This is the new Subalpine pattern from Sitka Gear. Designed for use in more vegetated terrain, it will be up for pre-order in March.
Archive for the ‘Camo’ Category
SHOT Show Media Day – Sitka
Monday, January 16th, 2017ORWM – Snowpeak
Thursday, January 12th, 2017Japanese brand Snowpeak has long been known for their Titanium cups and outdoor cookware, but they’ve also been offering apparel for the past several years. The designer is Japanese and she has been curating vintage military clothing from around the world. The Fall/Winter 17 line includes several military inspired items including this M65-style Field Jaxket and Fatigue Pant made from Ripstop PolyCotton.
What’s really cool about them is this ensemble is the camouflage pattern developed by the designer. It incorporatesCold War-era East German NVA raindrop elements as well as design cues from Snowpeak’s asterisk logo, both in micro and macro. The pattern will be offered on several other items as well.
SHOT Exhibitor seeks ‘Masters of Camouflage’
Thursday, January 12th, 2017Military camouflage face paint experts and SHOT Show exhibitors, BCB International Ltd, have launched a competition inviting the public to share images of themselves, friends, loved ones and their pets blending into their surroundings.
Ever since their camouflage face paint proved its worth during the Falklands conflict, UK-based BCB International Ltd’s range of camouflage creams has been used by generations of soldiers, airsoft adventurers, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to stay concealed from enemies and game wildlife. BCB’s ‘Masters of Camouflage’ competition is looking for people’s best examples of camouflage in their everyday lives.
BCB International’s spokesperson, Philippe Minchin, said: “From the family pet blending into a rug or sofa to the paintball enthusiast melting into the woodlands undetected, we want people to send us their snaps showing how they use the art of camouflage to blend into their surroundings.’
Each month the winner will receive a prize. This month the winner will receive a BCB rucksack, a military tin packed full of outdoor survival essentials and a BCB camouflage compact to help them perfect their camouflage skills.
Get snapping, because the deadline to submit an entry is 31st January!
To enter the competition visit: bcbin.com/masters-camouflage-competition
BCB International will be exhibiting their range of camouflage face paint at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas (17-20 Jan 2017) at booth number: #6606
At The Front Reproduces WW II Army Camo
Sunday, January 8th, 2017Reproductions of vintage military equipment is serious business with some selling for as much as the originals. For reenactors, reproductions are more desirable than original artifacts due to their fragility and scarcity. Additionally, orginal clothing and equipment is often only available in smaller sizes. If you wear larger sizes and want to actually wear these items, from any era, reproductions are your best bet.
They expect reproduction uniforms in the Spring. The long pole in the tent was getting the print right for the pattern. I find project is interesting considering the Army only wore camouflage uniforms in the ETO for a few months in 1944 before they were withdrawn from service as they were being mistaken for Germans. On a side note, At The Front sells fabric for those interested in getting some custom kit made up.
I love this comment from At The Front, “Go ahead and bitch because “it ain’t khakee enuff…”. Write a snivel letter to the War Department.” They went on to say:
The fabric for Army Camo uniforms is done. Comparison is with a mint, unissued jacket. US Camo Trivia: I discovered in the past 5 minutes that the repeat (roller sizes) on US camo are just as kookie as German. Our print is 12.25″, and among seven original garments I found 12.25″, 13.25″, 14″, 14.5″ and 15″. All are unissued so shrinkage isn’t an issue. The artwork remains the same (nothing added or removed) but the entire pattern varies by about 10% in size. And there are nearly as many shade variations as there are with Natzee stuff.
Warning: At The Front offers original and reproduction militaria from the WWII-era. If you are sensitive to history and the existence of Nazi Germany as well as any artifacts from that period, pass the site by.
Sneak Peek – New A-TACS Patterns to Debut at SHOT Show
Thursday, January 5th, 2017With 2017 Shot Show just days away, A-TACS has shared this concept graphic which depicts a now full A-TACS X line up…..It includes the new look of A-TACS (AU-X) Arid Urban-Xtreme & (FG-X) Foliage Green-Xtreme.
