TYR Tactical

Archive for the ‘Outdoor Retailer’ Category

OR – SOLOSHOT

Friday, January 25th, 2013

Of everything I’ve seen at OR I’ve got to say that this has the most potential. The SOLOSHOT is a camera controller that pairs with an RF sensor that you put on a subject. This allows the camera to track the guy wearing the sensor. It was designed for sport use but imagine putting a camera downrange and tracking a shooter from the target’s POV! The camera will track the shooter even behind cover and as he moves across a complex range scenario.

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The RF sensor is fully waterproof with a 5 hour battery life. Both the camera controller and sensor charge piggy-back fashion from a wall outlet.

www.solosight.com

OR – Salewa

Friday, January 25th, 2013

These boots are the Pro Line from Salewa. Remember, Salewa is a 75 year old Italian mountaineering brand well known throughout the world for its apparel equipment and footwear. The footwear line was created 7 years ago in Europe and brought a technical line of mountaineering, approach and hike-approach footwear to the US 3-1/2 years ago. I’ve been wearing Salewa shoes and boots for over a year now.

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Here you see the new Vertical Pro new for Fall 2013, the Pro Guide and Pro Gator. All three incorporate the unique Walk-Climb feature. These are the only boots on the market where you can lock out the mid-sole in climbing mode to make the boot completely rigid. Conversely, you can unlock the mid-sole during the approach or ascent to get some toe flex.

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For most military users these boots are great options. He we have the Mountain Trainer Mid GTX, Alp Trainer Mid GTX and the new Snow Trainer Insulated GTX.

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I am super stoked about the Snow Trainer Insulated GTX. It features Thinsulate combined with Gore-Tex. it features a snowshoe compatible heel and built-in gaiter. The real gem here is the outsole developed with Vibram. It features a softer, sticky rubber compound with these cotton Kevlar fiber discs that help grip slick ground. They are meant for wet, cold, crappy environments.

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These are the new hotness from Salewa. This hike-approach is called the Wildfire. It’s already won Climbing magazine’s Editor’s choice award. Available in Gore-tex and non Gore models it incorporates a new anatomical last with a spherical heel cup. This heel is much like a climbing shoe but the forefoot gives you some room to walk. Interestingly, most of the upper is actually injection molded as one unit. The are few stitches and no clue on this upper.

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These feature the new 3-piece Multi-footbed system which is a insole system that allows you to custom fit the foot based on your foot and what socks you are wearing.

www.salewa.com

OR – Metolius

Friday, January 25th, 2013

Metolius is a 30 year old family owned business in Bend, Oregon. They’ve done a great job supporting the military. Here are a couple of new pieces.

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First off is the low profile Patriot harness that you can wear under body armor if needed. It’s Berry Compliant and features their Safe Tech which means all components on the harness are structurally sound, even the elastic at the rear and the gear loops. It also incorporates a locking speed buckle. This feature is actually available due to the beefy webbing on the waist.

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Next is the Strike sit and chest harness combo. Once again all Safe Tech construction, but completely stripped down, no padding. Additionally, you can use it for CASEVAC. There is no rear riser so you can slip it on a patient. One size fits most. Practically made by Veterans in Bend Oregon (Berry Compliant).

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Above, you have the Bravo series of carbiners. They’ve engineered these to make them hard to fail. They’ve eliminated gate flutter with a wire gate and incorporated a flared nose. Additionally, these are a little smaller and lighter (30 grams) than others on the market.

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The Master Cam is a family of Berry Compliant cramming units that move already been incorporated into the US Army’s MAC Kit.

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Finally, we have the Belay Rappel Descend or BRD. That’s what it does and it’s Berry Compliant. It weighs only 82 grams and accepts single or double ropes 8-11 mm.

www.metoliusclimbing.com

OR – Arc’teryx

Friday, January 25th, 2013

The big story for Arc’teryx this OR is Down. But these aren’t down garments as you have traditionally known them. As with most things, Arc’teryx took a long look at the issue and came with a couple of improvements. First, these garments have fewer pieces than others on the market meaning fewer stitches resulting in stronger garments. Next, they increased the durability of the shell of the garment to mitigate the abrasion that ruins so many down jackets. Finally, they placed Coreloft synthetic in areas of high compression and vapor transfer; the shoulders and cuffs. This feature eliminates cold spots. Currently, the garments run either 750 and 850 fill down.

