Gear Up #15

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TA C T I C A L FOOTWEAR TECHNOLOGY PROTECTION BUSHCR AFT FIREARMS MEDICAL

G O E S I N T O A C T I V E S E R V I C E W I T H B R I TA I N ’ S C R A C K C O M M A N D O S

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GEAR UP THE TRADE TACTICAL GEAR MAGAZINE

GEAR UP MAGAZINE

TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING Gear Up Magazine is the worlds first business to business publication for the tactical gear industry, aiming to bring all of the relevant parties to the same table. With such a huge range of products on the market, knowing what to invest in, and more importantly, what to supply your customers with, can be a hard task. Gear Up Magazine aims to make this process easier, allowing you to enhance your understanding of the industry, allowing you to make smart purchases.

With Gear Up Magazine, you’ll have a better understanding of the tactical gear and equipment on show, who buys it, and what they use it for. We’ll introduce you to the evolution of each of the ‘tools of the trade’, from ballistic helmets to boots, giving you the knowledge needed to traverse the tactical gear market with confidence.

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EBCON PUBLISHING

OVER A DECADE OF PUBLICATIONS Ebcon Publishing was launched in 2004 with one simple goal – to create a range of successful publications, which combined informative content with a high level of up to date design to match.

Over the last 14 years, Ebcon Publishing has done exactly that, launching a number of publications that have won a number of awards in their respective sectors and continue to be dominant in their chosen area of operation.

Ebcon Publishing has set up a fantastic portfolio and now the company’s next step is to further improve that portfolio by releasing Gear Up into the wild. All the staff at Ebcon Publishing work tirelessly to bring its readership a range of comprehensive editorial across its various magazine titles, providing thier readers with the best information available, along with high design values and inspiring imagery to suit.

how it works Broken into seven key sectors that drive the tactical gear market, Gear Up Magazine aims to bring you a selection of the finest products in each of our carefully deliberated sections. Whether you’re looking to procure items at a battalion level or are an individual in charge of bringing a plethora of tactical equipment to your customers, Gear Up Magazine aims to do the hard work, so you do not have to.

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TECHNOLOGY Due to various advances in technology, the ability to utilise said technology on the battlefield is imperative to the success rate of dangerous missions. Our technology section will look to those advances in tech, highlighting some of the most innovative items to hit the market.

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PROTECTION

The tactical gear market is forever evolving, and with that evolution comes the necessity of adapting to it. Our ‘Tactical’ section aims to make that process as easy as possible, bringing you a number of key components, allowing you to equip the modern warfighter to the best of your ability.

Ensuring your customers can count on the protective equipment you supply them is of the utmost importance. Our ‘Protection’ section endeavours to provide you with numerous options, enabling you to best serve your clientele, allowing them to operate in the harshest environments known to man.

firearms

BUSHCRAFT

The firearms market is slowly becoming inundated with equipment that simply isn’t up to the task it was created for. With a plethora of optics and accessories on the market, Gear Up Magazine will ensure that you are providing your customers with products that will withstand the test of time.

The modern warfighter is often dropped in hostile locations, and ensuring the equipment they’re carrying is capable of dealing with the numerous areas of operation is key. Ranging from a variety of tools to sleeping bags, our ‘Bushcraft’ section aims to provide to cover the very best in outdoor equipment.

UK Based Kydex Holster and Equipment Manufacturer for Police and Military Personnel Around the World CAN BE MOUNTED ON A SINGLE ROW OF MOLLE

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FIXED RETENTION

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FOOTWEAR

medical

It is no secret that military and law enforcement personnel spend long periods of time on their feet. Due to this, it is imperative that the options you have on offer provide unrivalled comfort, protection, and support, allowing them to fight harder, for longer, with no unwanted issues.

Medical equipment by design is created to save lives. Our ‘Medical’ section aims to look at a range of equipment that is best suited to this role; from full-blown medical kits through to Individual First-Aid Kits, making sure your clientele is amply prepared for a worst-case scenario.

Available from ‘kydexcustomsuk.com’ Trade/bulk prices available upon request Can be wrapped in 500D Cordura Fabric Molle or Belt mounting available

Email: Sales@kydexcustomsuk.com

kydexcustomsuk.com

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GEAR UP

ISSUE #15

EDITORIAL MEET THE TEAM PAUL MONAF

PUBLISHING DIRECTOR paul@ebcon.co.uk With a track record of launching a number of successful magazines and experience working within business-tobusiness sectors, Paul is the driving force behind Gear Up.

CONTENTS INSIDE THIS ISSUE 009 FEATURE CORDURA AND CRYE PRECISION PARTNER TO EQUIP ROYAL MARINE COMMANDOS

012 TACTICAL THRUDARK SF ECHELON JACKET

CONNOR JAMES EDITOR connor@ebcon.co.uk

015 TACTICAL ELITAC WEARABLES MISSION NAVIGATION BELT

Having worked within Ebcon Publishing for ten years, Connor brings a wealth of knowledge to Gear Up Magazine. If you need any information regarding editorial, he’s your guy.

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BEN DICKIE

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art DIRECTOR ben@ebcon.co.uk

Ben started working for Ebcon Publishing nearly a decade ago now and has been a vital member of the team since. The self-proclaimed Rambo of shapes and colours.

SHARON MONAF

ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR sharon@ebcon.co.uk Beside every great man is a great woman, and Sharon is most certainly the Bonnie to Paul’s Clyde. Sharon looks after all of the administrative work within the company.

TACTICAL TEAM WENDY PURCHASED BY AVON RUBBER

TACTICAL HELIKON TEX TROOPER JACKET

025 TACTICAL CONCAMO

029 FOOTWEAR HIKING BOOT COMPARATIVE REPORT

035 PROTECTION SAFARILAND IMPULSE HEARING PROTECTION

038 FIREARMS COMP-TAC GLOCK .40 GEN 5 HOLSTERS

042 TECHNOLOGY L3HARRIS AN/PRC-117G MULTIBAND NETWORKING MANPACK RADIO

045 TECHNOLOGY PERSISTANT SYSTEMS RDC

049 TECHNOLOGY THYRM CELLVAULT-18

ebcon publishing ltd.

Although the publisher has made every effort to ensure that the information in this magazine was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of articles in this magazine and the publisher accepts no responsibility for any errors contained in material from independent sources or authors. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photography or illustration in any form without permission from the publisher/editor is strictly prohibited. We welcome articles, photographs or artwork for submission through the appropriate channels. Gear Up Magazine cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to unsolicited material. Please enclose a SAE if you wish your for your goods or material to be returned.

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052 TECHNOLOGY UNITED STATES ARMY TACTICAL ASSAULT KIT

055 BUSHCRAFT CARINTHIA SLEEPING BAGS

058 BUSHCRAFT GERBER CENTRE-DRIVE MULTI-TOOL

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FEATURED

GOE S INTO AC TI V E SERV IC E W ITH BRITA IN ’S C R AC K C OMM A NDOS CHOSEN FOR ITS DURABILITY AND HIGH-PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS, CORDURA® NYCO FABRIC IS BEING USED TO PRODUCE THE NEXT GENERATION OF HIGHLY ADVANCED UNIFORMS FOR THE ROYAL MARINES COMMANDOS, DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED BY CRYE PRECISION AND DISTRIBUTED BY LEVEL PEAKS IN A CONTRACT WITH THE NATO SUPPORT AND PROCUREMENT AGENCY.

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FEATURED

GOE S INTO AC TI V E SE RV IC E W ITH BR ITA IN ’S C R AC K C OMM A ND O S The United Kingdom’s Royal Marine Commandos are considered amongst the most elite fighting units in the world. Capable of operating in a plethora of AOs; from polar regions through to the tropics, and everything else in between. From their beginnings as a Commando unit during WWII, in which they would perform daring raids into German occupied-Europe, through to present day where they were paramount in NATO successes in Iraq and Afghanistan, The Royal Marines Commandos have attracted attention on a global scale, and rightly so.

To be considered amongst the greatest fighting forces of modern military history, it will come as no surprise that even the entry requirements are hard as nails. Those who are deemed good enough to join the Royal Marines Commandos then head off for 32 weeks of gruelling training at CTC-RM, in which the training team consistently churn out some of Britain’s most elite fighting soldiers. After ‘passing out’ and receiving the coveted ‘Green Beret’, Royal Marines deploy around the world, operating in a range of AOs. While the Royal Marines are often looked upon as an elite fighting unit, until recently, the equipment employed could honestly be looked at as substandard – at least when comparing said equipment to the elite level the Royal Marines are held to. We say until recently due to the ‘Future Commando Force’ initiative – in which Great Britain and NATO are looking to move the Royal Marines into the 21st Century with a bold modernisation project that will see the creation of the ‘Vanguard Strike Company’. This new strike force will have access to game-changing technology and weaponry – a far cry from how the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces have operated in the past.

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FUTURE COMMANDO FORCE INITIATIVE

One way in which the Royal Marines will look to modernise themselves is through the use of a new uniform, designed by none other than Crye Precision – a company synonymous with cutting-edge uniforms. The Royal Marines uniform has been designed and engineered by a company with unrivalled in-depth knowledge of the specific demands of combat and tactical operations. Crye Precision are the ultimate specialists in their field and work closely with global military professionals to develop new and technically superior generations of combat apparel and related kit incorporating unique technologies.

To ensure that the new uniforms from Crye Precision are capable of performing to the standards the Royal Marine Commandos hold themselves to, Crye chose to partner with the CORDURA brand, as stated

by Gregg Thompson, Co-Founder of Crye Precision: “The next generation uniform is always our focus, and the fabric is always the starting point.

We need people who understand what we’re trying to do. Who are willing to partner with us to help us get there. For us, CORDURA® is that partner. They set the technical standard and pretty much our entire line has some kind of CORDURA® element in it. It’s so reliable, it just performs in every situation.”

Keen to ensure the uniforms were able to consistently perform at a high level, the CORDURA® brand started work, pushing their usually stringent quality assessment even further – with a range of fabric test procedures than include aggressive abrasion testing to push durability to the limit. This is the key strength of the new uniform

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which comprises individual Combat and Field ensembles all made from Crye Precision’s comfort weave MultiCam® VTX Ripstop stretch CORDURA® NYCO fabric using INVISTA’s T420HT high tenacity nylon 6,6 fibre blended with cotton. CORDURA® NYCO fabric offers long-lasting comfort and performance for the wearer. The uniform is printed with Crye Precision’s MultiCam® camo pattern by 1947 LLC through an exclusive international manufacturing license agreement.

