SKD Tactical recently contacted us about a new addition to the Patrol Incident Gear (PIG) line of products. My ears perk every time I hear about a new PIG product as I’m a huge fan of the PIG Plate Carrier and hydration carrier which I use at work.

In addition to the Plate Carrier, hydration carrier, gRUNT modular pack, and other accessories they now have a line of gloves called the PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT-Alpha) Glove.

Why add another set of gloves to the market? Well read on my friends as it will make total sense.

So Many Gloves

So why did SKD produce the PIG FDT Gloves? With the sea of glove choices on the market today, there are certainly plenty of gloves to choose from. I have several pairs of gloves both personally bought and issued at work. I really wasn’t thrilled with the thought of adding another pair to the pile.

I have gloves sitting in the garage, in the trunk of my cruiser, and in a few bug out bags. To be totally honest I really don’t like wearing gloves. Even during my time in the Army I avoided wearing them when I could. Therefore they sit in all these places waiting to be used which rarely happens.

All of them sit there except for my Army issue Nomex flight gloves and a pair of Mechanix gloves from Lowes. Out of all the gloves I own these are the ones that get used if needed. Most of the time its working in the garage or on my truck. They were inexpensive, light weight and disposable. If I put a hole in the finger I dont get bent out of shape. I just tossed them in the trash and buy a new pair.

These type of gloves are the only ones I like wearing, as they have the best tactile feel. Since I grew up in Hawaii and now live here in Florida I’m not accustomed to wearing gloves much. It just wasn’t something I grew up dealing with, so when I need to put a pair on they have to be light weight and have good dexterity.

PIG Full Dexterity Tactical (FDT-Alpha) Glove

Enter the PIG FDT Glove. This is exactly the target audience that SKD was going after. They saw a big gap in the industry and went after it.

For those like me who like the Mechanix style or flight gloves but want more out of them for shooting, SKD hit a home run. Mechanix are nice but they aren’t form fitting. Flight gloves are nice but they have no added “bump” protection. You could get something like the Blackhawk Fury, which tries to combine the two, but you lose too much dexterity and tactile feel.

The FDT combines the best of both worlds and adds some other awesome features, like an additional joint for your trigger finger. Let’s take a look at some of the features of the FDT taken straight from SKD’s website (* indicates industry firsts for a tactical glove):

• *Single Layer Multi-Piece Palm – Designed specifically so that only one layer of material contacts your shooting grip.
• *Sensitized and Isolated Trigger Finger – The thinnest available Clarino™ material available, only on the trigger finger for ultimate sensitivity.
• *Selective Forschette Material – Inside forschettes are ventilated for maximum wicking. Outer forschettes are Clarino for durability.
• *Low Profile Hook Closure – Reduces abrasion on clothing.
• *Flex Joints – Enhanced flexibility and ventilation on each finger.
• *Dual Flex Joint Trigger Finger – Providing maximum flexibility where you need it most.
• Paracord Pull Loop – Featuring US made Milspec paracord.
• Short Cuff – Lightweight comfort and convenience.
• Micro Suede Nose Wipe – Fights against cold-weather drip.
• Ventilation holes in Palms and Fingers – Increased wicking.
• Isolated Edge Padding – Protection without compromising the shooting grip.
• Wrap-Over Finger Tips – Provides additional protection for finger nails.
• Padded Knuckles – Thin padding takes the edge off of impacts.

As you see with the list above, there are features you can’t find on other gloves (this is really a category of its own). That being said, this is a niche category and SKD makes no bones about it. They tell you right up front on the product page that these are designed to be worn, worn out and thrown away. To quote them again they are labeled as a “consumable product” and you know what, it’s refreshing to see this from a company!

They will also tell you straight up that these are made in China, but offer this explanation regarding their overseas production:

We wanted terribly to have these gloves made in the USA. The heart-breaking and tragic reality is that there are NO manufacturers in the USA that are capable of making gloves of this complexity. While PIG gloves are designed in the USA by AMERICANS, sports glove manufacturing has been outsourced overseas for decades to the point where we no longer have the capability. The choice was make them overseas, or not at all, and we felt these gloves were important enough that they had to be made regardless of country of manufacture.