If you are coming to 2017 SHOT Show; they will be in booth #10672. Stop by and see the concept come to life. If you are not going to make it to the show….they will be posting videos and photos from the show. They will have new products from their CORE group of brand partners.
Philippine Army Adopts Camo Pattern Developed By Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp
Wednesday, January 4th, 2017Late last Fall, the Philippine Army adopted a new camouflage pattern (Army CAMOPAT) developed by Canada’s Hyperstealth Biotechnology Corp. Hyperstealth has been quite successful in developing patterns for other international clients including Jordan, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Jamaica and the Mexican Marine Corps as well as developmental efforts in support of both the US Army and Marine Corps and the Canadian military’s CBRNE unit.
The Rappler.com published a sighting of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, a retired officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, wearing the new pattern during a gisit to Lanao del Sur.
Blast From The Past: Camo Rumors – Some Observations
Monday, January 2nd, 2017I was doing some research the other day and ran across this article we had published in the summer of 2009. It was written before the adoption of OEF-P Camouflage Pattern, before Phase IV of theCamouflage Improvement Effort and before OCP. Looking at it in hindsight is kind of fun as some things we had originally said turned out to be untrue. For example, at the time, there was license for the use of MultiCam, but it was paid by the yard. It’s really still that way today, but it just wasn’t as visible at the time.
Ever since Congress told the Army that the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) used on the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) wasn’t cutting it in Afghanistan, rumors and just plain old bad info has been swirling about the internet, so I thought I’d share a few thoughts on the subject.
Urban Legend 1 – MultiCam Uber Alles. Despite internet hype and the military version of an urban legend, MultiCam is not replacing UCP in 2011 or 2012. As best I can tell, this rumor came about because the Future Force Warrior program was supposed to be fielded in, you guessed it, 2011. It so happens that all of the photos of guys suited up in the FFW garb were swathed in MultiCam goodness. For some odd reason, folks couldn’t divorce the concept of FFW from Multicam. Hence, the urban legend. Naturally, this new round of Congressionally driven controversy has only fanned the flames of this untruth. Think about it. The Army just spent a gazillion dollars changing everything to UCP. In fact, fielding isn’t even complete. So ask yourself this question. Why would the Army spend a “gazillion” dollars on a new camo pattern and turn right around a field a new one mid-stream? The answer? It wouldn’t. They want to buy FCS, not new uniforms.
Urban Legend 2 – UCP is going away completely. It isn’t. The Congressional “suggestion” is only for forces in Afghanistan, not the whole shebang.
Urban Legend 3 – The Marine Corps offered MARPAT to the Army and they turned it down. Total Fantasy. Here is a truth. These patterns are about branding. When you see MARPAT, you think “Marine”. When you see UCP you think “Soldier”. MARPAT was developed for the Marine Corps. General Jones, former Commandant of the Marine Corps wanted a uniform that would let his enemies know when Marines were in town. He got one.
I feel for the Army. What a big poop sandwich. “Hey Army, UCP stinks, issue something else. But use the money we already gave you for OTHER stuff.” You can’t just change out uniforms. You have to replace all of the Soldier’s other kit as well, or the contrast will just highlight the guy. So the Army is going to have to compute this huge cost for one theater. That was the point of UCP in the first place. One camo…universal. No more issuing two different patterns to guys…economize.
I feel even worse for the poor action officer at PEO-Soldier who has to develop the decision brief on this one. For example:
COA 1 – Do nothing…Tell Congress “Nuts”, I mean after all, UCP does work in some parts of Afghanistan.
COA 2 – Do Nothing…Beg Congress for cash
COA 3 – Stall…conduct study (Attn PEO-Soldier, I am available for contract to conduct said study)
COA 4 – Issue Woodland or Three-Color Desert
COA 5 – Adopt all new pattern – See pic above
Option 5? That is the fantasy option. Or is it? There are select US forces rocking MultiCam all over the place. Oddly enough, so are Snipers. Aside from that, the Army spent a great deal of time and effort developing and testing several patterns any of which could be dusted off including the one in the photo.
