today. This is a production prototype and has been banged around in repeated field tests, so the fit and finish in delivery models will be a little more polished. For example, the final production version will include hard anodized coatings, battery cap tethers, a knurled ring for the diopter focus, along with many other refinements.
In fact, TNVC President Victor Di Cosola related to us that, “because of the tremendous glass and optic resolution, the NV Intensifier tube is now the only limiting factor for resolution. A true 64 or 72 Line Pair of intensifier tube resolution can be easily achieved through the WASP’s optic at its fixed 8x magnification.” TNVC is now taking pre-orders for a spring release.
As we reported some time ago, Crye did in fact win the SOCOM contract for their Low Viz vests. They produced two variants, one for the RBAV armor and the other for the MBAV. They both accept a small chest rig that attaches via SR buckles and the cummerbunds are interchangeable with the skeletonized AirLite cummerbund.
This is the AirFrame helmet with Chops and MultiCam mesh cover.
In addition to the GunClip we wrote about last year and is now available, Crye showed their new MagClip. Weighing a mere ounces, it fits US GI as well as PMAG magazines, clamping around the base of the mag and relies on two fork-style bars that fit around belts or into PALS channels. Unlike other systems, the MagClip remains connected to the magazine.
Crye has also made a couple of changes to their G3 field and combat clothing including larger jacket pockets with huge side entries as well as zippered back pockets and a new tool loop on the trousers. Additionally both field and combat pants share identical pocket layouts. They also are introducing an all weather combat shirt and field pant as well the FieldShell seen above as well as the WindLiner, a simple, lightweight wind shirt. Finally, for clothing Crye is reintroducing the range vest in a much more streamlined form as a cover up for the combat shirt when no armor is being worn.
Crye also introduced FastMits which is a product designed specifically for fast roping. For years, operators have used a variety of solutions including welding gloves which prove to be bulky and difficult to transition from rope to weapon ready. Crye developed an overmitt that is lightweight and is easily stored. They are placed over the operator’s gloves and can be quickly diffed in order to expose the hands to wield a weapon or operate radios or other equipment once safely on the ground.
In the photo below you can clearly see the MagClip attached to the PALS on a Blast Belt in addition to Crye’s dump pouch and zip off back panel.
