I am very pleased to announce that two of my favorite things have combined. I’ve been wearing Saxx underwear for about a year. They feature a mesh cradle, called the BallPark Pouch, for your boys. Additionally, they are made from moisture-wicking 95% viscose/5% spandex fabric. Those two factors combine to make them extremely comfortable.
How could they make them better? By offering them in a Tigerstripe camouflage print.
Get yours at www.saxxunderwear.com
This is the LBT Riot Suit. It is the only suit in the industry constructed of one material that is Fire Retardant, Stab, and Slash Resistant. It’s also the only Made in the USA riot suit. It allows full mobility compared to other options in the market that have limited mobility.
We recently took note of the Oceanside, California based company ALL SKILL NO LUCK a few months back with the introduction of their popular flannel field and combat style shirts. The company has gained a lot of attention for its quality and designs, and are constantly working on bringing new trend setting garments to market. Nate Murr, known for his popular B5 Systems Gripstop, and other designs with Kinetic Development Group, seemed to be running parallel with his thought process.
ALL SKILL NO LUCK and Nate have teamed up to release the ultimate low profile Urban outwear garment, The California Combat Hoodie. The Hoodie currently features two spacious, velcro covered arm pockets to securely hold extra gear, and is made from a thick, durable synthetic blend. This pullover warming layer currently exists in prototype form, and has already been spotted around SHOT Show.
The hoodie captures the warmth and style of the classic “Baja Hoodie” worn by surfers, college students, etc. and has been a pillar of southwestern cultural attire for decades. The company plans on refining the design further, and releasing a production version in a few months. We are told that the final version may have a hidden Kangaroo pocket behind the hand warmer pocket in the front, a small center of chest “Admin” pocket high center of the chest in the Anorak style, and other small useful features incorporated throughout the garment.
Stay tuned for updates, and let them know what features you would like to see included in the comments below.
This week we are giving you a sneak peek of the Centurion Pant, FirstSpear had outfitted their manakins with, on the SHOT Show floor.
The Centurion is FirstSpear’s first go at trousers and I like the design. It’s simple and doesn’t scream “tactical”. Outwardly, they look like any pair of Outdoor pants. In fact, FirstSpear envisions them as daily wear as well as for outdoor use.
One feature that is really cool is that the button waist closure is backed up by an adjustable Waist Band with a solid, no-slip buckle for use without a belt. The internal waist band is the same material as used in the Line 1 Belt, only thinner and slightly padded. The external belt loops are optimized for holster carry on or in the belt.
The front pockets incorporate nano stretch mesh while the rear patch pockets remind me of jeans.
In between, on either side, there is a Stretch Bridge Pocket which fits pistol magazine, flashlight, or knife/multi-tool.
Although not seen, the samples have an interesting feature I’ve never encountered before. Tucked in mesh pockets beneath where the sidearm and reloads are carried are removable Poron foam inserts for padding.
The knees are articulated and the crotch features a diamond gusset to enhance fit, mobility and comfort.
The fabric is 6.5 oz 50/50 NYCO ripstop. FirstSpear’s Jon Laplume describes it as on “intimate” blend, sharing that the nylon fibers are cut and textured to be the same length and texture as the cotton so that when it is spun into yarn you have an even texture throughout the fabric without a direction. Additionally, the cotton is combed rather than carded. This process is more difficult, but strips out any short or week fibers producing a better quality, stronger, and ultimately softer fabric. This fabric is more abrasion resistant than the 65/35 polycottons commonly used in Europe and also more breathable and cooler.
The Centurion Pant is sized like a military uniform trouser from Small through XXLarge. Likewise, there are Short, Regular and Long lengths. But, the hem is simple to make tailoring easier.
No word yet on final color offerings. However, the samples feature darker thread which highlights the body mapping design.
With the final product still a ways out, look for these sometime later this year from www.first-spear.com.
Nestled just down the row from Crye Precision at this year’s SHOT Show is a booth with no windows and a plain, single door. Few are even allowed entry. When I stepped through the door, a scene out of the hit spy movie “Kingsman” played out before my eyes.
It was as if I had entered the Accessory Room, where new agents are outfitted. Every wall showcased weapons, clothing, and equipment.
