While many would look at the Assault LT series and call it a “Jungle” uniform, it’s not specifically designed for use in jungle, or arid environs for that matter, but rather as a more generic Hot Weather Combat Uniform. The Katana fabric from WL Gore & Associates incorporates ePTFE fibers and is lightweight, breathable, fast drying and no melt/no drip. The Katana is combined with 520E Tweave and Cyberknit mesh.
Features:
-PPE compatible allowing the shirt to be functionally worn with body armour
-Low profile zip neck allowing collar to be worn either open or as a neck protector
-Arm cuff velcro closures allowing for fully enclosed sleeves
-Upper arm zip pockets allowing for convenient pocket accessibility when wearing PPE
-Upper arm IFF Velcro® 4×4.5” (w/V-Lite™ retention ring) enhancing the retention of electronic IFF devices
-Daisy chain hard points (in upper arm pockets) allowing for the tying off of mission essential equipment
-Mesh pocket bag liners (upper arm pocketing) allowing for enhanced ventilation and reducing overall apparel weight when the shirt is wet
Features:
-Adjustable waist (c.2”) allowing for waist sizing flexibility
-Enhanced belt loops allowing for the use of the LEAF Rigger’s system
-Retention loops (sewn into waistline) allowing for the tying off of personal items
-Reinforced knees & gusseted crotch allowing for increased durability and enhancing end-user mobility
-Hand pockets (w/internal folding knife pocket) allowing for the secure carriage of a standard folding knife
-Seat pockets allowing for optional/extra storage
-Expandable cargo button pockets capable of providing dump pocket capability
-Draw cord ankle cuff closure (w/vertical retention tunnel for adjustment end) allowing for pants to be worn tightly with boots
-Mesh pocket bag/knee pad insert liners allowing for enhanced ventilation and reducing overall apparel weight when the pant is wet
-Soft knee pad insert capable allowing the end-user an option to insert soft knee pads
Although the subject of today’s article is the Assault Shirt and Pant, there is a third, complimentary piece, the Recce Shirt LT. The Recce Shirt LT is made from the same Katana fabric as the other items and features a user removable zipper closure down the front and mesh breathability panels inside the dual chest pockets.
As far as Arc’teryx LEAF products go, development of the Assault LT items was fast tracked. The initial T&E was conducted in the Summer of 2014 and they were announced publicly at SHOT Show, 2017. However, the plan to go to market came just last year, in February. Uniforms were evaluated by Coalition SOF during operational deployments so feedback was quickly incorporated into design refinements. For example, the Pants didn’t originally incorporate kneepads or rear pockets. The user trials indicated they were needed. Additionally, Arc’teryx introduced a Tweave 520E gusset into the crotch to deal with pilling. Finally, the Velcro panels on the sleeves of the shirts is now 4.5″ tall to accommodate attachment of the V-Lite from S&S Precision.
Considering its use, Arc’teryx designed this uniform as a consumable product. Interestingly, this gave several potential customers pause, so Arc’teryx collected data during their user evaluation and it turns out that they will easily handle six months of operational use.
As this is such a specialized item, they are currently sticking with the MultiCam print and have no plans to offer additional colors. Sizes offered are from XS-XXL.
Tags: Arc'teryx LEAF
Buttons exposed on the Assault Pant and Recce Shirt??
Yeah, they should make a “crawl test” where they drag the exposed surfaces over the ground back and forth for miles and see what happens. I’ll wait.
The only reason I have ever heard given about why it might be a good idea to not cover buttons, is that the excess material retains more moisture, but I would rather still have my buttons at the end of the day and not be getting snagged on stuff all of the time.
How many miles have you crawled on active duty?
As little as possible….
Many; and in the jungle too. Exposed buttons are a bad idea in the jungle period. So is any type of reinforcement for that matter. Just acts as a sponge and keeps one wet longer.
They should have stuck to their original design without the back pockets and knee pad areas on the trousers, or looked at the old OG 107’s as a design inspiration. Those uniforms were truly an “expendable” item.
Sounds like a very interesting fabric:
http://news.goremilitary.com/portfolio/gore-katana-fabric/
“the Pants didn’t originally incorporate kneepads or rear pockets”
It’s hard to know what to say about this when the designers at Arc must have epic truck loads more experience and knowledge than me when it comes to designing a tactical garment. But.. this confuses me, I’ll say that.
Wish they’d incorporated the zip in to the assault shirt AR, surprised this one lacks the pit mesh from that design as well given the intended use. Surprised there’s such a small price difference between the 2 as well I have to say.
Just a guess here but I’m assuming they considered the kneepad and additionnal pockets would be generating too much heat build up in hot environment. Arc’teryx often opt for simplistic design approach…looking at the number of SOF guys running crye pants without pads could make that a valid argument.
As for the lack of pit mesh, maybe this has to do with jungle and buggs. Again, just a guess…
All sounds quite reasonable, lucky this site has some good folks in attendance who’ve got a broader range of experience than I do. I’d be extremely interested to see any sort of test results detailing excess sweat/heat accumulation in areas like that. I know the Patagonias eliminated back pockets for example so there’s a precedent, I just know how often I use those pockets myself and I’m not really seeing a reason to not at least allow fitment of knee pads. But again if they left the shirt buttons exposed then that “no more layers of fabric idea” presumably could have crossed over. I feel like the difference wouldn’t seem like enough to remove the *option* of fitting pads, because that for me has been one huge step forward in modern uniform designs that we’re still lacking in our PCS and I would’ve liked to have when I was away.
For years I sewed my back pocket flaps shut and cut the pockets out. When getting wet off and on it was another two layers to try to dry out or chafe. I never wore knee pads past 2001-02 assault missions.
The only thing I have every put in my back pockets my whole career (8 years and counting) is my dog tags, and the only time I have ever used knee pads was during the Q course, when I would constantly get yelled at for having one knee pad around my ankle. I think both features are unnecessary and I’m glad to see them not included.
When the buttons are so close to the sides of the pocket, the central part can be opened too easily with buttons fastened. Its the basics
I am truly interested to see how all these modern fabrics perform in the jungle. Does anyone actually have any first-hand knowledge?