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Posts Tagged ‘Outdoor Research’

Warrior West – Outdoor Research

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

Outdoor Research is introducing TAA compliant gloves coming spring 2014. Production in these friendly nations helps reduce costs and in some cases introduce new production technologies to eh OR hand wear line. Products made in Trade Agreements Act countries can be placed on GSA. They are composed of:

World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement Countries;
Free Trade Agreement Countries;
Least Developed Countries; and
Caribbean Basin Countries

The first is the Suppressor, an FR shooters gloves made from Nomex with a foam padded knuckle and a supple, goatskin leather palm.

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The other is a new design called the Asset. It’s a tight fitting, high stretch, tactile glove. The grip, index and middle finger incorporate silicon treatment.

Look for additional new designs soon.

www.outdoorresearch.com/gov

How Do You Keep Your Pants Up? Give OR a Hand

Friday, February 15th, 2013

OR Pants

Help OR design backcountry ski pants! Take the three question survey. How do you like to keep your pants up?

Take the survey – www.surveymonkey.com/s/MDTGW28

OR – Outdoor Research

Friday, January 25th, 2013

Woodland camo is back!

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These Men’s Classic Mod Mitts are made by Holden Outerwear for OR.

www.outdoorresearch.com

Gore Military – OR Swoop Mitt

Friday, October 12th, 2012

We continue our coverage of WL Gore’s various technologies and their military applications with the Swoop Mitt from Outdoor Research. While we are all familiar with the popular GORE-TEX brand, many do not know that WL Gore has worked extensively with the military since the mid-1980s to develop specific fabrics for various purposes.

Developed for pilots and aviation crews operating in extremely cold conditions at high altitudes, the shell of the Swoop Mitt provides waterproof and breathable protection via a Gore membrane. The water resistant goat-leather palm provides a solid grip. The Swoop is a trigger finger mitt design which accommodates all fingers in the mitt cavity for greater warmth and dexterity. What makes it unique is that the mitt cavity can be peeled back and the entire hand can be pushed through the mitt when required. It is insulated with EnduraLoft, a high-loft insulation that springs back after compression. Used in conjunction with an FR liner glove such as a flight glove, the Swoop works as a full system.

Here is a video featuring OR’s Mike Christian that describes the Swoop Mitt.

www.GoreMilitary.com

US Elite Gear’s Outdoor Research “Head to Toe” Giveaway

Monday, September 17th, 2012

Now through October 7, enter to win US Elite Gear’s Outdoor Research “Head to Toe” Giveaway. You could win $1000 of FREE gear! US Elite Gear is giving away a men’s or women’s prize package (winner’s choice). Just make a purchase of any Outdoor Research product and automatically be entered into the contest. While you’re at it, take 10% off all Outdoor Research products and free shipping & free returns.

www.us-elitegear.com/outdoor-research

Warrior Expo East – Outdoor Research

Thursday, July 12th, 2012

Outdoor Research has five hat styles coming in MultiCam for Spring 13. For example, this is the Helios Sun Hat.

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And this is the Radar Cap.

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www.outdoorresearch.com

Haley Strategic Partners – Disruptive Industries Day Three

Thursday, June 14th, 2012

Disruptive Industries is a unique, invitation-only event bringing together industry, military, and law enforcement. It is designed to teach, inspire, build relationships, open communications and create new channels for innovation in the defense sector. Every experience has been devised to accomplish each of these tasks in one way or another, from training classes to meals as well as other organized social events.

We’ve already experienced two days of shooting, physical conditioning, and associated tactical training. Oddly enough, day 3 kicked off much like day 2, with another ass kicking from former Russian Spetznaz operator Saulius “Sonny” Puzikas. Except, this time, he really did kick our asses. During the various demonstrations of Systema hand to hand, pretty much every one of us got a chance to take a blow or two from Sonny. Naturally, we got to knock each other around a little as well. The training was no nonsense and focused on staying out of a grapple and incapacitating your aggressor. All in all, it was fantastic.

Next up were classes on surreptitious entry and restraint escape by Bryan Black of ITS Tactical. After lunch we ran through various room clearing drills. Scenarios focused on PSD work but the lessons could be applied to multiple scenarios.

As I mentioned earlier, D1 is very much about fostering innovation and relationships. One of the best things about Disruptive Industries is the opportunity to network and cross-talk. This includes all participants. Everyone has learned from our esteemed instructors and I’d hazard to guess that they have picked up a few things from us as well. Additionally, Mil and LE have been able to compare notes and share experiences with each other as well as interact with the industry reps. For the industry folks, this experience has been invaluable. In some cases, different companies have been able to discuss collaborations and, in every case, industry has gained knowledge from the interaction with military and LE attendees.

It’s been great working with the military and LE members as well as HSP’s industry partners HSGI, G-Code Holsters, Impact Weapons Components, Arc’teryx LEAF, Outdoor Research, US Palm, B5 Systems, Emissive Energy/Inforce, UTM, Rifle Dynamics, Dark Mountain Research, PNW Ammunition and Kill Cliff as well as media reps from ITS Tactical.

Don’t forget, ITS Tactical is also on hand so make sure you visit their site for additional photos. Look for the simultaneous release of an AAR from both of us soon. Until then, enjoy our serialized look at HSP’s Disruptive Industries.

www.haleystrategic.com

Blast From The Past – OR Modular Glove System

Sunday, May 6th, 2012

Last week we mentioned that Outdoor Research had been honored as Washington State Innovator of the Year for 2012. This article from 2008 tells a little about the program.

USSOCOM has awarded Outdoor Research, Inc. (OR), a $54 million, five-year contract to manufacture the Outdoor Research Generation II Modular Glove System for U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF). What is important about this announcement is that it is for the second generation glove system. In 2001 OR was also awarded a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant to develop the original modular glove system. Although a full contract was never awarded for full procurement due to competing priorities for dollars, the handwear developed under the SBIR was purchased with unit O&M dollars. Additionally, the research yielded excellent results and brought OR’s military and commercial lines further forward. This latest generation of handwear is FR and offered in brown rather then the black of the earlier family of gloves. The FR fabrics are offered in conjunction with Massif.

The system consists of five types of compatible handwear: a contact glove, a flame resistant combat glove, an intermediate waterproof glove, an extreme cold weather waterproof glove, and extreme cold weather waterproof mitt. Each set of gloves is Berry compliant and can be worn alone or in conjunction with other pieces in the system. I had an opportunity to look at the individual pieces at Outdoor Retailer and am very impressed. The gloves are for the most part refinements of military gloves they have been producing for the last couple of years. I have been using OR gloves for over ten years and these are the best products they have ever developed.

I think mountaineering legend Mark Twight sums it up best. “Using modern materials and their up-all-night ingenuity, the designers worked closely with military users to develop the Modular Glove System,” said Mark Twight, elite alpinist. “For over 20 years, OR has been testing handwear in the harshest environments on earth. No company is better positioned to build gloves for the U.S. Special Operations Forces.”

For more information visit Outdoor Research. The SOCOM Gen II Modular Glove System is available for purchase from ADS.

Outdoor Research Modular Glove System

Outdoor Research Modular Glove System, Generation II: Firebrand Mitt (top left), Firebrand Glove (top right), Poseidon Glove (bottom left), Overlord Shorty (bottom center), Hurricane Glove (bottom right).

Photo courtesy of Outdoor Research.