GORE-TEX Defense Fabrics’ All Weather Integrated Clothing System

CobraSleepers Pre-Order from The Brown Buffalo

November 29th, 2021

The Brown Buffalo has opened pre-orders for their CobraSleepers which are slippers made from X50 Multicam Tropic or Black with non-slip outsole bottom.

Shipping in a couple weeks.

Made in their workshop located in Costa Mesa, CA.

www.thebrownbuffalo.com

HLC Industries – Your Source for Cordura Fabrics

November 29th, 2021

When we say CORDURA® is durable, we mean it. That’s why militaries around the world trust CORDURA® Advanced Fabrics to perform on every mission. For additional information, contact:  sales@hlcindustries.com – for samples + marketing materials

Radian Weapons Introduces AFTERBURNER + RAMJET – Micro Compensator and Barrel

November 29th, 2021

The Radian Afterburner™ and Ramjet™ introduce industry-leading recoil reduction while fitting into a conceal carry platform and are compatible with GLOCK® G19 pistols. Welcome to the next evolution of handgun performance.

At just .47″ long, the Radian Afterburner(TM) offers unprecedented performance in a micro-compensator and is more effective than the majority of full-size compensators on the market. Its angled front face aids in holstering.

The INTRA-LOK mounting system uses the taper lock principle; a tapered locking screw interfaces with an angled V-groove on the underside of the barrel. This perfectly times the compensator as it locks down onto the upper barrel profile on the muzzle end of the barrel.

www.radianweapons.com/pistol-products

Triple Aught Design – Overlord Sweater

November 29th, 2021

Earlier today Triple Aught Design kicked off their annual 12 Days of TAD event which introduces a new product each day for 12 days. The kickoff item is a modern take on the British Commando Sweater called the Overlord.

Traditional design cues are obvious but they’ve been modernized and the materials side is top notch. They’ve combined 100% extra fine Merino Wool in a 2×2 ribbed construction with their nylon amphibious cloth overlays at the shoulders and elbows as well as to fashion a pen slot on the left bicep.

Look for OD Green and Black in sizes XS-2XL.

tripleaughtdesign.com/shop/overlord-sweater

For Warfighter & Crimefighter: Lightfighter & Warriors Heart

November 29th, 2021

It’s no secret what troubles are faced by members of the military & first responder professions, both in the field while on duty, and off duty after the fact, when the job is done. Stress from these professions follows us home in many forms, and it’s in those moments that our brothers and sisters need help the most. Unfortunately, they don’t always know where or how to get it.

Founded in March 2016, “the Warriors Heart Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to provide the men and women who protect us with a unique peer-to-peer healing program for “Warriors Only” just outside San Antonio, Texas. No warrior, whether military, law enforcement, fire fighter, or first responder should ever have to walk through the struggles of addiction and mental health alone. The Warriors Heart Foundation was created out of necessity (separately from the Warriors Heart Treatment Facility) to assist in the funding of warriors who don’t have insurance or need assistance in the costs of treatment (all levels of care).”

Lightfighter is proud to announce its adoption of The Warriors Heart Foundation as its native charity. Going forward, and in conjunction with a preliminary donation, the Warriors Heart Foundation will be featured prominently on the Lightfighter Forum. This, to ensure that our brothers and sisters among us know there’s a place to go for the help they need, and a way to get there.

The Lightfighter community strongly supports Warriors Heart. Some members have received treatment at the facility themselves, which inspired Lightfighter’s adoption of the organization and commendation for all they do for those that stepped forward to serve. 

In their own words:

“There is strong medicine in processing grief or moral injuries. Verbalizing those feelings and emotions with a small group of people of similar backgrounds and experiences, is a critical component of addressing the core underlying issues causing self-medication with drugs or alcohol. Where else can a soldier, cop, or firefighter talk about the horrific things they’ve seen on the job and not be judged?”

— Chuck (SGM, US Army, Ret.)

“Warriors Heart gave me the tools to not only take back control my life, but to start thriving again.”

— William (Staff Sgt, US Army, Ret.)

Lightfighter is honored to enable the Warfighter & Crimefighter by supporting those dedicated to their health and wellness, the cornerstone of capability. We sincerely thank Warriors Heart for this privilege.

For more information on The Warriors Heart Foundation and how you can donate, please visit: 

www.warriorsheartfoundation.org/lightfighter 

SSD’s Top Christmas Gift Picks from 5.11 – Day 7

November 29th, 2021

How could I create a Christmas list of 5.11 Tactical products without including a choice of pants? After all, the brand is named after a trouser model. But instead of the classic, I’ve selected one of their newer designs, the Apex Pant.

It’s a low profile design that doesn’t scream tactical. The material is 67% Polyester/ 33% Cotton which is both comfortable and hard wearing. It also has a bit of mechanical stretch and is treated with Teflon to resist stains. I always keep a pair of these in my pickup along with a spare shirt in case I need a change for changing a tire or something worse. This graphic depicts the pocket layout.

