SPARTANAT: Tardigrade Tactical, you are from Denmark. What do you specialize in?
We specialize in designing and developing equipment for military and law enforcement end-users. – Equipment that cuts down on bulk, weight and comprises and integrates functionality in each design. We work hard to fit all functions into one layer rather than to do several layers, with each layer having a different function – both in a literal sense with layers of fabric but also in a more holistic sense, knowing that our products will become a part of an end-user’s complete setup – most likely wearing issued kit and other brands of gear. It’s really all about focusing on helping the end user perform as good as possible. We actually produce products meant specifically to be integrated with the professional end-user’s issued kit. We know that some departments of the military and the Danish law enforcement have strict guidelines on what’s allowed to be worn and we work around that issue with a “low footprint integration” in mind, basically ending up with designs that looks like an integrated part of the original gear. This makes it a lot easier for the end-user to wear his gear and focus on his task at hand rather than being concerned of what his or her leaders might think of a non-issued product – which is a very real issue these days.
SPARTANAT: How long have you manufactured gear? How did it all begin?
We have been manufacturing gear since 2011, but it all really started when I was deployed the Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2009, with a small reconnaissance unit. At that time, we bought a lot of our own kit and spent tons on money making our setup perfect. We imported most of the stuff from USA but the integration with our issued kit, at the time, was never perfect. It lacked a “Danish touch”. I started doing sketches on different designs during our down-time in the FOB (Forward Operation Base), and figured I needed a creative hobby to focus on, in my spare time, when returning to Denmark. When I returned home to Denmark after my deployment, I bought my first industrial sewing machine and spent a few years learning different design- and manufacturing processes – basically learning the “source code” on how to turn fabric and webbing into a piece of gear. For a few years I was designing sewing gear for my colleges, in my basement, but things really escalated in 2015, when we set up shop in an old building not far from my home, in Copenhagen.
Today, my business partner Frederik and I run the company and have two employees working at our facility on a daily basis, producing gear for several web shops and retailers as well as government departments and SOF units.
SPARTANAT: You have a logo not easy to identify. What does it show and why?
Yes, we are often asked that question and I always enjoy telling people about the meaning behind our name and logo. The Tardigrade is a small organism, gaining more and more popularity due to its tough attributes. When the Tardigrade is in a certain state, it has the ability to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, radiation and even the vacuum of space. The creature is no more than 1 mm of size, but lives in all corners of the world, making it really great mascot for our brand: sturdy, versatile and with a small foot print. I have always been very fascinated with science and biology and have always admired the low profile of the tardigrade, that is most likely the only living organism to outlive all other, here on Earth.
SPARTANAT: What’s your favorite product?
My favorite product? That’s a hard one to answer. I love all my children… I’ll have pick the one that has made the most impact with our customers, specifically those in the Danish Army: the “Low Profile Laminate Belt (beta)” so far has proven to be a great piece of kit for the soldiers, wearing heavy MOLLE belts. It’s really light weight, has a very low profile and very easy to adjust, using hook and loop. The belt is designed to follow the curvature of the hip and to do nothing more than keeping the operator’s pants in place. The idea came from wearing big, bulky rigger belts (that does not serve any other purpose, anyways) under the issued MOLLE belts. Big belts on top of each other will created fatigue, irritation and soars, during longer patrols. The “Low Profile Laminate Belt (beta)” does not, as it is so light and thin, you can hardly feel it, when wearing it. We plan to crowd fund the final version of the belt, for an international audience within a few months, as we think it has a very big potential.
Also, worth mentioning is the combination of our “Tardigrade Tactical – Speed Reload Pouch, 5,56 Rifle” and “Tardigrade Tactical – Light Weight Dump Pouch”. Two products that has been around since approx. 2012. A great deal of effort has been put into designing these two products, basically to give the operator the option of placing two pouches on the same space normally used for one pouch, with the MOLLE/PALS on the inside of the dump pouch. The “Tardigrade Tactical – Speed Reload Pouch 5,56 Rifle” is very light weight, very small but very functional magazine pouch, designed to allow the operator at full grip of the magazine when drawing for a speed reload. The design allows for adjusting the tension on the magazine and the opening allows for an easy insertion on a full magazine during breaks in engagements: a soldier should never take his eyes away from the thread, even when rearranging his full magazines.
SPARTANAT: Anything you want to tell your costumers? 3-5 pictures, portrait (if wanted), give us a short bio
Absolutely! A big thank you so far for supporting our brand and project! Also, a big thank you to all service members using our products down range and providing us with much appreciated end-user feedback! This helps us to continually design products that will fit the needs of future end-users deploying worldwide.
Finally, I very much appreciate all the different individuals we meet during shows, helping us to gain a bigger and better understanding of the industry as a whole and in detail.
Bio:
Name: Birk Anton Knudsen.
Age: 30
Geo: Copenhagen
CEO and founder of Tardigrade Tactical.
Military background: Corporal in the Danish Army since 2007 – Reconnaissance and Armored Infantry (PNINF), Gardehusar Regiment, Slagelse.
Deployments: Helmand, Afghanistan
http://www.tardigradetactical.dk/
http://spartanat.com/