Along with delivering the enhanced durability required for the Commandos in action, this fabric is a foundation for a new uniform that is lighter weight, has comfort stretch, has higher tear-strength, is faster-drying and is more breathable than typical 50/50 nylon/ cotton uniform kit. Meaning it can be trusted and relied on in the most extreme and hostile environments on earth - from frozen wastes to jungle and deserts.

Allen Mortimer Military EMEA director for INVISTA CORDURA® concludes:“Through close consultation with military experts – including experienced veterans – we are constantly evolving CORDURA® fabrics to face new scenarios in different theatres of conflict. We’re proud to know that this fabric now provides NATO troops with a tougher way to handle the toughest missions – and we salute the Royal Marines as the first unit to lead the way forward”.

MEETING NATO’S NEEDS

To ensure the Future Commando Force initiative is completed, a number of companies’ have joined forces asides from Crye Precision and the CORDURA Brand.

The new uniforms are supplied by Level Peaks under its five-year contract with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. This British company describes its central objective as the introduction of more effective, integrated uniform systems. Jim Clarke- Programme Director for Level Peaks says: “We are very excited by this initiative. With Crye Precision’s world leading designs and CORDURA® fabric technology we are able to supply troops with a solution that is lighter, stronger and more comfortable. It will be worn by troops rapidly deployed to war zones, combat missions, commando raids, or providing humanitarian assistance”

The Crye MultiCam® VTX printed fabric is exclusively supplied by 1947 LLC who are a full-service textile solution provider specializing in military, tactical, and industrial products. 1947 LLC have worked with Crye Precision since the pattern was originally developed and are extremely pleased and proudly support this opportunity to introduce this new and innovative fabric into the European theatre for the NATO forces. Ben Galpen co-Founder of 1947 LLC says: “Entering into a new market is always exciting for our company but this is especially rewarding as we are honoured to support NATO and its mission.”

COMPANIES INVOLVED

CORDURA® Brand – CORDURA® fabric is a primary ingredient in many of the world’s leading high-performance gear and apparel products ranging from casual apparel and activewear to footwear, backpacks, military/tactical wear, and workwear. The CORDURA® brand is a registered trademark of INVISTA, one of the world’s largest integrated polymer, intermediates and fibers businesses. For more information visit: www.CORDURA.com.

CRYE PRECISION

Crye Precision designs and manufactures truly innovative equipment for America’s fighting forces. Making uncompromising gear for uncompromising individuals. The team at Crye Precision works hard to provide smart, high-performance, long-wearing gear for people who demand the best. Every item is designed to help people perform better. For more information visit: www. cryeprecision.com

INVISTA

From the fibers in your gear to the plastic in your automobiles, INVISTA’s commitment to continuous improvement has led its employees to develop some of the most durable, versatile polymers and fibers in the world. A subsidiary of KOCH Industries since 2004, INVISTA brings to market the proprietary ingredients for nylon 6,6 and recognized brands including STAINMASTER®, CORDURA® and ANTRON®. INVISTA also offers specialty chemical intermediates and process technologies. For more information visit: www.INVISTA.com

LEVEL PEAKS

For the last 10 years Level Peaks has strived to make the best systems available to UK armed forces. The introduction of a more effective, integrated uniform systems is a key objective for Level Peaks. For more information visit: www.levelpeaks.com

1947 LLC

1947 LLC is a full-service textile solution provider, specializing in military, tactical, and industrial products. Founded in May 2014 by two industry veterans with nearly 40 years of experience combined, 1947 LLC strives to deliver quality service and cutting-edge technologies, providing customers with the best solution for their fabric and technology needs as well as the flexibility to develop and test new products. For more information visit: www.1947llc.com

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PRODUCT

THE UNITED KINGDOM SPECIAL FORCES ARE AMONG SOME OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WARFIGHTERS IN THE WORLD, WITH THE SPECIAL AIR SERVICE, THE SPECIAL BOAT SERVICE AND THE SPECIAL RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT HAVING NUMEROUS SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS BETWEEN THEM. IN FACT, UKSF ARE OFTEN RECOGNISED AS THE ELITE OF THE ELITE BY OTHERS WITHIN THE TIER 1 COMMUNITY. WHAT HAPPENS THEN WHEN THOSE INDIVIDUALS LAY DOWN THEIR EQUIPMENT AND LOOK TOWARDS CREATING EQUIPMENT, MAKING USE OF YEARS’ WORTH OF EXPERIENCE AT THE TIP OF THE SPEAR? ThruDark are a company created by two retired operators serving within the United Kingdom’s Special Forces. After a combined 18 years’ of service within the SBS, ThruDark was created, looking to apply a vast amount of experience with the highest specification kit and clothing each founding member had, and simply improve on it. Having spent numerous years at the tip of the spear, ThruDark’s founders were more than aware of the shortcomings of some of the equipment they used, with a critical mindset formed in regard to the way it performed in a multitude of environments.

This has given ThruDark an advantage, with the company being well aware of what works and what doesn’t – stripping away the excess on a product to leave the end-user with a product that performs admirably in its intended AO. This ensures that the end-user can simply enjoy the elements and concentrate on the task at hand, with no inkling of doubt placed in the clothing that is being utilised.

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From the design process to the materials used, ThruDark meticulously negotiate each hurdle with the utmost of attention paid. In regard to material selection, ThruDark’s co-founders ensure that only the best materials are utilised. Following this, each product goes through an advanced prototyping system, with each garment tested in all weather extremes to ascertain its overall functional capability. From here, ThruDark return to the prototype, ensuring that any issues that were raised are addressed, and any fabric changes are realised.

This process then repeats until ThruDark are entirely happy with the outcome. At this point, the prototype is shipped to Italy; a company renowned for its manufacturing capabilities, and produced for use.

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TECHNOLOGIES USED

■ DYNEEMA: 15 TIMES STRONGER THAN STEEL Dyneema® is the trade name given to fibres made with high molecular weight polyethylene. Its properties, such as its strength, lightness, versatility, and resistance to chemical and abrasive, agents, make it an ideal yarn for high performance technical fabrics. Dyneema® brand has become a benchmark yarn for this type of fibres, lighter than any other similar yarn on the market and being constantly improved through R&D.

■ HIGH QUALITY 4-WAY STRETCH MATERIAL

The SF Echelon incorporates ThruDark’s proprietary high-quality Italian 4 way stretch material, integrated into the areas that need no failure. This in turn allows the end-user to make dynamic movements without compromising on performance in the process.

■ WATER-RESISTANT DESIGN

When ThruDark declare a product as water repellent, they do not just target the material itself, they ensure the entire product performs as desired. The SF Echelon takes the idea of water repellent quite literally, ensuring that every asset is water repellent, including the use of Aquaguard YKK zippers.

THRUDARK

SF ECHELON JACKET

Having burst on the scene little under two years ago, ThruDark keep going from strength to strength, creating a legacy in those two years that most companies would be proud of from a lifetime of work.

Not resting on their laurels, ThruDark have recently launched another product to add to the repertoire – the SF Echelon Jacket.

The ThruDark SF Echelon is a hard-wearing all-round utility jacket designed for everyday combat, designed making use of years worth of Special Operations deployment experience. The SF Echelon achieves its ruggedness through the use of a specially engineered fabric containing both Cordura® and Dyneema®. This fabric has been used to provide reinforcement on the shoulders and hood, providing the end-user with enduring abrasion resistance, ensuring the SF Echelon will not fail you in high stress situations.

Not stopping there, ThruDark have made use of a high-quality Italian 4-way stretch water-resistant fabric which offers a range of benefits. Not only does this 4-way stretch material offer uncompromised movement, it also provides the Echelon with a level of comfort not felt from other products on the market.

Features also include two YKK upper-arm pockets and two torso pockets, giving the end-user a plethora of storage options should they need them.

CONTACT INFORMATION For more information, you can enquire about Thrudark’s range of products through the following lines of contact.

UNITED KINGDOM ■ Contact Number: +44 (0) 1202 308879 ■ Email: info@thrudark.com

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PRODUCT

ELITAC WEARABLES MISSION NAVIGATION BELT OVER THE YEARS A LARGE AMOUNT OF EMPHASIS HAS BEEN PLACED ON PERSONAL NAVIGATION SYSTEMS TO MOVE THE MODERN WARFIGHTER AWAY FROM OLDER PRACTICES OF MAP AND COMPASS READING AND INSTEAD ALLOWING THEM TO MAKE USE OF GPS SYSTEMS. HOWEVER, THESE SYSTEMS CAN BECOME DIFFICULT TO READ IN HIGH STRESS SITUATIONS, LEADING TO NEW AND INNOVATIVE MEANS NEEDED TO NAVIGATE THE BATTLEFIELD.

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PRODUCT

Elitac Wearables have done exactly that, providing the Royal Netherlands Army with the first order of their new Mission Navigation Belt. The Mission Navigation Belt (MNB) allows soldiers to feel waypoint navigation directions through small, quiet vibration motors, located in a lightweight belt worn around the waist. The order is part of a wider initiative by the Netherlands Ministry of Defense to improve situational awareness and survivability through the application of new technologies.

Traditional navigation compromises situational awareness because it requires soldiers to take their focus away from their surroundings to check screens or maps, or listen to audio instructions. The Mission Navigation Belt solves this problem by conveying navigation cues through haptic feedback and the underutilised sense of touch. This way, it frees up soldiers’ hands, eyes and ears to concentrate on their surroundings.

The MNB was developed by haptic feedback specialists Elitac Wearables in close collaboration with the Netherlands Ministry of Defense. Major Van Veen, of the Royal Netherlands Army Defence Centre of Expertise for Soldier and Equipment, explained: “Modern soldiers have access to incredible, hi-tech navigation systems, but these all require soldiers to keep checking their screens constantly. This makes an already dangerous job even more dangerous because it reduces situational awareness.”

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The Mission Navigation Belt was developed to address this problem: “It has proved its value convincingly during field tests: Soldiers reported that they were more aware of their surroundings and found the navigational cues very intuitive. And because it plugs into our own soldier system, there is no learning curve or need for an additional battery. We look forward to implementing this order of belts and investigating other possible applications of the MNB.”, Major Van Veen said. The MNB can be used to navigate on foot and in vehicles both on land and water: Soldiers can change seamlessly from one mode of transportation to another without stopping to navigate.

