OffHand Gear is a concept for women’s tactical design. Having already developed graphics including those shown below, OffHand Gear is looking for a little help raising funds to launch a website and complete a first run of shirts and sweatshirts. Considering how little there is out there for the ladies, we think they are going to be a big hit.
Help OffHand Gear get off the ground via Kickstarter.
-Thanks DE
SPECOPS.PL shared some photos of their new MBS-2 uniform with us. Currently manufactured for Polish SF troops in Afghanistan, it features a stronger construction and modified cargo pockets with special mounting for the wz.93 assault knife, issued to most Polish soldiers. Additionally, the field dressing pouch has been moved forward, and the calf zippers are simplified. According to SPECOPS.PL, the uniform is made from NYCO in MULTICAM, PENCOTT, OLIVE, BLACK and KHAKI.
They also included their ZMKT-2 integrated Quick Release vest. It features two soft ballistic inserts, standard is BALCS, but since in Poland there is no one set soft-armor shape, they can modify the vest to suit the customer’s soft armor inserts. The ZMKT-2 vest can carry two large SAPI front-back plates as well as two side SAPI plates.
Netherlands-based LEAFGEAR.COM is bringing the new Arc’Teryx LEAF collection to the EU market. Since they are especially excited about these new models in the Wolf color, they are giving away a H150 Rigger’s Belt in Black with every pre-ordered Drac Jacket and Pant in Wolf. The Drac Jackets will be shipped starting week 11, the Drac Pant in week 17.
‘Blend Into The Sprawl’ is the Arc’teryx campaign to raise awareness of their new covert tonal shade – Wolf. Designed specifically to melt into the urban landscape, it’s a shade that blends into the shadows and offers a great alternative to the traditional green and brown-based earth tones so common with tactical performance clothing.
Arc’teryx has applied Wolf to their flagship Bravo Jacket as well as three new products; the Naga Hoody and Drac Jacket and Pant.
For those of you heading to IWA next week visit booth #7A-214 to get a first hand look.
Check out all of the products available in the new Wolf shade at leaf.arcteryx.com.
The Army has released an RFI, looking for information on combining their Improved Combat Vehicle Crewman Coverall (iCVC) and Army Aircrew Combat Uniform (A2CU). These FR (and electrostatic dissipative) garments are worn respectively by mounted crewmen such as tankers and aviators such as pilots.
Specifically they are looking for “capability statements from companies for the purpose of identifying potential sources to assist in the development of an innovative Design and Specification” for a garment that:
Is a single uniform which meets the requirements of both the Aviation and Armor communities.
Constructed of a light weight, breathable and durable fabric (lighter weight than the current iCVC Coverall fabric and more durable than the current A2CU fabric).
Is equal to or is lesser in cost than the current iCVC Coverall.
Can be used in either a one piece or two piece configuration.
Provides a sizing system matching the Army Combat Uniform and Army Combat Uniform-Alternate Sizing spectrum.
They’re also not planning on giving up camouflage printing or Permethrin treatment.
The root designs of both uniforms predate the adoption of both UCP and OCP with the iCVC being a one-piece coverall and the A2CU a two-piece. Interestingly, USAF airlift and rotary wing crews have recently adopted the A2CU as well as a commercially developed two-piece FR garment because the issue CWU-27/P flight coveralls can be so uncomfortable in the hot environments found in Southwest Asia.
One additional aspect of both the iCVC and A2CU is that they are both components of the Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble (Free). By combining the two products into one, and keeping the various other components of FREE in mind vendors can increase the utility and performance of both systems.
Another interesting issue is that a significant number (>20%) Army aviators are female. This may be a factor in combining the two garments.
In addition to design disparities, the two garments are made from different FR fabrics. It seems that during testing for alternative FR fabrics, the two communities preferred the fabrics they are using.
Hopefully, a common sense approach will be reached that can accommodate the needs of both communities.
When we wrote about the Army’s contract award for the Fuel Handler Coverall several readers asked us to see what it looked like. While we still don’t have a photo of the final garment, here is a pic of a prototype.
And another in UCP. Not as clear.
Ranger Up has their new Rough Rider Roosevelt T-Shirt available for pre-order. An amazing American, Theodore Roosevelt accomplishments fill an encyclopedia and takes his place among my favorite Presidents. Ranger Up has chosen one of his most iconic images as Colonel of the US Volunteers during the Spanish American War for the front and emblazoned a few factoids for the uninformed emblazoned on the back.
Pre-order yours now. www.rangerup.com/teddy
