GORE-TEX Professional

Archive for the ‘Clothing’ Category

Massif Non-FR Line Fully Available

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Massif is well known as a provider of FR clothing solutions to military personnel, LE, and wildland firefighters. However, you don’t always require FR protection, depending on the mission. Massif realized this and has developed a dedicated non-FR line. In addition to the Integrated Tactical Jacket we premiered here on SSD back in May, Massif has introduced two additional pieces that we mentioned during our NBOW coverage in September. Here’s a quick rundown to remind you about each of the pieces.

I’ve worn the Integrated Tactical Jacket quite a bit. It’s a very functional, lightweight piece that’s designed to compliment armor in much the same way as a combat shirt. The difference is obviously the softshell fabric which will serve you well in inclement weather but the ITJ also has an interesting pocket setup. In addition to traditional inset bicep pockets it has two mesh lined pockets on the upper chest. Accessible through the arm holes of an armor vest, they can be opened to aid in ventilation. Die cut, Velcro adjustable cuff tabs set this one off. Available in Black and OD. Size Small – XXLarge.

Next, is the Diamond Peak Field Pant. It definitely has a home in that new class of non-tactical, tactical pants. The Diamond Peak is something more than an outdoor pant but not quite a full cargo pant. It’s sleek looks integrate an interesting pocket arrangement we discussed in our NBOW coverage. Made from a stretch-woven nylon canvas fabric, they will move with you. Currently only available in Black, I am told we will see additional colors soon. Sized 30 – 42 in Regular and Long lengths.

Finally, is the Lightweight Tactical Shirt. This shirt is made for hot climates and incorporates a heavier fabric on the arms and shoulders that features a DWR finish to shed light rain. Available in OD and a two-tone Black and Gray, the Lightweight Tactical Shirt comes in sizes Small – XXLarge.

Available for order now from www.Massif.com as well as their various retailers. Look for more Non-FR clothing at SHOT Show.

Beyond Clothing’s Roughrider Pant Is Backpacker Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Snow For Pants

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Backpacker magazine selected Beyond Clothing’s RoughRider Pant under the Editor’s Choice Snow Category for custom fit pants. Editor-in-chief Jonathan Dorn boasts a 36″ inseam and liked the Schoeller Dynamic fabric’s ability to cut the wind. Specifically, he said that with a layer underneath, he stayed warm below zero in 20 mile-per-hour wind conditions. We haven’t seen the article mentioned in the online edition yet, but it is featured prominently on page 79 of the current issue.

Originally designed for military use, the new RoughRider Pant is now available in Nextec’s silicone encapsulated Glacier fabric used for PCU Level 5 and comes in a MultiCam print.
The RoughRider Pant features:
-Open or Zippered hand pockets
-Angled Thigh Cargo Pockets
-Front Thigh Pockets
-Left Ankle Pocket
-Gusseted Ankle
-Expansion for ski boots
-Reduction for bare ankle
-Velcro and snaps for ice and snow precaution
-Knee Pad pocket with back of leg tightening
-Choice of D3O pad or Crye pad configuration
-Inner Thigh vent zipper with mesh inner
-Zippered fly with Velcro waist band
-Shaped waist band

You can also now get the Glacier Shock Jacket in MultiCam. Similar in design to the PCU level 5 jacket it incorporates Raglan sleeves a stand up collar and generous chest pockets.

post.beyondclothing.com

UFPRO’s Sniper Garment System in PenCott Greenzone

Monday, October 24th, 2011

Last week we mentioned that Uni & Forma was exhibiting the Sniper Garment in Hyde Definition‘s PenCott Greenzone pattern at the Parisian military expo MiliPol.

Unfortunately, all we had at the time was a line drawing of the garment, but Andrzej Krugler, Editor-in-Chief, of the Polish magazine Special Ops captured this photograph of the garment.

Be sure to visit them at www.special-ops.pl

Behind the Curtain at SmartWool

Monday, October 24th, 2011

This video gives you an inside look at the manufacture of SmartWool socks at their factory in the US. It’s a cool video that shows you the machinery at work and gives you a good idea of how the socks are made.

However, please remember, not all SmartWool products are manufactured here and although there are Merino sheep here in the US, Merino Wool is a product of New Zealand.

www.smartwool.com

215 Gear Short Sleeve Operator’s Shirt

Monday, October 24th, 2011

Now available for pre-order, 215 Gear’s Short Sleeve Operator’s Shirt is made for “today’s barrel chested freedom fighter.” With a description like that, seriously, how can you go wrong? Truthfully, it’s not all hype. According to 215 Gear it is made from CoolMax for comfort and assembled using flat seam construction to avoid hot spots. Finally, they’ve added a 4″ x 4″ Velcro square for IFF patches.

20111023-202656.jpg

Made in USA and available for pre-order in sizes Medium – X-Large from 215 Gear.

Va Beach 5.11 Store Holding 1 Day Sale

Friday, October 21st, 2011

The 5.11 Store in Virginia Beach is holding a one day sale, this Saturday, October 22nd from 9 AM until 4 PM with 20% off everything. While you’re there enjoy legendary wings from the world famous Lendy’s.

See you there!

Army Combat Pant in OCP

Friday, October 21st, 2011

Here is an example of the Army Combat Pant in the Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern (MultiCam). New readers should check out the article we posted earlier this month on the Propper variant of the ACP.

As you can see they integrate the patented Crye Precision knee pad. Crye has this IP locked up pretty tight with not only the knee pad but also how it integrates into the trouser.

Australian AMP Update

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

Security Scholar, an Australian defense blog has been keeping tabs on the Australian adoption of Crye Precision’s technology in the form of uniform designs (Operational Combat Uniform) and the adaption of the MultiCam pattern for their use in a similar fashion to the British Multi Terrain Pattern. As you will recall, MTP is a melding of Crye’s technology with the long-serving Woodland Disruptive Pattern Material design.


Photo: Commonwealth of Australia, 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit, PO Damian Pawlenko

We can verify that the new Australian MultiCam Pattern will, just like the original use 7 layers of color and that Black is not one of them. Testing has shown these colors to work well in the homeland.

Last month, the Crye issue became politicized in Australia when the opposition party tried to make so much hay out of reports from troops deployed in Afghanistan that their OCUs were falling apart. One politico even went so far as to make the outrageous claim that if the uniforms had been manufactured by an Australian company rather than an American one they would not have been “shoddy.” While the intent was ridiculous, he may have been right considering that, previous uniforms were not FR at all. Now, for the first time, Australian ground troops have FR protection with the Crye uniforms and are better protected. Unfortunately, that is also the culprit behind the prematurely worn uniforms. It seems, the Australians specified an older blend of TenCate’s Defender-M fabric. A newer version with twice the tear strength has been in use by the US Marine Corps for well over a year and for the last few months by the US Army. Hopefully, the Australians will transition to the new fabric. However, according to the Security Scholar report, “Army Headquarters has tasked the Defence Science and Technology Organisation to analyse the use of flame retardant materials in combat uniforms to determine if there is an operational need for these types of fabrics.” At this point, the Australians aren’t even sure if they want their troops to have FR protection.

Read the securityscholar.wordpress.com report to learn more.