Merijn Klarenbeek, CEO and co-founder of Elitac Wearables said “After multiple years of joint testing and development with the Netherlands Ministry of Defense, we delivered the first order of the finished product today. The Mission Navigation Belt is fully compatible and interoperable with the VOSS system (the improved operational soldier system developed for the Netherlands Ministry of Defense). Its design really pushes the boundaries when it comes to integrating electronics and textiles, as the belt had to be robust, comfortable, and, most importantly, reliable. The field tests conducted by the Royal Netherlands Army demonstrate that we have indeed achieved that. It is rewarding to think that our wearables will help keep soldiers safer”.

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ABOUT ELITAC WEARABLES

Elitac Wearables provide their customers with an elite level of understanding of the integration of electronics into textiles. Over years of working within the industry, Elitac have become specialists in flexible electronics, and the development and application of haptic feedback in garments. Elitac are constantly aspiring to develop werables that change peoples’ lives in the health, safety and sports sector, as well as lending their expertise to first responders, and now, the military.

The company focuses on wearables that add real value and has developed several solutions for the defense, safety, medical and sports markets. By continuously investing in research, Elitac Wearables ensures that it stays on the forefront of new technological developments.

WHAT IS HAPTIC FEEDBACK?

Haptic feedback is the use of touch to communicate with users. Most people are familiar with the vibration in a mobile phone or the rumble in a game controller – but haptic feedback is much more than that. Human beings have five senses, but electronic devices communicate with us using predominantly just two: sight and hearing.

Haptic feedback (often shortened to just haptics) changes this by simulating the sense of touch. Not only can you touch a computer or other device, but the computer can touch you back. Haptic feedback is a mode of communication rather than a specific technology or application. It’s nothing less than an entirely new way for machines and humans to communicate.

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NEWS

TEAM WENDY $130 MILLION PURCHASE SEES TEAM WENDY ACQUIRED BY AVON RUBBER

TEAM WENDY ARE A COMPANY DEVOTED TO THE DELIVERY OF HIGH-END PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED TO AID IN THE PREVENTION OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES. BASED IN THE UNITED STATES, THE COMPANY HAS GROWN FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1997, NOW PROVIDING A RANGE OF EQUIPMENT TO SPECIALISTS AROUND THE WORLD. W W W.GEARUP-MAG.COM

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NEWS

TEAM WENDY TEAM WENDY LIVE BY A SIMPLE MANTRA, AIMING TO INNOVATE TO PROTECT. FOLLOWING A STEADY RISE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES, TEAM WENDY HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO THE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF ADVANCED PROTECTION SOLUTIONS TO AID IN THE PREVENTION OF THESE INJURIES. Founded in 1997 following the tragic death of founder Dan Moore’s daughter Wendy in a skiing accident, Team Wendy initially set their focus on the creation of ski helmets to prevent the onset of traumatic brain injuries. Following their success in the industry, Team Wendy soon moved onto producing equipment for the military, law enforcement and search and rescue communities. With the aim of researching, developing, designing and in turn, delivering a plethora of cutting edge protection solutions, Wendy’s name lives on eternally, saving numerous lives in the process.

Through its long-standing relationship with the U.S. Military, Team Wendy have supplied more than six-million protective helmets since 2005. With a state-of-the-art facility based in Cleaveland, Ohio, Team Wendy utilise testing, engineering and chemistry labs, as well as a 62,000 square foot manufacturing facility, housed by a diverse range of professionals all working to create a helmet system which the end-user can trust in.

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$130 MILLION PURCHASE SEES TEAM WENDY ACQUIRED BY AVON RUBBER Team Wendy, LLC (“Team Wendy”), a leading U.S. supplier of exceptional head protection systems for military, law enforcement, search and rescue, and adventure markets, today announced that it has entered into a definitive purchase agreement with Avon Rubber p.l.c. (“Avon”) (LON: AVON) under which its subsidiary Avon Protection Systems, Inc. (“Avon Protection”) will acquire Team Wendy for a cash consideration of $130 million USD on a cash-free and debt-free basis, subject to a normalized level of working capital (the “Acquisition”). Together, Avon Protection and Team Wendy will create a global leader in head protection systems for the military and first responder markets, following Avon’s acquisition of Ceradyne from 3M earlier this year.

The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of Avon’s 2021 fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2020. It is subject to Avon shareholder approval, as well as U.S. regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

At the close of the transaction, Team Wendy will operate as a subsidiary of Avon from the Company’s current headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. Team Wendy will continue to be led by its Chief Executive Officer Jose Rizo-Patron and its six department directors, who will all remain in their positions.

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“Today’s announcement marks an exciting new chapter for Team Wendy that will usher in new opportunities for our employees, our customers and our business partners,” said Jose Rizo-Patron, chief executive officer of Team Wendy. “We remain focused on our vision to save lives by providing the best for anyone wearing a helmet. Avon’s management team shares our vision for the growth and expansion of Team Wendy and, as such, we believe they are the right long-term partner for our customers, employees and other stakeholders.”

Avon Protection is the recognized global leader in respiratory and ballistic protection for the world’s militaries and first responders, with more than 1,200 employees in 12 global locations, around 70 percent of whom are based in the U.S. Avon has a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

“The acquisition of Team Wendy is another important strategic step in the transformation of Avon Rubber into a leading provider of life critical personal protection systems,” said Paul McDonald, chief executive officer of Avon. “Team Wendy is a high-quality business with complementary liner and retention system technologies and established positions in Rest of World Military and First Responder helmet markets. Bringing Team Wendy into the same family with our existing Helmets & Armor business establishes Avon Protection as a global leader in Military and First Responder helmets, with an enhanced and broader product portfolio with stronger capabilities and routes to market.”

“We look forward to welcoming Team Wendy into the Avon family and working together to further develop head protection systems that prevent traumatic brain injury and to improve the performance and capability of our customers.”

“Team Wendy was founded to honor the legacy of my late daughter and improve head protection systems to prevent other families from experiencing a similar loss,” said Dan T. Moore, chairman, founder and principal owner of Team Wendy. “My family has always agreed that we would only ever sell Team Wendy if it was to the right partner. In meeting with the Avon leadership team and understanding their vision, it was clear to me that they would honor her legacy and help to drive continued and sustainable growth and innovation.”

CONTACT INFORMATION For more information, you can inquire about the Team Wendy range of products through the following lines of contact.

AMERICA ■ Contact Number: 216.738.2518 ■ Contact Form: www.teamwendy.com/contact

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PRODUCT

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TROOPER JACKET

Helikon-Tex are somewhat of an oddity in the tactical gear market. By that we mean that their journey to becoming one of the biggest manufacturers in Europe is rather different to a lot of their competitors. It was not a new design or innovative feature that birthed Helikon-Tex. Instead, Helikon-Tex was established in 1983, with the company focusing on the acquisition and sale of military surplus. However, the mid-nineties saw the company change direction, and by 1999 Helikon-Tex began to design and manufacture their own range of military and paramilitary equipment.

Helikon-Tex’s continued success is proof that their decision was right, and they are proud to offer a wide range of uniforms, tactical clothing, backpacks, boots and equipment that have gained recognition among soldiers, policemen, law enforcement officers, survival and outdoor enthusiasts all over the world. The company is staffed by those passionate about providing a brilliant end product to the user which combines brilliant design features with cutting edge materials.

While Helikon-Tex themselves are highly knowledgeable in the creation of high quality products, the choice to bring Polish-based Survival Tech on board seems to have been a great choice, with a range of experience brought onboard with their inclusion.

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The Trooper Jacket from Helikon Tex is an extremely lightweight softshell, intended for use in service situations. Manufactured from a highly breathable, high endurance softshell fabric known as ‘Stormstretch’, the Trooper Jacket excels in a plethora of situations – protecting the user from light wind and rain, lending itself well to both standalone use in downpours and as part of a layering system in much colder environments.

The Trooper Jacket also comes with a range of features – all stored within a 670g footprint which makes it the perfect jacket to simply store in case of an emergency. The collar-stowed hood can be deployed fast and easy due to a two-way zipper and is adjustable to fit other headgear or equipment (e.g. headset). Seven pockets ready to stow lots of essentials evenly. Two zippered breast pockets have organizers and lanyard D-rings.

Internal pocket is Velcro-closed. Two zippered upper-sleeve pockets have wiring eyelets. Left lower sleeve has a zippered pocket as well. And finally, there is a large loin channel pocket at the lower back, zippered from both ends. Anatomic cut adjusts to the wearer movements, and elbow reinforcements make them more rugged.

As mentioned, the Trooper Jacket easily compressible, making it easy to transport in a bag, backpack or even a cargo pocket. This lends the jacket well to almost all situations as the end-user can simply stow the jacket away regardless of his intended area of operation as a precautionary measure, which is made even easier thanks to the jacket’s ridiculously small footprint.

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Helikon Tex’s Trooper Jacket is manufactured using a highly breathable, high endurance softshell fabric known as ‘Stormstretch’. This has allowed Helikon Tex to keep the performance levels of the Trooper Jacket high while cutting on weight where possible.

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The Trooper Jacket comes with a range of features which quite simply shouldn’t be found in such a small jacket! Our personal favourite of these is the large loin pocket found towards the rear of the jacket which is large enough for a number of different items!

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One of the biggest draws of the Trooper Jacket is the jacket’s footprint. Weighing in at a measly 670g, the Trooper Jacket is the perfect jacket for those who are unsure whether they’ll be needing a wet weather jacket, but want to store one just in case.

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CONTACT INFORMATION For more information, you can inquire about the Helikon-Tex range of products through the following lines of contact.

POLAND ■ Contact Number: +48 71 769 45 90 ■ Email: shop@helikon-tex.com

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PRODUCT

THE CONCEPT OF CAMOUFLAGE IS BY NO MEANS A NEW ONE. DURING WWII, THE GERMAN ARMY BEGAN MAKING USE OF CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORMS, DESIGNED TO GIVE THEIR TROOPS AN UPPER HAND DURING COMBAT MISSIONS. THIS WAS SOON PICKED UP ON BY BOTH THE BRITISH AND AMERICANS, WITH THE NOW FAMOUS DENISON SMOCK BEING ISSUED TO THE BRITS, AND AMERICAN PATHFINDER UNITS BEGINNING TO MAKE USE OF THE SOOT FROM AIRCRAFT PROPELLERS TO BREAK UP THE SOLID COLOUR OF THEIR JUMP SUITS.

