Helikon-Tex® likes to keep its finger on the shooter’s pulse and are excited to introduce new equipment within their product range. In January at the Shot Show 2019, Helikon-Tex® will show many new products. These will include a whole range of innovative new shirts for tactical gentlemen in solid colors and plaid patterns, the Downtown backpack designed for covert urban operations, as well as their already well-known best sellers from their Range Line – Training Mini Rig made in a special new melange color option. Don’t forget to visit the Helikon-Tex® booth to see these and many more products up close and personal!
Shirts for the tactical gentleman
Helikon-Tex is bringing out new types of shirts presented in more convenient package that were designed specifically for guys looking for tactical features while maintaining a low profile look. Both Urban and Patrol line shirts are packed with functional carrying space, though the first one is much more discreet in the way it looks. “We at Helikon-Tex are shooting sports enthusiasts and we’re constantly discussing our products with guys who shoot a lot. We had feedback that some of them are looking for something more casual than a typical military shirt, but with all the tactical convenience. So, we create shirts not only to visit the shooting range, but to wear daily. That’s why we came up with an idea of the MBDU Flannel Shirt,” says Jedrzej Mieszczak, Helikon-Tex Executive Vice President.
New kind of shirt for shooters
Helikon-Tex MBDU Flannel Shirt®
A well put together tactical shirt guarantees you an advantage when you need to move dynamically while on a shooting operation but at the same time is comfortable and practical for day to day wear. The key and main innovation is the combination of civilian appearance and tactical features. You’re no longer limited to only wearing military-looking clothes as the MBDU Flannel shirt is the answer for anyone seeking functionality and a great look. The design is reliable in any tough situation: VersaStretch® side panels give freedom of movement in dynamic shooting, strength is evidenced by refined details such as Canadian style slotted buttons sewn with strong tape. Set of full-storage pockets is there to keep all the necessary gear right by your hand. Loop panels to let you personalize it to your needs. All above is accompanied by UPF50 sun protection. The MBDU Flannel Shirt is in the world of shirts like what the Abrams M1A2 SEP v4 tank is among armored vehicles.
Urban Tactical Shirt
Helikon-Tex Defender Mk2 City
Low profile and daily comfort. It’s pretty obvious that none of us like to wear shirts that only look good but leave no freedom of movement to manage your everyday tasks. That’s why Helikon-Tex produced a classical but still a functional shirt to wear on and off duty. It’s made with elastic fabric – a mix of nylon and polyester with additional spandex to make it even more comfortable. Two layers of pockets are placed chest-high to provide you with great access to your pocket book, credit card and everyday essential gear. A mesh underarm ventilation system is there to keep you cool, and thanks to a little loop between the pockets, you’ll have your sunglasses handy too.
Shirt for the tactical gentleman
Helikon-Tex Defender Mk2 Gentleman Shirt
If your tasks demand you stay unrecognized but fully prepared for action, we have something for you. A 100% low profile, elegant shirt that keeps all the tactical features while looking convenient and discreet. It’s made with a technically advanced polyester fabric that mimics thin cotton, dries quickly and keeps you cool. Full sized pockets and a sunglasses loop are there to provide you with everything you need at work and in formal meetings. The Defender Mk2 Gentleman Shirt looks great with casual pants and jeans and can be paired with a sports jacket. Long and short sleeve versions are available to cope with any conditions.
Backpack for the discrete operator
Helikon-Tex Downtown Backpack®
Part of being a discrete operator is blending into the crowd and your environment; it can often mean the difference between completing a mission and blowing your cover, that’s why we created the Downtown Backpack. It provides the tactical functionality you need to stay mission capable, but with a civilianized look that will keep you inconspicuous. Designed with a special compartment that holds a standard service pistol for quick draw accessibility, as well as internal storage for a laptop or other essentials, it’s the ideal choice for undercover operations. Available colors: Black and Grey.