Fit and Feel

As stated before I only wear three pairs out of this pile and I was a bit fearful the FDTs might end up here. I was really surprised when I tried the FDT on for the first time and was happy that the sizing (large) was consistent with the other gloves I own.

The first thing I noticed was how the fingers fit. They were tight, but not in a way that felt like the wrong size. I guess “form fitting” would be a better way to put it. They didn’t pull or shrink when I made a fist, or bunch up with a open hand (like my Mechanix like to do). I washed them once so far and dried them along with my uniforms and the fit has stayed the same.

The addition of a joint on the trigger finger is a really cool feature. You will have to compare this to other gloves without the joint to truly appreciate how much more flexible it makes your trigger pull. I ran these at the range a few days ago while re-zeroing my rifle and going from these to the Blackhawk Fury was a a huge difference.

One way of testing tactile feel is to try to type on a computer with gloves on. Since we use in-car laptops I was able to test this out throughout a shift. I was able to use my Dell touch pad with the gloves, although it wasn’t always accurate (they won’t work on my MacBook but more on that later). I was able to use our CAD system, run tags, names, and type messages without any issues. I’m very impressed with being able to do this since technology is creeping into every part of the Military and Law Enforcement. If you run a robot, drive a boat, or fly a plane, (FR and touch-screen editions are in the works) these can be worn.

The padding over the top knuckles was in the right area, both with an open and closed fist. On other gloves it often feels like the padding compresses your knuckles, but not so with these. The area around the circumference of the palm doesn’t pull like some of my other padded gloves either.

The additional padding on the side of the glove is a nice feature as well. This is that area you smack that gives you that never ending bruise feeling. The product card says this is “extra protection for Karate chops to the face.” You have to love that and I’m sure Chuck Norris would approve.

Overall

The padding is in all the right spots, the tactile feel is excellent and at this price range I wouldn’t get heartburn if they served their duty and I had to toss them out. I’ve only had the gloves for a few weeks, so time will tell on the long-term durability.

Sure they aren’t super durable, they offer no puncture protection, and they may not have a bunch of “cool looking” padding. But they fill that grey area that has been missing since “tactical” gloves have been in use. FR and full touch-screen compatible models are already in the works, so stay tuned for even more options. If you like a lightweight style of glove or have been waiting (like me) for something like the PIG FDT Gloves to come to the market, do yourself a favor and try them out. At $34.95 you can’t go wrong with these gloves that are in a category of their own.

If you’re like me and wear your Mechanix style gloves until they get holes in them, these are the gloves for you. You even get to try them on and send them back if they dont fit right (keep them on the hangtag and hope Chuck Norris doesn’t pay you a visit). Add that to the super ninja shipping and superior customer service at SKD and you definitely can’t go wrong.

Note: I want to add that these gloves were provided to me by SKD for evaluation prior to them being released to the public.

One of the great things about being at SHOT Show this year was getting to see some new apparel for women. Since we were so busy covering hardware I didn’t have a lot of time to peruse much of the softer side of SHOT.

However, there was one garment that grabbed my attention immediately when I saw that lovely specimen. It was a prototype of a tactical pant for women that’s in development at Triple Aught Design based on the Force 10 Cargo Pant for men.

I had just been introduced to Raquel from TAD at an event they were hosting and I think the second thing out of my mouth after saying “nice to meet you,” was “I’m diggin’ those pants!” I must confess I was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t run out and buy a pair, but I’m excited to know that these pants are in development to attain the perfect fit for the female form.

Triple Aught Design Women’s Pants

TAD isn’t interested in taking a pair of men’s pants and shrinking them down to fit a woman, which is what some clothing manufacturers have done with women’s pants. The lines in this garment are being constructed to truly fit a woman’s body.

