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Bates Footwear

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Bates developed both the Tora Bora Alpine Boot and M-8 Tactical Boot to support Special Operations Forces requirements.

The Tora Bora Alpine Boot offers ultimate protection for advanced mountaineering and high altitude operations and was engineered in partnership with the US Special Operations Command. This USA manufactured boot contains 200 grams of Thinsulateâ„¢ insulation and a GORE-TEXÂ® lining, as well as a multi-terrain VibramÂ® rubber outsole for compatibility for crampons, skis, and snowshoes. It is quite a feat that this boot is Berry Compliant. Bates made a serious investment in building the infrastructure to build a technical mountaineering boot domestically.

The Bates M-8 Tactical Boot provides enhanced durability, stability, and traction in urban and field operations. Also manufactured in the USA, the M-8 features a VibramÂ® Mutant outsole for traction on wet as well as dry surfaces. For maximum cushion and durability, the M-8 features a direct-attach construction. An anti-bacterial, abrasion-resistant Dri-LexÂ® Camo lining delivers enhanced moisture management to ensure feet remain cool, dry, and comfortable. many do not know that the M-8 was actually developed to satisfy a SOCOM requirement for an assault boot. Bates answered the call with a modified version of their popular M-9. In addition to some minor modifications including a slightly shorter upper, Bates had to be prepared to produce the boot in various color schemes in order to support SOCOM’s individual service components.

You can see these and the entire line of Bates boots at the Soldier Equipment and Technology Expo and Conference November 17-18, 2009 at the Crown Convention Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Tags: Bates
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OTB Boots Halloween Sale

Friday, October 30th, 2009

OTB Boots is offering 20% off selected styles and colors. Additionally, the Abyss, Odhin, and SAR are available in Green for only $69.95!

Use discount code “BOO” at checkout. Sale ends soon. Visit OTB Boots to take advantage of this great opportunity.

Note: No back orders accepted and this offer may not be used in combination with other specials or discounts.

Tags: OTB Boots
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Win Free Boots for Life

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Militaryboots.com is sponsoring a Free Boots for Life Photo Contest to find the oldest, most worn-out set of boots in the world. All you need is a tattered pair of boots and a great story telling ow they got that way. Submit a photo of your boots along with the story by January 31, 2010.

To enter visit www.militaryboots.com. Also be sure to read the fine print.

Tags: militaryboots.com
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Thanks to Tactical Impact and Tactical Arms Sponsors

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Last week I was offered the chance to join the cast and crew of “Tactical Impact” and “Tactical Arms” on the set at US Training Center in Moyock, North Carolina.

The US Training Center facilities are fantastic and provide the team a variety of backgrounds to accommodate filming. Viewers who have attended training sessions at the Xe campus will recognize the range complex and if it has been awhile since you last visited some of the additions would surprise you. In addition to ranges and various backdrops, US Training Center also features an on-site dining facility and hotel-like accommodations.

While I was there they were filming an intro sequence that will be featured on an episode of “Tactical Impact” focused on Special Forces. As the cast and crews are the same for both shows, segments are shot in overlapping schedules. Very little of the work is conducted indoors so it can lead to some long days in weather extremes from the North Carolina heat to cold rainy days that hover just above freezing. Cold and wet describes my time on set perfectly.

It is on days like this that the material provided by sponsors goes beyond the “This will look great on screen” to “Man, good thing this product performs as advertised”. And perform they do. Early this year as production for this season was ramping up, show co-host Larry Vickers called me and asked if I could recommend some equipment to be used on the show. After speaking with producer Eric Sherertz and soliciting input from co-hosts Jason Falla and Kyle Defoor, I contacted several companies to see if they would be interested in providing products for use on the show. The response from industry was fantastic, so keep your eyes peeled while watching both series for some of the newest products in the tactical market.

EOTAC provided a variety of clothing items from their Operator Grade line including specially embroidered shirts for the cast and crew. Additionally, Propper provided embroidered TAC.U uniforms as well as several items from the Adventure Tech line. Under Armour donated jackets, hats, and gloves. Additionally, several cast members use Vickers Tactical gloves. Arc’teryx LEAF was well represented through their US distributor Uber Group.