However, I am voting for some combo of one or more of the first three with COA 4 as the ultimate outcome. There is already precedence with the Army’s G1 permitting USASOC forces to wear Woodland camo. Plus, there are stock of the older patterns that can be drawn from to get this thing rolling.
Do we love MultiCam at Soldier Systems Daily? You’re damned right we do. Will it be adopted for use in Afghanistan? Who knows at this point, but it sure will be interesting watching whatever ultimately happens.
Slumberjack Introduces Proprietary DST Camo Pattern For New 2017 Fall Outerwear Line
Sunday, January 1st, 2017
Gunbarrel, Colo. (For Release on January 1, 2017) – Slumberjack (SJK), known for hunting, camping, and overland gear, is further cementing their leadership role in the hunting market with the launch of their proprietary DST (Disruptive Shadow Technology) camouflage. This cutting-edge camo pattern will be introduced on their first ever, new for fall 2017 apparel line.
Inspired by the shadows and negative spaces of natural foliage, Slumberjack’s DST blends sharp outlines with blurred, shadow-like shapes to effectively disrupt the human form at long range or in close quarters. By creating an illusion through depth of field and color adaptation, hunters will blend in with varied terrain for ultimate concealment.
SJK will debut the new DST Perception pattern on their highly anticipated, new for fall hunting apparel at the 2017 SHOT Show.
“As an artist and designer I’ve always been intrigued by camouflage design. Even before my time in the Army I had started collecting various camouflage patterns from all over the world. Working for SJK, I was excited to get an opportunity to create a camouflage pattern of my own design from the ground up,” says Vince Mares, SJK design manager. “After an extensive exploration of various graphic-based patterns, I found that nature itself had the best solution with its shapes, colors and shadows. What I extracted from nature is not only effective but has great aesthetics. I am really proud of what we now call the Perception DST camouflage pattern and I am excited to use it on my next hunt.”
The new fall 2017 apparel line consists of four core pieces; a rain jacket and pants and a DriDown and synthetic jacket. Fully-featured and equipped with Perception DST camouflage, each piece is made with “quiet touch” fabrics and DWR finishes to keep hunters undetectable and dry in the field. Built to be packable, SJK’s apparel line fits easily into day or overnight packs.
For hunts where the forecast calls for rain, snow, or both, SJK offers the Windage jacket (MSRP $179.95) and pants (MSRP $149.95). A 3-layer waterproof / breathable laminate sheds rain and melting snow while allowing internal moisture to escape. Articulation in the elbows, knees and crotch provide outstanding mobility while PU coated #7 zippers keep wind and rain out. A relaxed, athletic cut is designed for comfort and layering in colder weather.
For cold weather hunts where weight and packability are crucial, the Incog (MSRP $139.95) down jacket is the perfect choice. Insulated with 600 fill-power DriDown insulation (ordinary down treated with a hydrophobic finish) in the body for enhanced performance in damp conditions and synthetic insulation in the shoulders for durability while wearing a pack, the Incog packs and layers easily while providing outstanding warm on the hunt.
Synthetic insulation is the way to go as they are impervious to wet weather, the Grit (MSRP $99.95) jacket is stuffed with 60 grams / square meter of SJK’s SlumberLoft-PRO synthetic insulation. Packable, warm, and ready to take the edge off cold days in the field, the Grit is made to take abuse and come back for more.
About SJK (Slumberjack)
For over 50 years SJK (Slumberjack) has led the outdoor industry, creating new and innovative gear to enhance any wilderness experience. Offering a wide assortment of gear designed for the core activities of camping, hunting and overlanding, SJK continues to be the go-to brand for comfortable, functional, and easy to use outdoor equipment. Whether you’re on an overnight trip with friends and family, an epic week-long elk hunt, or a 4×4 backcountry adventure, SJK has your outdoor experience covered. www.slumberjack.com
