McNett tell us that they will be debuting some new and innovative products and they’ll have a keg of beer to celebrate! If you plan on attending SHOT join us on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 from 3:30 – 5:00pm. For those not attending, they’ll be giving daily show updates and sneak peeks of the new product line, so stay tuned!
Outgo has just launched a giveaway to celebrate the 237th Marine Corps Birthday, coming up this Saturday. They’re giving away 100 Ultra Compact Microfiber Towels with a custom embroidered US Marine Corps patch to the first 100 Marines who sign up via their Facebook page.
“For 237 years, the United States Marine Corps has always been ready to respond whenever the Nation calls,” said brand marketing director Gerald Craft. “This is our way of saying thank you to the Marines who have stood firm in the toughest of circumstances.”
Active and Retired Marines don’t have to do anything except visit their page and tell them where to mail the towel. It’s Outgo’s way of saying thanks.
gearaid.wufoo.com/forms/m7p8k9
It’s that time of year again boys and girls. I’ve made this an annual post for the past few years. Winter’s on its way so this is the perfect time to pull your kit out and check it over before it’s needed.
It looks like it’s going to be a LONG winter. During a recent shooting class I attended it started raining day one and by the middle of the second day it looked like a blizzard. Most of my fellow shooters were wearing waterproof breathable outerwear and several began to feel clammy and then damp the longer each day progressed. A couple of guys were wearing issue Gen I ECWCS parkas. Probably not the best garment available as WL Gore long ago decided that the basic design could not meet their “Guaranteed to Keep You Dry” standards. Of course these jackets were old. More than anything, they needed some maintenance.
The key to any modern outerwear is its Durable Water Repellent (DWR) which serves as your clothing’s first line of defense against moisture. There are quite a few treatments available and different manufacturers have their favorites but they are usually are based on flouropolymers. These are PTFE molecules that are applied to the surface of the fabric and cured at high heat to make them adhere better and increase performance. These treatments have a fluorine atom at one end which is highly hydrophobic meaning it hates water. Heat causes the fibers to align themselves with their flourines exposed. Water tries to move away from the flourines resulting in beading. This allows the water to roll off without wetting the fabric. Interestingly, Quarpel (Quartermaster Repellent) was one of the first DWRs and used to treat field jackets and other military clothing items back in the 1960s.
Since most of us can’t run out and purchase a new jacket every time the DWR needs refreshing I thought it would be a good idea to share a few tips with you that will not only revitalize your garment’s DWR treatment but also extend the life of your clothing.
DWR treatments work best when they are clean. I realize this seems counter to what you think is right since a DWR generally lasts about 25 washings and tactical garments get quite a beating in the field, but you need to wash your clothing. The first thing is to avoid using liquid detergents as well as fabric softeners. Additionally, avoid optical brighteners as they are not good for DWR or IR treatments. There are wash in treatments you can purchase as well as spray on options to help renew your clothing’s DWR. However, wash in treatments may affect the breathability of your membrane. One of the best spray solutions available is Revivex from McNett and it is what I have used in the past. It also serves as a stain repellent. Revivex can also be applied to garments that never had DWR in the first place so if you have hunting or field clothing that you find yourself wearing in inclement weather regularly you may want to give it a once over. If you use a spray treatment be sure to evenly coat your garment while it is still damp after washing and to pay special attention to any seams.
There are two additional ways you can put some life back into your DWR without a full retreatment. One is to put the garment in a conventional dryer on warm and the other is to iron it on low heat. This helps realign the fibers. If water fails to bead up on the surface of your garment you will need to retreat.
No matter which method you choose, proper maintenance of your foul weather clothing’s DWR will help keep you warm and dry and extend the life of your equipment.
We first discovered McNett’s Z-Mask Sleep Shield in 2008. It’s a simple design but McNett had the forethought to add some room for your eyes so the that the shield isn’t right up against them.
McNett brand Outgo has added a COOLMAX Sleep Sack and sleeping bag liner to its product line. The ultra-compact mummy-style COOLMAX Sleep Sack offers the versatility of use as a sleeping bag liner or in place of a sleeping bag while traveling or in warmer climates.
“The Outgo COOLMAX Sleep Sack not only adds warmth when you’re cold, but regulates body temperature to cool you down when you overheat,” said David Wiggs, vice-president of marketing at McNett.
Available in green or blue, the sleep sack is now available for purchase.
www.mcnett.com
I’ve been familiar with the family of McNett brands for years but it’s hard to really see how far they reach until you see something like this video. They truly do make things better.
“Gear Aid. M Essentials. Camo Form. Outgo. Aquamira. – We are McNett.”
Black is Back by Popular Demand. Black Camo Form that is.
We’ve spoken about the benefits of Camo Form in the past. The tape-like material not only does serves to provide visual camouflage for your weapons and sensitive items, it also enhances the grip and can also help deaden noise created when gear rubs together. Additionally, it leaves no residue when removed.
Reintroduced into the line at SHOT Show, Black has been quite a hit. “Feedback from the 2012 SHOT Show has been great,†said Tanya Brooks, vice president of sales. “Tactical gear buyers were very excited to see the return of this very popular color.â€
“We saw a huge increase in demand after halting production of black Camo Form,†said Travis Huisman, chief operating officer at McNett. “Our customers spoke, we listened and black Camo Form is now back on the shelves.â€
Black CamoForm rejoins MultiCam®, Realtree AP™, Realtree Max-4®, Snow, Standard Desert, Digital Desert, Standard Woodland, Digital Woodland, Universal Camouflage, Mossy Oak® Brush, Mossy Oak® Shadow Grass, Mossy Oak® Break-Up and Mossy Oak® Obsession.
NcNett’s Outgo brand raised $5K for the National Breast Cancer Foundation with a limited edition of their Ultra Compact Microfiber Towel.
During the months of October and November, Outgo offered its Ultra Compact Microfiber Towel in a pink color with an embroidered breast cancer ribbon. The towels were sold exclusively in Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Military Clothing (AMCSS) stores.
McNett commented on the donation in a press release:
“McNett is committed to advancing NBCF’s mission of spreading knowledge and fostering hope in the fight against breast cancer,†said David Wiggs, marketing vice president. “It’s wonderful knowing that our $5000 donation will be used to provide free mammograms and diagnostic care services to underserved women in need.â€
McNett’s corporate philanthropy efforts also include lending support to causes and events such as: Hunting with Heroes, Rivers of Recovery, the Oceans for Youth Foundation and the Take a Kid Outside Program. McNett also recently “adopted” a squad of troops deployed to Afghanistan, to which the company sends care packages and McNett gear monthly.
“It is important for us as a company to give back to those in need and to thank the men and women who sacrifice much to keep us safe, healthy and happy,†said Travis Huisman, chief operating officer at McNett.“We are honored to be able to lend our support to these worthy pursuits.â€
We are big fans of the employees of McNett, their products, and a corporate culture that supports American troops. Thank you from SSD!
