Duro has finally introduced a MultiCam pack cloth called Gamma. This 400D fabric is printed in the MultiCam pattern and available now. It’s a lightweight fabric with a slick hand. Some will say that it isn’t very abrasion resistant and compared to 1000D Cordura it isn’t. But remember, we won a couple of wars using pack cloth. It can be a great tradeoff for low weight, you just have to consider what you’re using it for.
ITWNexus APA let us see behind the curtain to take a look at some upcoming products. Some are still so new they don’t even have names. As these are still developmental pieces they may be made from unusual colors. Final models will feature the standard color palette.
First up is a shotgun shell caddy that adapts to he front of the popular FastMag.
This attachment also allows the shotgun shell carrier to be attached directly to PALS webbing.
Next up is a 40mm carrier that accommodates two rounds. It is also compatible with both the FastMag as well as PALS-type webbing systems.
As you can see it incorporates a lid of sorts that helps keep the rounds in place.
This is something completely new for the division formerly known as ITW Military Products. They have developed a Mil Std 1913 foregrip. In the event you want to slide the grip down the rail and lock it into place, the detent buttons are fore and aft and it features two blocks to ensure it stays fast in the Picatinny rail’s grooves. Additionally, one side plate can be removed in case there are item already affixed to the rail and it can slid into place. To install you remove the side plate, select a position on the rail and rock it into place. Then you replace the side plate.
Although only featured in the top photograph APA has also developed an adapter for the FastMag that will allow the user to wear it sideways on the belt.
First off, ITW Military Products is now ITWNexus Advanced Products and Accessories. Second, they’d like your feedback on their upcoming development of additional models of the Grimloc. Below are four variants, the all black version is the current model. Counter-Clockwise from there is Grimloc XL, Grimloc Low Profile and finally the Grimlocissomo. Notice they all use the same arm, no matter the size of the overall Grimloc.
Those are to get your creative juices flowing. What would you like to see in the next generation of Grimloc? Leave your feedback in the comments section here.
Here is the application of Massif’s new Battlefield X technology. This FR fleece jacket features a WL Gore membrane for wind and water protection.
Innovative FR nylon-face fabric provides all the benefits of the best water resistant outdoor fabrics while meeting the ASTM F2302/ASTM D6413 standard for flame resistance.
Massif announces the commercial introduction of Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics, two revolutionary new nylon-faced, flame resistant, water resistant laminates for the military and tactical markets.
Nylon garments have a long history of field-proven outdoor performance, yet have never before provided adequate flame resistance. Massif Battleshield and Battleshield X fabrics offer a shift in FR protection by combining filament nylon-faced laminates with exceptional FR protection.
Massif Battleshield and Battleshield X fabrics provide excellent durability, water resistance, breathability, flame protection, stretch, and warmth-to-weight ratio. There is simply nothing like the Battleshield fabrics on the market; they perform as well as other non-FR outdoor fabric in the industry and provide exceptional flame protection.
Massif Battleshield and Battleshield X feature Gore® FR stretch technology, which dramatically increases breathability while simultaneously improving water repellency and water entry pressure. The result is an extremely durable, highly breathable fabric with a superior warmth-to-weight ratio that is very water resistant and fully flame resistant. “Gore has played a pivotal role in providing best in class durable, breathable and environmentally protective products to the U.S. military,” says Mark Miller, Product Specialist at Gore. “We are excited to be working with Massif and bringing this product line to the warfighting community. Unlike any other flame-resistant, water resistant softshell fabrics, Massif Battleshield and Battleshield X fabrics featuring Gore® FR stretch technology compete with the very best technical performance softshell fabrics on the market today.”
Over the past year, every branch of the United States military has been evaluating either Massif Battleshield or Battleshield X fabrics. “We’re getting some very exciting feedback from our military partners,” said Dave Bywater, Vice President of Government Sales at Massif. “It’s gratifying to be able to provide garments and fabrics that improve comfort and durability, increase life cycle costs, and provide the best flash-fire protection possible for our soldiers.”