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PRODUCT

HISTORY Camouflage is in somewhat of an interesting position in modern times.

Following the conflict in Afghanistan, a large contingent of NATO forces all switched to either Multicam, or a multicam-like pattern such as the British Multi-Terrain Pattern (MTP). Due to this, very few camouflage patterns have seen use within military units. However, that is not to say that there are not a plethora of effective camouflage patterns on the market – some of which has seen use within the world of Law Enforcement. One such camouflage is the German-made CONCAMO. CONCAMO® is a camouflage system based on perceptual psychology.

Its unsurpassed performance is based on naturally occurring shapes, which were catalogued and evaluated meticulously over the course of many years, and are now included in abstract forms in the CONCAMO pattern. CONCAMO® consists of 25 superimposed layers that combined create a chaotic illusion. The subconscious is overwhelmed by the camouflage pattern and begins to discern natural shapes in it. Through this overload, the relay of relevant information to the conscious mind is either stopped or delayed.

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The development of CONCAMO®‘s proto-patterns already began in 1992, where the owner of CONCAMO, who at the time was just a young boy, spent his time creating a range of custom camouflage patterns by painting olive army uniforms with fabric paint. By 1995, the owner of CONCAMO enlisted into the German Army, where he served in the elite Fallschirmjager paratrooper unit. During this time he was able to further hone his knowledge regarding camouflage. During his active duty there, he perfected his approach to concealment, recognized possibilities for improvement and applied all into the development of CONCAMO®, so professionals would have a no-compromise solution.

Following his time in the German Army, he began working on a new range of camouflage patterns; initially doing so as a hobby. However, as the time and effort exerted began to grow, a decision had to be made – “Back in the closet, or out the world”. The camouflage patterns he began to design were constantly refined until 2017, where he was confident that the current stage presented the desired solution. The final breakthrough was achieved through the application of modern scientific approaches derived from perceptual psychology.

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PATTERNS With more than 30 years of experience in the field of camouflage patterns and the CONCAMO® system, the developer of CONCAMO® is able to create new designs of fully functional camouflage patterns for large customers and government users, matching their specific needs and requirements.

These designs are guaranteed to perform excellent in the visual as well as the infrared range and that they can be patented by the client. In addition to new designs, already existing customer-specific patterns can be improved and performance-enhanced by CONCAMO®. This approach offers the opportunity to maintain a distinctive and familiar appearance while significantly increasing camouflage effectiveness.

CONCAMO works in a rather interesting way. Designed taking into account the idea of perceptual psychology – a branch of cognitive psychology which deals with the pre-conscious innate aspects of the human cognitive system known as perception. The pattern is designed to confuse the brain, leading it to only recognise natural shapes, meaning the brain requires more time to process the information. To do this, CONCAMO utilises twenty-five different camouflage layers to create an illusion of chaos.

CONCAMO plan to release eight different variants of the CONCAMO pattern, with two currently available which are green and brown variants of the pattern.

GREEN

CONCAMO CONCAMO® Green is the universal camouflage pattern of the CONCAMO® pattern family. This variation achieves a very good to excellent camouflage effect in a wide range of green-brown areas. A good camouflage pattern is always a compromise and an “universal” pattern an even bigger one. CONCAMO® Green has solved the task and “IT WORKS”.

BROWN

CONCAMO CONCAMO® Brown was specifically developed for the European and North American fall and winter forest, as well as for drylands with a higher red content in their natural environment. The contour of the user is effectively blurred out by the pattern, even on low-growing, dry meadows, achieving a level of stealth previously known only through the use of ghillie suits.

CURRENT MANUFACTURERS

Sierra 313

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H I K I N G

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PERFECT FOR BATTLE!

HIKING BOOTS COMPARATIVE REPORT

FINDING THE RIGHT PAIR OF HIKING SHOES FOR YOU CAN BE A REAL CHORE. WITH THE HUNDREDS OF PAIRS OUT THERE MADE BY A VARIETY OF MANUFACTURERS IT CAN BECOME VERY EASY TO JUST GO FOR SOMETHING THAT ‘LOOKS GOOD’ WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT A VARIETY OF PERFORMANCE FEATURES THAT COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD HIKE AND A BAD ONE…

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H I K I N G

WHETHER YOU’RE HITTING ONE OF THE TOP TRAILS IN THE WORLD FOR A WEEKEND OF STRENUOUS HIKING OR YOU SIMPLY WANT A PAIR TO WALK THE DOG ALONG YOUR LOCAL TRAIL, THERE ARE A VARIETY OF BOOTS TO CHOOSE FROM. MAKING SURE YOU’RE WEARING THE RIGHT FOOTWEAR WILL GIVE YOU THE SUPPORT YOU NEED ALONG WITH ADDED COMFORT SO YOU DON’T FEEL CRIPPLED THE NEXT MORNING. WHILST A LOT OF THIS WILL COME DOWN TO PERSONAL PREFERENCE, THERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN CHOOSING THE RIGHT HIKING BOOT. Before you buy your hiking boots, decide how seriously you’re going to be taking this; almost matching your boot to your ambition - heavy backpacking boots are really not necessary if all you’re doing is walking the dog. Also ensure you’ve got the right fit. Whilst we all like pretty things, sometimes it’s not the pretty things that ensure you peak performance - if they don’t feel right, don’t buy them!

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BACKPACKING BOOTS

NUBUCK LEATHER

Designed to carry loads of varying weights on multi-day trips into the backcountry. Super durable and supportive, with stiffer midsoles.

Resemble suede. It is very durable and resists water and abrasion.

MOUNTAINEERING BOOTS

Polyester, nylon and so-called “synthetic leather” are all commonly found in modern boots. They are lighter, break in more quickly, dry faster, and usually cost less.

The heaviest of the boots available, these stuff boots are designed to accommodate heavy loads and will allow crampons for glacier travel - perfect for winter hikes in Rocky Mountain or Denali National Park.

BOOT CUT

Whilst this is irrelevant for this article as we’re purely looking at mid-cut boots, it’s always good to have an understanding of the various cuts of boots for later purchases.

LOW-CUT SHOES

Toes should wiggle easily inside the footwear.

These wrap around your ankles and offer some buffer from debris. They’re a good pick for shorter multi-day trips with moderate loads.

HIGH-CUT BOOTS If you need protection and plan on carrying heavy loads then you’ll definitely want a pair of high-cuts, offering enhanced balance and ankle support.

BOOT MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION

Materials impact a boot’s weight, breathability, durability and water resistance.

They resemble running shoes, and are low-cut with flexible midsoles excellent for day hiking.

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FITTING YOUR BOOTS

MID-CUT BOOTS

FULL-GRAIN LEATHER

HIKING BOOTS

WATERPROOF LININGS Boots labeled as “waterproof” feature uppers constructed with waterproof/breathable membranes (such as Gore-Tex® or eVent®). They work well to keep feet dry in wet conditions. Keep in mind that the leather on these boots should be still treated with a waterproofing product.

How a boot fits is without a doubt the most important factor of boot selection. A good fit correctly addresses the 3 dimensions of your foot:

Excellent durability and abrasion resistance; plus very good water resistance. Most commonly used in backpacking boots built for extended trips, heavy loads and rugged terrain.

Mid- or high-cut footwear intended for day hikes or weekend backpacking trips with light loads. Pretty flexible and take less time to break-in. Great for hikes at Grand Canyon or Zion National Park.

SYNTHETICS

A good choice for lighter loads on trails that are maintained. They provide minimal roll-resistance for ankles and leave your feet more vulnerable to debris from dirt, grit, sand and mud.

TYPES OF HIKING BOOTS

LIGHT HIKING SHOES

T E S T

SPLIT-GRAIN LEATHER Usually paired with nylon or nylon mesh to offer lightweight, breathable comfort. Lower cost but less resistant to water and abrasion.

LENGTH WIDTH Feet should not slide around inside footwear; nor should they be compressed from side to side.

VOLUME The “bulk” of your foot should fit securely inside a boot’s interior.

FINAL THOUGHTS

When a boot fits properly there shouldn’t be any play in it whatsoever; you shouldn’t slip around or feel your feet bang into the boot at any point. When looking for a pair of hiking boots I’d fully recommend shopping for them in person instead of buying them online - even if you’ve seen a REAL good deal, just head into your local store and at least try them on first.

One mistake a lot of people make is not wearing the right socks when they go shoe shopping - with a lot of people just wearing their normal thin socks, buying a pair that fits perfectly with them on and then when they try them on with their nice, thick, waterproof trail socks, they realise they’re way too tight.

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MERRELL

MERRELL

I’ll be honest, when it comes to hiking shoes I have absolutely no experience unless you count the usage of the AKU Pilgrim- a brilliant pair of boots but not a pair I would place in the same category as those on test here. However, that is not to say I haven’t had experience with boots, having always had a solid line of boots to use for long distance walking trips. I had begun looking towards perhaps switching over to a specialist hiking boot, so when the chance came to test a pair of Merrell’s – a company name I’m more than familiar with, I jumped at the chance.

I have hiked and hill walked for more years than I can remember and over those years, I have gone through many pairs of boots and my current boots are in need of retirement. I hate giving up on an old pair of hiking boots: we have had adventures together and they have seen me safely home. Their shape has changed over the years, so the fit is fantastic and blisters are a thing of the long distant past. Unfortunately, the soles are scarily smooth in places and I can’t even remember what colour they were when I bought them.

So, time to give up and try out something new.

MOAB MID

I’ve spent a lot of time in boots and the one thing that always gets me is regardless of what boots I buy I always end up with some form of rubbing or blistering or just general sore feet; and I must’ve owned about 10 different pairs of boots in my time. Sure, once you’ve broke them in a bit they almost become a mere extension of yourself but those first two or three outings really aren’t very forgiving. So you can understand my amazement when I got home after 2 days of hiking to realise my feet weren’t covered in blisters and I really wasn’t aching at all!

I’ll be honest, I did take a spare pair of hiking boots with me just incase as some of the reviews I had read on the Moab made me not put a lot of faith in their waterproofing capabilities, and at first I very nearly didn’t even bother with the Moab as when I got to my destination it went from rain to hailstones to sleet and back to rain - there really was no letting up in the awful weather.

