Right before last year’s SHOT Show, OTB Boots was purchased by New Balance. Now, a year later, we go to SHOT Show and see a brand new booth with banners proclaiming, “OTB, in alliance with New Balance” and “N.Tel Intelligence”. From what we can gather, the OTB line of products, along with new clothing and athletic footwear specifically tailored for the military is being combined into N.Tel.
Essentially, the message is “Your Intelligence Drives our Intelligence”. For those of you unfamiliar with this notion it actually an extrapolation of the concept “intelligence drives operations”. This means that you can’t go kill bad guys if you don’t know where they are and New Balance can’t produce their products without the input of Elite Soldier Athletes. Makes sense to me. However, I’m not too sure on how the name will play.
The only thing missing now is a dedicated website.
www.OTBboots.com,check it before it transforms into something new.
Not only is Under Armour introducing an entire new line of footwear which includes the MultiCam Speedfreek. I haven’t worn them yet, but I can say that they are very lightweight.
They are also offering long and short sleeved T-shirts in the MultiCam print.
Under Armour has a whole slew of really cool new products as well as specialty Wounded Warrior Project wear. www.underarmour.com
As we reported some time ago, Crye did in fact win the SOCOM contract for their Low Viz vests. They produced two variants, one for the RBAV armor and the other for the MBAV. They both accept a small chest rig that attaches via SR buckles and the cummerbunds are interchangeable with the skeletonized AirLite cummerbund.
This is the AirFrame helmet with Chops and MultiCam mesh cover.
In addition to the GunClip we wrote about last year and is now available, Crye showed their new MagClip. Weighing a mere ounces, it fits US GI as well as PMAG magazines, clamping around the base of the mag and relies on two fork-style bars that fit around belts or into PALS channels. Unlike other systems, the MagClip remains connected to the magazine.
Crye has also made a couple of changes to their G3 field and combat clothing including larger jacket pockets with huge side entries as well as zippered back pockets and a new tool loop on the trousers. Additionally both field and combat pants share identical pocket layouts. They also are introducing an all weather combat shirt and field pant as well the FieldShell seen above as well as the WindLiner, a simple, lightweight wind shirt. Finally, for clothing Crye is reintroducing the range vest in a much more streamlined form as a cover up for the combat shirt when no armor is being worn.
Crye also introduced FastMits which is a product designed specifically for fast roping. For years, operators have used a variety of solutions including welding gloves which prove to be bulky and difficult to transition from rope to weapon ready. Crye developed an overmitt that is lightweight and is easily stored. They are placed over the operator’s gloves and can be quickly diffed in order to expose the hands to wield a weapon or operate radios or other equipment once safely on the ground.
In the photo below you can clearly see the MagClip attached to the PALS on a Blast Belt in addition to Crye’s dump pouch and zip off back panel.
Propper will be giving away one set per day (ACU coat/trouser, TAC.U Combat Shirt and Boonie). You can enter up to twice a day by 1) entry from their A-TACS ad in the Show directory and 2) getting your badge scanned at their booth.
They will also be giving out a limited number of Propper A-TACS t-shirts to any one who comes to their booth inquiring about A-TACS.
Wild Things, LLC, the maker of sophisticated technical outerwear for the US Military, Law Enforcement and Consumer markets, today announced that the company has been selected by Smith & Wesson, the legendary 159-year old firearm maker, as licensee for men’s and women’s technical apparel. The apparel line issued under the professionally recognized Military & Police, or M&P brand, will be designed for the law enforcement market. A separate apparel line issued under the Smith & Wesson brand will also be designed for the consumer market.
James Debney, President of Firearms for Smith & Wesson, said, “Wild Things has a 30-year tradition of innovative product design and the use of leading-edge materials. With their continued focus on quality in each and every garment or pack, they have built a solid reputation as a world class technical apparel and extreme alpine sport equipment company, Their innovation, product design skills, attention to detail, and unparalleled quality, not to mention their continued presence as a United States home-based manufacturing company, make Wild Things a natural licensee for our M&P and Smith & Wesson brand names.â€
The new M&P apparel line will be available to the law enforcement community through qualified distributors and available directly through Wild Things, LLC, and on the Smith & Wesson website in early 2011. It will feature a range of apparel products based on the company’s WT Tactical™ line, outerwear specifically designed for and used by US Military Special Forces. Later in 2011, Wild Things will launch the consumer line of Smith & Wesson apparel that will be available through select retailers and directly on the Wild Things (www.wildthingsgear.com) and Smith & Wesson (www.smith-wesson.com) websites. The Wild Things product development team is working closely with federal, state and local law enforcement personnel, as well as Smith & Wesson personnel, to design the new apparel lines in keeping with the exacting standards of the professional and the dedicated outdoor enthusiast.
“We have been serving the military operator market for years now and wanted to find a way to quickly become the premier provider of technical wear to the law enforcement community. Our product expertise coupled with the M&P and Smith & Wesson iconic brand names are going to let us do just that.†said Ed Schmults, CEO of Wild Things, LLC.
We received Blackhawk!’s 2011 catalog a couple of weeks ago and to be honest, we are impressed. It’s hard to believe that they are able to introduce as many products as they do, year after year.
One of the products we are happy to see hitting the streets this time around is the High Performance Fighting Uniform (HPFUâ„¢). BLACKHAWK! is now offering a version of it without their patented I.T.S. â„¢ (Integrated Tourniquet System) called the HPFU Slick. This woks out great for those who don’t need the added security of tourniquets day-to-day.
Additionally, they are offering an updated version of the standard HPFU with a more streamlined I.T.S. ™. A single tourniquet is pre-positioned in the axillary area of each arm and the apex of the thigh of each leg for immediate activation by self or buddy-aid to stem blood loss in an emergency. Both are available in Black, Olive Drab, Desert Digital, and MultiCam® (yep, Blachawk is on the MultiCam wagon big time).
In addition to the HPFUs look for new athletic wear, station house uniforms for fire and EMS, clothing, updated versions of popular clothing designs and a whole slew of nylon gear.
Visit BLACKHAWK! at SHOT Show in booth #11971/12271 Level 2
ADS will be showing their entire ECWCS Gen III clothing system (in MultiCam no less) but one of the levels should be of particular interest for Air Force personnel attending SHOT Show as it was recently approved for use by the Air Force Clothing Office.
782 is formally releasing the FR Shemaughlava at SHOT Show. We saw an early version of the Shemaughlava at Modern Day Marine in October and have been waiting for it to be available. Think of a balaclava with long tails that can be wrapped around the head and face and tied tight or loose depending on conditions. The fabric is moisture-wicking and flame resistant and the design features flat seams for comfort. Available in MultiCam and Coyote.
Additionally, 782 Gear is showing the Velocity Softshell Jacket and 1/4 Zip Pullover. These wind and water resistant garments feature athletic cuts with 2 and 4-way stretch materials for mobility and comfort. Schoeller® NanoSphere® treated 2-way stretch shell is combined with Tweave DURASTRETCH® 4-way stretch panels and a moisture-wicking lining to produce garments that weigh only Jacket -10.4 oz (296g), 1/4 Zip Pullover – 9.6 oz (272g). Available in MultiCam.
Their new website is open for business and they’re offering free shipping on all orders until January 31st. 782 Gear’s products can be seen at SHOT Show in Source One Distributors’ booth #82033. For a private showing of 782’s product line please contact Erik Rockel at Rockel_Erik@782gear.com.