What stood out to me at first glance was the slim-leg fit. From top to bottom, the shaping of these pants curve the butt and legs but without being tight and constrictive.

I also appreciated the tapered hemline, as I’ve had tactical pants in the past that had such wide openings around the ankles my boots caught on the inside of the hem when I walked. This caused me to trip on occasion; not cute when you’re hiking with your soon-to-be-spouse and trying to look cool and capable.

Another design element I am truly in love with is the color. I’m a huge fan of earthy green tones and ME Green is a color I could wear year round in any climate.

Later in the week we were able to link up with TAD again and Raquel graciously asked if I’d like to try the prototype on. How cool was that? While these pants were designed specifically for her to field test during SHOT Show 2012, the pants fit me well enough to immediately stir up even more excitement about when I’ll be able to add this to my wardrobe.

Stay tuned, Ladies. More great things are on the horizon for us from Triple Aught Design!

When Triple Aught Design presented Kelly and I with the opportunity to review their brand new Ranger Hoodie and Valkyrie Hoodie, we jumped at the chance. I’d been trying to get Kelly to check out TAD for quite some time, ever since they first released their women’s apparel line.

I’ve been a customer of TAD for a long time, even before starting ITS Tactical. In my opinion, they’re one of the top tactical apparel companies out there today and I’ve always respected their company values and dedication to customer service. I’m also excited that everything I’ve purchased from them lately, in addition to these two garments we’re reviewing today, are made in the USA.

It seems like almost every apparel item you pick up on a shelf today is made overseas. It’s discouraging, but the more I’ve been learning about apparel manufacturing, the more I understand the trials and tribulations of getting apparel made in the US today. Something refreshing on TAD’s Website is that they tell you exactly where every apparel item is made under the specs section.

Layering

Something we haven’t addressed much on ITS, that we will soon, is layering. Layering is extremely important as not only seasons change, but as your outdoor adventures continue to take you into changing environments. What comprises a true layer system is three layers that manage your body’s heating and cooling system.  A base layer, mid-layer and outer layer are all important parts of this system and can include an optional wind shirt as well.

While I’ll keep this layer system explanation short, it’s important to have a grasp of this when we’re talking about the “flexible mid-layer” of the Ranger and Valkyrie Hoodies.

A base layer is worn next to your skin and wicks moisture away from your body. You don’t want cotton here or anywhere for that matter. Remember “Cotton is Rotten.” A good base layer should keep you dry. The mid-layer’s job is to keep you insulated and warm, thus trapping air is the objective here. You want a certain amount of breathability here though too, because that moisture that’s being wicked away from your base layer still needs a way to continue to escape. The outer layer should protect you from wind and rain and is often called a hardshell. While providing wind and water resistance, this layer must too be breathable. That moisture still has to find a way out.

Now that you have a basic understanding of layering, let’s get into the hoodies.

Ranger and Valkyrie Mid-Layer Hoodies

Advertised as a flexible mid-layers, the Ranger and Valkyrie Hoodies utilize Polartec Wind Pro fleece that’s been treated with DWR (durable water repellent). Maintaining the comfort of traditional fleece, the DWR-treated Polartec Wind Pro provides up to four times as much wind resistance than traditional fleece. Couple that with being able to repel rain & snow and being able to maintain 85% of traditional fleece breathability.

Polartec Wind Pro Fleece is also marketed as retaining a pill-free performance and insulating ability through repeated use and laundering. It’s important to note that is can also be washed in a standard washing machine.

While definitely not the smallest or lightest weight mid-layers available, what truly makes these hoodies appealing is the versatility. Being able to wear them both as a true mid-layer, or even an outer layer and not have to worry about rain and snow, is a definite plus.

Rain truly does bead up on the DWR surface, but in a torrential downpour you’d be better off with a hardshell. However, the Wind Pro won’t soak through like cotton will in the rain and takes a lot to become saturated. Even when it does, it can be wrung out and still maintain a degree of insulation.

