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A Lowkey Alternative to the Rigger’s Belt – Updated

Friday, February 25th, 2011

Mountain Hardwear has two alternatives to the GI rigger’s Belt for those that like the basic look but don’t want to scream “average”; the Double Back Belt and the Alloy Nut Belt.

Sure, they’re not life support capable, but either are the issue Rigger’s Belts which really are nothing more than a few feet of Type VIII webbing and friction adapters from a Parachutist H Harness. The issue belt might look cool but won’t do much for a you in a jam. On the other hand, the Mountain Hardware belts look really cool and come in enough different colors you can make up your own combatives belt system. What’s more, you won’t look like a toolbag if you wear one of them in civilian clothing.

Colors include Espresso, British Tan, Stone Green, Grill, Moondust and the boringly named Black. One size fits most.

Update- One of my colleagues who is a big MH fan told me he had purchased the Alloy Nut Belt and it just wouldn’t stay tight. I have had hands on the Double Back and the design keeps the belt secure but he feels that the webbing on the Alloy Nut Belt was too supple and slippery to stay secure. Looking at the two designs you can see that the buckles are drastically different and this may contribute to the disparity in performance. So at this point, the SSD verdict is Double Back = Good, Alloy Nut = Not So Good.

Thanks for the input Rob! If anyone else has any input please feel free to share it in the comments section.

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Posted in Clothing, Off-Duty, Outdooralamode | 3 Comments »

Pathfinder from TAD

Friday, February 25th, 2011

Triple Aught Design’s new Pathfinder pulls double duty as a mid layer as well as an outer layer thanks to its hardface fleece construction. The Cardigan-style streamlined design is intended to ensure comfort whether worn alone or with plate carrier, harness or pack. TAD’s design philosophy believes that you should be able to move without feeling constrained by the materials or style.

• Polartec’s Thermal Pro, renown for its thermal properties and breathability
• Polartec’s Hardface, abrasion resistant, doesn’t pill and has been treated with a DWR just in case you get caught in a light precipitation
• A single panel running from the cuff, up the arm, and down the torso to the bottom hem enables full range of motion
• Active fit accommodates baselayers and is streamlined enough to wear under another outer layer when needed
• The hardface surface makes it easy to slip into your outer layer as there’s less to “grab onto”
• Two front pockets sewn into the seam for easy access and large storage
• Forearm pocket for quick access to small items

www.tadgear.com

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Kick Ass Caps

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Have you ever found yourself looking for classic military cap styles in modern camo patterns? Well, some of you may have but I bet after seeing these most of you will want them too. Slangvel, a disabled US Army vet who later went on to work for the Veterans Administration hand crafts various styles of military caps. Many camo and militaria collectors will recognize the significance of the name. The term Slangvel is Afrikaans for snake skin and was used to used to refer to SADF para smocks which featured texturised nylon elbow patches.

Slangvel currently manufactures M43-styles, Bigeards, Recce Hats, 2″ Brim Boonie Hats, Berets, and Rhodesian Kepis. Currently, all offerings are made via eBay as they come off the line so you have to check back regularly to ascertain available styles and patterns. Word is that Slangvel will undertake commissions in patterns he does not stock if you can supply the fabric. Additional charges may apply.

Two weeks ago I ordered a MultiCam M43-style as well as a MultiCam and AOR2 Recce Hats. Overall, craftsmanship is excellent and the patterning follows the original caps. Stitching is flawless. The M43 fits like a glove and had the perfect crumple right out of the box. The Recce Hat is a Short Brimmed Boonie with shock cord cinch strap, Crye Boonie-style slash air vents with mesh lining and a Day-Glo Orange signal panel sewn into the crown that pulls double duty as a pocket. I can’t say enough good things about these caps.

Those interested in his services should visit Slangvel on eBay. myworld.ebay.com/slangvel

He has also asked me to provide his email address for those interested in custom work. graywolf47@comcast.net

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Posted in Camo, Clothing, Multicam | 1 Comment »

Arborwear Stretch Tech Pant

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

It’s literally been years since we last wrote about Arborwear. We hadn’t spoken with anyone from Arborwear in quite some time and they’ve always been considered a bit of a specialist brand. After all, the company was started by lumberjacks. But, we ran into Arborwear Team Captain Bill Weber at last month’s Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in SLC and it became blatantly obvious how much we have missed out on. They have just gotten better and better. They make a lot of great clothing but one thing that caught my eye was the Stretch Tech Pant. I’ve always loved the Tech Pant with its comfortable fabric and cut that moves with you. This new Stretch Tech Pant doesn’t disappoint.