But I braved them and can report that these kept my feet more than dry, and I wasn’t wearing any fancy waterproofed socks either. That’s not to say that if I actually put my feet in a stream they wouldn’t have got wet but I don’t plan on going swimming in them if truth be told! I have however been advised to give these a waterproofing for next time - just in case I do end up taking that lunchtime dip.

Going back to the fact I had no blisters or aches after use, the fit of the Moab’s is brilliant and from hearing back from those who I gave other Merrell’s to, it would seem this is something that Merrell have got nailed down, producing a whole range of comfortable hiking shoes.

The one thing I would complain about with these is there apparent lack of any form of ankle support - now I could be completely wrong here and you could be screaming at me for it but as I said, hiking virgin over here. They just seem to offer next to no support and if I were to get a bad footing I feel they wouldn’t offer much protection in terms of twisting or spraining my ankle.

Overall though they’ve been absolutely brilliant so far and have seen a few more shorter outings walking the dogs across the flatness of the Midlands and can imagine they’ll be doing much more hiking sometime soon!

CHAMELEON ARC

I will preface this by pointing out I’m a female, and from what I know, the Chameleon Arc 2 are only available in a female variant, so if you’re male, it might be worth looking towards some of the other options within this report, however, if you’re still with me, then lets explore!

For a long time, I have admired Merrell hiking boots. I owned a pair of Merrell hiking trainers and I used them until they fell to bits, so I was delighted to be given the chance to try out the Chameleon Arc 2 Waterproof. They are classic looking hiking boots with a waterproof rubber coating over toe and sides with a nubuck leather upper. I liked the purple ribbon keeping the laces in place and the other little flashes of purple - a nice touch of colour in an otherwise very plain boot.

I have read a few reviews of these boots and there did seem to be a bit of complaint by people who didn’t find them to be genuinely waterproof. I know it says waterproof in the name, but I think it’s a bit absurd to expect leather hiking boots to keep your feet completely dry. I wore them without waterproofing them over a weekend of rain, hail, snow and mud and I had no problem with wet feet. But frankly, I only did that because I was asked to test them. In normal circumstances, I would always use some sort of waterproofing on my hiking boots, especially where there is stitching, otherwise, at some point you are going to get wet feet.

The magic of these boots though, is in the fit. I can’t remember ever putting on a pair of hiking boots without getting blisters over the first few walks. I walked in the Merrells, often on tarmac, which is not a forgiving surface, for around six hours on the first day and around eight hours the following day.

Although my feet ached a bit when I took them off, I had no blisters. They feel quite stiff as you put the boots on but the foot bed is well formed and holds the foot snugly in the boot. I have Achilles tendon problems (shoving a dog up a rock face in front of me) and I have a set of orthopaedic inserts for shoes and boots. They don’t fit in the Merrells because of the way the foot bed has been formed. Despite this, I have had no tendon pain from wearing the boots.

Merrell uses Ortholite anatomical foot beds in these boots and it shows in the comfort and wearability. Although the boots are not particularly high at the back, they sit over the ankle bones giving support and stability on rocky tracks and I have had no worries rock hopping.

I may have felt a little sad about dumping my old boots but I was over that within my first hour of wearing a pair of well thought out classic hiking boots.

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H I K I N G

B O O T S

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T E S T

JACK PYKE

SALOMON

I’ve only had the Fieldman for a couple of weeks compared to the couple of months I had with the Moab’s so if truth be told I haven’t been able to really put these through their paces. But as to give them a fair review I made sure I was able to get somewhere they would be in their element. Local to us we have a large dog walking area/mountain bike track that is a pretty good area complete with mud, water and the occasional mini hill (I’m in the Midlands, we don’t have many of those!).

Salomon footwear has found itself on the feet of numerous high-profile military units recently, from their low-profile, high-speed XA Pro approach/ running shoes to the chunkier Quest 4D boots, both in us by US Special Forces. They are trusted thanks to a heritage in the outdoor sports market, meaning the engineers behind the shoes themselves have great experience in making fast, light, grippy, supportive and comfortable models, no matter what the intended use.

FIELDMAN

As you can imagine though, with the strange mix of weather we’ve had recently - ranging from beautiful sunshine to massive downpours, the range of testing I managed to get done over a couple of weekends gave me a pretty good insight as to how the boots perform.

In terms of specifications, the Fieldman boasts a huge range, the first we’ll look at is the Vibram sole. As mentioned we’ve had a huge mix of weather and at times some of the terrain I’ve encountered has been extremely wet and slippery, but the Vibram soles provided more than up to the task in terms of grip and I can happily say I didn’t end up on my backside once! The Fieldman claim they are 100% waterproof and breathable and are certainly made to uphold this, and if truth be told these are most probably the best pair out of the six in terms of waterproofing.

Made with full grain leather uppers and an all-round rubber rand, protecting the boot from abrasive terrain, it’s clear these boots are made for the unforgiving outdoors - yet that doesn’t mean they weigh a ton, and although they’re not the lightest pair I’ve ever worn, they certainly aren’t the equivalent of tying bricks to your feet.

There is also a 200 gram Thinsulate insulation lining, which will keep your tootsies warm on the coldest of days - something I’ve been unable to actually test out yet as although it’s ben wet it’s also been pretty mild; but we’ll no doubt be re-visiting these when the winter season comes to see how they hold up.

At £110.00 the Fieldman are by no means a cheap boot, and made by a company that are usually renowned for their cheaper products it was a big surprise to see something £100+ but when you’ve brought in big names like Vibram, Thinsulate and Hydroguard it’s clear as to why they demand such a high price. That’s not to say they’re overpriced though as if truth be told they offer a lot more than some other brands do and you wouldn’t be in bad company if you went out and purchased a pair of these!

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X ULTRA 3 MID GTX

We’ve tested the Salomon X ULTRA 3 MID GTX Boot over the last few months, some of the wettest the UK has been afflicted with in living memory, which has given us a solid insight into how they perform. Although the Discoverys are built with comfort and stability in mind, they are no lounge slippers.

Featuring Salomon’s “Contagrip” non-marking sole, they are grippy on anything from slick concrete to thick mud and the moulded EVA midsole and high-laced design they are supportive and inspire confidence, even with my rather shaky, beaten up ankles!

Lacing options are great thanks to the upper few being hooks allowing you to route and weave the laces as you see fit to avoid hot-spots or pinching as your ankle bends. This also makes the boots rather easier to put on and remove but the downside is that they can be prone to bashing, scraping or breaking off on rough terrain.

Elsewhere the upper of the boot is made from rugged suede and the heel and toe are reinforced with rubber protective cups, making for a boot that’s great for picking your way along rough or rubble strewn ground. Thanks to an “Orpholite” EVA midsole and heel cushioning, the boot is protective from every angle against this kind of terrain. A waterproof Goretex liner keeps your feet dry and a gusseted tongue prevents even ankle-deep water from permeating for a short period of time. We waded through several deep puddles and no real quantity of water penetrated the outer of the boot.

Sloppy, gloopy mud was just the same.

Thanks to its lightweight construction and comfortable build, the Salomon X ULTRA 3 MID GTX is at home climbing and descending on all kinds of terrain, even doing well on tarmac and interiors without feeling too “clumpy” as boots often can. The sole is firm enough and aggressive enough to provide traction on most surfaces but also sheds mud quickly. After a few full days wear, including an entire weekend in one go, the boots is still fresh and dry thanks to an abrasion resistant, quick drying liner. Our only real qualm is the slightly purple hue these boots are coloured in, although several different drab grey green tones are available, which may suit your needs better. Overall, these are a solid, dependable boot that is ideal for all-year use and may only find itself out of its depth at the extreme ends of the weather spectrum.

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MERRELL

TUCSON GTX MID

I remember reading somewhere that fitness can be simple, the most effective work out doesn’t need the use of a ton of fancy fitness machines, in fact running or in my case walking is an excellent way to stay in shape. If you intend to do some serious walking you’re going to need to get hold of a decent pair of hiking boots, if you want to you can pound the tarmac in a pair of sports shoes, but you will have to ask yourself are they going to stand up to the job? They may be fine walking to your local, but cross country? That’s a whole new question and an entirely different type of foot wear.

As with all boots and shoes you’re going to be attracted first of all by their appearance and then may be cost? But with a specialist/ performance pair of boots there are a whole heap of other factors and things you’re going to have to consider. Comfort ranks highly when choosing any kind of foot wear, but for me ankle support and durability were on the top of my list, not to mention waterproofing. Now you could argue that there are a number of hiking boots that offer those exact qualities and you would be right.

For me it was arguably cost over appearance, comfort, ankle support, durability and stability on uneven and firm ground, because let’s face it a hiking boot that looks this good might find their way onto my feet on a trip to the pub and that the beauty of many of today’s modern hiking boots not only do they offer foot and ankle protection across country, but they equally look right at home walking down the high street.

Merrell Tucson Mids have been designed with a durable outsole that can take on any terrain, featuring deep lugs that offer great traction along with a padded ankle collar and lace up front for a secure and comfortable fit. These Merrell walking boots also come with a waterproof upper with breathable mesh panels for cooling protection from the elements.

The Tuscan Mids oozed comfort for the first fitting, with no rubbing or chafing after a week of moderate walking, the breathable mesh panels kept my feet well ventilated, whilst the boots waterproof upper kept my feet bone dry .The Tuscan mids also come with what Merrell call “M-Select GRIP Technology”, which essentially gives the wearer more traction, by the sole of the boot releasing dirt and debris that would normally build up on muddy ground.

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PRODUCT

THE SAFARILAND GROUP, A COMPANY WITH A RICH HERITAGE IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SPORTING MARKETS, ENCOMPASSES A GROUP OF RECOGNIZED AND WELL-RESPECTED BRANDS KNOWN FOR THEIR INNOVATION AND QUALITY. SAFARILAND ARE COMMITTED TO FOCUSING ON THE CUSTOMER FIRST IN ALL THEY DO. THEIR MISSION, TOGETHER, WE SAVE LIVES, IS MUCH MORE THAN A STATEMENT; IT IS A CREED THE COMPANY LIVES BY. THIS YEAR, THE SAFARILAND GROUP CELEBRATED 55-YEARS OF PROVIDING TRUSTED AND INNOVATIVE LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, MILITARY, OUTDOOR RECREATION AND PERSONAL PROTECTION MARKETS.

