There is no new LEAF news that we can share but we thought we’d show you guys a few items for Spring 14.
The Index Packing System offers organizers for the Covert series of travel bags launched earlier this year.
-Laurice Graves
Laurice is a Navy Veteran who serves as Den Mother to the SSD crew and provides trade show coverage.
By now you’ve seen the viral video by Tactical Distributors of Uber Group’s DK detailing the various functions of the fictional Urban Cloak. But what if it was a real product?
I just had a discussion here at OR with some of the folks on the Arc’teryx LEAF team (ok, it was Marc’teryx and someone else) about making a real cloak/cape.
Here was my pitch in a nutshell.
Arc’teryx employees have been manufacturing capes for Vancouver’s homeless in their free time for years as part of the Nest project. Made from scrap fabric, these cloaks provide rudimentary shelter for their wearers.
Every time I mention these cloaks, readers want to purchase them. So why not make a limited run of these simple garments that can be wrapped around wearer and gear? Make them in Urban Wolf or Crocodile and do a two-for -one deal. For every Cloak purchased through LEAF, a Cloak will be donated to a homeless Veteran.
Granted, they aren’t quite the same thing, but the this project would provide an item that the market has asked for and also provide some support to our brothers and sisters who aren’t doing so well. So what do you guys think?
Should Arc’teryx undertake this project?
Arc’teryx has has released the commercial Fall 2013 lineup for sale on their site.
Go check it out.
arcteryx.com/ProductFind.aspx?language=EN&collection=New_for_Fall_2013
In this video by Tactical Distributors, Über Group announces the Omega line and the new Arc’teryx LEAF Cloak LT. The Cloak LT will initially be available in Wolf, with MultiCam coming Spring 2014. It’s made from a patented fabric that was developed with Gore, and is designed for use in cover and concealment, shelter, and escape and evasion.
For more information go to www.tacticaldistributors.com/Arc-teryx
Earlier today, Arc’teryx shared a story about Canada’s RONIN Rescue being the first North American team to compete in the annual GRIMP DAY (Group de Recconnaissance Interventione Millieux Perilleux) held in Belgium. This year’s event was in June and saw 34 international teams of rescue workers consisting of police, army, and civil defense experts competing in a number of rope rescue scenarios.
If I’d say, I have one take away from the article, it would be, “Vive le Difference”. Not only do we have different protocols here in Canada and the US than those in Europe but the environments are somewhat different as well. Differences in TTPs served as both help and hindrance for Team RONIN Rescue. Initially, the them used North American safety protocols to rig their systems but found themselves falling behind by mid-day as they negotiated six different scenarios. But their different point of view also helped them.
“There’s no wide stairways and elevator access to transport your gear; anchor points are very different. So we adapted,’ explains team leader Kevin Ristau. “For example, we approached a parking lot extraction like a confined space scenario, raising and lowering our patient on a 4:1 mechanical advantage system. No other team even thought to approach the location in that manner. We gained time with that one.’
As for how Arc’teryx fits in to, they provided some great clothing for the team.
This kind of out of the box thinking is what Arc’teryx is all about. “These guys operate at the very highest level of skills and resourcefulness. It’s a privilege to work with them,’ says James Bronson, Arc’teryx Pro and Industry Sales Supervisor. Bronson supported each member of the team with a Heli Guide Jacket in addition to the Talos LT Halfshell and Drac Pant from Arc’teryx LEAF (Law Enforcement Armed Forces).
To read the whole piece visit www.arcteryx.com/Article.aspx?EN&article=GRIMP-DAY-Canadian-Style
-L Graves
For the past couple of years, Arc’teryx has been working with a small number of clients to perfect a specialized bag that will function as a pack, yet keep all of its contents dry for maritime operations. Now they are ready to unveil the culmination of these efforts in the DryPack 70.
The interesting thing about this project is that from its inception it was overbuilt. Much of what has been done is weighing capability and features against requirements. For example, at one point there was a waterproof comms port built into the wall of the bag. That has been removed because it was a desirement rather than a requirement. This results in a bag that is lighter, easier to manufacture and less expensive. Even so, the baseline capability was there from the beginning, so there was a lot of refinement going on.
By its name, you can tell that it offers a 70 liter capacity. Using Advanced Composite Construction (AC2), it’s manufactured from a HT 725D ACT MultiCam Cordura that is coated on both sides with Urethane for waterproofness. From the beginning Arc’teryx knew that this was the fabric that they wanted to use and has stocked it in anticipation of the pack’s release. It also includes a double layer bottom and sides as well as top and bottom grab handles and a 1m removable tether. The pack incorporates a roll down top with full-width RF welded TIZIP Master Seal waterproof zipper.
Additionally, there is an oral inflation tube.
Although it features an AC2 frame sheet, both the shoulder straps and waist belt are removable.
Here you can see the load transfer disc that helps stabilize the load on uneven terrain.
Additionally, all of the external straps can be simply removed.
Although the DryPack 70 won’t officially launch for about 6 months, units can place orders throughout that period.
-E Graves
The Wraith is designed to be put on over other clothing and low bulk equipment as camouflage as well as an emergency shelter layer.
It is a two-piece design made from a wind proof ripstop fabric with a slight mechanical stretch. It is lightweight and designed to stuff into its own pocket. Available in Crocodile, Overwhite and MultiCam in sizes Small – XXLarge.
