B5 Systems

Archive for the ‘Outdooralamode’ Category

Massif Goes Haute Couture

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

This Fall, Massif is launching a new fashion clothing line. We’ve told you about their new non-FR, outdoor/tactical line but this is something altogether different. Once again, it’s non-FR but his time the approach is “Tailored clothing made from performance fabrics”. Consider it a lifestyle brand for today’s “urban warrior”.

It’s a great effort to diversify their offerings from very military centric FR combat clothing to outdoor/tactical and now high end urban wear. You can see that the new Massif Collection draws influence from what they know best and you will see some of the same fabric stories between the two new lines.

www.massif.com/collection

Just Say No to “Flares” – An Open Letter To The Outdoor Industry

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Outdoor clothing is intended to be worn out of doors, or so I always thought. Unfortunately, almost every pair of outdoor pants I try on features flared legs. Once the domain of the hippy, today outdoorsmen everywhere are forced to wear these damnable contraptions. What’s that you might ask? At one time, they were called bell bottoms but I loathe that word worse than “flare”. You see, when the bottom hem on a pant is wider than the knee, that constitutes flare.

I realize that many who design outdoor clothing weren’t even alive during the heyday of the bell bottom, but having spent a good portion of my youth in the 70s I can assure you that, despite any romantic notions of nostalgia, flares weren’t cool then either. Even at the tender age of nine I can recall my mother purchasing a pair of flares for me and recoiling in horror when she took them from the shopping bag. The knees were ripped of those post haste and off to the rag bin they went.

Now, as an adult, and a guy who spends a fair amount of time in the outdoors, I would like to be able to purchase pants that make me look like a man and also fit and perform well. I don’t want the creepy crawlies making their way up my calf or the cold edging its way around my ankle simply so some dude in the city can look hip.

Virtually every popular brand is guilty of this affront to good taste and performance. So please make us some pants with straight legs or at least boot cuts and no, I don’t wear Moon Boots so I don’t need a wide leg all the way up to my knee. Just make outdoor clothing for people who wear it in the outdoors and leave the fashion to the runway.

-EG

Beyond Clothing’s Roughrider Pant Is Backpacker Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Snow For Pants

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Backpacker magazine selected Beyond Clothing’s RoughRider Pant under the Editor’s Choice Snow Category for custom fit pants. Editor-in-chief Jonathan Dorn boasts a 36″ inseam and liked the Schoeller Dynamic fabric’s ability to cut the wind. Specifically, he said that with a layer underneath, he stayed warm below zero in 20 mile-per-hour wind conditions. We haven’t seen the article mentioned in the online edition yet, but it is featured prominently on page 79 of the current issue.

Originally designed for military use, the new RoughRider Pant is now available in Nextec’s silicone encapsulated Glacier fabric used for PCU Level 5 and comes in a MultiCam print.
The RoughRider Pant features:
-Open or Zippered hand pockets
-Angled Thigh Cargo Pockets
-Front Thigh Pockets
-Left Ankle Pocket
-Gusseted Ankle
-Expansion for ski boots
-Reduction for bare ankle
-Velcro and snaps for ice and snow precaution
-Knee Pad pocket with back of leg tightening
-Choice of D3O pad or Crye pad configuration
-Inner Thigh vent zipper with mesh inner
-Zippered fly with Velcro waist band
-Shaped waist band

You can also now get the Glacier Shock Jacket in MultiCam. Similar in design to the PCU level 5 jacket it incorporates Raglan sleeves a stand up collar and generous chest pockets.

post.beyondclothing.com

Eagle Nest Outfitters Lounger

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

The Lounger from Eagle Nest Outfitters is just what I needed to relax after a hard day of writing. I’d seen it hanging in outdoor stores but the Lounger was ever properly set up to give it a go. However, at the most recent Outdoor Retailer, ENO had a couple of Loungers set up and they beckoned me into their booth to try it out. Truthfully, after a long day of walking the show floor, I thought I was in heaven and I knew right then I had to have one so when my birthday came earlier this month I got myself a present.

20111024-211136.jpg

The real quandary was how to hang it. None of my eaves hang out far enough to keep me from laying up against the house and none of my trees had the right limb for the job, so I had to come up with a different plan of attack. Instead, I settled for a stand I found on Amazon that is designed for use with other brands of loungers. They all basically look the same online so I bought one. Sure, it was easy enough to assemble, coming in only four pieces. But, as usual, Murphy showed up. The top piece sits on a sleeve and is held fast by two bolts. Unfortunately, the bolts are too big. Naturally, no return instructions but since the bolts were really redundant anyway, I decided to keep it.

