We are working on reviews of Arc’teryx LEAF’s new Naga Hoody and Drac Jacket, both are available in the new Urban Wolf color. Until we get those up, here’s the Bird’s take on their new colorway.
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The Arc’teryx Naga is a fitted Polartec Powerstretch Hardface garment with thumbholes and a slick, scub-style hood. The Naga works well as a base layer or sized up for wear as a mid layer. Available now, $199 in Wolf (grey) or Croc (green).
When I slipped into them for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised at the comfort and fit of the new women’s RD Tactical Utility Pant by Magnum Essential Equipment. On earlier trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, I had settled for mens tactical pants that worked fairly well, but were always a little high-waisted, outdated in their shape and lacking in customized features like organizational pockets.
These Magnums – one of only about four companies that has ventured into making women’s tactical pants – were cut generously in the seat and legs and fit comfortably at my hip without dipping into an impractical “low rise” category more suitable for skinny rock stars.
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The guys out west are keeping their promise. The releases keep coming. One more and we can say they are on a midlayer-tear. This week they are releasing the Pathfinder jacket. It’s a slim-fitting, hoodless fleece that layers easily thanks to the slippery, hardface outer surface. Released just this morning for $189.
- Polartec’s 336 weight Thermal Pro fleece, warm and breathable
- DWR Polartec Hardface fleece, water and abrasion resistant face that doesn’t pill
- The hardface surface makes it easy to slip into your outer layer as there’s less to “grab onto”
- A single panel running from the cuff, up the arm, and down the torso to the bottom hem enables full range of motion
- Active fit accommodates baselayers and is streamlined enough to wear under another outer layer when needed
- Two front pockets sewn into the seam for easy access and large storage
- Wrist pocket for ID or headphones
- Thumbhole loops built into the seam
We haven’t heard from our friends at Triple Aught Design in a while, but they just told us us they are pushing out some new gear this spring. The first item they’ve shared with us is a new, lighter version of their Ranger Hoody fleece. On sale tomorrow, the Ranger LT has been designed for year-round use. In spring & fall weather the LT wears as a lightly insulated outerlayer. Add a shell for full winter warmth; keep it in the truck for cool summer nights. BTW- The guys have given up the TAD Gear acronym/moniker and will be known as Triple Aught Design.
Some design bullets:
- An active fit streamlined enough to wear under another outer layer when needed
- 6 strategically placed pockets (including 2 chest pockets with media port and D-rings, 2 upper arm pockets with Velcro patches, media port and d-rings, a left forearm pocket for ID and rear hunters pocket
- Polartec Wind Pro fleece (288 weight) with a DWR finish
- Highly breathable and constructed to support a full range of motion
- An aero hood that provides head protection and warmth
- half mitt sleeve and thumbhole cuffs with the thumbholes in the seams (so they stay closed when not used).
- vented pits (not pit-zips)
- chafe guard at the zipper top
- guide wires and media ports for headphones
- Removable glow-in-the-dark Ranger Eye velcro logo
Available in Black, ME Green and UE Gray, The Ranger LT is $219, or $215 without Velcro on the upper arms.
Read MoreWright-Patterson Air Force Base is wondering if any small businesses want to make 1,500 (mostly) tiger-striped Gore-Tex shells by June 15.
Here’s the tech package, in case you’re interested in seeing exactly what goes into making one. It’s 50 pages of requirements for durability, suitability, fabrics, findings, colorfastness and IR reflectivity. Excellent material for the bathroom scholar …
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We ran into Mac from TAD Gear as he was pinging between meetings at Shot Show. He did stay still long enough to model three of TAD’s latest garments for us. Enjoy!
London Bridge Trading LBT-2090C Boonie Hat
Available now, $28.01
Here’s a boonie cover that weighs nothing, crushes to the size of a golf ball and has loads of ventilation. It’s billed as one-size-fits-all, but XL domes might be a bit tight. 1.05 ounces and can be easily stowed in a cargo pocket.
- ghillie style boonie hat
- Ragged leaf/mesh crown
- Elasticized soft head band for comfort, no chin strap
- Weighs 1.05oz
Arcteryx Freelance Jacket
Spring 2010, $150
The Freelance jacket looks like a smart around-town jacket that just barely touches on the look of the Army’s ACU, the fit of a Marine BDU blouse, the heart of a cotton cardigan and the soul of a cafe race jacket. The Freelance’s articulated sleeves offer a technical fit in a non-technical fabric. Specs from Arc’teryx:
- two zippered hand pockets
- long, zippered, internal map pocket
- two chest pockets with flaps
- metal zipper with internal flap and chin guard
- double needle construction
- articulated elbows, gusseted underarms
- 6.5 oz cotton/Nylon canvas
Mountain Hardwear
Geist Vest
Spring 2010, $90
Made for on and off trail runners, the Geist vest is a super light shell that will keep the wind away from your core during cool weather runs. To move with you, the body combines multiple stretch zones and mesh panels for breathability. The sides and back have a new 3M Scotchlite reflective material that provides visibility out to 100 yards. The pockets have ports for earbuds. And, when you warm up, it compresses down to the size of a baby’s fist and weighs 3 oz in you pack or pocket. Comes in men’s or women’s (shown).
Smartwool Mens NTX
Zip-T
Fall 2009, $80
It’s hard to deny merino wool’s warmth-to-weight-to-stink ratio. Smartwool began the commercial wool revolution back in the 80s and still has something to say about where it’s going. They released a simple but functional piece this year in the NXT Zip-T. It’s a next-to-skin, jersey knit, lightweight wool shirt that will get worn all year. The gray looks like a close enough match to keep you warm under an ACU top.
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Source One Tactical, the “private label” for S.O.D. (Source One Distributors) has developed an alternative to needle-and-thread or duct-tape repairs to rips and tears in your uniform.
The Armed Forces Uniform Repair Kit gives you a variety of patches from 3 x 3″ to 5 x 7″. Place the patch over the hole, rub with the back of a spoon (or a rock, or the MRE “something”) and 45 seconds later you are ready to move on. The patch is ready to be washed 24 hours later.
The fabric is flame resistant and can be used on NOMEX, NYCO and DEFENDER M, and comes in ABU, MARPAT and ACU.
Oh yeah – they have seat patches as well. Thank goodness.
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