One of the things I like about 5.11 is that they always offer a wide variety of color and size options. There are too many colors to mention here but what’s important is sizing. They have 28-44 waist in 30, 32, 34 and 36 lengths! They can fit most anyone.

There are loads of other gift ideas at 5.11 Tactical’s Merry Missions site.

WL Gore & Co Provides Initial Feedback from the Altama APEX Boot User Trial

November 29th, 2021

In July W.L Gore & Associates put out a call for testers for a boot by Altama called the APEX. This new boot incorporates GORE-TEX THEMRIUM® and GORE-TEX Extended Comfort technology and examples have been with the wear testers for about two months.

Gore has received their initial round of feedback from the testers and we thought you’d be interested in hearing what’s being said.

Before we get started, the graphic below is a reminder about the boot’s construction. You’ll want to keep this in mind when reading the feedback. As we mentioned during the call for wear testers, the boots incorporate a lightweight insulation and a membrane which won’t leave you with that clammy feeling many associate with waterproof breathable boots.

A lot of information has been collected so far and I had a chance to review a report of the feedback. Here are a few of the initial impressions from users.

First up is a statement from a user which discusses boot weight, fit and aesthetics; all from a positive perspective.

Well from the nine years I’ve been in the military, I always compare any pair of boots to the Garmont NFS which I’ve been using for the most part of my career. Straight out of the box, I love the style and aesthetics of the boots. Upon picking them up, they are extremely light for goretex boots, so that’s a major plus. Upon donning the boots, the toe box is nice and roomy which is also a huge plus. Most boots have narrow toe boxes, so these boots are definitely well though out. As well, I love the speed laces. With Garmonts, I have to loosen each row of laces individually to loosen them. With these I can put in my boots and pull the laces snug and tight. As well, the multiple lace holes is great so people can place the laces as high as they want

Now on to the GORE-TEX technologies discussed earlier.

Insulation: Most goretex boots are pretty hot. I have not had an issue with my feet sweating wearing these boots.

Finally, some comments on fit.

I was skeptical at first because I have to try on boots before I buy. Every different brand of boot/shoe fits me differently. So I was worried about the fit. I have a size 9 foot and depending on the footwear and purpose, I range from a 9-10. At first fitting, the foot bed felt like it was missing something and I followed the instructions for the additional supplied foot bed and inserted it. That fixed the problem. I was surprised it worked so well. The boots are very comfortable and have been worn everyday for a week in garrison use during pre-deployment administrative activities. Overall, they have been very comfortable and only needed a few hours break-in time.

The foot bed referenced above is a component of Altama’s TruFit sizing which allows total fit customization for each foot by the addition or removal of TruFit spacers under the footbed. Others had issues and suggested additional resources to educate wearers. Here’s an example of that feedback.

Better instructions with the trufit. I couldn’t understand the purpose of them other than if you have wide feet don’t use them. I have wide feet so I left them out. But now after two weeks of use I may put them in to try. My feet feel like they are floating a little in the boot. I honestly don’t know what they are other than an insert. Maybe a QR code to a YouTube video with an explanation and instructions

All of the information has been shared with Altama and will also be used by Gore to provide input for future design and product concepts. They are also adopting the suggestion to improve communication with customers regarding Altama’s TruFit system which customizes fit via insole components.

Expect more user feedback to follow in late January. Temperatures are starting to drop so we should expect more insight on how well they kept the wearer’s feet warm.

www.goretexprofessional.com/industries/defense-protective-equipment

Schiebel Impresses at Search and Rescue Trials in Extreme Environmental Conditions in the Arctic

November 29th, 2021

Vienna, 25 November 2021 – Schiebel, together with Andøya Space Defence, successfully demonstrated the capabilities of the CAMCOPTER® S-100 on board the coastguard vessel KV Nordkapp in Norwegian waters.

The purpose of the trials was to demonstrate the embarked Search and Rescue (SAR) and maritime surveillance capabilities of the CAMCOPTER® S-100 in the environmental conditions of the Arctic in latitudes above 75 degrees north.

The week-long trial was made possible through “Arctic 2030”, a Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs programme, which aims to sustain Norwegian interests in the far north. The aim was to demonstrate that Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) ideally supplement manned helicopters, greatly enhancing SAR efforts in this remote part of the world. The CAMCOPTER® S-100 proved that it can operate in adverse weather conditions, where manned helicopters can be at higher risk.

The UAS was equipped with a Trakka TC-300 EO/IR sensor, an Overwatch Imaging PT-8N Oceanwatch, a Radionor antenna as additional data link for video feed transmission as well as an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver.

Hans Georg Schiebel, Chairman of the Schiebel Group, said: “The CAMCOPTER® S-100 is perfect for maritime operations, including in the Arctic or Antarctic. It has proven several times that it can operate in temperatures down to -40 degrees Celsius and under harsh weather conditions. We’re proud to have been able to successfully demonstrate these remarkable capabilities to the Norwegian Coastguard and Navy.”

www.schiebel.net