Despite not being the smallest or lightest weight mid-layers, compared to other fleece layers Wind Pro is definitely more tightly woven and doesn’t have the “loose” feeling that most fleece has.

Common Features

The Ranger and Valkyrie Hoodies both share many common features including material and an active fit. There are differences between them though, which we’ll highlight separately in sections below.

•     Single Underarm Panels w/ Pit Vents – The pit vents are a button-hole like shape versus traditional full zippers.
•    Aero Hood Design – A great design consideration that went into the Aero Hood was the ability for it to lie flat, reducing bulk around the neck.
•    Two Large Chest Pockets with D-Ring, Pen Pocket and Media Ports – The Ranger’s chest pockets seem a bit higher up than the Valkyrie’s, but are still not too high on either to rest your hands in.
•    Two Upper Arm Pockets with D-Ring and Media Ports – Traditionally with zippered upper arm pockets, opening and closing them can be difficult without holding the sleeve. The thumb hole sleeve cuffs make this entirely manageable.
•     YKK Zippers with Zipper Garages and Pull Tabs – Another element of the attention to detail that’s visible throughout these hoodies!
•    Thumb Hole Cuffs Integrated into Cuff and Sleeve Seam – These thumb loops truly feel as if they’re made to be there.
•    Drop Back Hem and Adjustable Locking Waist Drawcord – Ensures that the insulating properties of these mid-layers aren’t wasted on a draft at your waist.
•    1″x1″ Loop Swatch with Included Logo Patch at Right Hip – The TAD PVC logo patch is glow-in-the-dark.
•    Made in the USA – Enough said.

Ranger Hoodie: Bryan

As mentioned I’ve been a customer of TAD for a long time and it’s been awesome to see them continuously evolving their line-up of functional apparel and hard-use gear into all that it is today. Used by outdoor enthusiasts, Military and style conscious individuals alike, TAD has truly made a name for themselves since 1997 and is a company I find much in common with. Their devotion to attention to detail and design runs parallel with the principles that ITS was built on.

The Ranger Hoodie is no exception to TAD’s legendary apparel. Each aspect of the construction has been meticulously honed and shaped into a product that exudes design perfection. I don’t say that lightly either, it’s impossible for me to spot any kind of flaw in the stitching or construction.

Features

Other than what we discussed above, there are quite a few features that the Ranger Hoodie has that the Valkyrie doesn’t. The largest visual differences are the rear double-entry hunter’s (duck) pocket and the left forearm pocket. I’m not a huge hunter and probably wouldn’t stick a duck back there anyway if I did, but it’s a nice feature to have. I’ve stored a beanie and gloves back there in both this Ranger Hoodie and the other jackets I own from TAD. It also makes a good magazine dump pouch for either a right or a wrong-handed person.

The left forearm pocket is also great for smaller items that might be included in your EDC, such as knives, fire starters, etc. While we’re talking pockets, I need to note that the zipper caves that TAD has integrated really do a great job of silencing the zippers. The quality YKKs Covert Zippers they use also have some degree of silencing already with a spring-type pull that helps keep them from flopping around. The pen pockets, media ports and d-rings are all excellent features found on the pockets. Being able to dummy cord or lanyard in a device with something like a Coiled Lanyard we’ve shown on our KOTW is a tremendous benefit!

Chest pocket positioning also allows easy access if you’re wearing a chest rig or body armor over the Ranger Hoodie. The media port contained in the chest pockets, as well as the sleeve pockets, is a small 1″x1″ PVC patch that’s cut to allow easy routing of cords and headphones. A small but perfect example of the attention to detail again, is the inclusion of a small hard-plastic cable-routing tube sewn into the interior of the main zipper on both sides. This allows you to conveniently drop your headphones without worrying about them falling down below your waistline or hunting for them.