Some of the key benefits of Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics are:
BREATHABILITY/COMFORT – With unsurpassed breathability, Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics can dramatically increase the warfighter’s overall comfort. In high-activity situations Massif’s unique fabrics, in combination with Gore’s breathable, stretch membrane, reduce overheating and chilling from moisture retention and reduces user fatigue, ultimately keeping soldiers dryer, safer, and more effective in a wider range of situations and temperatures.
DURABILITY – The nylon face fabric of Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics provide superior durability when compared to traditional FR fabrics on the market today. In fact, for its weight, Battleshield is likely the most durable FR fabric on the market today. This extreme durability can significantly reduce life cycle costs as compared to other FR materials.
WEATHER PROTECTION/WATER RESISTANCE – Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics provide exceptional water resistance by combining Gore’s breathable, stretch membrane with a technically superior face fabric that will not absorb or retain water as with conventional cellulosic-based fabrics.
STRETCH/FUNCTIONALITY – With multidirectional stretch, a key feature of any high-quality outdoor garment, Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics offer excellent mobility and comfort.
FLAME RESISTANCE/BURN PROTECTION – These truly revolutionary synthetic fabrics have all of the benefits of high-quality outdoor softshell fabrics while meeting the stringent requirements of ASTM F2302/ASTM D6413 and showing extremely low Burn Injury Prediction when tested on a manikin per ASTM F1930.
Massif will begin using Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics in its Massif Elements Tactical Jacket. Plans for using these fabrics in US military and tactical garments are underway.
W L Gore & Associates, Inc has announced that its most advanced comfort technology is now available in tactical military and law enforcement footwear. Available in desert tan and black from the Belleville Boot Company, Propper International, Reebok, and Shoe Technology Company (STC), GORE-TEX Extended Comfort Footwear provides protection outside in challenging conditions and comfort inside the station, vehicle, or garrison. GORE-TEX Extended Comfort Footwear enables military and law enforcement professionals to have a single pair of boots for the widest range of climates. Like all GORE-TEX products, this new technology delivers durable protection from exposure to rain and inclement weather while allowing moisture vapor to escape from the boot, which helps keep feet dry and more comfortable. The unique single-wall construction of GORE-TEX Extended Comfort Footwear eliminates the need for extra lining, making the footwear a more lightweight alternative.
This isn’t the first time that we’ve mentioned SOCOM’s Block 2 PCU Level 3a or its use of Polartec’s materials. Polartec has a long history of providing innovative fabric solutions for not only SOCOM’s Protective Combat Uniform program but for all of DoD. What’s more, their manufacturing partner is Patagonia. They too have a long history of supporting SOF and other specialized units going back to the 80s. In 3ID LRS I was issued blue Patagonia polypropylene long underwear and pile jacket and overalls in Germany in the late 80s. Later, Patagonia developed the Military Advanced Regulator System. Now, they are responsible for the design and manufacture of PCU. Below is the press release on this new insulation technology option for USSOCOM.
Polartec and Patagonia Collaborate to Provide Breakthrough Fabric Technology to Every Special Forces Operator
January 8, 2013 – (Lawrence, Mass.) – Polartec, the developer, manufacturer, and marketer of Polartec performance fabrics, has worked closely with the U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) to develop Polartec®Alpha, a new synthetic insulation technology that creates the first-ever breathable “puffy” garments for active warmth. The Special Forces are the first adopters of this breakthrough fabric technology and are presently fielding Polartec Alpha jackets designed by Patagonia to all SOF operators.
Unlike down and existing synthetic insulations, Polartec Alpha provides active warmth that allows air exchange for breathability and comfort in more dynamic situations. It was developed to meet the specific performance requirements of the United States Military Special Operations Forces. The development brief required materials that are warm, wind resistant, highly durable, quick drying and more breathable than any existing insulation products. In field and lab testing, Polartec Alpha received the highest testing results of any Polartec product ever tested by the Special Operations Forces evaluation team. The garment will replace two to three layers, reducing costs, saving weight in the field and improving combat effectiveness.