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PRODUCT

The Safariland Group is a leading global provider of a broad range of safety and survivability products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets. The Safariland Group offers a number of recognized brand names in these markets including Safariland® armour, duty gear and communications, Bianchi®, Break Free®, Hatch® and Nik® to name a few. With a product range that spans four different sectors: Tactical, Military, Law Enforcement and Recreational Shooting, you can rest assured that there will be a Safariland variant on the market to fulfil a specific need.

SAFARILAND IMPULSE HEARING RANGE

IMPULSE HEARING PROTECTION RANGE

Innovation. Performance. Excellence. Legacy. These are values that the Safariland Group abide by on a daily basis – ensuring that regardless of the day, month, product or AO, a Safariland Group product will never fail you in the heat of battle. With a rich heritage in the law enforcement and sporting markets, the Safariland Group encompasses a group of recognised and well-respected brands that are known for their innovation and quality – all in an effort to equip those who need it with the equipment to save lives.

Safariland®, a brand of The Safariland Group, a leading global provider of safety products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets, announced today that it is expanding its Impulse Hearing Protection line. The new Foam Impulse Hearing Protection blocks damaging noise while allowing conversation and other ambient sounds in - without the need for expensive electronics.

Celebrating their 55th anniversary this year, the Safariland Group have gone from strength to strength, providing trusted and innovative life-saving equipment to law enforcement, military, outdoor recreation and personal protection markets. As they move into the future, the Safariland Group rely on this legacy to guide and influence the company’s growth through their collective pledge to achieve excellence, and to do so while putting the customer first, always.

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Safariland’s Impulse Hearing Protection Range still remains humbly small compared to other Safariland product ranges with two different options – the new foam variant and the ‘Pro’ variant, which offers superior noise-blocking performance in a reusable high-end earplug. Whichever way you look at it, Safariland’s Impulse Hearing Protection Range could well become a staple of the shooting industry, providing two products at an incredibly low price-point but offering incredibly high quality.

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SAFARILAND

1 FOAM IMPULSE HEARING PROTECTION

The Safariland Foam Impulse Hearing Protection uses patent-pending filter technology to instantly reduce dangerous sound levels while still allowing speech and audio to be heard. Soft, memory foam tips provide a universal fit and all-day comfort, while the removable neck cord keeps them from getting lost when not in use. Adjust your hearing protection on the fly by using either Impulse Mode to achieve 38db Peak Impulse Reduction + 13db Continuous Reduction, or Full-Block Mode to achieve 20db Continuous Reduction. Ideal for the shooting range, hunting, tactical training or operational missions.

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FEATURES ■ Instantly reduces dangerous sound levels while still allowing speech and audio to be heard ■ Full-Block Mode = 20db Continuous Reduction ■ Impulse Mode = 38db Peak Impulse Reduction + 13db Continuous Reduction ■ Universal-fit, memory foam tip ■ Removable neck cord ■ No batteries required

SAFARILAND

2 PRO IMPULSE HEARING PROTECTION

This unique product offers superior noise-blocking (NRR of 33dB) performance in a reusable, high-end earplug. Its enhanced contoured shape is easy to insert and the proprietary material offers superior long-wearing comfort, delivering solid performance that you can depend on - helping the end-user guard against hearing damage caused by automatic fire and single gun shots, artillery fire and explosions, reducing them to safe levels, less likely to cause long term damage. The patented Impulse Filter Technology, automatically engages to protect hearing but allows normal ambient audio to pass through. Great use for protection against single shot, explosions, automatic rifle fire, artillery, impulse & impact noise.

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FEATURES ■ Automatically engages to protect hearing ■ Still allows for ambient audio ■ Proprietary material for long wear comfort ■ Includes key chain aluminium transport/storage case ■ No batteries required ■ Two sizes of ear inserts included (one pair of filters)

“I’M AMAZED HOW WELL THEY KNOCK DOWN NOISE LEVELS,” STATED ROB LEATHAM, PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION SHOOTER. “IT’S A REAL GAME-CHANGER IN THE FACT THAT I CAN LEAVE THE FOAM IMPULSE EARBUDS IN MY EARS AT ALL TIMES TO PROTECT MY HEARING, BUT STILL HEAR WHAT’S HAPPENING AROUND ME. YOU CAN’T DO THAT WITH REGULAR, PASSIVE EARPLUGS OR EARMUFFS!” CONTACT INFORMATION You can inquire about Safariland Group’s products directly through the following lines of contact.

AMERICA ■ Contact Number: 800.347.1200 ■ Website: www.safariland.com

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QUICK LOOK

Recently purchased by High Speed Gear, makers of the world famous TACO line, Comp-Tac are now well placed to push their range of equipment to a wider market, and in the process have started to target new equipment pro-actively as opposed to reactionary, as shown by the release of their new range of GLOCK .40 Generation 5 holsters, weeks before the pistol is released in the United States. In addition to the fits already available, Comp-Tac plans to eventually expand every holster offering to accommodate the wider bodies of the .40 Gen 5s.

Comp-Tac Victory Gear® is devoted to designing and manufacturing the highest quality concealed carry, competition, tactical holsters and related accessories on the market. Comp-Tac® products offer options that make it easy and comfortable to carry a firearm for all of our customers: law enforcement, military, shooting sports enthusiasts and responsibly armed citizens. We build with the customer in mind, ensuring speed of manufacturing, quality of product, competitive pricing and superior customer service to support the desire to take responsibility for personal safety, security and recreational firearm use.

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“Being able to work with firearms manufacturers during the release of new weapons is a real honor for Comp-Tac,” said Gordon Carrell, Comp-Tac general manager. “The new Glock Gen 5 .40 caliber guns have a slightly wider frame than the previous generations and Comp-Tac has been able to design holsters to fit these new guns in a short period of time. Because of that, these new holsters will be ready for purchase before these new Glocks are even available, allowing customers to carry those firearms right away.”

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COMP-TAC

1 INTERNATIONAL HOLSTER

The International Holster is an OWB, all-Kydex® holster with a modular mounting system that includes a belt mount, paddle mount and drop offset piece. The International has been the top holster used at the IDPA nationals for eight years in a row and is an excellent choice for those who want to participate in competitive shooting events or head to the range for some training time.

COMP-TAC

2 INFIDEL ULTRA MAX HOLSTER

The Infidel Ultra Max Holster is an IWB, Kydex-and-leather hybrid holster designed for concealed carry. The Infidel Ultra Max is designed with cant adjustment holes to allow the user to change from a reverse cant, straight drop speed cant and FBI forward cant. The Infidel Ultra Max’s top-grain, cowhide leather backing is the most comfortable material to wear against your skin. It provides a soft, flexible material that does not rub or pinch.

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COMP-TAC

3 INFIDEL MAX HOLSTER

The Infidel Max Holster is an all-Kydex inside-the-waistband holster designed to be worn behind the hip at the 4 o’clock or 5 o’clock positions. With an easy-on, easy-off single clip, this holster is a favorite for users who want the ability to put on their gun or take it off as their environment changes.

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COMP-TAC

4 BLUE DUTY HOLSTER

The Blue Duty Holster Series no light version is a level two outside the waistband holster. The Blue Duty Optic no light will accommodate a firearm with a red-dot optic attached. With a belt mount, paddle mount and drop offset, this holster provides a high level of diversity and compatibility with level two retention.

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5 WARRIOR HOLSTER

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The Warrior Holster is an outside-the-waistband holster that was recently tested and recommended by the National Training Officers Association (NTOA). The all-Kydex, pancake design is excellent for concealed carry or general range use.

COMP-TAC

6 EV2 HOLSTER

The eV2 Holster is an appendix IWB holster designed for concealed carry. The eV2 includes the Comp-Tac Kick, a piece designed to help press the grip of the gun into the body for better concealment.

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COVERT BOOT

BLACK / BROWN / TITANIUM / SRP: £49.95

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ON TEST

MUOS AND THE SOFTWARE-UPGRADE FOR THE AN/PRC-117G RECENT FIELD DEMONSTRATIONS PROVIDED THE U.S. MARINE CORPS WITH AN UP-CLOSE PERSPECTIVE ON THE ROBUST CAPABILITIES OF THE AN/PRC-117G MULTIBAND NETWORKING MANPACK RADIO FEATURING THE MOBILE USER OBJECTIVE SYSTEM (MUOS) SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS WAVEFORM. Recently, the Marines evaluated MUOS and the software-upgraded AN/ PRC-117G during a series of exercises at Steel Knight 20. There, the warfighters from the 1st Marine Division conducted a series of scenarios across multiple training sites in California and Arizona designed to simulate operations against peer and high-capability adversaries.

“Adding this capability to the 117G enables the Marines to leverage the proven radios they have already deployed, fought and trained with to access the advanced capabilities and capacity of the MUOS satellites with a simple software upgrade,” Dana Mehnert, president of L3Harris Communication Systems, said. “The MUOS upgrade also enables

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interoperability with other U.S. DOD and allied users who deploy this advanced capability.”

Exercise Steel Knight 20 included the longest-range raid exercise in 14 years. It included 29 aircraft that transported ground troops from Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, to a simulated combat zone in Yuma, Arizona. Transmitting and receiving near-real-time updates during the long-range movement to the objective, the raid force commander was able to adjust and plan his raid based on any changes. The Beyond-Line-Of-Site (BLOS) and On-The-Move (OTM) capability offered by the AN/PRC-117G and MUOS led to a successful raid on the objective and met the commander’s intent for digital interoperability and Command-and-Control On-The-Move.

Scenarios, which were designed to demonstrate Command-and-Control (C2) connectivity throughout entire mission threads, saw MUOS employed throughout simulated congested and contested battlespaces. AN/PRC-117Gs were operated by dismounted Marine Rifle Squads in addition to being integrated on board a variety of Marine-specific platforms, including MV-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor air frames, HMMWVs, and Light Armored Vehicles – the latter of which were used to support amphibious assault operations.

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The exercise followed seven months in which U.S. Marine Corps Systems Command conducted a series of end-user evaluations designed to assess the latest version of the MUOS SATCOM system.

THE GAME-CHANGER MUOS’ robust quality on the L3Harris terminals allows warfighters to communicate seamlessly when on the move, without needing to stop the mission to point antennas to regain communications, according to Marty LoBiondo, L3Harris’ product line management waveform director.

“It allows users to stay connected even in sub-optimal conditions,” he said. “MUOS provides the warfighter with significantly enhanced capabilities that enable new tactics, techniques and procedures for communication Beyond-Line-Of-Sight.”

