Serket’s new Extreme Cold Weather Hinge Balaclava has been tested in Alaska by the U.S. Army where it offered protection down to -40 deg F. While it isn’t a membrane fabric it does offer excellent wind resistance (4.5 cfm) on par with membrane fabrics.
The material has a fleece on the inside for comfort and is water resistance. The real innovation is the stiffenes in the external shroud that not only directs the exhale down and away from goggles but also keeps exhaled air from flowing upward and fogging eye wear. The balaclava is not FR but Serket is investigating appropriate materials pending a requirement from the field.
This is the first installment of a three-part exclusive sneak peek at Huron Tactical’s new pack and clothing line. While I showed you the new Huron Tactical Smock as well as the Approach Anorak back in January, I finally got my hands on one of the Anoraks and I’ve got to say that it’s my favorite new Huron product.
I worn the Huron Smock last week while hunting in New Zealand at Woodbury Safari Lodge. It’s late Fall there and the conditions change by the minute. It can go from cold wind and rain to warm sunshine in an instant, but the Anorak’s full side zips allow you to vent on the fly as well as facilitate rapid donning and doffing in the event you need to add or shed underlayers. The DWR coated four-way stretch softshell fabric also does an excellent job of repelling water, even in rain.
Additionally, the Approach Anorak incorporates nonslip elbows, a 1/4 front zip, removable hood, zippered bicep pockets with Velcro field for ID patches and an excellet Kangaroo pocket that sits atop a large zippered handwarmer pocket. Both of these chest mounted pockets feature elastic holders for M16-style magazines for a total of two per pocket. Finally, they’ve added a Cordura panel along the rear hem for sitting on ice or on other wet areas.
It is not quite as generously cut as the Huron Smock but I still recommend going down a size unless you are pairing it with a high loft insulation layer underneath. I usually wore it over a Merino base layer and Gen 2 Naga Hoodie from Arc’teryx LEAF and was very comfortable, even while sitting.
For all of these reasons, it has made the list of kit I recommend.
I spent last week hunting in New Zealand. One of the first things I packed was my Platatac GBH-R.
I wear it all of the time; while shooting, hunting, hiking and camping. Made from comfortable 100% ripstop cotton, it incorporates full vents on either side and a bungee cinch strap to keep it on your head in the wind. In fact, I wore the GBH-R during a precision shooting course a few weeks ago in SoCal’s high desert where the winds were in excess of 30 mph. It never blew off but didn’t feel uncomfortably tight either.
What I like most about the hat is the short brim which doesn’t block your vision yet still keeps the sun out of your eyes and off your ears.
Mine is in MultiCam, but it’s also offered in AUSCAM as a stock item and occasionally in others as well.
UF PRO has recently added Brown Grey as a color option for their Striker Field Shirt. The field shirt is made from 50/50 NyCo ripstop fabric, with all loop material meeting NATO NIR requirements. The anatomic cut is designed for comfort when worn under body armor or battle vests. Dual access chest pockets feature Velcro closures to help prevent injury from secondary fragments, and offer good access to contents, even when wearing equipment or body armor. Big upper and lower arm pockets are spacious enough for equipment that requires quick access. Also included are pouches for D30 Trio Mid elbow protectors.
The Striker Field Shirt is available in sizes XS-3XL, and also comes in PenCott GreenZone.
Critical Precision will soon be accepting pre-orders for their limited edition 02 MAY 2011 t-shirt. This year marks the 4th anniversary of the death of Osama Bin Laden, the result of a mission undertaken by the US Navy’s SMU. This shirt is an homage to those who took part in this historic mission, with an Ops-Core Maritime helmet in AOR1 outfitted with a GPNVG-18, as well as design cues which discreetly hint at the squadron and unit involved in the mission. A portion of the proceeds are being donated to the Navy SEAL Foundation and SEAL Future Fund.
Check out this behind-the-scenes video from Agilite Gear at the recent Battle Element Soft Shell photoshoot. Done in collaboration with Israeli Weapons Industries, it shows some of the latest gear and apparel from Agilite as well as the latest weapons from IWI.
Kitanica’s American Hoodie is constructed of Polartec Thermal Pro 200 weight fleece fabric which provides warmth, comfort, and breathability. The hood features a stiffened brim with an adjustable cinching shock cord. The left arm is outfitted with Kitanica’s signature covered pen tubes which are mounted on a zippered bicep pocket, while the opposite right bicep features a Velcro loop panel.
The front of the American Hoodie features a cavernous front pocket with left and right side zippered access; the backing of the pocket is constructed of mesh allowing for ventilation in warmer temperatures when left open. The interior of this pocket wall functions as a smaller admin pocket with Velcro closure for smaller items.
Available in Black. Sizes XS-XXL. Made in the USA.
