Phantom Lights

Archive for the ‘Load Carrying’ Category

Shellback Gear Used For Broadway Show

Saturday, February 18th, 2012

We got a note from Shellback Tactical that their Cobra Riggers Belt has been used by the Broadway Show ‘Spider Man – Turn Off The Dark.’ Here’s what Mike, the head honcho at Shellback told us. It’s interesting to see how tactical gear can be placed into other uses. It’s also good to see people outside the tactical industry appreciate American made quality.

I have received several orders from them and decided to look into it. I spoke to there stage manager over there and verified it with him. He was pleased to know that it was US made and did not realize it.

Interesting Info- Off the subject of Tactical for a minute- We recently discovered that our Shellback Tactical Cobra Buckle Riggers belt with Austri Alpin Buckle is being used behind the scenes of the Broadway Show Spider-Man Turn of the Dark. It is being used by the production crew/Stagehands to tie in when working while setting up when a Class 3 harness is not needed. We thank them for using our gear- It is nice to see a production such as this supporting Small Business- An American Company and USA Made Gear.

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shellbacktactical.com/cobrariggersbelt

BLOCS Shoulder Hydration Harness – TAP

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

SOTech has taken the shoulder straps from their popular Falcon Chest Rig designed for the 325 Airborne Infantry Regiment and modified them to adapt to the Army and Marine Corps issue Tactical Assault Panel or TAP. It’s a great accessory because troops are starting to use their TAP without armor but the issue shoulder strap accessory is narrow and can be uncomfortable.

This is what SOTech had to say:
“Responding to requests from soldiers in the field, SOTECH has modified the shoulder harness/hydration pack from it’s Falcon rig to clip onto the Tactical Assault Panel. Troops in the field needed a standalone chest rig and found the thin straps that came with the TAP to be cutting into their shoulders. SOTECH’s Falcon harness has 3 inch wide shoulder straps. Basically a modification of part of SOTECH’s Battle Load Carry System, this custom modification will be called the BLOCS Shoulder Hydration Harness – TAP (BSHH-TAP), and is available for unit purchase and on SOTECH’s website as a COTS solution. Versions of the harness will also be available with padded shoulders and with or without the hydration pack upon special request for unit orders.”

www.sotechtactical.com

SKD Tactical PIG Armor Kit Bag

Friday, February 10th, 2012

New from SKD Tactical is the Patrol Incident Gear Armor Kit Bag. Designed to accommodate carriers up to IOTV size, the AKB protects your armor. It features a fully-encased bucket of 1/4” foam that provides drop and shock protection for your plates and kit, allowing it to store in the upright worn position.

In addition to a helmet strap, there is an ID window for a name card and three utility pockets on one side, and a full-width stash pocket on the other. Available in Black, Coyote, MultiCam and Ranger Green.

Additionally, we have been wearing a couple of pairs of PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT-Alpha) Gloves since just before SHOT Show. Bottom Line, they are a good glove. Look for more info from us soon on our impressions. For those of you who can’t wait, right now they are down to sizes in Ranger Green and Black. Gets yours before they are gone.

High Ground ALICE Frame Modular Panel

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Despite its propensity for falling apart, the ALICE frame just won’t go away. Rather, it remains popular due to its ability to accept a wide variety of irregular loads becoming a modern day pack board. High Ground recognized its adaptability and decided to make it MOLLE compatible as well. They’ve created a new modular panel that attaches to the frame making even more useful for a variety of applications.

www.highgroundgear.com

E-MM Split Ammo SAC

Monday, February 6th, 2012

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Once again, EMDOM USA has teamed with Military Morons to create a new version of the Ammo SAC. This new version, called the Split Ammo SAC, features a divider flap so that you can carry two types of ammo or keep other items segregated.

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Weighing only 5 oz, it is available in Multicam, Coyote Brown, and Foliage Green.

www.EMDOMUSA.com

Natick Developing New IFAK Pouch

Sunday, February 5th, 2012

At last week’s Military Mountain and Cold Weather Symposium I had an opportunity to check out several creations from Natick’s Load Carriage Prototype Lab. One of those items was a much needed facelift for the Individual First Aid Kit pouch which was rushed into service not long after Operation Iraqi Freedom began.

The current issue item is a modified SAW ammo pouch and it really isn’t well executed for what it needs to do. It’s kind of like attaching a brick to the armor vest. PM Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment’s Rich Landry worked with the Army’s medical community to determine the latest and greatest contents list and then set about redesigning the pouch. One big change is that the Soldier is now issued two Combat Application Tourniquets so the new insert accommodates that.

The biggest change is the pouch’s basic shape. It is now a horizontal envelope-style with PALS webbing along its face and openings on either end to accept the insert. I was able to try the pouch out and it is easy to access the insert and restage. The insert is still attached to the pouch via an elastic coil bungee which can be detached via Velcro if needed. Both ends of the insert feature pull loops so it can be deployed left or right depending on the preference of the Soldier and mounting location. Additionally, its flat format allow it to be mounted on the lower back or under other pouches on either side of the cummerbund.

In a Natick press release, Landry commented, “We designed it literally about three or four months ago, the medical community said, ‘Awesome idea. Let’s move out with it.’ Overwhelmingly, they thought this was a huge improvement over the current IFAK.”

Unfortunately, I’m not sure when it will become a general issue item but recent testing at Ft Polk was very promising.

SOTech developed a similar pouch in 2010 based on the contents of the SOF IFAK. It completed testing and was released for sale late last year.

Mayflower Introduces A-TACS AU

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Mayflower has just announced that they are adding A-TACS AU to their lineup of color choices.

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www.mayflower-rc.org

Recon Kit Bag

Monday, January 30th, 2012

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Modularity comes to Hill People Gear in the form of the new Recon Kit Bag. Hill People Gear has never been about tactical. Instead, they make kit for back country living. But, after numerous requests from those in the SAR community for some modularity, they relented and decided to add some PALS to their popular Runners Kit Bag chest mounted pouch. If you like the convenience of the Kit Bag, think of all of the options available with the addition of PALS.

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They’re not available yet, but the first run will include FoliageRanger Green and MultiCam.

www.hillpeoplegear.com