€158 per set – made from Mil-Spec, nIR compliant, 50/50 NyCo fabric.
Archive for the ‘Clothing’ Category
HELIKON-TEX Announces MSRP and Release Date for PenCott Camouflage CPU
Tuesday, April 30th, 2013Warrior West – New Balance
Friday, April 26th, 2013
New Balance developed an FR bra and boy short to fill the capability gap in the Army’s Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble. They were designed for New Balance by a former Moving Comfort employee with a great deal of experience creating performance undergarments for females.
New Balance models in a similar fabric are already issued to deploying females in the Air Force, the bras and boy short are currently stocked at AAFES MCSS in 120 stores for private purchase.
T3 SurFight Trunks
Wednesday, April 24th, 2013
This is T3’s first foray into crossover products and I think they did a great job developing an off-duty board short. Boys will be boys and most enjoy a day at the beach, and the SurFight Trunks will fit right in yet hint to the wearer’s background through small details like the base color (Black or Navy) and associated stitching and camouflage pocket. There are also two pockets, left front and right rear and there are additional, less obvious features as well, like 550 cord drawstring and bartacks as found on combat clothing.
Between the para cord drawstring and waist front closure you can cinch them down. In fact, this double Velcro closure presents a smooth exterior and is often found in MMA shorts. These trunks pull double duty, hence the name; SurFight.
XGO Launching Power Skins PT and Compression Line
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013During SHOT Show, we have you a sneak peek at XGO’s new collection of PT and Compression wear called Power Skins®. Now this collection, which expands upon XGO’s existing 4 Phase system is available.
Director of Global Sales, Sherry Lyons had this to say about the the new line:
“Our market has been talking to us for the past year about the need for a technical performance t-shirt that has the feel of cotton and wicking of polyester, and we have developed the solution with our new Power Skins® T-shirts for men & women. The initial responses from our test wearers have been phenomenal. The new running short with liner was developed specifically for our U.S. Elite Forces. Several divisions were searching for Made in the USA and Berry compliant PT gear — now we are happy that it is being offered in our general line with the compression shorts and tights. Hopefully, the general market will find it as high performance as our U.S. Elite forces have!”
“XGO’s Power Skins® is designed as an all-purpose garment that uses stretch and wicking properties for any activity. The PT Collection is designed for daily wear during any physical training, featuring generous cuts and loose fits for comfort and full range of motion. The Compression Collection is designed to support and enhance muscle movement and promote circulation.”
Power Skins, like the rest of the XGO line, is 100% Made in the USA and Berry Compliant. It also moisture-wicking and contains AG-47 silver anti-microbial protection.
2013 Kryptek Product Catalog
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013The 2013 Kryptek Camouflage catalog is out. They’ve got some great looking stuff coming out. Download your copy.
www.kryptek.com/catalog/2013-kryptek-catlog
Sneak Peek – PenCott Pathfinder BDU from Hyde Definition
Monday, April 22nd, 2013Hyde Definition recently gave us a look at their upcoming Pathfinder BDU. Named in honor of WW II’s paratroopers, naturally, the Pathfinder will feature the PenCott patterns. It’s Berry compliant and uses the ACU fit block so finding the right size won’t be an issue.
The Trousers
The trousers feature large cargo pockets with button down flaps.
There is also a zippered compartment behind the main zipper.
The double knees will accept padding.
Additionally, there is a lower leg pocket similar to the ACU with a hook and pile tape flap.
The rear of the waist is slightly higher than the front to prevent sagging and the pockets are of a horizontal slash type, both front and rear.
The button waist also offers a tape to tighten the pants in the event of weight loss.
The Jacket
The jacket’s two chest pockets are angled slightly outboard and rely on hook and pile tape flaps. The zippered Napoleon-style openings seen on this prototype will not be included on the production model.
The stand up collar does not utilize hook and pile tape and can be worn up or down. The front is zippered with a flap secured with hook and pile tape.
As with the ACU there’s a bi-swing back for comfort and reach as well as hook and pile tape cuffs.
The inset sleeve pockets are zippered and so far do not include QuietLoop patches although this may be offered as an option.
Look for the Pathfinder BDU as well as a few other surprises in early Summer from Domari Nolo, Predator BDU and Tactical Gear Now.
Ares Armor
Saturday, April 20th, 2013Ares Armor showed me a prototype of their Derma Plate Carrier at today’s ‘Shot heard round the world!’ Event in New Hampshire.
It incorporates several new features including the Ares-Austrialpin buckle we previewed awhile back.
