London Bridge Training Co has released a mini catalog for the Security Force Assistance Team. It includes gear from several product groups such as backpacks, deployment bags, pouches, medical solutions, and armor carriers selected specifically for the SFAT mission. Naturally, it’s full of MultiCam goodness.
‘Every Other Chest Rig On The Planet Is Now Too Heavy’ – That’s a pretty bold statement made recently by gear manufacturer High Ground as they introduced The Chest Rig. Even the name implies that there can be no other.
The rig is reversible – MultiCam to Coyote and features integrated ITW buckles to allow instant transition from H-Harness Shoulder Straps to Plate Carrier integration. As you can see it’s PALS compatible and relies as much on the pouches for structural support as they do upon The Chest Rig. It’s as bare bones as it gets.
Yes, some of us have seen a similar product in the past from Crye Precision where users obtained extra AirLite cummerbund panels for the Jumpable Plate Carrier and attached them to the front in order to rapidly reconfigure loads. It wasn’t by design as much by user adaption and its difficult to obtain a JPC let alone an AirLite cummerbund. The major difference here is that this was designed to work this way from the outset and includes a chest rig H harness with articulated shoulder straps seen here. I’m sure it’s going to be popular but I’m just as sure that there will be detractors based on its similarity to the Crye design.
www.highgroundgear.com/products/chest-rig
Weighing in at 16ounces, the newly released Kifaru Woobie Express is based on the already proven Woobie technology. As you can see it is worn poncho style and is a little smaller than other products that are designed for a wide range of uses.
It features a high collar and can be thrown over your armor and other gear during halts or anytime you need to hunker down.
Every two weeks SSD showcases a different MultiCam print fabric from Duro Textiles LLC. This week, we are covering Beaver. MultiCam is a single camouflage pattern designed to help the wearer hide in varied environments, seasons, elevations, and light conditions. After a great deal of commercial success and adoption by elements of US Special Operations Forces, in 2010 MultiCam was selected for use by the US Army as its Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern (OCP).
This technical stretch fabric is designed for extreme-performance outerwear applications. By using a 3-ply laminate 4-way stretch composite is a waterproof breathable fabric. For added protection, they have applied branded NanoSphere® water repellent finish to the outside. This is a great solution for those companies that have been asking SSD about an off-the-shelf softshell fabric.
Specs:
Finished Width – 55 inches cuttable
Finished Weight – 3.75 oz/yd² approximately
Fiber Content – 93% Nylon/7% Spandex
Specific Properties – NanoSphere® Water Repellent
Download test report here.
Crye Precision actually chose Beaver for their FieldShell due to its lightweight properties and foul weather performance. The FieldShell features a unique, armor compatible venting system that unzips radially around the axis of the shoulder. This means it is accessible whether you are wearing armor or not. Additionally, the jacket features a lined collar and flat hidden-zipper front, as well as discreet zip mesh pockets for internal storage as well as inset bicep pockets.
Duro offers progressive pricing based on the number of yards ordered. For more information on this or any of the full line of MultiCam fabrics visit www.multicamfabric.com or email Galpen_Ben@DuroLink.com.
KarmaloopTV sat down with the Nick Wooster at Project Wooster in Vegas to talk fashion. Two things stuck out; how much military clothing influences fashion and that how ubiquitous MultiCam is becoming.
The High Ground Gear 5.56 Admin Pouch consists of two M4 Mag pouches with an ultra-thin admin pocket tucked away behind. It opens forward to reveal a laminated Battlemap pocket as well as 3 pencil / grease-pencil webbing loops. It also integrates a PDA/iPhone pocket. It can be quickly closed and secured via Velcro but for extra security each side of the panel features a zipper closure.
Available in MultiCam, Tan, Coyote, UCP, and Ranger Green. Made in USA!
We have learned a bit more about the withdrawn Army pattern from the Camouflage Improvement Effort. Considering several indicators as well as sources of information we believe with a high degree of confidence that the withdrawn pattern is Scorpion. If this is true then it makes complete sense to withdraw the pattern. As it is, there is already OCP (MultiCam) being used as the transitional baseline pattern as well as a Crye Precision finalist family of patterns that are by all accounts, based on the successful MultiCam pattern but featuring individual patterns with specific environmental coloration. So, there will be plenty of MultiCam to go around.
DoD photo by RD Ward
As you can see from this photo, the pattern is in the MultiCam family but really more of an ancestor. Scorpion was developed by Crye Precision under contract for the Army’s Objective Force Warrior Program starting in the early 00s. As the Army transitioned the program it dropped the Scorpion pattern and Crye independently refined the pattern and began to slowly market it as MultiCam. Specialized military units saw promise in the pattern and began to use it. Simultaneously, it was picked up by the tactical industry and offered commercially making it easier for small unit adoption. This increased use of MultiCam by military forces is a truly successful case of grassroots marketing and by the late-00s it was being worn by both American as well as Allied SOF. Over the past two years it has been selected for use by the US Army and Air Force for use in Afghanistan as well as by the UK and Australian military in national variant forms.
Natick kept the Scorpion pattern in their vaults and would occasionally trot it out for experimentation and development including competitive testing. Since it was independently developed by the Army over the past decade the current version is going to be a bit different than Crye Precision’s MultiCam. Apparently, Scorpion was chosen by the Natick as their sole entry for the Army Camouflage Improvement Effort after the decision was made to go with four commercial families of patterns and one Government derived family rather than the original three and two. That tells us that someone has a lot of confidence in the design.
Delta is the latest fabric in our ongoing bi-weekly series presented by Duro Textiles LLC focusing on the various materials they offer in the MultiCam camouflage pattern. MultiCam is a single camouflage pattern designed to help the wearer hide in varied environments, seasons, elevations, and light conditions. After a great deal of commercial success and adoption by elements of US Special Operations Forces, in 2010 MultiCam was selected for use by the US Army as its Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern (OCP).
Delta is a Light-Weight Soft-Shell 40 Denier nylon 2-way stretch laminated to a Wicking/Anti-Microbial Knit. Take a look at the photo to the left and it shows what the fabric looks like. You can see a small ripstop pattern. It is IR treated and has a soft hand making it ideal for soft shell jackets. Additionally, the face is laminated to a moisture wicking knit backer which is toward the wearer and allows for quick drying comfort. The face fabric is also NanoSphere® treated and weighs about 5 oz/yd².
Download a test report for Delta here.
Vertx chose Delta for their Smock and Gunfighter top. It makes both products great for three-season wear. In addition to the fabric, the Smock has several other features not found elsewhere.
– Innovative design with a unique pocket layout
– Mesh lined dual pull pit zips
– Mag pockets inside chest pockets
– Skirt mounted mag pockets
If you are interested in the Smock visit wearvertx.com.
Duro offers progressive pricing based on the number of yards ordered. For more information on this or any of the full line of MultiCam fabrics visit www.multicamfabric.com or email Galpen_Ben@DuroLink.com.