Bestseller from Range Line in new colors
Training Mini Rig®
One of the Helikon-Tex products for shooters deserving the iconic status is the Training Mini Rig. Now available in nylon fabrics and melange colors like Melange Black-Grey, Melange Blue and Melange Grey. Whether you’re a professional competition shooter, a shooting instructor at a range, or just love getting out there and putting some lead downrange on your own time, being comfortable is important. That’s why – inspired by one of the most famous US tactical shooting instructors – we created the compact Training Mini Rig, which lets you carry important equipment more easily when you’re in the prone position, on the move, or taking up position behind a barrier. Having the Training Mini Rig, you’ll always have your flashlight or multitool at hand. Designed with numerous pockets for carbine and pistol magazines, a utility pouch for tackers or markers, exchangeable inserts, and even a small hanging pouch for a first aid kit, it’ll make you feel prepared and comfortable. We are sure that shooters in the US and around the world will be excited when they see the Training Mini Rig in these new colors.
About Helikon-Tex
For over a decade, after Helikon-Tex was established, our business activity was mainly concentrated on military surplus sales. In 1999 we set a new development direction and decided to start our own military and paramilitary clothing production. We built our strength and gained experience by creating our own Research & Development department, consisting of shooting experts and former special forces soldiers, who designed with passion modern and specialized solutions that the military industry could not produce. And therefore, step by step, we turned into an ambitious manufacturer of tactical and outdoor equipment. We have our finger on the shooter’s pulse, and we appreciate innovations and introduce new product lines. Our clients receive the highest quality tactical equipment at a reasonable price.
Great looking backpack, Mil-Spec monkey could take some design clues from these guys, no molle and no Velcro!
We are trying to do different things when it comes to covert vs just urban color schemes. There is a pretty heated debate on just how much average joe thinks a pack looks tactical vs what “tactical” people think. Most my designs start with functionality first and then eventually get around to looks if I can. PALS mounting and loop has never been something you just toss on there to look tactical cool to me, I use the features every day.
Much like their training rig in Melange, no one thinks that is covert, it is just offering a “fun” color scheme.
MilspecMonkey,
What percentage of people do you actually see using the back mounted PALS webbing on an assault pack? The moment you use it it makes the pack stand out like a sore thumb, plus it makes the pack stick out way too much compared to its size. That is why I think many companies get rid of it. Maybe laser cut would be lower profile?
If not a straight up pouch I see people attaching all kinds of stuff to PALS all the time. Carabiners, lights, attachment straps, etc. Putting on an a reasonable pouch is not going to make a pack suddenly a fat bastard. Again covert is a totally different thing compared to tactical just with a civilian color scheme. If I do something covert it will be obvious that is the design intent and frankly a lot of places screw that up…like having a flannel shirt with loop on the sleeves.
Helikon-Tex appears to be making both discreet and tactical fashion designs, but it should be noted those are 2 totally different things. Ain’t nobody going to roll around in Training Mini Rig in any color and be fooling civilians like everyone is thinking, well that guy looks normal….
While I agree 100% that having a flannel shirt with morale patches and denim colored chest rig are not going to fool anyone into thinking the guy wearing the kit is civilian/unarmed, I do think these have their place.
Maybe less so for the denim/melange colored chest rig, which I think is just a fun colorway, but the MBDU flannel shirt looks actually practical for me, although not in the suggested undercover way. I see using this as a general outdoor activity technical item – hiking/camping/bushcraft kit.
Agreed, the loop patches may not be necessary for that application, but the shirt itself – and specifically the bicep pockets – are quite useful. Although I do have a MSM patch or two I see I could rock on these.
Lastly – some of the guys on the Helikon-Tex design team – you can actually see them in some of the promo material – have a very solid practical survival/bushcraft background in addition to the shooting sport/military stuff. It would be surprising not to think they are designing some of the products for activities they enjoy themselves.
Pretty soon everyones gonna start jumping on the tactical flannel bandwagon. Shooting industry is rapidly turning into a fashion show for Gucci kit, expensive rifles, and Instagram likes.
Yea I’m not really understanding the tactical lumberjack look as if that is more appropriate or comfortable. It is one thing where you just show up with your buddies to do some lazy fun shooting, but if you are basically in full kit and running drills, gear specifically made for that, aka tactical stuff has always worked better for me. It is one thing to decide to wear something straight up because you think it looks cool, but the idea that somehow you are also fooling non shooters into thinking you are average joe despite you have a chest rig on and rifle in hand is pretty dumbsauce.