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Softshell Tech – Tweave

Friday, April 13th, 2012

This is the first of four articles sponsored by Arc’teryx LEAF to educate readers on softshell fabrics used in their garments. In this article we will cover Tweave, a product of Gehring Textiles.

Specifically, Arc’teryx LEAF currently uses two types of Tweave in their clothing and equipment; Tweave Durastretch (520E) and its lighter weight counterpart Durastretch LT (536N). The Sphinx Halfshell you see here actually incorporates both fabrics. Both weights of Tweave boast Durable Water Repellant coating as well as a material content of 91% nylon and 9% Spandex. Arc’teryx offers products manufactured from Tweave in Crocodile, Black, Coyote, and Multicam as well as the new Wolf color.

Arc’teryx actually worked with Tweave to develop the Durastretch fabric in the early 2000s for outdoor alpine climbing, trekking and backcountry ski apparel. But, after a few seasons it became too pricey for those markets. With the advent of LEAF, Arc’teryx revived use of the fabric for their new customer base whose main emphasis is on performance. Tweave is recognized worldwide as the most durable stretch woven available.

Tweave combines several properties to protect you from the elements. It is a plain weave four-way stretch that has superior durability and abrasion resistance. The fabric is very tightly woven and you will notice this on windy days. Additionally, its smooth face sheds snow and DWR finish repels moisture. The construction of the Durastretch fabrics, using covered yarn technology, keeps the more vulnerable spandex yarns protected from the elements by wrapping them inside the nylon, unlike many other fabric which feature exposed spandex without a sheath. Tweave chose nylon over polyester because of its superior abrasion properties and the yarns are extremely compacted and tight, yielding a very abrasion-resistant surface. All of this is topped off with special finishing techniques that still allow ample stretch for comfort and freedom of movement.

Look for Tweave Durastretch and Durastretch LT in these LEAF products –
Chimera Shirt LS
Sphinx Halfshell
Sphinx Pant
Combat Jacket
Gryphon Halfshell
Gryphon Pant
H150 Rigger’s Belt
X350a harness

Keep your eyes peeled for information on an upcoming application of Durastretch 520P which features superior tear resistance and slightly more bulk and stretch.

leaf.arcteryx.com

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Posted in Arc'teryx, Clothing, Materials | 5 Comments »

Badlands Slangvel

Sunday, April 8th, 2012

Here are some photos of a Slangvel in PenCott Badlands. For availability contact graywolf47@comcast.net.

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WT Tactical Authorized by US Army’s MFF School

Friday, April 6th, 2012

WT Tactical has been authorized by the Army’s Free Fall School for use in Military Free Fall operations. To help spread the word, WT Tactical garments will be displayed at the school house in Yuma for examination by all attendees of the Army’s Free Fall and ATIC courses. For more information please contact Vic Ramos, victor@wildthingsgear.com, WT Tactical Director Military Sales.

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Massif Launches Brandon Webb Logo Clothing – Updated

Friday, April 6th, 2012

About a month ago friend, former SEAL and SOFREP Editor Brandon Webb shared some cool news with me. Massif was going to launch a line of clothing featuring his logo and earlier this week, it happened.

The launch includes three GREAT Massif products which should be no strangers to regular SSD readers; the Diamondpeak Field Pant, Pilot Rock Polo, and Integrated Tactical Jacket. In fact, I own and use all three.

The line is offered in BW Black and features Brandon’s logo embroidered on the garment.

We caught up with Brandon and he told SSD, “There is a massive void in the market for combining innovation and functionality into outdoor clothing that is also at an affordable price point. Arc’teryx makes AWESOME stuff but it’s out of the reach of many. I’m working with Massif to develop several key survival items built into new clothing for fall. This stuff will keep Bear Grylls up at night tossing and turning.”

We also want you to know that the line will included several new items for Fall. For example, there will be survival multi tools incorporated into new garments such as a reversible anorak (Black/Camo). Also the line will expand with OD as a color option.

www.massif.com/civilian/brandon-webb

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Posted in Clothing | 2 Comments »

LEAF Bravo Jacket

Thursday, April 5th, 2012

The Bravo Jacket from Arc’teryx is the first of their LEAF products I ever owned. It was a Black prototype with these big, pleated shoulder pockets but the style has remained one of my favorite jackets. In addition to being very functional, it not only features a great fit, but it’s stylish as well. If you’re searching for a softshell that doesn’t look “tactical” then the Bravo Jacket is the one for you. Just when I thought it was perfect, Arc’teryx improved it. Not only did they introduce a new color (Wolf), but they’ve also updated the articulation for improved motion under arms and in elbows.

Manufactured from Fortius 3.0™ the Bravo Jacket features an internal chest pocket as well as two large, zippered (with zipper garages) hand pockets on the chest. My experience is that the DWR finish is great at shedding water in all but torrential downpours. The Bravo Jacket is available in sizes Small – XXLarge. And, now there are three color options available; Black, Crocodile and Wolf that help you melt into the background of any situation.

leaf.arcteryx.com

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5.11 TDK – The Jokes On Them

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

For an April Fool’s Day goof, 5.11 Tactical came up with a great scheme. They would tell everyone that they were going to manufacture a tactical kilt. They went all out and produced a fantasy product called the 5.11 Tactical Duty Kilt. They even recruited spokesman Kyle Lamb to get in on the act. The video and gag product page went viral and it was such a big hit that they decided to go ahead and produce a run…for real. Nothing like capitalism in action. The market demands a product and they make it. Here is 5.11 Tactical’s full response to the phenomenon.