What made this unlike the movie, is that it was real. I was the first person at SHOT Show to preview Atlas Standard.
Atlas Standard is the brainchild of Crye Precision founders Caleb Crye and Greg Thompson who have worked for the past couple of years to create a travel clothing line that rivals the combat gear they had developed for CP.
Atlas Standard is a full range which includes trousers, shirts, and jackets, with each component designed to move with the wearer and work in concert with the other pieces.
Atlas Standard doesn’t just look great, it also has some special features. Caleb opened a field jacket and showed me a panel which accepts items you don’t want others to see. That could be quite a few different things. It’s travel clothing after all. What you do in it while traveling, is entirely up to you.
He went on to tell me that the line takes design cues from European clothing to help Americans keep a low profile during international journeys.
In addition to a pouch suite which interfaces with the clothing, there are several belt options. I was told, you’ll be able to get the entire “John Wick” kit.
They don’t even have a website yet, so this is just a sneak peek of what is yet to come. Look for the Atlas Standard line, in Spring 2018.
Outdoor Research has introduced a new Combat Shirt. Intended for hot weather wear, it is a no-drip/no-melt design, made with WL Gore’s Katana fabric for the sleeves and shoulder yoke, along with a knit Polartec fabric torso and collar. It also features flat seams for additional comfort.
Rather than using hook and loop on the cuff, they’ve integrated elastic in the seam. When pulled up, it will stay put.
The inset shoulder pocket closes with a zipper and features seams which channel items to the bottom of the pocket.
Finally, they’ve instituted printed logos rather than embroidery which can chafe.
When your feet experience blisters or fungal infections, it adds one more layer of misery and that is why good socks are so important. Armadillo Merino® are better known for their 100% merino wool next-to-skin garments. This winter, Armadillo Merino® have redesigned their Stamina Boot Sock and Heavy Boot Sock and introduced the Epic Boot Sock.
Armadillo Merino® specializes in next-to-skin merino wool garments and importantly socks. The advantages of merino wool socks include no melt or drip, no smell, and their ability to keep your feet warm even when wet. What is not so well known is that wool can absorb up to 30% of it’s weight in moisture without feeling wet leaving your feet drier and less prone to blistering. They are also highly effective in the jungle due to their natural anti-bacterial and fungal resisting properties.
The Stamina Boot Sock, Heavy Boot Socks and Epic Socks have been lengthened to now be coming up to just under the knee. This change was based on user feedback and requests for a longer sock for increased comfort in higher boots, added warmth and additional leg protection. The added length enables the top of the sock to be rolled back over the top of the boot for jungle use. This helps prevent those nasty little jungle creatures from crawling down between your sock and the boot.
Heavy Boot sock – This sock is designed for extreme cold. It has big loft. The inside has a heavy terry loop knit for greater warmth and increased foot protection.
It is constructed from:
– 71 % Merino Wool, 18% Nylon, 8% Acrylic, 3% Elastane
– Length: Knee height
– Intended use: Extreme Cold Conditions, polar and alpine regions
Stamina Boot Sock is the everyday boot sock with padding across the sole of the foot and up the ankle with a lighter padding used to protect the shin.
– 61 % Merino Wool, 16% Nylon, 16% Elastane, 7% Acrylic
– Length: Knee height
– Use: Every day boot sock
Epic Sock was developed specifically for the jungle use. By using a finer gauge machine to make the sock, it is a lighter sock, but still maintains a high percentage of merino wool to provide all the natural performance properties of merino wool.
Key features:
– 75% Merino wool, 15% Polyamide, 10% Elastane
– Length: Knee height
– Intended use: Jungle conditions and high top boot use
Military supplies of Armadillo Merino® kick ass socks are available through Brigantes.
High Angle Solutions is a weekly series of articles focusing on military mountaineering solutions. It’s brought to you by UK-based Brigantes Consulting, in conjunction with several other brands, both here in the US and abroad. This week, it’s Armadillo.
Earlier today I spoke with Arc’teryx’s Fred Norton about the LEAF Cold WX SVX.
Cold WX SVX is an amazing combination of design, materials, and manufacturing. Insulated with Goose down with a Gore-Tex face fabric, the ensemble consists of Parka and Bib Pant.
leaf.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/cold-wx-parka-svx