In close collaboration with Polartec, Patagonia designed and developed the overall garment design for SOF. The company spent months maximizing the details of the design to take full advantage of the performance characteristics of Polartec Alpha. The final product is the SOF Protective Combat Uniform Level 3A Jacket, a standard issue piece fielded to every Special Forces Operator in the service.
“Polartec Alpha is a significant technical achievement that has created an entirely new class of fabric technology,” says David Costello, Polartec’s Military Business Manager. “This fabric innovation has been made possible due to our longstanding relationship with the Special Forces and has come to fruition in a final garment through the creativity and drive of the Patagonia design team. The demanding mission profile of the SOF operators requires absolute performance from every element of the operator’s ensemble. Polartec Alpha meets this test and has tremendous potential as a platform for future development.”
“Patagonia constantly works with suppliers to push the limits of what is possible. We have been pushing these limits with Polartec for several decades now; the result has been many groundbreaking products over the course of those years, culminating into this pinnacle innovation. This technology allows technical product designer/developers an interesting new challenge for the next several years; to ‘dial in’ the perfect CFM (or breathability) of a low loft garment,” says Eric Neuron, Patagonia’s Director of Strategic Product. “Without the demands and feedback from Special Forces Operators, this jacket and technology would not exist. We are very proud to support their needs. ”
As far as I’m concerned, Murdock has become synonymous with Jacquard weave webbing. They offer a durable, double-sided webbing solution that is Berry compliant with the camouflage pattern not printed on, but rather woven into the webbing. And now, they’ve introduced not only new patterns to their line, but additional products as well.
Available camouflage patterns include:
-MultiCam: Rigid, Elastic, Bungee, and two belt weight constructions. New Heavy Duty Gun Holster with exposed rubber in development.
-AOR1 & AOR2: Rigid. Elastic and AOR2 Heavy Duty Gun Holster with exposed rubber in development.
-Realtree: Hardwoods, AP, Max 4, Hardwoods Blaze, Pink.
-A-Tacs: AU & FG rigid.
-OCP: Rigid in development, Multicam alternative for D.O.D. contracts.
-UCP Digital: Rigid, Bungee, Elastic.
-MTP: Rigid.
Rigid webbing meets or exceeds the specifications for AA55301 and are available in 19mm, 25mm, 38mm, 50mm. Custom widths and weights are available upon request.
Murdock also offers these additional options:
-Nanosphere: Murdock Webbing is the exclusive narrow fabric company to offer Schoeller’s NanoSphere technology. NanoSphere repels water and dirt to create a self-cleaning finish and enhance durability.
-FR: Their FR elastic webbing passes APEL specifications using the rigorous ASTM 6413 vertical burn test method.
-Silicone: Multiple applications of silicone are available and are applied in-house.
-Monster Edge: Innovated at Murdock, Monster Edge significantly increases the useful life of sling and tie down webs at a competitive price while still providing ease of sewing.
-Durability: The jacquard woven construction has proven to be very abrasion resistant in repeated laboratory tests. Even after 2000 abrasion cycles, patterns are still intact. In the field this translates directly to an end product that remains effective, in terms of camouflage concealment and functionality, for a very long period of time.
-IR: MultiCam, AOR1 and AOR2 rigid webbing meet all NIR requirements established by Natick, and have been approved by a government certified lab.
As noted above, Murdock is currently still in development of UK MTP pattern and US Army OCP Four color design as well as holster material, but only small fine tune adjustments are left before releasing them.
The A-TACS AU and FG, as well as the AOR1, and the MultiCam belt weights are approved.
Please contact Ray Clarke, VP of Sales, at 1 (800) 375 2052 x3014 or ray.clarke@murdockweb.com for samples and price quotes.
Be sure to visit Murdock Webbing Co at SHOT Show in booth #8307.
