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The Incredible Self-Locking Clip

Friday, July 29th, 2011

Miltner Adams Company has introduced the Incredible Self-Locking Clip. It’s simple to use and automatically locks on to most soft materials such as pockets, waistbands, or even nylon webbing, but unfortunately not leather. To release, simply press the clip. The SLCâ„¢ is made from a Carbon Fiber Composite. If there’s any weak point in the design at this point it is how you attach it to your stuff. While there is a key ring adapter, for pretty much anything else it attaches via 3M VHB Adhesive Tape. I’m not convinced this is teh right answer for every application. Hopefully, manufacturers will see this and contact Miltner Adams to discuss ways to better integrate it into their products.

miltner-adams.com

Tags: Miltner Adams
Posted in Materials | 3 Comments »

SPECOPS.PL Introduces Branded Zipper Pulls

Monday, July 25th, 2011

Polish manufacturer SPECOPS has introduced zipper pulls in Black, Coyote and Olive which will not only blend with most any base color or pattern, but will also help to make the product even more distinct by incorporating their logo.

www.specops.pl

Tags: SPECOPS.PL
Posted in Materials | 8 Comments »

PrimaLoft – Warmer Drier Softer

Monday, July 25th, 2011

The most remarkable thing about this photo of Navy SEALs undergoing cold weather training at Det-Kodiak in Alaska is the expression on their faces. Or, better yet, their lack of expression. The reason is simple. In addition to training they are wearing garments insulated with PrimaLoft. In fact, PrimaLoft is used in cold weather loft layers used by all four services as well as SOCOM. If you’ve deployed in the past few years, chances are good you’ve relied on PrimaLoft.

Originally developed during the 1980s, the US Army commissioned Albany International to work on a water resistant synthetic alternative to down. What they came up with is PrimaLoft, used for military as well as commercial applications. However, in the meantime, they hardly been sitting around resting on their laurels. For instance, they’ve recently improved the performance of PrimaLoft Sport with their Convection Technology to offer 15% more loft than previous versions.

One of several things that PrimaLoft has going for it is a waterproof treatment that is cured into its fibers. This process results in PrimaLoft fibers adsorb only about 100 to 250% weight in water while many other polyester fibers will absorb up 400% to 1000% of their weight in water. Take a look at the diagram above. As you can see, PrimaLoft Sport does a pretty good job of retaining its CLO value* whether wet or dry. Additionally, PrimaLoft uses fibers that are less than one denier (a single strand of silk is essentially one denier) in thickness. This translates to increased compressibility.

If you’ve been using clothing insulated with PrimaLoft while deployed, you might want to know that numerous manufacturers also rely on it for their commercial products. For instance, you might be interested in this Spindrift Jacket from KUIU for use while hunting. You’d be amazed to see who’s using it. What’s more, you can even get bedding featuring PrimaLoft. To learn more, visit www.primaloft.com.

*One Clo represents the amount of insulation required to keep a resting person warm in an indoor room at 70°F (21.1°C). Clo ratings in oz/sq yd allow you to compare relative thermal performance of one insulation versus another.

Tags: Albany International Corp, Convection Technology, PrimaLoft
Posted in Materials, Off-Duty | 4 Comments »

BFG Announces a Better Mousetrap

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

For years Blue Force Gear, In. has quietly provided lightweight load carriage solutions to some of America’s most elite warriors. Now, they have managed to out-design even themselves.

Blue Force Gear has responded to the call of the American Warfighter to create the lightest, most durable, and lowest profile load carriage system available. The military continuously demands ever increasing reductions in the weight that our Warfighters carry. Blue Force Gear has answered this call by slicing the weight of issued kit by as much as 50 percent without compromising performance and yet increasing effectiveness.

Their answer is the use of unique materials coupled with cutting edge construction techniques. To create this new line, Blue Force Gear combined their designs with an extremely light and durable material that is cut and marked out of a single piece, in one operation. Besides being extremely lightweight, this patent pending process eliminates strap alignment, closure alignment, and webbing spacing issues that have plagued previous versions of the MOLLE attachment system.

Under project title Helium Whisper, this new line is the culmination of a 3 year quest to provide our Warriors with the lightest, most durable, and most technologically advanced equipment possible. With multiple patents pending and proprietary construction techniques Blue Force Gear’s new line is poised to improve the safety, comfort, and effectiveness of the US Warfighter.

I have been briefed on this new technology and hope to unveil some photography very soon. Anyone in Virginia Beach this week should be sure to check it out.

