From Integrated Combat Equipment comes the new Firestorm Combat Shirt. It features a 10″ zippered front as well as inset bicep pockets with zippered openings and velcro patches. The big story here is obviously the fabric. The entire shirt is made from a Berry Compliant 7.5oz Jersey knit unlike other combat shirts that combine knits and wovens. The material is a 71% Modacrylic, 24% FR Rayon, 5% Spandex blend that passes the vertical flame test for FR. Additionally, it has an anti-microbial treatment and a moisture management treatment meaning less stink. Berry compliant and available in any color as long as it’s MultiCam, sizes S-XXL. The fit is not as tight as other combat shirts.
So, to sum up: FR, lightweight, 100% knit, anti-microbial, and Berry Compliant. We have been waiting to write about these until they are actually in stock. Available for order now.
Today, Unleashed Tactical Equipmentâ„¢ released details of their new range of products for military, law enforcement and security professionals. This includes not only completely new products but updates to the Vanguard Thermal Suppression line as well.
Atap Shell Garments
The Atap range of products are straight forward and remove superfluous accessories, replacing them with carefully researched and implemented features that enhance the comfort and performance of the wearer. The design maximizes the functional surface area of the military grade three layer ePTFE laminate in a garment that allows unequaled levels of vapor transfer. The use of MULTICAM® disruptive pattern allows the Atap Shell Garments to work across varied environments and integrate with the growing user base of agencies who have adopted this pattern.
I’ve been in this business for a long time and this is the first garment set that ticks all the boxes for deployed personnel that can expect to be caught in inclement weather conditions†said Stevie Malcolm CEO of Unleashed Tactical Equipment. “It’s the result of user input, great manufacturing technology and the best available materials that makes this a must have combination.â€
Westcomb® Outerwear
Unleashed Tactical Equipment™ has also completed an agreement with Westcomb® Outerwear resulting in UTE offering the entire Westcomb® line to the tactical user community. They are working with Westcomb® to exclusively offer the complete range of products to professional military, law enforcement and security users.
It has been said that Crye Precision is taking over the world and I would answer that with, “one country at a time, my friend, one country at a time.” Denmark is the latest to join the ranks of those sporting Crye. Now, this isn’t the same thing as the Danes adopting MultiCam. Rather, the firm PX-Shop has contracted with Crye to offer Combat Shirts and Pants in Danish M84 pattern. This is similar to what happened in Germany awhile back.
We first published this article in June of 2008. Even today, we still feel that Italy-based SOD manufacturers the finest Boonie Hat available. In addition to Crye MultiCam and the standard Green and Tan colorschemes, SOD offers several Italian camo patterns. If you are looking for a Boonie, this is the one to get.
This is the first in a series of articles on the SOD line of products. I have already made mention of the attention to detail that the crew at SOD pays to their designs. For their boonie, they started with Crye’s already fantastic design and improved it even further.
The design features a wide brim with multiple stitching reinforcements. It is a little wider than the Crye hat but not was stiff as the Crye. The pile tape and, nylon webbing camo band, and barrel lock are all treated with the Multicam pattern.
The sweatband is terry cloth as used in the Australian boonie hat.
Additionally, where the Crye boonie has only one slash vent backed with mesh netting, the SOD features two.
SOD is currently in negotiations with a US distributor. In the interim, you can see SOD’s website here
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In a shocking decision, the Australian military announced today that they are going to conduct an extended wear trial of the MultiCam pattern for troops serving in Afghanistan. Like in the US and UK, Australian Special Operations Forces have long used MultiCam due to its increased effectiveness. Following their lead, Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced the change to the new pattern today at the biannual Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane. By “change” we mean the extension of the SF wear trial that has been going on for years.
“Special Forces soldiers have said this is the uniform they want to wear,” Mr Clare said. “The camouflage pattern provides troops with greater levels of concealment across the range of terrains in Afghanistan – urban, desert and green. It also makes it easier for our troops to do their job.”
The plan calls for all Australian troops going ‘Outside the Wire’ will be outfitted in MultiCam. What is really interesting is that Mr Clare discussed issuing the same uniforms used by his SOF which are the Crye Precision combat uniforms rather than the standard DPCU in a different camo pattern. However, he also stated that “I have also instructed the Defence Materiel Organisation to pursue the purchase of a licence to provide for the potential manufacture of this uniform in Australia if the extended trial is successful,” Mr Clare said. Could this be the groundwork for an Australian MTPesque creation?
