Army – Navy – Air Force – Marine Corps – Coast Guard

Positioning itself as a contender for the U.S. Military’s new camouflage pattern, A-TACS (Advanced TActical Concealment System) photographic debut caused quite a stir on the web last week.

State-of-the-art camo or impressionist-era painting?

Seen in the photo on the right, the A-TACS pattern is said to have “chameleon-like qualities” meant to “break up the outline of the human body.”

Fernando Coelho, President of EOTAC, called the new pattern ” the first one to break from tradition and actually makes sense,” in a prepared statement. However, a commenter over at DefenseTech compared it to a Monet impressionist painting. Touché!

Meanwhile, Canada seems to be entertaining the switch to a more urban-inspired camouflage as well. According to the Ottawa Citizen, the Defence Department could decide as early as March on what will work for the Canadian Urban Environment Patter.

Milblogger Eric Graves from Soldier Systems (who was websessing over the new A-TACS pattern, too) makes an appearance in the article with some harsh criticism of the Canadian government’s possible pattern choice.

“It makes zero sense for the Canadian military to produce an urban pattern based on their own cities unless they plan on fighting there,” Mr. Graves told the newspaper. “If that’s the case, then it is the perfect choice.”

And according to Strike – Hold!, there’s been some new designs from commercial companies with the  Russian military in mind.

With all these new camo looks floating around, it might be best to take a note from the past and check out the International Camouflage Uniform Society. That is, if you can score an invite first.

(Images from Digital Concealment Systems via Strike – Hold!)

Pictured above is the greeting visitors receive on a specialty camouflage retailer’s homepage. A man dressed in what looks to be normal, albeit brightly colored, camo grasps two sun-kissed bodacious babes. Welcome to CamoBooty.com.

Now look a little closer at his camo. This is what you’ll see (possibly NSFW) …

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If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the minds behind Kevlar and Nomex, here’s your chance. DuPont, the American chemical company, released short promotional videos in early October about its products and its relationship with the U.S. Military.

The first video tells the story about E.I. DuPont and Thomas Jefferson working together to protect the U.S. military more than two centuries ago. Calling the agreement between the two a “handshake that built a country,” DuPont says it has continued to look after American soldiers by creating Kevlar, a light-yet-strong synthetic fiber, and Nomex, a flame-resistant material.

During the second short commercial, DuPont reiterates how its Kevlar and Nomex technologies aim to guard the men and women who serve our country. Both developed in the 1960s, the products weren’t fully commercialized until the late ’60s and early ’70s.

Some items that include Kevlar and Nomex technologies include:

• Aviator Gloves
• Black Nomex Flight Suits
• Extended Cuff Search Gloves
• Fury Commando Gloves
• SOLAG HD Gloves
• Solag Full Finger Gloves

(Via Soldier Systems)

Who needs all that tactical pant storage when you’re wearing a Maxpedition Sitka GearSlinger on your back? Tactical Gearhead recently demonstrated just how spacious it can be, especially when you’re carrying a mix of smaller and larger items.

This backpack-meets-sling made with a Teflon fabric retails for just under $130 and features a single-shoulder strap for easy access and speedy on-off time. To keep out thieving hands besides your own, there’s built-in theft protection around the zipper area, and a triple polyurethane coat will keep out that other unwanted element — water.

Its best feature, as demonstrated by Tactical Gearhead, is the ability to effortlessly swing the pack from the back of the body to the front, which of course allows you to quickly access all your tactical tools in those most critical moments.

While overall a mostly positive review, some criticisms Tactical Gearhead had were that the security feature near the zippers does not easily snap shut. Therefore, if you are trying to secure it in a rush, it could be difficult to lock and become an open target to pickpockets after all.

The reviewer also mentions that when you are putting the bag on over your jacket, it could make things bunch up a bit. “But that downside is offset by how easy it is just to get into the bag without having to set the bag down.”

The biggest upside to the Maxpedition Sitka GearSlinger? It doesn’t look like a purse, he says. And this non-purse is available in black, OD green, khaki, foliage green and khaki foliage.

Watch the full review below.

Vickers Duty Gloves

Last month, EOTAC added a hot, new glove to its lineup of tactical gear accessories. The much-anticipated Vickers Duty Gloves were inspired by numerous requests for an altered version of Vickers Mid-Length Combat Glove.

Customers wanted to see a glove that was wrist length and didn’t use Nomex, a flame-resistant material developed by DuPont. A combination of those elements, the new gloves, which retails for $34.99, were designed Larry Vickers, a retired career special operations soldier and firearms expert.

“After so many requests from customers for a wrist length version of our Mid-Length Combat Glove, it made sense to introduce a new ‘shorty’ version that can be used by law enforcement officers that don’t require Nomex,” said Fernando Coelho, president of EOTAC, in a prepared statement.

Made out of 100 percent precision-stretch polyester, goatskin and a water-repellent finish, Vickers Duty Gloves provide excellent protection and grip while still allowing the skin to breath. Available only in black, the glove comes in sizes 7 to 14 and 8-10 Cadet (shorter finger-length version).

There was a huge celebration over at ITS Tactical about the recent amendments in the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2892). And by huge celebration, we mean there was a post about it, and the its headline had two exclamation points. Alright!!

The bill, which was signed by the president on Oct. 28, amended the wording of the act in order to better explain the difference between folding knives and a switch blades.

The following wording was added to Sec. 562. Section 4 of the Federal Switchblade Act:

“…a knife that contains a spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward closure of the blade and that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure to assist in opening the knife.”

According to the American Knife and Tool Institute, the amendment provides a permanent “fix” so that any folding knife with a bias toward closure cannot be declared a switchblade by U.S. Customs. Read more of AKTI’s statement here.

Established in 1958, the Switchblade Act, prohibits switchblade possession on Federal lands, Indian reservations, military bases, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and other protectorates as well as manufacture and sale of switchblades in interstate commerce. The U.S. government holds some restrictions when it comes to shipping knives, as well.

5.11's Tac-A Gloves

On Monday, glove-maker Ironclad Performance Wear and 5.11 Tactical announced a long-term partnership to create new task-specific gloves for law enforcement, firefighters and military.

Through the agreement, Ironclad will exclusively design and manufacture the glove line with 5.11 Tactical marketing and distributing the gloves. While the new gear will be branded by 5.11 Tactical, it will also say “Built Tough By Ironclad.”

“Hand protection and grip enhancement are very important needs for police, fire, first-responders and the military,” said Ed Jaeger, Ironclad’s founder and head of business development, in a prepared statement.

“By combining Ironclad’s technical expertise in designing task-specific gloves across a wide range of industries with 5.11 Tactical’s superior understanding of the end-users’ needs and industry requirements, we will be bringing the best, most advanced products to this market.”

The new gloves will join 5.11’s selection of gloves in early 2010, the companies said.

The video below showcases Ironclad’s General Utility Gloves — the first type of gloves Ironclad ever made!