Friends in the 5.11 Tactical Community,

About a month ago our lead designer, Cory Nykoluk, came to me with the idea to have some fun on April 1st with a 5.11 Tactical Duty Kilt. “We’ve had a number of requests for kilts, so why not make one?” Cory had enlisted our creative services director, Matt Frederick and our director of ecommerce, Brian Rogers. I gave the project a green light with the commander’s guidance to make the “TDK” a true 5.11 product supported by a proper launch. Operational security was strict as only about 6 people inside 5.11 knew about this project. In fact, the only reference in meetings and e-mails was to “Project Caber.” Our close friend Kyle Lamb, President of Viking Tactics, was briefed and signed on immediately. It turned out he was about to attend a Dropkick Murphys concert. Perfect timing as band member, Scruffy Wallace, is a kiltsman who plays bagpipes and the tin whistle in a VTAC T-shirt. The final piece needed was an athlete/first responder to demonstrate the mobility of the TDK. Matt Frederick called Roman, a veteran duty sheriff and Parkour athlete and we were rolling.

Last week, when we reviewed the video footage of Roman leaping walls in the TDK – it was clear – we had achieved the goal of making a Kilt true to the 5.11 brand. There was a collective “uh-oh, we only have one kilt in inventory!” On Saturday, March 31st, I called 5.11 Tactical founder, Dan Costa, to tip him off. His response: “Be ready, you’re going to sell some kilts!”

Indeed, the Tactical Duty Kilt launch was a success, so it seems the April Fool’s Day joke is on us! Due to your positive response, we are pleased to announce that the Tactical Duty Kilt will become available for pre-orders soon on the following web page: http://www.511tactical.com/Tactical-Duty-Kilt.html. We don’t plan to make the TDK an “in-line” product, so this is a limited time, web only offer. If you haven’t already signed up for notifications on when this product becomes available for purchase, please do so now at http://www.511tactical.com/Tactical-Duty-Kilt.html and give us your name and e-mail address in the form located on the right-hand side of the page. We plan on sending out 1 more email to those that have given us their information to confirm size and color and other important ordering details.

5.11 Tactical Duty Kilts will be available in Black, Khaki, and OD Green (MultiCam will be offered at a slightly higher price) in even waist sizes 30- 40 for a very limited time – don’t miss out. Remember we only have one in inventory today, so we’ll need some time to make them for you!

Thanks for your friendship, sense of humor and support of 5.11 Tactical. I’m signing off to place my Tactical Duty Kilt order!

Tom Davin
CEO, 5.11 Tactical

Thanks CK!

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Posted in Clothing | 16 Comments »

ADS Introduces Dismounted FREEADS

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

SSD has written about the Army’s Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble in the past and our only criticism is the basis of issue. Designed specifically for Aircrew and Mounted Crewmen, FREE is a skin-out FR environmental clothing system that protects down to -40 deg F. Unfortunately, FREE is not issued to dismounted troops. However, they do get the Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System Gen III which is a great clothing system but it’s not FR. The problem is that the dismounts ride around in aircraft, trucks and armored vehicles getting from point A to B and are just as much at risk of IED and other flame threats as the troops who are issued FREE. And that’s not to mention the risks of dismounted patrolling and attacks on FOBs.

If you are already using ECWCS Gen III then Dismounted FREE will be very familiar to you. It has been optimized for ground operations and consists of Light-Weight Undershirt and Drawers, Mid-Weight Shirt and Drawers, High-Loft Fleece Jacket, Soft Shell Jacket and Trousers, Extreme Cold/Wet Weather Jacket and Trousers. And, like Gen III it is available in Top and Bottom kits in addition to two optional items not included in either kit; the Parka and Overtrouser. As you can see, it is a very streamlined kit and sticks with FR versions of the most commonly used garments.

Additionally, unlike ECWCS Gen III, Dismounted FREE is designed to integrate the FR ACU, Army Combat Shirt, or other FR level 9 garments into the system. Considering that the Soldier is always going to be wearing a combat uniform, it only makes sense that the environmental layers integrate with it.

Dismounted FREE From ADS Inc

Dismounted FREE is available in UCP or OCP camo patterns in sizes XS – XXL in short, regular, and long lengths. All of the clothing in the kit is Berry compliant and FR. Dismounted FREE drastically increases the protection of the ground Soldier and offers a cost effective alternative to issuing FREE to everyone. It’s important to note that this is not an Army program and that ADS developed Dismounted FREE internally as a solution for the Soldier protection issues we identified above. We are impressed with what we see and hope that the military takes a serious look at this option which leverages proven technologies and is available now as a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf solution.

www.adsinc.com

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Kyle Defoor on Mountain Khakis

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

In his role as MRE brand ambassador, Kyle Defoor produced a great video on why he wears Mountain Khakis. I have a few pairs as well and like Kyle, my first pair were the Mountain Utility model. They wear like iron. I’m also wearing a lot of Kuhl and Arc’teryx with two pairs of TAD Force 10s thrown in the mix as well as well. There are a lot of good pants out there and Kyle makes a compelling case as to how you can go all in on one brand. Mountain Khakis not only does pants. Based on my visit to their booth at last Outdoor Retailer, they are definitely worth a look for shirts and jackets as well. It might also get some of you jazzed up to know that MK is owned by Freedom Group who also owns Remington and its affiliate firearms companies.

www.mountainkhakis.com

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Posted in Clothing | 10 Comments »

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