It’s a full cutaway cable release design. Look for the Derma and its unique elastic cummerbund late 2nd Qtr.
While I was checking out the Derma I noticed Jon’s cool-guy jeans.
The Tacticasual trousers integrate padded knees as well as two 30 round mag pouches in the left thigh.
The magazines pop right up thanks to their mag elevator feature. No word on when these might be available.
SOCOM Interested In FR Combat Shirt and Pants
Friday, April 19th, 2013The folks at Program Manager-Special Operations Forces Survival, Support & Equipment Systems (PM-SOF SSES) office at the U.S. Army Soldier Research Development, and Engineering Center, Natick, MA have been pretty busy. Recently, they issued RFIs for Snow camo and Overwhite garments. Now, they are seeking FR combat uniforms for test and evaluation purposes as well as the the fabric that the garment is made from.
PCU level 9 Photo – US Army SFC Keith Turner
This is a pretty interesting Sources Sought Notice on a variety of levels. First off, with one exception SOF have not been using FR uniforms. MARSOC has been purchasing FR combat uniforms in Woodland camouflage from several sources for the past few years. Second, they already have an approved combat uniform that was developed specifically for their use and that the PCU Level 9. Finally, Natick has tested virtually every FR uniform fabric available. In fact, the results of that testing is available in the same building as PM-SOF SESS.
The desired characteristics in this RFI are generic at best and you can see those quoted below. If the desire is to field an FR combat uniform for SOF that can be accomplished in one of three fashions with little to no risk.
Both the US Army and Marine Corps already field FR combat uniforms in the form of the Army Combat Shirt and newly developed Army Combat Pant and the Marines field the Fire Resistant Operational Gear ensemble. Another option, if neither of those garments meet SOF requirements is, to take the approved PCU level 9 uniform and manufacture it from one of the myriad of FR fabrics currently available.
SOCOM is seeking:
This uniform will consist of two garments; pants and combat shirt. Both will be produced with materials which provide fire resistant performance characteristics. The design and material performance characteristics are detailed below. All garments submitted to this solicitation will be reviewed and evaluated for operational efficacy. This uniform is intended for use by USSOCOM Operators, and as such must be effective in all operational environments, and be compatible with all Operator equipment.
Design characteristics:
Pants
* Sized in 2-inch waist increments
* Two front hand pockets
* Two back pockets
* Two large pleated cargo pockets
* Mechanism at lower leg hem to allow for fit adjustments of pants legs
Combat Shirt
* Collar, shoulders and sleeves shall be the same material as the pants and blouse
* Torso shall be a lightweight, moisture-wicking material
* length zipper across the center front
* Two upper sleeve pockets
* Sleeves shall have adjustable tabs at the wrists
Material physical performance:
In addition to the physical performance, any material submitted must be capable of being produced in military camouflage patterns and meet associated near-infrared requirements.
Interested companies are asked to submit one sample of the each garment, pants and combat shirt, in order to demonstrate the design. These samples must be produced in the material that is being submitted. In addition to the sample garments, please include 3 yards of the material to be utilized for physical performance testing, as well as a report showing any test results already obtained for the material. Pricing and size range for each garment should also be provided. Submissions must be received by 16 May 2013. Each company is authorized only one design and one material submission.
Currently, there are only two manufacturers that offer both their own FR fabrics as well as finished goods made from that fabric so this is a pretty curious RFI. Everyone else will be offering combat uniforms in someone else’s fabric. So the question is, what are they actually looking for? Garment designs or FR fabric solutions? Government solutions for both are readily available. Granted, a true FR solution must combine garment design with FR materials to ensure it provides ample coverage but generally, this involves tweaking of an existing garment once an FR fabric is selected.
Manufacturing these garments may well not be an option as SOCOM’s approved requirement for environmental and combat clothing is PCU and it must be manufactured by a directed source; NISH.
Perhaps this is the team’s answer to not being able to interact with industry at trade shows due to budget cutbacks and it will allow them to see the latest and greatest. Or worse yet, maybe its an unlikely case that they can’t afford to manufacture samples and it’s their way of soliciting free test samples. Although, they do say that they will buy additional garments from respondents who have a concept the Government wants to examine further.
As with all Sources Sought Notices, industry will provide their sample garment, sample fabric and proposal/pricing on their own dime. With the current state of industry (and government procurement dollars) everyone has to ask themselves whether the money expended to answer these RFIs is a good risk. Is there a real possibility of a pay off?
For those who are interested, find the Sources Sought Notice along with specific information on the FR performance specs at www.FBO.gov
