We recently published an article on Arc’teryx LEAF’s new Hide/Dry technology. The example photograph featured an Alpha parka in MultiCam. The sample garment has black zippers and a reader commented. Production models will integrate color matched zippers as you can see here.
Be sure to visit Arc’teryx LEAF in booth ##10526 at SHOT Show and at OR in booth #3018.
CTOMS is debuting their new TRACE Systems (Tactical Rope Access and Confined-space Extraction Systems) at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market. These are a series of kits based on a 6mm rope system that offer a comprehensive capability. The kits have color designations for identification. The GREY Kit is the personal rope assault/escape kit, the BLUE Kit is an ascent supplement to the GREY Kit that allows an individual to ascend the rope.
Pictured above is the RED Kit, which is the tactical team kit. It includes a 25m rope (available stock in 16m, 25m and 60m and custom lengths), PocketHoistâ„¢ Litter (yes the small sack beside the rope is a hoistable litter), EdgeProâ„¢, 4 x Quickie Ascendersâ„¢, a Quickie Descenderâ„¢, 2 x 8mm coated Dyneema slings, 1.5mm Pilot Line, Rope Log, 2 x Phantom Screw Gate Caribiners, 1 x Phantom Wire Gate and a Screw Gate Revolver.
The kit is a micro system that turns about 40 lbs of ‘traditional’ rope equipment into about 8.5 lbs with significantly less bulk. All the while maintaining similar capabilities. With the system you can still raise and lower casualties, rappel and ascend a rope, set a fixed line, short rope over complex terrain, glacier travel, and even lead climb. However, the TTPs are very different though.
Visit CTOMS at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Salt Lake City, Utah in booth #38084.
Arc’teryx LEAF is the first to offer a technical outerwear line designed for military and law enforcement in GORE-TEX® fabric with Multicam® print, uniting the best available windproof waterproof/breathable technologies with the most versatile and adaptable pattern.
Durable GORE-TEX® fabric maximizes protection and comfort during prolonged exposure to harsh environments. The MultiCam® print is designed to reflect the surrounding environment. Disguising shape and volume by taking on the background tone, its non-blocked pattern also balances scale and contrast, even at close distances. Both of these properties work with a third optical principle, the brain’s tendency to blur a design into its background, to offer protection across a broad range of light, elevation, seasons and environments.
In the Hide/Dry series, exceptionally durable, weatherproof, GORE-TEX® MultiCam® is taped and laminated into high performance garments, making it a one kit solution to secure exposure in harsh, wet and varied environments.
Hide/Dry LEAF products for 2012 are the Alpha Jacket and Pant, Alpha Parka and Gryphon Halfshell™ and Pant. Hybrid garments combine GORE-TEX® fabric in MultiCam® print with breathable, armour-compatible Tweave® Durastretch® for comfort and temperature regulation under kit.
Hide/Dry enables operatives to do exactly that: hide and stay dry in severe environments.
See the new Hide/Dry line at SHOT Show in booth #10526 and at OR in booth #3018.
Velcro USA Inc, has announced its official launch of printed loop technology at Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2012. This product allows loop product to blend with the camouflage patterns of soldier and professional user uniforms, thereby improving overall performance of clothing and individual equipment. That’s right, camouflage printed Velcro is finally available.
In a press release Velcro USA had this to say:
“Printed loop technology has been a priority for Velcro USA Inc since it was determined by the Department of Defense that signature management is paramount for our men and women in uniform. Focusing on every opportunity for improvement in signature management necessitated the development of previously unavailable printed loop that would blend seamlessly into combat uniforms.”
This isn’t the first time that Velcro has developed new products specifically for the military. They went on to say, “Velcro USA Inc has been working with the DoD for several decades to develop hook and loop technologies that directly meet unique mission needs. The company has recently invested significant energy in a robust research effort to arrive at next-generation products that improve performance of uniform and equipment for our soldiers and end-users. Notably, printing on loop type material is extraordinarily difficult, particularly when ensuring that the stringent technical requirements of the DoD are met.
“This printed loop technology is a breakthrough product that greatly enhances soldier performance in combat and meets a direct need of the US military. We are extremely proud at Velcro USA Inc. to work with the DoD to develop solutions for the needs of our men and women in uniform,†said Will Tagye, Senior Marketing Manager-Government for Velcro USA Inc. “Our employees in New Hampshire are dedicated to manufacturing in the United States and ensuring that we do not lose the capability to develop and field these vital technologies for our soldiers and professional users. This is just the beginning of many new exciting products to expect out of Velcro USA Inc.â€
The new printed hook and loop technology is available to DoD contractors and other tactical and commercial customers now. Interested parties may see the technology firsthand on several new pieces of equipment at the Shooting Hunting and Outdoors Show (SHOT) in Las Vegas, January 17-19, 2012 or at the Velcro USA Inc. Booth, #155-317, at Outdoor Retailer Winter 2012 taking place in Salt Lake City, January 19-21, 2012.
We ran into newcomer Exotac at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market earlier this month in Salt Lake City. These guys know fire, or at least how to start them and we were lucky enough to get a chance to take a look at a couple of their upcoming products.