A word of caution for those who decide to go my route. The ENO Lounger is built a little different than other brands. In fact, you cannot use the clip and spring that Amazon recommends you purchase with the stand. If you do, you will sit so low that your rear will scrape the base of the stand. You’ll be just fine attaching the Lounger right to the stand’s eyelet or if you need a little more height, you can fit the Lounger’s attachment ring around the tube of the stand. If you do this, prepare a collar to pin it in place as it could slip off if you bounce around too much. Better yet, don’t bounce around. Just relax.

The Lounger itself is available in a variety of colors and is very comfortable. It features a pillow for your head, removable drink cozy, two side pockets for magazines or books (my iPad fits fine in one) and an adjustable, suspended foot rest. The frame is collapsible aluminum so it can be transported and will accommodate up to 260 lbs.

As for performance? So far so good. I’d recommend a Lounger to anyone who has the means to hang it and use it, liberally.

www.eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com

Arc’teryx Launches Smartphone Optimized Site

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

If you’re using a smartphone, be sure to check the new Arc’teryx website optimized for your viewing pleasure. They say it’s great for iPad as well. Of course, LEAF had to be different. Theirs is l.arcteryx.com.

m.arcteryx.com

Congolese Anti-Poaching Rangers Choose Sierra Designs Packs

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Here you can see photos of Virunga National Park Rangers on an anti-poaching patrol. They serve as part of the Congolese Wildlife Authority (Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature, ICCN). Apparently, Sierra Designs‘ off-the-shelf “Gator” color is a perfect match for the Congo jungle.

OR – Patagonia Announces The Forge

Monday, August 8th, 2011

Patagonia related to us at OR Summer Market that they are developing a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art R&D facility focusing on military products as well vector styles. The Forge will not only focus on styles, but also materials and construction techniques and will also be able to rapid prototype new products. This will be a boon to both military clothing programs such as SOCOM’s Protective Combat Uniform, currently designed by Patagonia as well as cutting edge outdoor styles. Both markets will greatly benefit from this initiate.

www.patagonia.com

Osprey Luggage System

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011

I need to start out by telling you that I am going to keep the article on the product level and also let you know that Osprey works and guys are using it.

So then, why Osprey? That’s a darned good question. There are a couple of successes we can talk about. It’s a privately held family business owned since 1974. Their business is solely focused on Packs and Luggage and according to “Leisure Trend” is the #1 manufacture of back packs in the outdoor industry. Finally, you can’t talk about Osprey without mentioning their Almighty Guarantee. It’s retroactive to day one of the company and applies to any product, whether or not you are the original owner. No lost registration cards. You send it back, Osprey repairs or replaces and ships it back to you. Now that’s a guarantee.

Now that we’ve gotten the why out of the way, let’s get down to the what. Osprey offers a lot of products but for this article we are going to talk luggage. If there was a de-facto “Osprey Tactical” it would be our friends at Outdoor Sports Marketing. They spend most of their time on the road talking to customers and based on this experience have packaged three civilian line products into a luggage system that they feel best suits the Warfighter or Government employee. It consists of the Shuttle 110, Porter 46, and Daylite. This gives the Traveler 1 bag under the plane, 1 bag over head, and 1 bag in hand. These bags can be purchased individually or as set. Additionally, they are intended to work in tandem. For example, the Daylite can also be attached to either the Shuttle 110 or the Porter 46. You get modularity, scalability and flexibility in one kit. Let’s take a look at each of the bags (photos not to scale with one another).

Available in Earth and Charcoal, the Shuttle 110 gets its name from the number of liters it can accommodate which translates to 6600 cu in. It also features a 16″ wide chassis with large protected wheels as well as plenty of pockets to organize gear of different shapes and sizes including main compartment, large base compartment, side pockets, top slash pocket, and a zippered side pocket. I got one of these last year and it great to travel with. It’s easy to maneuver and the wide stance of the wheels doesn’t teeter like cheapo luggage I’ve used in the past.

The Porter 46 is Maximum Legal Carry-on size and converts to a backpack using an easy-stow harness and fabric wing hipbelt. It can also be carried with a strap for over-the-shoulder carry. Once again, the 46 denotes the number of liters which equates to 2800 cu in. This makes for a great carry on bag. It’s a roomy, duffle-style bag with four carry handles that make it easy to manipulate. The Porter 46 comes in Earth, Crimson, and Charcoal.

The Daylite offers 750 cu in of load carrying capacity as well as a padded backpanel, a small zippered front pocket, open topped side pockets and a laced bungee. The Daylite can also be attached to the other bags in this article to facilitate movement. It’s available in Granite, Alpine, Tundra, Pepper, Salsa.

Inquiries for Tactical Distribution should be directed to Outdoor Sports Marketing at info@outdoorsportsmarketing.com or 866-893-8676.