They come equipped with two front pockets and two rear pockets along with a side cargo pocket and utility pocket. The bottom cuffs feature 18″ zippers and Velcro tabs to fit over boots. Available in Teflon-coated Charcoal four-way stretch fabric they include Black Kevlar knee patches which are darn near indestructible. Waist sizes 28-44.

www.arborwear.com

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Smokin’ Blowout from 782 Gear

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

782 Gear is running a “End of Season Blowout” on their Smokin’ Series Midlayer Apparel. We first wrote about the Smokin’ Series during SHOT Show 2010 and since that time 782 Gear has developed several options that are based on time tested products like the old field jacket liner. Many are moving back to loft insulation since it is highly compressible and provides the warmth of fleece at half the weight. In the case of the Smokin’ Series the ripstop nylon shell is not only durable but its slick face makes for easy layering.

If you have been considering purchasing new loft insulation, this is the time to do it with discounts as high as 50% off MSRP. www.782gear.com

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First Lite Merino Wool Clothing

Friday, February 18th, 2011

First Lite specializes in Merino wool clothing for hunting. We have gone over the many merits of Merino in the past but summarize; warm even when wet, inherent anti-microbial which inhibits odor, and inherent FR. Several friends of SSD have been raving about First Lite’s garments, particularly their underwear and hats so we thought we should introduce the brand to you.

This is the Gila Hunting Pant. It’s tough to find wool pants these days, and Merino has an increased comfort range so you can wear them in a wider variety of environments than most pants. Plus, if you get wet, you’ll still be warm and if you sweat, you won’t stink to high heaven. Plus, Merino isn’t scratchy like traditional wool.

You will notice the odd camouflage pattern which is called ASAT. To give you a little history on ASAT, you need to know is that it stands for All Season All Terrrain so it was envisioned as a “universal” camouflage pattern. Dating back to 1986, ASAT was developed for hunting and features a Tan base. Interestingly, in the late 80s, Brigade Quartermaster commissioned an “urban” variant using a Grey base with dark bands. Based on this, we guess you could look at ASAT as a family of patterns dating back over 20 years.

Remember, First Lite manufactures hunting clothing and their color options reflect this. They offer Black, ASAT, Mossy Oak Breakup Infinity, and Real Tree Max-1. Additionally, some products may be offered in more of fewer color options. Since we are in late winter, many colors are currently sold out.

Finally, in addition to the Gila Hunting Pants above, First Lite offers several next to skin layering options as well as headwear.

www.FirstLite.com

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A-TACS SHOT Show 2011 Roundup

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

Digital Concealment Systems released a great roundup of all things A-TACS from SHOT Show 2011. Rather than steal their thunder, we thought it best to show you a couple of our favorites and then send you on over to check out the entire list.

We’ve mentioned the upcoming TAC-U combat shirt from Propper. It’s unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Tactical Assault Gear unveiled their Combat Sustainment Pack at SHOT Show. We figured the web would have blown up already over this one but it looks like it is starting to receive some attention. Designed to be used to augment a chest rig load or as a bailout bag, one of this pack’s coolest features is that it includes a CCB (combat casualty bag) used to carry a down man’s kit while he is being moved, treated and extracted. Our friends at TAG have sent one along to us so be on the lookout for a review soon.

Make sure you read the whole thing so you can dig into the details at A-TACS.com.

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More on Beyond’s New Lineup

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Last month we gave you a glimpse into Beyond’s new clothing lineup and website. Now, we want to go a bit more in depth on a couple of these designs. Not to take anything away from Beyond’s great designs and excellent fabric choices, literally the most awesome thing about them is that every garment can be manufactured to fit. It’s as good as having a neighborhood tailor who specializes in tactical clothing. What’s more, Beyond now includes women’s styles as well as men’s. A lot of work was put into developing a fit block specifically for the ladies.

Men’s RidgeBack Bib

Designed as a companion piece to the RidgeBack Jacket, the Bib is joined by a Pant as well. It is manufactured from Gore-Tex and features a full bib front and back in addition to generous side zips to facilitate donning and doffing. Additionally, Beyond has added a hip zip for ventilation as well as dual napoleon pockets on the front bib. The entire RidgeBack line is available in Black, Blue, Coyote, and Alpha Green.

Women’s Steel Jacket

Made from Scholler’s WB-400, the Steel Jacket offers slash pockets as well as optional hood and pit zips. This is another first for Women’s clothing. Take a look at these color choices. Molten Red, Lilac, Desert Khaki, Coyote, Brown, Black, White. There are a couple of options in there that are perfect for tactical operations. Beyond Clothing combines state of the art fabrics, with a true women’s fit block and made to measure in tactical colors. What’s not to like?

Beyond Clothing continues to come on strong with new offerings including insulation pieces and hardshells. We can’t recommend the made to order products enough. Sure, they’re expensive, but how often do you get to purchase clothing that fits you exactly like you want and was made specifically for you? In a big box world, you don’t. Visit www.beyondclothing.com and their sister site tactical.beyondclothing.com.

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