Beyond Tactical exhibited their PCU lvl 9 shirt and pants at SHOT Show. Based on work completed to produce a specialized combat uniform, the Beyond product is available as a custom fitted item. This example was made from an FR fabric, but they are available in several different fabrics and colors. Contact www.beyondtactical.com for more information. Make sure you ask them about their Travel Shirt which has been in development hell since summer.
*Updated* I received a call the other day asking of I had seen the new Patagonia Combat Uniforms. I hadn’t and the last word I had received was that Patagonia was out of the contract game. But just when you think Patagonia has called it quits, they up and release new military products. Apparently, some prototypes of a hard shell were produced in Viet Nam and photos of this garment’s tag have shown up on the web incorrectly purporting to be from a Level 9 garment. But really this is just the tip of the iceberg. The plan is to develop an entirely new Berry compliant clothing system and most of it is already done. Apparently however, the combat uniform piece is still in development and won’t be the same as the PCU Level 9. The whole system is sort of a “Son of MARS” only leveraging the latest Patagonia technology. Prototypes of several of the pieces are floating around some of the units already so it won’t be long before we see photos.
Patagonia did participate in the development of the Level 9 component of PCU which is produced under contract by Ready One. Thus far, all currently issued PCU components carry a Patagonia tag and the new Level 9 garment will as well. Commercial versions of Level 9 are currently available from Beyond Tactical.
We are hoping to see photos soon and wondering how much they will go for once they hit eBay.
Thanks to Rob for confusing the hell out of me.
Beyond Clothing has released the first substantive photo of their elusive PCU level 9 uniform.
The latest version of the Advantage Tactical Pant is available now in Black, Khaki, Multicam, or UCP.
ADS and Beyond Tactical are proud to announce that they are beginning to offer the complete Protective Combat Uniform in the issue Ranger Green as well as Coyote. Available as an entire kit or as individual components, this is an excellent opportunity for units requiring PCU out of the procurement cycle as well as for units or individuals that wish to upgrade their current environmental clothing system. In addition to standard sizes, customers will be able to take advantage of Beyond’s custom sizing program. Originally conceived in the fall of 2001 by PM-SSS in order to satisfy an urgent need for operational clothing to combat the environment of Afghanistan, PCU is a clothing system consisting of seven levels used in concert with one another based on activity and environment.
ADS has gone one step further by developing an excellent DVD which provides an overview of PCU components and their use as well as some excellent background on the system’s design philosophy by the “Godfather” of PCU; Mark Twight. In concert with Kwikpoint, makers of the waterproof basic language guides currently in use in theater, ADS is offering a pocket users guide describing PCU components, environmental conditions and a wheel to help the user correlate components with conditions. This has been needed for a long time and is a must for even current users of multi-component environmental clothing systems.
The user guide is available from Kwikpoint.
Look for a future article with more details on PCU.
Contact ADS or Beyond Tactical for more information.
User guide graphics property of Kwikpoint.
Tags: ADS, Beyond Tactical, Mark Twight, PCU
Posted in ADS, Clothing, PM-SSS, Training | Comments Off on PCU Alternate Source of Supply
