Several items in the Cascade Designs booth were interesting but this one is pretty cool. The Honcho Poncho from Therm-a-rest utilizes insulation from 37.5 paired with a waterproof breathable shell. It also incorporates a hood and zippered kangaroo hand warmer pocket with zippered compartment.
From PackTowel manufacturers Cascade Designs comes RobeTowel.
The RobeTowel was a sleeper hit at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market with show goers begging to purchase the floor samples. Leveraging the popular PackTowel’s anti-microbial polyester/nylon microfiber blend, it’s comfortable and highly absorbent. It absorbs up to four times its weight in water and can be wrung nearly dry so it can be used as a towel when needed or a wrap.
The RobeTowel is calf-length with full sleeves and incorporates a hood as well as two pockets sized for 1 liter bottles. In 3 unisex sizes: S, M, L but the colors are definitely outdoors: Stone, Currant and Sky Blue.
www.cascadedesigns.com/packtowl/robetowl/product
Cascade Designs has taken their popular lightweight Z-Lite folding mat and changed the color from Orange to Coyote. A simple mod but it means the world to troops who want to put the Z-lite’s egg carton-style cushioning to work in the field. It folds out to a roomy 20†wide x 72†long yet weighs in at only 15 ounces! And, unlike air mattresses, you don’t have to worry about leaks.
Previously in limited production the mat was evaluated by the Marine Corps. However, Cascade Designs put them into full production based on its adoption by an element of the US military. CPGear is the first company we have seen to offer this product.
To order visit www.CPGear.com.
Cascade Designs is no stranger to the Soldier Systems market. Several of their items have been type classified and are on issue including water purifiers and sleeping pads. This report highlights two of their latest offerings.
Marine Compression Stuff Sack (MACS Sack)
The MACS Sack features a new hands-free, one-way purge valve that offers increased compressibility and is flexible as well as flush to prevent snagging. It also boasts an improved roll-down closure for a watertight seal, and a heavy-duty round bottom that lasts long, maximizes storage capacity, and stands upright to make packing easier than ever. This bag is made of tough, lightweight nylon. Its great for use in a pack, or on its own to organize your gear.
Marine Compression ILBE PackLiner
The Marine Corps ILBE Pack consists of a 4,500-cubic-inch Main ruck or pack, and a 1,500-cubic-inch Assault pack. Neither pack is water proof so the Marines sourced bag liners to provide waterproof storage in the pack. The Cascade Designs ILBE PackLiner has flush mounted purge valves to make the bags compression stuff sacks. These bags are tough enough to survive outside the pack, but are best employed as a PackLiner to give the Marine a submergible waterproof pack. The easy to use roll top closure has directions on sealing which insure the bags get closed properly each time.
The Assault bag liner, which is smaller, has an orange interior to function as a signal panel. In order to help make the bag “Marine proof”, the roll top closure has directions on sealing to help ensure the bags get closed properly each time.
Cascade Part Number Name NSN
02195 MACS Sack 8465-01-542-7688
02177 USMC ILBE Waterproof Main Pack Liner 8465-01-559-5404
02197 USMC ILBE Waterproof Assault Pack Liner 8465-01-560-6727