Finally, Blue Force Gear wanted me to point out that they are willing to discuss licensing of this new patent pending technology. Feel free to contact them if you are interested.

www.BlueForceGear.com

Tags: Blue Force Gear
Posted in 330, Industry, Load Carrying, Materials | 1 Comment »

Mission Pac Adds Outer Garments

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

Australian firm Mission Pac has added 100% Cotton Outer Garments to their line up of merino wool under garments.

Mission Pac has reminded me of these excellent properties of Cotton:
“This natural fibre, like merino wool, provides increased breathability, increased comfort levels , and improved flash-over properties compared to poly-cotton and other synthetic fibres.”

They are offering Patrol Shirts, Patrol Pants, Bush Hats, and a lightweight Smock designed loosely on the original SAS Smock in Auscam (DPCU), AustDesert (DPDU), Multi-Cam (MCP), Danish Desert, Tan and Navy Blue.

Editor’s Note: I LOVE 100% cotton ripstop! (remember jungle fatigues?) I LOATHE the craptastic 50/50 NYCO that the Army introduced in the early 90s for the “Enhanced” Hot Weather BDU. The NYCO was developed so that Soldiers could starch their uniforms and make them last longer. It was not introduced to enhance the comfort of the uniform in hot environments. But, just remember, cotton isn’t for EVERY environment. So, huzzah to Mission Pac for putting this together! You guys rock.

www.missionpac.com

Tags: Mission Pac
Posted in Clothing, Foreign, Materials | 6 Comments »

Murdock Webbing Introduces MultiCam Jacquard Weave Webbing

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

Murdock Webbing has been officially licensed by Crye Precision to offer jacquard woven Multicam webbing. Using specialized jacquard looms the camouflage pattern is integrated directly into the web creating a durable, quality product. It meets or surpasses all of the performance requirements for AA55301 and is offered in standard widths of .75″, 1″, 1.5″, and 2″. Additionally, custom widths and weights are available upon request.

You can barely see the webbing overlayed on a sheet of MultiCam fabric. This is a good thing. The pattern is so well executed that it blends right in unlike the Government pattern webbing introduced earlier this year.

The double-sided jacqaurd woven MultiCam webbing meets all NIR requirements established by Natick, and has been approved by a government certified lab.

In addition to looking great, there is an added benefit to the jacquard woven construction. It has proven to be very abrasion resistant in repeated laboratory tests, maintaining the integrity of the MultiCam design even after 1000s of cycles on an abrasion machine. This means the pattern is going to last you the lifetime of the product.

Additionally, the weave can really hold a buckle or clip in place. Murdock Webbing feels that this could be the single most important function of webbing as it relates to a military pack or carrying system. We agree. There is nothing worse than webbing that needs constant adjustment due to slippage.

What’s more, 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. They also also offer a silicone application that they apply in-house. Either of these treatments will protect the webbing and prevent water absorption to keep weight down when conditions get rough.

Murdock Webbing has been an approved supplier to the military since the early 1960s and has been a force in industry since 1936. Their mill is ANSI/ASQC ISO9001 certified and manufactures products that meet the highest standards of quality and reliability.

So, to sum this article up. Looks good? Check. Abrasion Resistant? Check. Grippy for Buckles? Check. Added Bonus – Inexpensive.

Murdock’s MultiCam webbing is woven right here in the United States and is Berry Amendment Compliant. Please contact Ray Clarke, VP of Sales, at 1 (800) 375 2052 x3014 or ray.clarke@murdockweb.com for free prototyping quantities as well as a price quote.

murdockwebbing.com

Tags: Crye Precision, Murdock Webbing
Posted in Materials, Multicam | 7 Comments »

Icebreaker’s Supply Chain

Friday, June 24th, 2011

This video hosted by Icebreaker Founder Jeremy Moon gives you a great insight into their supply chain. It’s important for those outside industry to get an idea of how much goes into those garments you wear. While New Zealand-based Icebreaker specializes in merino wool, a similar tale can be told for most any product you use. The more complex the product, the larger the supply chain.

Icebreaker tactical products are available from Mission Ready Equipment.

Tags: Icebreaker, Mission Ready Equipment
Posted in Industry, Materials | Comments Off on Icebreaker’s Supply Chain

3D Printed Clothing Comes of Age

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

“The N12 bikini is the world’s first ready-to-wear, completely 3D-printed article of clothing.”

That’s a pretty interesting statement. Especially when you consider that the first article of clothing is a bikini. Check it out and consider the possibilities (tactical possibilities).

Manufactured from Nylon 12, the garment is made using the SLS 3D printing process. Shapeways calls this material “white, strong, and flexible”, because its strength allows it to bend without breaking even when printed very thin. With a minimum wall thickness of .7 mm, it is possible to make working springs and almost thread-like connections. Once printed, the garment snaps together like one of those old folded paper models; insert tab A into slot B.