They will soon be offering tins of natural fire starter tinder and candles. The tinderTIN fire starter is pinewood that is heavy with sap (fatwood or lighter knot) so it will catch a light and keep going. Two different tinderTINs will be offered including fatwood shavings and splinters. To create the candleTIN, Exotac experimented with an untold number of wick and base material combinations before settling on their current combination which offers 2 different styles of wicks. Additionally, each candleTIN features 3 wicks in the same candle. The hot burn wick is used for drying out tinder and boiling water. The temperature can be controlled somewhat by how many wicks you light at once. The slow wick combined with the large size candle will burn for 30 hours! I haven’t seen tinned candles like these since the old survival candles that came in the multi-place crew kits.
They also developed a new ferocerrium rod called the fireROD specifically for use with the Habilis Bushtools Bush Tool. It fits right in a special slot on the sheath and features a waterproof tinder storage capsule in its shaft. The actual rod is replaceable and burns at nearly 5500 deg f.
All rumors aside, former Eagle Industries owner John Carver has some really cool stuff going on. Almost two years ago now, he teamed up with renowned Ski Guide Dean Cummings to create H2O Gear (H2OG). It was formed to develop, design, and test equipment for the most extreme conditions. Between John’s leadership at Eagle and Dean’s on the slopes, it sounds like a match made in heaven.
Their H2O Gear ATG (access the goods) ski line is handmade in the USA. Their custom designs include details from Dean’s years of experience, identifying light lumber to construct the skis. Their tapered sidewalls are heat fused to wood cores to protect the skis from edge damage while also keeping the ski durable, damp, and impact resistant. Additionally, their skis are fully protected by oversized, 4001 thick edges that wrap 360 degrees around the ski.
While all of the skis in the photo below sport some cool paint jobs, they also produce an all white ski designed specifically for military applications. This super damped “hybrid ski” is made from Ash and Aspen and features a reverse side cut which may seem counter intuitive to most but makes it easier to feather. This military model is a shorter ski and designed to traverse junk, or icy snow. It’s truly a working ski.
If you are going to be at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City this week, be sure to stop by and check them out in booth # PV365. Make sure to say “hi” to John and Dean.
Have you seen this thing? If not, you need to stop by Paladin’s booth #31017E at this week’s Outdoor Retailer Summer market in Salt Lake City, Utah. Based on S.O. Tech designs, Paladin products are manufactured off-shore in order to mitigate costs for those who don’t require Berry compliance such as the recreational and LE markets. With the Panel Pack they have hit a home run. This pack is awesome. Designed as a modular hanging panel, it can be zipped closed and carried over-the-shoulder, pack-style. In the brochure Paladin gives a couple of ideas on how to configure the Panel Pack but those are just really the tip of the iceberg. In fact, it’s use is only limited by your imagination due to the interchangeable pockets.
Feature laden, the Panal Pack has a large external mesh pocket for items like jackets, helmets, fins, etc. as well as an external flat zippered pocket for booklets, medical records, or emergency documents. Additionally, it will accommodate a hydration bladder in the flex mesh external back pocket. There are also external loops for poles and tools as well as a clear vinyl “window pocket†for packing lists or ID.
If you can’t come see it in person, make sure to visit www.specopstech.com.
We had an opportunity to see a few of the new products from SureFire at the ADS Warrior Expo and Outdoor Retailer shows. Below is just a sampling of what’s next in tactical illumination and cutlery.
M300 Mini Scout Light
At half the size of the M600 Scout Light (hence the name M300), the Mini Scout Light utilizes a single CR123 battery. It makes for a more compact and slightly lighter alternative to the full-size M600. Unfortunately, it also translates into about half of the performance of the M600. However, as more compact and specialized weapons continue to see use, such a light may well find its place.
Surefire Helmet Lights
Now in its fourth generation, the Helmet Light has integrated several changes. Most notable is the new molded shrouds for the toggles. Instead of attaching an additional part to the light, the new shrouds are an integral part of the chassis which strengthens the design and reduces production time and material. Additionally, as you can see in the photo, the new light features a threaded battery cap with an integrated lock out switch. Rumor has it that an entirely new Helmet Light is under development and while no details have been released, features are being driven by user feedback and it won’t resemble the current model.
SureFire LX1 Lumamax
The LED LX1 is compact (4.1″ long) and features two brightness levels; 10 lumens low and 80 lumens high. Press lightly on the two stage tailcap switch for low and apply more pressure for high. Twist the tail switch for constant on in either of the brightness modes or to lockout the switch to avoid light ADs. Additionally, the pocket clip is reversible. There is also an LX2 model coming out that also features a two stage tailcap but goes to 200 lumens.
Edged Weapons
SureFire is also releasing two new folding knives; the Edge and Crank. As with their previous edged weapon designs, these are made in the U.S.A.
Surefire Crank
LENGTH CLOSED 3.97″
LENGTH OPEN 6.4″
BLADE LENGTH 2.56″
WEIGHT 3.2 oz.
The blade is manufactured from polished 154 CM steel. A single hexagonal opening machined into the aluminum frame accommodates 1/2″ nuts, and a slot extension holds a coin firmly in place for use as a field-expedient screwdriver. Additionally, there is a built-in cord cutter and a bottle opener.
SureFire Edge
LENGTH CLOSED 4.7″
LENGTH OPEN 8.1″
BLADE LENGTH 3.4″
WEIGHT 5.5 oz.
The modified spear-point blade is crafted from 154 CM steel and the the 7075 aluminum frame features a liner lock. Notice the prominent hex openings along the handle and set into the blade which can be used as wrenches (7/16″, 3/8″, 5/16″, 1/2″ nuts). It also features an integral finger guard/flip-open lever and a pocket clip.
With the exception of the prototype M300 all of the products will be released soon. For additional information visit www.surefire.com.