Furthermore, does this initiative mean the demise of the short lived Disruptive Pattern Midpoint Uniform unveiled earlier this year? The whole point of the DPMU was to alter the DPCU’s pattern slightly to be more effective in Afghanistan. Designed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), it combined the colors of the two uniforms the Australian Army currently uses.
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We originally published this article in February of this year but seeing as the weather is getting cold and times are tough we thought this one deserved republishing. You pay a lot for your clothing and equipment and it is just as important to maintain it as it is your firearm.
It looks like it’s going to be a LONG winter. During a recent shooting class I attended it started raining day one and by the middle of the second day it looked like a blizzard. Most of my fellow shooters were wearing waterproof breathable outerwear and several began to feel clammy and then damp the longer each day progressed. A couple of guys were wearing issue Gen I ECWCS parkas. Probably not the best garment available as Gore long ago decided that the basic design could not meet their “Guaranteed to Keep You Dry” standards. Of course these jackets were old. More than anything, they needed some maintenance.
The key to any modern outerwear is its Durable Water Repellent (DWR). There are quite a few treatments available and different manufacturers have their favorites but they are usually are based on flouropolymers. These are PTFE molecules that are applied to the surface and cured at high heat to make them adhere better and increase performance and have a fluorine atom at one end which is highly hydrophobic. Heat causes them to align themselves with their flourines exposed. Water tries to move away from the flourines resulting in beading. This allows the water to roll off without wetting the fabric. Interestingly, Quarpel (Quartermaster Repellent) was one of the first DWRs and used to treat field jackets and other military clothing items.
Since most of us can’t run out and purchase a new jacket every time this happens I thought it would be a good idea to share a few tips with you that will not only revitalize your garment’s DWR treatment but also extend the life of your clothing.
DWR treatments work best when they are clean. I realize this seems counter to what you think is right since a DWR generally lasts about 25 washings and tactical garments get quite a beating in the field, but you need to wash your clothing. The first thing is to avoid using liquid detergents as well as fabric softeners. Additionally, avoid optical brighteners as they are not good for DWR or IR treatments. There are wash in treatments you can purchase as well as spray on options to help renew your clothing’s DWR. However, wash in treatments may affect the breathability of your membrane. One of the best spray solutions available is Revivex from McNett and it is what I have used in the past. It also serves as a stain repellent. Revivex can also be applied to garments that never had DWR in the first place so if you have hunting or field clothing that you find yourself wearing in inclement weather regularly you may want to give it a once over. If you use a spray treatment be sure to evenly coat your garment while it is still damp after washing and to pay special attention to any seams.
There are two additional ways you can put some life back into your DWR. One is to put the garment in a conventional dryer on warm and the other is to iron it on low heat. If water fails to bead up on the surface of your garment you will need to retreat.
No matter which method you choose, proper maintenance of your foul weather clothing’s DWR will help keep you warm and dry and extend the life of your equipment.
782 Gear just launched their new web presence and, in addition to the new streamlined look, they have also opened a web store. One of the features that we really like about the new storefront is that there is also a mobile version for those on their smartphone. We have received numerous inquiries from our readers asking where to purchase 782 Gear’s clothing which includes both FR and non-FR options. So guys, no excuses now.
782 Gear clothing is comfortable and functional. When you see many of their products the first thing that comes to mind will be, “I’ve seen that before.” But we can assure, not like this you haven’t. 782’s motto is ‘Tradition Meets Innovation’ and they have taken those military clothing and equipment designs you are familiar with and updated both construction and materials. Performance and comfort are both enhanced. 782 Gear offers Berry Compliant products with additional options for those who do not require American made.
From Integrated Combat Equipment comes the new Firestorm Combat Shirt. It features a 10″ zippered front as well as inset bicep pockets with zippered openings and velcro patches. The big story here is obviously the fabric. The entire shirt is made from a Berry Compliant 7.5oz Jersey knit unlike other combat shirts that combine knits and wovens. The material is a 71% Modacrylic, 24% FR Rayon, 5% Spandex blend that passes the vertical flame test for FR. Additionally, it has an anti-microbial treatment and a moisture management treatment meaning less stink. Berry compliant and available in any color as long as it’s MultiCam, sizes S-XXL. The fit is not as tight as other combat shirts.