Footwear companies who have participated include OTB Boots, Tactical Research, and Salomon. Both Smith Optics and Revision Eyewear provided several styles of eyewear for use during the season and SOG Knives provided their popular SOG tool as well as pocket knives.

Bulldog Equipment also produced variants of their Mirage Camouflage uniforms for the show. As you can see from the photos Mirage does a great job of blending in with the environment used on the set. Additionally, Daniel Defense provides the DDM4 for use in many of the tactical scenarios depicted on the shows.

Despite the inclement weather, it was a great day and both cast and crew were able to get the film in the can thanks to the support of these sponsors.

Tags: Larry Vickers, Tactical Arms, Tactical Impact
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Redington Introduces the Eco Grip Feltless Wading Boot

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

The Eco Gripâ„¢ is Redington’s first felt-less wading boot designed by Redington and engineered through an exclusive partnership with OTB. OTB developed the lugged and precisely razor-siped Tactical Rubber Technologyâ„¢ to support their military customers and is yet another case of technology developed to support America’s Warfighters finding its way to the civilian market.

Rubber-soled wading boots are an evolution in wading gear, since felt soles can be a cesspool for damaging aquatic microorganisms. In addition to helping prevent the Aquatic Hitchhikers (didymo, New Zealand mud snails, zebra mussels, whirling disease and other introduced nuisances) that threaten our waterways, the Eco Gripâ„¢ boots have many other notable features. Mesh side panels allow for instant water drainage, and ballistic mesh placed between the outsole and upper prevents small stones and other debris from entering the boot. High-abrasion TPU upper material resists scuffs, far outlasting conventional leather and a DWR finish on the entire boot prevents extreme water absorption, so the boot doesnâ€™t get weighed down as the day progresses.

The Eco Grip Boot features the same foot bed found in OTB’s maritime footwear. In the footbed, the exclusive SFSâ„¢ (SEAL Fit Systemâ„¢) aids in water drainage as well as breathability. OTB’s SEAL footbed has a patented removable shank that allows the user to customize the fit with two different insoles, depending on the application. A thick neoprene insole takes up more room inside the boot for use with a thin sock or when wearing the boot barefoot while wet wading. Replacing the thick insole with the thinner insole gives the wearer additional room inside the boot when using an extra-thick sock or a neoprene bootie.

The Eco Gripâ„¢ boots will be available December 2009 from Redington.

Tags: OTB Boots
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Attention Gear Scout

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

When are you going to review those sweet-assed Wenger FBI SWAT Team boots you got at OR? We’re waiting. I bet Wenger is too.

Tags: Gear Scout
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REF Equipment List

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

There have been numerous questions floating about the equipment chosen for the Army’s Asymmetric Warfare Group fielding of a battalion’s worth of lightweight COTS equipment to the 4th ID for their current deployment to Afghanistan. In an effort to dispel any rumors, we got a list of the equipment issued but have removed sensitive materials including any references to armor.

See the entire list after the jump.

Tags: AWG, REF
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TR-1 High Performance Insole

Monday, July 6th, 2009

One of the things that makes the new line from Belleville offshoot Tactical Research so fantastic is the new TR-1 High Performance Insole. After the actual boot purchase, the second most expensive footwear related expense is for a quality insole. Unfortunately many companies skimp on a decent insole in order to save a few bucks but not Tactical Research.

In addition to Agion anti-bacterial lining, the insole features an extended arch support built upon a foundation of EVA. With most boots, you’ll probably get an EVA molded insole and it will somewhat resemble the shape of your foot. Tactical Research on the other hand goes one step further. They combine rubber and EVA to provide a combination of comfort and impact protection on the honeycombed forefoot. This design also permits are circulation around the foot. Additionally, there is a deep, contoured heel cup to help with stability.

The TR-1 Insole comes standard with all Tactical Research footwear.

Tags: Tactical Research
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