Further, MUOS has allowed M777 and HIMARS artillery assets to coordinate fires from longer distances with fewer assets, Robert Brown, L3Harris’ lead sales engineer for Communication Systems, said.

Brown also highlighted the significant increase of MUOS in the Air Combat Element C2 community.

The MUOS terminal is much less burdensome on Marines than legacy SATCOM systems, Jeff Wrobel, L3Harris director of Navy and Marine Corps Business, said of the system’s operational advantages.“Once you program and turn it on, you’re pretty much ready to go,” he said.

The Marine Corps is expected to operate the MUOS waveform as it replaces legacy narrowband SATCOM capabilities. Designed to ship data from the tactical “edge” across the battlespace, MUOS relies upon a network of satellites in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO).

The upgraded AN/PRC-117Gs had been optimized to support the MUOS waveform in extreme latitudes. Historically, armed forces have struggled to maintain Line-Of-Sight connectivity to GEO satellites in these areas.

Additional operational benefits of the upgraded MUOS waveform over legacy SATCOM systems include enhanced voice quality and data support.

LOOKING FORWARD – NOW The Marine Corps is focused on MUOS support of Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) in addition to naval vessels, according to Brown.

“The Marine Expeditionary Force has been doing a lot of work with the MEUs recently to integrate the MUOS capability aboard the Amphibious Readiness Group ships,” he said.

THE AN/PRC-117G AND AN/PRC-158 MUOS SOFTWARE UPGRADE PROVIDES THE MARINES WITH A GREATER NUMBER OF SATCOM USERS, ENHANCED VOICE AND DATA COMMUNICATION, AS WELL AS ROBUSTNESS IN DISADVANTAGED ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THEY OPERATE, SUCH AS URBAN AND HIGH/LOW LATITUDE LOCATIONS.

AN/PRC-117G UPGRADES Upgrades to the AN/PRC-117G have enabled the Marine Corps to ensure an “easy MUOS upgrade across the Corps without recapitalizing its entire installed base of radio systems,” Wrobel said.

L3Harris has also designed three new antennas for operations on the AN/PRC-117G to support the upgraded MUOS waveform.

These omni-directional antennas provide end users with OTM communications. They eliminate the need for users to “pan and tilt” antennas to align with any of the multiple MUOS satellites.

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QUICK LOOK

PERSISTENT SYSTEMS HAS UNVEILED THE NEW RUGGED DISPLAY AND CONTROLLER (RDC) FOR THE MPU5 MOBILE AD HOC NETWORKING (MANET) DEVICE. AN ALTERNATIVE TO THIRD-PARTY CONSUMER ANDROID™ PHONES USED WITH THE MPU5, PERSISTENT’S PURPOSE BUILT RDC OFFERS IMPROVED RUGGEDNESS, ERGONOMICS, AND ENTERPRISE-CLASS MANAGEMENT IN ONE OF THE FEW ANDROID™ END USER DEVICES (EUD) MADE IN AMERICA.

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QUICK LOOK

“WHEN YOU PLUG IN THE RDC, YOU INSTANTLY HAVE A COMPLETE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS CAPABILITY,” SAID BRIAN SOLES, PERSISTENT’S VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. “THE MPU5 IS A COMPUTER THAT RUNS THE ANDROID™ OPERATING SYSTEM, AND EVERY MPU5 COMES PREINSTALLED WITH THE TACTICAL ASSAULT KIT (TAK), WHICH IS A FULL-FLEDGED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS ANDROID™ APP.” The RDC’s 5.7-inch multi-touch screen, combined with the Dual PTT and MPU5, comprise a complete kit for the tactical operator, allowing that operator to receive voice, video, and situational awareness data directly from every user, unmanned systems, and sensor on the network.

Designed for tactical users who wear gloves, the RDC has physical buttons for ease and speed of use, including the Android™ standard

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Home, Back, and App Overview buttons. When connected, the RDC appears to Android™ as a Gamepad Input Device, with two (2) joysticks, rocker-switches, A-B-X-Y buttons, and an emulated D-Pad. Tactical users can now navigate their applications faster, using joysticks to zoom in and hotkeys to quickly switch between functions.

Eight integrated high-precision sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, thermometer, pressure, light sensors, and rear-facing camera) feed data into the Android™ Sensor Framework, enabling applications to incorporate motion, orientation, and environmental data.

“We designed the RDC to match the chest-worn formfactor that users were already accustomed to with commercial EUDs, while delivering increased ruggedness and capability,” Soles added. “We contracted Juggernaut.Case to design the chest mount, to provide a unified experience to the end-user.”

Wave Relay® Ecosystem partners and third parties have developed Android™ applications to drive unmanned ground robots, fly unmanned aerial vehicles, and steer EO/IR cameras. The RDC helps achieve Persistent’s vision to deliver those capabilities to every soldier through the networked battlefield.

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HERBERT B. RUBENS, PH.D.

DAVID HOLMER, PH.D.

Dr. Rubens is responsible for both strategic and technical directions at Persistent Systems. As the Founder and CEO, Dr. Rubens has led Persistent from its inception to a 120+ employee company with 3 Offices in the United States and a global partner network. Dr. Rubens holds a BS, MS, and PhD degree in Computer Science all from the Johns Hopkins University. He also has a minor in Business and Entrepreneurship. Dr. Rubens is an expert in mobile ad hoc wireless networking and distributed systems and has more than a dozen publications in international conferences and journals. His research interests include scalable routing protocols, adaptive routing metrics, distributed algorithms, energy efficient protocol design, and Byzantine robust security algorithms.

He brings to the team over 17 years of experience in wireless network protocol design and real-world systems implementation.

Dr. David Holmer is the research and development lead for Wave Relay.

He has a background in sophisticated high performance distributed and network systems design and implementation. Dr. Holmer has roots in both Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, yielding a unique insight into wireless networking, which spans both fields. This insight was honed over six years of academic research at Johns Hopkins University. This research resulted in a multitude of peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Holmer has vast range of experience from real world practical deployment issues up through theoretical algorithmic scaling issues. The full use of this experience has been invaluable during the development of Wave Relay. Dr. Holmer has a B.S. in both Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. He also obtained a Masters and Ph.D. in Computer Science, all from the Johns Hopkins University.

ABOUT PERSISTENT SYTSTEMS, LLC Persistent Systems offers a secure and scalable mobile networking capability based on its cutting-edge Wave Relay MANET Technology. Persistent’s products provide a total solution consisting of voice, video, and situational awareness to mobile users with no reliance on fixed infrastructure. For more than a decade, Persistent has been a pioneer in developing advanced MANET technology and commercializing it in the Defense and Industrial sectors.

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ULTIMA JACKET BLACK / DARK COYOTE / GREEN / SRP: £89.95

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PRODUCT

THYRM LLC IS AN AMERICAN FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS LED BY THE BELIEF THAT INNOVATIVE, ROBUST PRODUCTS CAN MAKE USERS MORE EFFECTIVE AND RESILIENT. THEIR DESIGN TEAM HAS MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE DEVELOPING TOOLS FOR OPERATORS IN HIGH-RISK PROFESSIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THEY WORK WITH MULTIPLE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WITHIN THE PRODUCTS’ FIELD OF USE TO ENSURE THEIR DESIGNS MEET USER NEEDS. The SwitchBack® and CellVault® products are designed and manufactured in the USA in partnership with injection molding experts who understand the critical performance needs of their products and what’s at stake for their customers. CLENS is also produced in the USA. THYRM backs all its products for life, providing soldiers, emergency personnel, and responsible citizens the support they deserve. Thyrm believe that designing and manufacturing products in the USA contributes to the community, speeds product development, and keeps products in stock.

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CELLVAULT-18 Not long ago, the best tactical lights were fueled by CR123 batteries.

We were all generally happy with 600 lumens and an extra budget line item for disposable cells. But in the last couple years that has changed completely. Enter the latest 18650 and 18350 rechargeable batteries, generating huge lumen and candela numbers in SureFire, Modlite, & Streamlight flashlights. To keep up with these lights, Thyrm has developed a next-generation CellVault that can protect 18-series spare batteries while keeping them immediately accessible.

Premium batteries require protection from physical and environmental damage but need to remain accessible to keep tactical lights running at full power. The CellVault-18 takes attachable battery storage to the next level with new features like side windows that help you verify gear status, a metal locking latch, and waterproof double-layer construction.

From Andrew Frazier, CEO of Thyrm: “The new CellVault-18 includes features we know our customers are going to love, like side windows that help them verify gear status, a metal locking latch, and fully waterproof double-layer construction. We’re really proud of how the design came together and can’t wait to get them in the hands of first-responders and outdoor enthusiasts alike.”

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INSTALLATION

CELLVAULT-18

■ Unlock the bottom latch and open the CellVault-18.

■ Fold the latch flat to reduce profile.

■ Insert the rigid strut through MOLLE/PALS Webbing.

■ Unfold the latch to 90 degrees.

■ Verify foam shock absorber is at the bottom of the CellVault-18 tube.

■ Insert battery (or batteries) with the positive (+) terminal towards the foam at the bottom.

■ Close the tube and latch, making sure no material is caught in the tube/cap interface.

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PRODUCT

THE TACTICAL ASSAULT KIT (TAK) IS A MAP-BASED SOFTWARE APPLICATION THAT ENABLES COORDINATION AMONG THOUSANDS OF USERS WITH FEATURES SUCH AS A POSITION DATA, CHAT, MISSION PLANNING AND SHARED OVERLAYS. IT IS COMPATIBLE WITH ANDROID, APPLE IOS AND WINDOWS. The Tactical Assault Kit virtual offsite will offer stakeholders from across the Department of Defense (DoD), federal agencies and industry an opportunity to exchange information and identify critical needs. The event will offer tracks for software development, programmatic updates and training on TAK platforms.

“The intent of these sessions is to learn from issues that may have arisen in the past year, produce innovative capabilities and reduce duplicative efforts,” said Josh Sterling, director of the TAK Product Center at the The Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center – a component of Army Futures Command’s Combat Capabilities Development Command.

“Any time we can get more feedback and lessons learned, it’s a data point we can use to improve the platform. I think this is a great way to generate

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cross-team collaboration that will spur both the development cycle and integration as we continue to push and facilitate a more universal type TAK operation.”

As the central software development hub for all TAK efforts, including 15 DoD programs of record, the C5ISR Center’s TAK Product Center provides software updates and testing for an enhanced user experience.

