For this week’s Friday Focus, we’re taking a look at a collaborative product of FirstSpear and K2 Solutions: the ECV or Ergonomic Canine Vest.
After two years of internal research and development, K2 and FirstSpear are pleased to roll out the first product in their joint tactical canine line. The K2-FirstSpear Ergonomic Canine Vest was designed by K2’s military working dog Veterinarian to allow for uninhibited stride and shoulder movement. Within the working dog industry, canine vests are used to carry communication devices, GPS and surveillance systems, medical kits, battery packs, and more. Current vest and harness designs tend to be heavy and only focus on load bearing capacity and equipment requirements. However, the handler must account for the payload’s impact on the working dog’s musculoskeletal system, mental and physical health, and performance longevity to maximize mission success.
Current vests and harnesses mimic human backpacks, where the main stabilization elements place majority of the load burden on the shoulders and scapulae of the canine. However, the canine skeletal system lacks a collar bone, contrary to humans, making shoulder-bearing loads prohibitive for performance. A canine’s forearms are connected to their body by a girdle of muscle, soft tissue, and skin. Vests designed to place the load on the canine’s shoulders and scapulae are inherently flawed for canine use and drastically impede the full range of motion of the canine forelimb. This severely impacts performance, muscle and joint health, and can result in injury or premature degradation of the canine musculoskeletal system. Moreover, effective equipment weight distribution must account for the canine’s stride and weight shifting in multiple directions simultaneously during patrol.
The Ergonomic Canine Vest is equipped with FirstSpear’s proven patent pending ultra-light 6/12 technology that drastically reduces weight when compared to standard MOLLE style vests and is fully compatible with FirstSpear’s lightweight 6/12 pockets as well as legacy MOLLE style pockets. The 6/12 field extends the entire height and length of the lateral midline, providing you with maximum position options for custom integration of your mission-specific equipment and sensors. The incorporated “Y” strap on the chest also places the main stabilizing anchor of the vest mid-sternum, as opposed to on the forelimbs seen with competing vests. The firm but cushioned ventral padding rests securely on the thorax and the dorsal region is equipped with loop on the upper and lower surfaces to allow for integration of custom K2-FirstSpear tactical canine accessories.
The ECV is the first of many revolutionary new products FirstSpear and K2 have developed to better serve the warfighter and law enforcement officer. Look out for more professional canine and handler products in the coming months. Pre-order now with Summer 2016 delivery.
Unity Tactical recentky told us their new Clutch load carriage solution wouldn’t ship until June. However, they started delivering them last week.
Made from two-way stretch fabric, the fit is both adjustabke and low profile so that it can be worn beneatxh clothing. The Clutch incorporates numerous 4.5″ wide, padded cells lined with Velcro which will accept a variety of equioment includimg many holsters. The Clutch is also backed with non-slip material to keep it in place.
Available in Small, Medium and Large in Black or Grey.
The Blue Force Gear Trauma Kit NOW! (TKN) was first released in early 2009 as a solution to trauma kits that were too difficult to deploy, especially if only one hand is available. The TKN has gone through a number of changes over the years, with the most recent updates pertaining to weight and functional performance for the end user.
Starting with materials, the TKN is now constructed largely of a proprietary laminate called ULTRACOMP®. This high-tech laminate is made up of multiple layers of high abrasion Nylon and CORDURA® fabric bound together with space age elastomers and other compounds to form a nearly indestructible fabric that is still extremely lightweight in this configuration.
The flap face of the TKN now has a “Red Cross” cut-out with red backing so that the user can quickly choose whether they want a red reflective IR, or subdued backing to their trauma kit identifier. The flap also now has the BLIP™ detail in its pull tab. The Ball Loaded Index Point, or BLIP for short, is a feature now found on all Blue Force Gear lidded pouches. The BLIP was born on a freezing cold day at the range with rain coming in sideways at 32.5° Fahrenheit. It was there that Blue Force Gear realized that when fingers start to turn to flippers it’s very difficult to get a grasp on a flat piece of webbing as well as differentiate between different kinds of material to find a pull tab. The BLIP alleviates both those issues with a form that is both easy to grasp and impossible to miss.
The Trauma Kit NOW! is now available with an Advanced Individual Trauma Kit Refill built for Blue Force Gear by North American Rescue™. This refill contains the most advanced individual first aid items currently available and is focused around treating the “Big Three” of preventable combat death: extremity hemorrhage, airway obstruction and tension pneumothorax.
The Shellback Tactical STEALTH Low Vis Plate Carrier is designed to be a super low profile, light weight plate carrier/armor carrier. Ideal to be worn under a jacket, surveillance operations, or just as a slick plate carrier. Built for low visibility and concealment. The carrier is designed to hold 10×12 Level III or Level IV hard armor plates. It can also accept 10×12 soft armor style plate backers if plates are not needed. The cummerbund is extremely adjustable due to its overlapping design front and back that can fit small statured and larger statured body types.
Hypalon non slip material makes up the fully adjustable shoulder straps which also have 2 slips for other uses. The front has a handy zippered admin pocket, a large 4 inch loop area for placards and integrated nylon vertical strips to accommodate QASM buckles. To add a chest rig if needed. QASM Buckles not included. Also included is a double magazine pouch for .223/5.56 magazines. Cummerbund has 2 integrated pouches for magazines or radio.
Interior is lined with breathable spacer mesh for comfort. The back of the carrier has an integrated Hypalon drag handle and a 4 inch loop are for patch identifiers.
The ASAD from Platatac is a different take on the dump pouch.
First off, it’s front mounted. Additionally, you can mount PALS pouches inside and it will accept an armor plate. There are also mesh panels at the bottom for drainage of sand as well as water.
By the way, ASAD stands for All Singing All Dancing which means it does everything.