Pocket interiors are also lined with a sturdy mesh-like material that I really like. The interior is coated with what feels like fleece, so it maintains the overall softness of the hoodie, but allows ventilation at the same time. Many mesh pockets I’ve come into contact with feel thin and that they won’t hold up to abuse, but this isn’t the case on the pocket lining of the Ranger Hoodie.

Something the Valkyrie doesn’t feature is the option to include or exclude die-cut 3″x5″ loop panels for patches on the sleeves. They’re very nicely done; the rounded edges, color-matched loop and nearly invisible stitching all contribute to the seamless appearance of the loop panels.

Another subtle difference on the Ranger Hoodie is the description of the flap on the main zipper near your chin. On the Ranger it’s called a beard flap to prevent getting your beard caught up when your zipping up the jacket, but on the Valkyrie Hoodie it’s called a chin guard. Nevertheless, another fantastic item of detail.

The last small feature is the inclusion of “Ranger Eyes” on the back of the Ranger Hoodie. Two 1″x1″ rounded-edge loop swatches are placed for reflective/glow-in-the-dark/IR identifiers.

Ranger eyes are traditionally used for IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) and their purpose on the Ranger Hoodie is no different. It’s a nice touch to be able to visually recognize friends or members of a unit without having to see them. TAD also offers a complement of glow-in-the-dark Ranger Eye velcro patches.

Usage and Fit

It’s starting to get cold around here, even for Texas. I’ve been able to try out the Ranger Hoodie in quite a few different temperatures already and I’m really liking the versatility and warmth it provides. One particular outdoor adventure I was on recently, involved traveling at around 40 mph on a boat in cool early morning weather (40s). While not all the wind was blocked with the Ranger, it did an excellent job of keeping me warm and dry from the water spray while traveling.

I was just backpacking last weekend and grateful I had the Ranger Hoodie along to wear in conjunction with an OR merino wool long-sleeve I have. That combination of a base and mid-layer, kept me warm enough through a mid-40 degree evening.

I’ve typically been a Medium to Large fit in most garments and it can often be challenging to know which to get when shopping. For you Military guys out there, I’m a Medium Regular. In t-shirts, large seems to work best. The Ranger Hoodie I’m reviewing is a Large and isn’t too loose at all. I’m sure I could have fit into a Medium as well and might have gone with that if I was using it solely as a mid-layer, but because of the versatility of being an outer layer as well, I’m glad I went with the large. Additionally, the large fits well under a hardshell.

This is the first garment I’ve worn that features thumb holes and while I admit it was odd at first, I’m really enjoying having them. It’s one more feature that adds to the versatility of the Ranger Hoodie and a stylish element not seen on many garments. It also feels like my hands stay warmer, but that may just be in my head.

The Triple Aught Design Ranger Hoodie is available in S, M, L, XL, XXL and XXL (each with or without upper arm patch loop.) It comes in Loden Green (as seen here), Black and UE Grey.

Valkyrie Hoodie: Kelly

Those of you who live in Texas know that our weather can go from sunny and 90 degrees, to 70 and windy with a chill to the air in less than 10 minutes. The current change from summer to fall has been no exception. Fortunately for me, I had the TAD Valkyrie Hoodie with me at a recent football game where that’s exactly what happened.

I looked around and saw plenty of ladies in the thin, mainstream hoodies and track jackets who were hunkered down trying not to shiver in the 25 mph cold gusty winds. The thumbhole cuffs kept my hands warm and also kept the draft from entering the sleeves and moving up my arms. The adjustable draw cord around the hem kept the bottom of the hoodie snug over my pants so that my torso also stayed toasty.

Recently, I was also in Arkansas where the nighttime temperatures were in the 40s and we spent a lot of time relaxing near a campfire. It was great to sit far enough away from the fire so I didn’t feel the intense heat, but was protected from the cold while wearing the Valkyrie Hoodie and a simple cotton short-sleeved t-shirt underneath. I’m one of those gals who gets cold easily and is typically shivering with the slightest chill in the air, but while wearing the Valkyrie Hoodie I’ve actually been comfy in the cold air.

