Blade Tech’s Tactical Can Pouch was designed to keep a can of dip handy. The Kydex holds it securely in place. Multiple belt attachments are available to accommodate belts from 1-1/4″ to 1-3/4″ as well as the MOLLE-Lock for PALS webbing.
To order in any color as long as it’s Black, visit Blade Tech.
Camelbak unveiled a couple of new technologies the recent OR Summer Market in Salt Lake City, Utah. While they are intended for the commercial outdoor market, they have great applicability in the tactical realm as well.
The Flow Meter is designed to measure how much fluid has been consumed, how much remains in the reservoir, and how much time remains until the reservoir is empty. It can also be set to see if you are consuming fluid at a preset rate in order to help avoid heat injuries. While new reservoirs will be available with the Flow Meter already installed, units will be available to modify existing products.
These products will be available as early as Fall 2009 from Camelbak.
We always find a gem tucked away in a corner at OR. This year we ran across newcomer US Canteen. Inspired the M1910 canteen and cover, their new line of Surgical Steel metal canteens won’t retain nasty flavors.
While there are several different carriers available on the website, the canteens themselves are also for sale. A single wall 24 oz model as well as a 12 oz double wall canteen designed to keep your beverage cool for up to eight hours. Both styles are available in Brushed and Polished models. The cap features a plastic stopper and brass chain. We haven’t seen a quality steel canteen like this since the issue production lines were shut down in the 60s.
For more information visit www.uscanteen.com.
Luggage manufacturer Tumi has just released their camouflage line, The Alpha Collection. Consisting of the Digital Camouflage Airforce Bag, Sundance Taos Tote, and Sundance Gallup Flap Body Bag, the term “Alpha” was chosen to signify the very best in travel and business.
Looks CADPATish to me.
The space program has been all the rage this year as we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Moon landings. Along with books and videos commemorating the event some unique items have been released. Among them is space food. You’ve always been able to purchase Astronaut ice cream from various NASA visitor centers and the national Air and pace museum but some of these items I haven’t seen for ages. Gadget superstore Think Geek has a package deal on sale that it is a great sampler and may take you back to your childhood.
Included in the box:
* Freeze Dried Ice Cream Sandwich (1.1oz)
* Freeze Dried Strawberries (0.5oz)
* Freeze Dried Cinnamon Apple Wedges (0.5oz)
* Space Food Stick – Chocolate (1.05oz)
* Space Food Stick – Peanut Butter (1.05oz)
* Splashdown Drink Mix – Lemon Lime (mixes with 16.9oz of water)
* Splashdown Drink Mix – Orange (mixes with 16.9oz of water)
* Space Food Sticks Magnet – for sticking on things
Not bad for just under 20 bucks. To order visit www.ThinkGeek.com.
We ran into this item at the recent Multi Agency Craft Conference at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. The EZ Loop Lock from utilizes two steel cables connected by a series of steel lugs. Each locking lug is made of forged steel that is press on to the steel cable and coated in plastic to prevent scratching. The unique design allows the user to make up to 4 locking loops. This means you can lock up four individual items with one locking cable. Additionally, the 54″ cables can be connected using the loops on the end as girth hitches to extend their length as long as is required.
Current production features a different key set for each rattler but teh next wave of rattlers will allow users to purchase as many as they need with a common key. The Rattler is available in Black, Green, and Military Green. Order from www.ellock.com. They are also looking for retailers.
Tactical Tailor has produced the new Joey Pouch to accommodate Source Hydration’ Kangaroo Bladder. It is the perfect replacement for the traditional canteen, but it is even better. It has a drinking tube like other hydration bladders but is much more compact.
Constructed from 1000D Cordura, the Joey features a dual-pull zipper and external PALS webbing. It attaches to PALS equipped platforms with two long MALICE CLIPS®. Additionally, it will accommodate a standard Nalgene bottle.
The Joey is Made in the USA and available in UCP, Tan, and Black with or without bladder. However, the Black pouch is not available with bladder. Order from Tactical Tailor.
It seems someone clued Congress in on the fact that the Universal Camouflage Pattern issued to troops fighting in Afghanistan is far from the ideal. So Congress has told the Army to issue something better. Well, the first word in UCP is after all “Universal” and that makes it a compromise since it has to blend in everywhere. Oddly, Afghanistan is not monochrome and there are a variety of environments to blend in with so ultimately a “Universal” camouflage is what is called for after all. Maybe it just needs to be tuned a bit.
Here is the wording from the Conference Committee Report.
“The conferees understand that soldiers deployed to Afghanistan have serious concerns about the current combat uniform which they indicate provides ineffective camouflage given the environment in Afghanistan. Accordingly, the conferees direct that within funding made available the Department of Defense take immediate action to provide combat uniforms to personnel deployed to Afghanistan with a camouflage pattern that is suited to the environment of Afghanistan.
The conferees further direct the Secretary of the Army to provide a report on the program plans and budgetary adjustments necessary to provide appropriate uniforms to deployed and deploying troops to Afghanistan. The report shall be submitted to the congressional defense committees by the end of fiscal year 2009.”
So Congress wants the Army to reprogram money “immediately” to provide an alternative camo pattern for forces in Afghanistan and report to the Armed Services Committees before the end of the fiscal year on it will be accomplished. Can you imagine how this went over when word reached PEO-Soldier? “The jig is up, they’re on to us”.
Now please remember, that this still isn’t law. The President hasn’t signed it YET but is expected to soon.
So how will this play out? Interesting question, considering when asked just weeks ago at the Soldier Systems APBI about the possibility of alternative camouflage patterns, PEO-Soldier officials gave a curt, “No”. However, it has come to our attention that the 173d Airborne Brigade has been granted approval to wear Multicam during their OEF rotation. So that option seems open…maybe. Alternatively, it is highly unlikely that any new SOCOM patterns will be used by general purpose forces. 3-color desert pattern is still available but was replaced by the “superior” UCP so institutional momentum may veto its use. Desert MARPAT is a possibility, if the Army can wade through the interservice rivalry issues. And finally, what about an entirely new pattern, or old for that matter? Several promising designs were tested by Natick in the 2003-2004 time frame before UCP was adopted virtually out of nowhere.
Ultimately, it is going to be about cost. It isn’t just uniforms. There are a variety of other equipage and accouterments that must also be produced in an alternative pattern. And all of this while the Army is still in the throes of a complete roll out of the UCP pattern. Who will foot the bill? Congress has essentially issued budgetary guidance to the Army to reprogram funds.
