AAC has some cool new caps in A-TACS in stock featuring an embroidered Blackout Logo.
advanced-armament.com/Blackout-Logo-Hat–ATACS
AAC has some cool new caps in A-TACS in stock featuring an embroidered Blackout Logo.
advanced-armament.com/Blackout-Logo-Hat–ATACS
As our OR Winter Market coverage comes to a close, we’d like to leave you with some candid shots of several lifestyle clothing items that will show up at your local shop this Summer. Think of it as a modern version of the Christmas wish book of your youth. We hope you like them as much as we do.
Tilley fans have been asking for a camouflage model for sometime now and they’ve answered by introducing a MultiCam version of the popular T3 model. Interestingly, they’re using 330D Cordura with a water repellent finish but they’ve retained the signature brass vents and snaps on either side to keep the brim up. Tilley hats also float and feature a secret pocket in the brim.
Insured against loss and guaranteed for life not to wear out, Tilley hats are Made in Canada. Sizes 6-7/8 – 8. Available beginning in March.
The big story for Arc’teryx this OR is Down. But these aren’t down garments as you have traditionally known them. As with most things, Arc’teryx took a long look at the issue and came with a couple of improvements. First, these garments have fewer pieces than others on the market meaning fewer stitches resulting in stronger garments. Next, they increased the durability of the shell of the garment to mitigate the abrasion that ruins so many down jackets. Finally, they placed Coreloft synthetic in areas of high compression and vapor transfer; the shoulders and cuffs. This feature eliminates cold spots. Currently, the garments run either 750 and 850 fill down.
Another innovation is the new hood design. Rather than traditional two direction hood adjustment, this new version brings the crown of the hood down over the top of your head and ears.
There are already 11 garments in the line (including models for both mean and women) including traditional jackets as well as hooded variants. They have also introduced a true hybrid with a Gore-tex shell and the insulation is the Down and Coreloft combo.
Look for these late Summer 2013.
Not only does Darn Tough Vermont make excellent socks in America but they also are offering Maple Creamies with Bacon!
I didn’t think you could make anything from Darn Tough Vermont any better until they added bacon.
We first mentioned Rocky S2V during their soft launch at Summer OR. Now, in addition to a full brand launch, Rocky S2V has introduced a couple of new products. SSD readers will probably be most interested in the Agonic Prima-Flex softshell and Substratum XLD boot but there is also a new softshell and pant that we’ll cover soon.
The Agonic Prima-Flex is a hybrid performance piece combining 100g Primaloft insulation in a Teflon DWR coated rip stop nylon shell with VapourFlex compression side panels and cuffs. Like all other S2V garments it includes a mini-survival kit as well as a combination signal panel/goggle wipe. Additionally, the interior of the arms of the jacket are fluorescent red for use as signaling devices. Offered in Med – XL in Raven, Desert Khaki and Fire Ember.
The Substratum XLD is a 9″ full grain leather waterproof boot insulated with Aerotherm and PrimaLoft. Under the insole is a hidden cache containing a firestarter and wetcubes. Additionally, the Vibram sole is crampon and snowshoe compatible. The boot is topped off with 550 laces.
Outdoor Retailer Winter Market is the first emergence of a rebranded Beyond Clothing. From the get go, you can’t think of this new brand in terms of the old Beyond Clothing and Beyond Tactical lines. Rather, they have postured themselves as simply Beyond. I was so blown away with what they showed me that I had to think about how to share it with you. We didn’t even talk product. It was all about how Beyond is going to interact with its customers rather than what they are going to see them.
This is Beyond’s booth. The centerpiece is a four-armed, eight foot tall man. They took the measurements of the manikin before it was shipped to OR from the vendor and then custom tailored the clothing in their shop in Seattle over a two day period. It indicates what they can make but he individual 1:1 size manikins along the edge of the booth show customized clothing solutions for a variety of climate challenges. Those displays show what Beyond can do.
They are turning traditional outdoor on its head by focusing on customization for the individual. In the Beyond model the customer is the pro athlete, regardless of his background, requirements or goals. The customer is the participant in the process, a partner if you will, and his needs are the focus of the solution provided by Beyond. For SSD readers that may well be what we consider tactical. But it could just as easily be a hardcore outdoor garment or more of a lifestyle piece. Regardless of the clothing solution, it will be tailored in form, fit and function.
One of the things I like about what I am hearing is that Beyond is transforming to become more than just a site to purchase cool gear. Although in its infancy Beyond is building a community where customers become members and can interact with one another. Granted, Beyond will still have a bench of pros to go to for inspiration and to help answer those interesting questions that pop up. These men and women will be called Guides and will be a part of the community, there to help their fellow travelers.
They’ve already launched their new ecommerce site, but that’s just phase 1. We’ll see more and more content added over the next few months. It’s important to start at their site to see what’s going on.
This is the Odin Mountain Jacket new for Fall 2013. In Norse mythology Odin is the head god and Helly Hansen adopted the name for their elite series of products. it is their premieree mountaining jacket and is made from a proprietary HellyTech 3-layer waterproof breathable laminate. It incorporates Recco avalanche locator and one of my favorite features pit zips.
Below you can see the YKK Vislon waterproof zips. They don’t look like your traditional waterproof zipper and incorporate a brass slider.
Next is a mid-layer piece called the H2Flow.
There are two long vertical zippers on the chest. These aren’t pockets but rather vents.
It incorporates a very interested application of Polartec 200 weight fleece as an insulating layer between shell and mesh lining. They basically cut holes in the fleece to create negative space. This patented process not only makes the piece highly breathable, but air is trapped in these negative spaces left by the removal of the fleece keeping it as a warm air layer next to the body.
Tactical Distributors and GSS Gear will have these available.