Texollini has developed a new mid-layer garment made from a FR French Terry blend using a proprietary yarn. Vertical flame on this garment is less than 4 inches. The garment is available for viewing during the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. This is so new, you’ll see it before we do. To schedule a meeting contact Sinc Consulting.
Recently, a close friend of the owner of Unleashed Tactical Equipment was severely burned in an IED attack. His wounds are particularly heinous due to his selection of clothing. He was not wearing FR and they worked against him in the blast. In response, UTE has reacted with the Fit to Fight initiative.
In particular, the US military makes it very easy for its troops. Directives prescribe exactly what clothing and equipment troops will wear. Unfortunately, there are scads of others on the battlefield who do not have someone telling them how to conduct themselves and so they must assess their own risks and mitigate them however they can. Has the pendulum swung too far in favor of swaddling our troops in FR? Probably, but they are safer than ever from flame threats. Civilians have a tougher go. They have to decide how to dress.
The point is, for those who are able, consider the environment and the threat. Then, choose proper clothing and equipment. Few would ever go into a high threat environment without armor and a helmet, yet everyday, many venture out into harms way covered in high performance fabrics that will shrink them in a blast.
When in a threat environment, wear a balaclava and gloves. Wear eye pro, preferably goggles. Consider your clothing and the threat you will face. Consider no-melt, no-drip clothing if you don’t want to wear full flight suits or other FR apparel. Do all of this at a minimum. Any part of you exposed in a blast or direct flame threat is going to burn. Research the fabrics your clothing is manufactured from. Find out how it reacts to heat and flame. Stay safe.
Later this week, SSD will be running a feature on the testing of FR fabrics.
SOCOM is on the hunt for an updated version of their FR Maritime Assault Suit System worn by maritime commandos. In addition, this time they are also looking for a stripped down, lightweight version. Unveiled at SOFIC and displayed at last week’s Warrior Expo, the Mustang Survival MASS was a big hit. They have over 13,000 suits in service with the US military so Mustang Survival built upon their tradition of excellence. Yet, innovation is the key to this new design as they transition from a build to print company to a true solution provider.
Mustang Survival pulled out all of the stops for this project and it even allowed them to do accomplish an update to their sizing system. They found that they had ended up with a couple of different fit blocks based on their various suits. They completely revamped their sizing system and now fit is consistent across the entire line. Additionally, it more accurately fits the modern diver.
Who says function can’t look good? Features like mesh-backed drain holes for the pockets add not only function but the form enhances the sleek styling of the suit. Additionally, padding has been added to the shoulders, knees and along the spine.
The suit features their patented self adjusting neck seal that unlike others on the market, does not rely on Neoprene and can be opened when dry in order to facilitate venting. Additionally, the suit has an easy-adjust cuff.
The cummerbund conceals the relief zipper and except for a wee problem with zippers that everyone is experiencing, the Mustang Survival MASS and LMASS is Berry compliant.
While the standard MASS is packed with features, Mustang Survival attacked the task of building a no frills lightweight version of the suit that retained the fit and performance found in the standard variant. Weight was saved through such alterations as eliminating pocket flaps.
For more information visit www.MustangSurvival.com
The Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition (the WPRC) is pleased to announce that three leaders in the textile and protective fabric industry have joined the effort to provide a unified voice for operational readiness and warfighter safety.
As of July 1, 2010, DuPont, the International Textile Group (ITG) and TenCate Protective Fabrics USA (TenCate) are all members of the expanding WPRC. These companies will join with WPRC counterparts in the effort to educate leaders on issues of warfighter protection and enable adequate funding for the development and procurement of first class Operational Clothing and Individual Equipment (OCIE) for American warfighters.
DuPont, ITG and TenCate collectively provide thousands of American manufacturing jobs and supply the U.S. military with the most technologically advanced protective fibers and fabrics in the world. These companies understand both the need to provide American warfighters with the best technology available, and the major role that the OCIE industry plays in the U.S. economy. The WPRC leadership is pleased to count these leading firms as allies in the ongoing effort to better equip and protect American warfighters.