To foster innovation, the TAK Product Center approved the public release of a non-military variant for federal and government agencies – known as the Android Team Awareness Kit-Civilian (ATAK-CIV) application – on Google Play and the open-source Standard ATAK Software Development Kit on TAKmaps.com.

“TAK is an extensible platform, meaning that we give you a baseline and based on your mission requirements you can build on that baseline to bridge capability gaps,” said Mark Roberts, deputy director for the TAK Product Center.

“Anyone who has a job requirement to display point location information – the military, DoD and federal agencies, state and local authorities, firefighters and emergency responders – will benefit from these sessions.

This is a great opportunity to give them a peek at what’s being done around the TAK community,” he said.

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QUICK LOOK

“EVOLUTION IS QUITE INCREDIBLE” IT IS ALMOST PARADOXICAL TO POINT OUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EVOLUTION, BY WHICH ONE MEANS IT IS AN OBVIOUS NEED WITHIN ALL WALKS OF LIFE; ESPECIALLY WITHIN A CONSUMER MARKETPLACE. WELL AWARE OF THIS, CARINTHIA® HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK AND HAVE SINCE RELEASED THEIR LATEST RANGE OF COLD-WEATHER PRODUCTS - THE 4.0 RANGE.

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QUICK LOOK

CONTACT INFORMATION For more information, you can enquire about the Carinthia range of products through the following lines of contact.

AUSTRIA ■ Contact Number: 43 (0) 4762 5101 - 19

PART OF GOLDECK TEXTIL GMBH, CARINTHIA® PRIDE THEMSELVES ON THE CREATION OF EQUIPMENT THAT THEIR END-USERS CAN FULLY RELY ON. WITH A RANGE OF PRODUCTS THAT INCLUDES SLEEPING BAGS AND TECHNICAL JACKETS, ALONG WITH A PLETHORA OF IN-HOUSE DESIGNED TECHNOLOGIES, CARINTHIA ARE SLOWLY BECOMING RECOGNISED AS A SERIOUS PLAYER WITHIN THE TACTICAL GEAR INDUSTRY. Carinthia® have built their success around a simple ethos. While the worlds of outdoor athletes, operators and hunters are all vastly different, they all share a single common

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denominator - a complete reliance on the equipment they use on a day-to-day basis.

With such a reliance comes the need to have complete trust in the company you are buying from, and with almost seventy years of experience in the production of sleeping bags and cold-weather protective clothing, it comes as no surprise that professionals around the world often place their faith in Carinthia.

The combination of years of research & development as well as the use of constant feedback in the product development stage have allowed Carinthia to stay ahead of the pack, and thus create through professionalism and flexibility in production quality solutions that provide greater comfort and safety. All of this is done completely in Europe, allowing them to maintain a certain level of production excellence, an excellence that has become a hallmark of Carinthia products.

“EVOLUTION IS QUITE INCREDIBLE”

Over the years, Carinthia have endeavoured to bring their end-user the best in cold-weather protection. Through constant

research and development; often aided by their collaboration with a number of Special Operations Forces, they have been able to stay at the cutting-edge of performance technology. Through the combination of state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities and their own, in-house formulated technologies such as G-LOFT, Carinthia have reached a point in their history where they are regarded as a true asset within the tactical gear industry.

Now in it’s fourth iteration, Carinthia have managed to further refine their well-known cold-weather range, introducing three product ranges that have been at the heart of Carinthia’s technical clothing range since it’s inception. Through the use of new materials and an optimised cut, Carinthia have achieved the unthinkable; improving on their already successful 3.0 range, providing the next evolutionary stage for military and law-enforcement professionals around the world. With three new product ranges already rolled out, the 4.0 could well be interminable, and Gear-up welcomes what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting product ranges of 2019.

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CARINTHIA

DEFENCE 1

The Defence 1 is a lightweight sleeping bag designed to serve as a summer sleeping bag. Due to this, the Defence 1 condenses down to an extremely small stuff size and carries very little weight. The shellproof shell fits loosely over the inner structure and provides an extra layer of insulation with no cold seams. This construction ensures reserve warmth for cool, foggy nights. In warmer weather the bottom part of the two-way zipper can be opened for ventilation.

The zipper is non-snagging to ensure ease of access/exit.

■ Mummy shape ■ Differencial cut ■ 1 Layer Construction with Loose Outer Shell ■ Quick Release 2 Way Center Zipper ■ Zipper Baffle ■ Zipper Flap ■ Anti Snag Ribbon ■ Heat Reflection Insert ■ Trapezoidal Foot Section ■ Compression bag included

CARINTHIA

DEFENCE 4

The Defence 4 was designed specifically for the military sector and is one of the best-selling 3-season sleeping bags in its class.

It is characterized by its centre zipper and an extremely robust and waterproof outer material. The zippered cover flap protects against wind and moisture and the integrated zipper warming strip additionally prevents heat loss. The outer shell is a super-light, highly resistant, microfibre nylon with a fine microporous coating which makes it water-repellent. There is a generous draft tube on the inside of the zipper to prevent heat loss at the zipper.

■ Combinable (Part of the Sleeping Bag System - Tropen) ■ Differencial cut ■ Zipper cover flap ■ Trapezoidal foot section ■ Zipper heat strip ■ Anti-snag tape ■ 2-Way Zipper ■ Thermoflect ■ 2-Layer Construction ■ Compression bag included

CARINTHIA

DEFENCE 6

The Defence 6 is the largest of the three Defence sleeping bags, and as such is the highest performing variant within the range.

This high-performance winter sleeping bag is designed for uncompromising warmth retention in arctic conditions. It has a triple-layer sandwich construction with a loose-fitting Shellproof shell which guarantees optimum warmth. It has a generous zipper baffle on the inside of the zipper to prevent any heat loss. In addition it has a protection flap on the outside to keep out wind and wetness.

■ Mummy shape ■ Differencial cut ■ 3 Layer Construction with Loose Outer Shell ■ Neck Baffle ■ Quick Release 2 Way Center Zipper ■ Zipper Baffle ■ Zipper Flap ■ Anti Snag Ribbon ■ Heat Reflection Insert ■ Trapezoidal Foot Section

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ON TEST

CONTACT INFORMATION You can inquire about the Gerber range of products through the following lines of contact.

Alternatively, you can find an extensive list of their dealers via their website: gerbergear.com AMERICA ■ Contact Number: 800-950-6161

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Founded in 1939, Gerber have reliably served their customer base for 80 years, providing products that revolve around three key points quality, reliability and innovation. Working out of their base in Portland, Oregon, Gerber have created a global supply chain that has seen their profile grow since the companies inception. Carried extensively by hunters, soldiers and tradesmen, decades of innovation and dedication to their cause, Gerber have cemented themselves as one of the biggest companies within the marketplace, with millions around the world relying on the quality of their products.

With a wide range of products ranging from knives to machetes, multi-tools to shovels, they have consistently been able to pinpoint the specific needs of their end-users, and deliver products that have become engrained within their various sectors. You need only look at their track record to see how revered their products are. Gerber are in fact so confident that each item is backed by a lifetime warranty, almost challenging their users to find fault in their products.

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GERBER CENTRE-DRIVE MULTI-TOOL Made in the USA the Centre Drive features a stamped 1.5mm stainless steel chassis with a massive oversized hinging system and cut outs for weight saving and styling; all the tool bits are made from hardened, blackened steel for contrast. The combined plier system is deployed easily with one hand on the slider and the spring system makes one-handed use straightforward. The jaws lock in to place with precision and form a rock solid tool when in use, there’s no flex from the hinge or the arms even under heavy load so you can use the needle nose, conventional pliers or removable/ replaceable carbide wire cutting teeth with confidence.

When the tool is closed you can flip out the large 3.5” fine-edged blade.

This locks into place with a leaf spring device and the opposing spring locking device on the tool frame gives you a good purchase point to confidently work the blade under pressure. Safety here is paramount and there’s nothing worse than wobbly, insecure cutting tools but the Centre Drive is ALMOST like using a dedicated knife.

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Externally, the Centre Drive can also deploy its namesake trick without opening the folding chassis.

The tool features a long drive shaft that is canted to position the removable and exchangeable bits on the centreline of the tool. This gives increased torque and better control making even tight screws a doddle to work with. The bits supplied are a crosshead bit and a flat head bit, but these are easily exchangeable for any commonly available tool bits if you need torx or other 1/4” bits. They are securely held in place with a magnet and there’s a slot in the sheath supplied with the tool to store more. When opening the tool up you are presented with the selection of fold out tools.

A serrated blade just shy of 3” long can be engaged along with a file featuring two graded sides both coarse and fine along with an angular awl a small pry bar/bottle opener combination and on the other side, a retainer for a spare driver bit.

These tools aren’t quite as robust feeling or optimised as the pliers, the primary blade and the driver but they are still definitely useable. The Gerber Centre Drive is definitely a serious tool for serious use but let’s not beat around the bush, at £129 RRP you are going to have high expectations. Over the years I have twisted or damaged a few smaller, lighter and cheaper multitools because let’s face it, you end up using them in “bodge” situations and Gerber have built this thing to take that abuse.

The Centre Drive is undoubtedly premium priced but to soften the blow it does come with a good quality pouch that can be mounted vertically to horizontally on a belt or strap and with the addition of a MALICE clip, onto a MOLLE platform. This is a premium multi-tool that truly redefines the term “heavy duty”.

The innovative centre-axis driver opens to align like a real screwdriver, yielding maximum torque and rotation. No productivity is sacrificed with the addition of a 30% longer outboard blade and one-thumb opening sliding jaws.

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The Centre Drive comes with an array of tools, ensuring you will never be caught in a situation where you’re unable to complete the task at hand – all of which fold into the handle to ensure safe transport.

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One of the main selling points of the Centre Drive is its pliers. Boasting a pair of spring-loaded needlenose pliers, the Centre Drive makes use of an X-Channel rail system which allows you to store the pliers safely when not in use.

3

To allow for optimum levels of interchangeability, the Centre Drive incorporates a magnetic 3.2” Centre-Axis bit driver. This bit driver is accompanied by a range of interchangeable driver bits to ensure you are able to find the correct tool for the job.

4

The Centre Drive comes complete with a Gerber branded sheath, complete with elasticated sides and an adjustable back strap. This can then be mounted onto any MOLLE platform with the

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