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Another innovation is the new hood design. Rather than traditional two direction hood adjustment, this new version brings the crown of the hood down over the top of your head and ears.

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There are already 11 garments in the line (including models for both mean and women) including traditional jackets as well as hooded variants. They have also introduced a true hybrid with a Gore-tex shell and the insulation is the Down and Coreloft combo.

Look for these late Summer 2013.

www.arcteryx.com

OR – NEMO Equipment

Friday, January 25th, 2013

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The Switchblade SE is a one man shelter designed for use with a GI cot. It includes a strap system to attach the four corners to the cot. As you can see it’s a full mesh top to keep the bugs out combined with a full bathtub bottom to keep you dry. There is also a fly to protect you from the elements.

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The fly is a 2-point vestibule and includes a vent at the top of the zipper. This will give you plenty of room to change whether the shelter is in a cot or the ground. Fly options include Coyote, Alpha Green and MultiCam as well as custom colors for unit orders.

www.NEMOequipment.com

OR – UtilityFlame

Friday, January 25th, 2013

UtilityFlame was originally developed s a firestarter for the military. Unlike the old trioxane that was toxic, UtilityFlame is water soluble, non-hazmat, smokeless and odorless. It’s a gel format that burns hot (blue flame) and can boil water in as little as 3 minutes. Not only that, but it works up to 10,000′ and has a shelf life of 30 years.

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OR – Rocky S2V

Thursday, January 24th, 2013

We first mentioned Rocky S2V during their soft launch at Summer OR. Now, in addition to a full brand launch, Rocky S2V has introduced a couple of new products. SSD readers will probably be most interested in the Agonic Prima-Flex softshell and Substratum XLD boot but there is also a new softshell and pant that we’ll cover soon.

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The Agonic Prima-Flex is a hybrid performance piece combining 100g Primaloft insulation in a Teflon DWR coated rip stop nylon shell with VapourFlex compression side panels and cuffs. Like all other S2V garments it includes a mini-survival kit as well as a combination signal panel/goggle wipe. Additionally, the interior of the arms of the jacket are fluorescent red for use as signaling devices. Offered in Med – XL in Raven, Desert Khaki and Fire Ember.

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The Substratum XLD is a 9″ full grain leather waterproof boot insulated with Aerotherm and PrimaLoft. Under the insole is a hidden cache containing a firestarter and wetcubes. Additionally, the Vibram sole is crampon and snowshoe compatible. The boot is topped off with 550 laces.

www.RockyS2V.com

OR – H2O Outdoor Gear

Thursday, January 24th, 2013

In years past we’ve covered H2O Gear’s skis, and they have a few new models but this time we thought we’d mix it up and show you their Tusk Guide Pack. This is the pack that Pro Ski Guide Dean Cummings wears. This pack is optimized for ski guides.

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It features an asymmetric front zip that secures a pocket for the shovel blade and handle. Additionally, there is a top opening right side pocket for an avalanche probe. One really cool feature is the auto retracting ski cable that snakes out from the bottom of the pack to secure skis. Skis can also be carried A-frame style along the sides of the pack.

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There is a full length side opening zipper access to the pack’s main bag as well as side pockets that will accommodate the bottom of an ice axe as well as accept a water bottle. The main bag features an internal hydration pocket and there is a port for the tubing at the top that allows routing to either shoulder.

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The Shirt Fit shoulder straps offer increased comfort particularly when layering. The top lid incorporates an internal map pocket and the top of the pack features a spindrift-style collar.

The hip belt is semi rigid and adjustment uses the pull forward method which is a bit easier to get a snug fit. The frame is a combination HDPE frame sheet combined with a single aluminum stay.

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There are ample tie down points along the lack of the pack along with multiple compression straps to manage the load.

Made in USA! The Guide Packs are available in Red, Orange, Blue, Black and Charcoal.

www.H2Og.com