In addition to DuPont, ITG and TenCate, members of the WPRC include ADS Inc., Darn Tough, Insight Technology, Integrated Wave Technologies, London Bridge Trading Company, Milliken, New Balance, Otis, Pelican, Sperian, Surefire, Wiley X and W. L. Gore. Additional leaders in the OCIE industry are expected to join as this effort gains momentum. For more information on the Warrior Protection and Readiness Coalition please visit www.warriorprotection.net.
We introduced 782 Gear’s Smokin Line during this year’s SHOT Show and as you may recall, they have taken product concepts that many of us grew up with and applied a modern material and construction story. Additionally, they didn’t just hit the market with one or two garments available in limited numbers. Rather, they have manufactured complete runs of base, mid, and outer layers and they offer FR options for many of these products. 782 Gear has also designed contact gloves, balaclavas, and beanies to complement their clothing. We have reviewed the line and can say that attention to detail is the standard. The mix of high tech fabrics with performance driven designs really impresses us. Take for example, the field jacket inspired softshell parka pictured above. It’s really more than a softshell as it also also incorporates hardshell technology, mixing fabrics for different effects based on location on the body.
One mid layer we want to point out is the APECS liner designed specifically to interface with the APECS parka issued to the Marines, Navy, and Air Force.
In addition to the clothing they also offer a blanket that is quite similar to the issue poncho liner except that there is an FR version. The blanket even has a hooded brother called the kloke (seen above). Also, they have introduced water resistant duffels made from PVC and ballistic nylon. We’ve shown you just a couple of products but everything is like that. It’s fresh and new and worth checking out. Colors options include Black, Coyote, Foliage Green, and MultiCam (including the head and hand wear) and several of the clothing items are reversible.
782 Gear can be found at their three distributors Source One Distributors, GSS, and Grey Group Training.
Well the main stream media finally caught up with us again this week. US Today published an article that the Army is going to eliminate Velcro from the cargo pockets on the ACU. This is hardly breaking news. We did a story on this last August, detailing numerous changes to the ACU. Unfortunately, Defense Supply Center Philadelphia who manages sustainment contracts for the ACU as well as the FR ACU which worn in combat, has yet to implement the improvements to any of the uniforms they are buying. PEO-Soldier on the other hand, is purchasing FR ACUs in MultiCam from a different contract so that combat troops in Afghanistan will have the advantage of the improved design.
The real irony in this, other than US Today chasing a story that is almost a year old, is that Velcro was added to the ACU based on use by Special Operations Forces. Big Army wanted what was perceived to work and they got it. Naturally and almost immediately, Soldiers began to complain. With Velcro, a little goes a long way.
New Balance has developed a 7 layer FR clothing system. That’s right, it’s a complete system from New Balance, it’s Berry Compliant, and it’s Fire Resistant. Designed from the outset to work together as a system, NBS7 offers two types of male T-shirts and drawers as well as sports bra and boy short options for the female user. Add to this lightweight and mid-weight long underwear, fleece jacket, wind jacket, and inclement weather shirt and you’ve got some serious layering options. New Balance has also integrated a Combat Shirt and Pants into the mix. They top it all off with both soft shell and hard shell jacket and trouser options.
A quick review of the materials and you will see that they are using tried and true fabrics such as Tencate’s Defender M found in both Army and Marine Corps issued FR garments in addition to layering materials from Cocona and Drifire. Sizing options are unmatched from XX-Small – XXXX-Large. Did we mention that NBS7 will be available in Coyote as well as MultiCam? Available this Fall, check out the entire system at www.ADSinc.com/NBS7. They have prepared an excellent page detailing all of NBS7’s finer points for each component.
Be sure to attend the ADS Warrior Expo July 15 & 16 at the Virginia Beach Civic Center and check out the NBS7.
Tags: ADS, New Balance
Posted in ADS, Clothing, FR, Multicam | Comments Off on New Balance System 7