Blocking the wind and chill isn’t all that’s great about this hoodie. The hood has an extra brim on the front that TAD refers to as having an Aero Hood Design that lays flat against the back when it’s not being used. There are multiple vents under the arms to help keep air circulating and the interior of the chest pockets and sleeve pockets have d-rings and media ports to help secure gloves, phones, keys or whatever you may need to keep handy.

The media ports also run up through other strategically placed points inside the hoodie to help keep ear phone wires from flopping around or getting tangled in the zipper. Something to note is that the chest pockets are more like hand pockets and are a bit lower on the Valkyrie, as compared to the Ranger Hoodie above.

I also want to point out that I love the subtle branding that TAD includes on this garment. Close to the hem on the front of the hoodie, just to the right of the zipper, is a simple 1″ x 1″ loop square with the TAD logo patch which glows in the dark.

The styling is modern, sleek and complimentary to a feminine physique, which is hard to find in a fleece hoodie. I consider the 100% Polyester Polartec to be easy care too (I wash it and dry it in cool temps in a machine). I’m excited that the cooler weather is here to stay in Texas so that I’ll have even more opportunities to stay warm in the Valkyrie Hoodie.

The Triple Aught Design Women’s Valkyrie Hoodie is available in S, M, L and XL. It comes in Loden Green (as seen here), Black and UE Grey.

What to wear, what to wear? The answer to that question has eluded me over and over again when it comes to knowing what to buy for range wear, camping and other outdoor activities.

More often than not its hard for me to find outdoorsy clothes that don’t have flower prints, bedazzled sparklies or the color pink splashed all over them. My goal has been to compliment my wardrobe with active wear that truly suits my taste instead of just conforming to what the mail order catalogs tell me I need.

Fortunately for me, I’ve found that apparel from the tactical industry works great not only for when I go to the range, but also when I go hiking and camping.

Magnum Boots

Finding comfortable outdoor active-wear clothing and boots that fit my build has also consistently been a challenge for me. The average starting size I’ve found is 4-6 in women’s clothing and a size 6 shoe in a lot of outdoor catalogs and stores that I’m familiar with. Sometimes I see the word ‘petite’ added in, but that doesn’t always translate to a stylish and comfortable fit for me.

Recently I received some great items from Magnum Boots to review; the RD Long Sleeve Shirt, advertised as a “tactical shirt that keeps it’s cool” and the Stealth Force 6.0 SZ WPI mid-cut duty boot, that’s “waterproof, breathable and lightweight.” I was very curious to see how both items would fit. Was this going to be another brand that didn’t truly cater to the smaller sized woman, or will this be a brand that I can easily go to for a great fit?

RD Long Sleeve Shirt

The RD Long Sleeve Shirt shirt I have is a Size Small in the color Mocha, with sizing available from small to extra-large and color options also in Desert Sage and Dark Navy.  It’s made from 5.4 ounce 100% cotton rip stop, and Magnum Boots has a six month no fade guarantee on their fabric dying process.

Most of the time I wear an XS for a shirt to fit me in the arm length and to not be too big around the torso, so I was a bit apprehensive when I saw the size of the shirt was a standard small. I was pleasantly surprised, however that the sizing of this shirt is true, and by that I mean it’s definitely a small. If you typically buy an extra-small like I do then this standard small size just may fit you as well as it did me.

The shoulder width was perfect for my stature, the chest did not gap or pull when the shirt was buttoned, the sleeves fit great and the length of the shirt is suitable for both tucking in and wearing out. I found the shirt to be tapered enough to be flattering, but not overly snug. Another characteristic that I loved about this shirt was the button snaps held together firmly while I was moving around, but the garment also has the ability to be shed quickly if necessary. There’s nothing more embarrassing than hearing your shirt pop open while you’re in the middle of doing something, but the grip these snaps have didn’t give me any cause for concern.

Texas Heat

I wore the shirt both indoors and outdoors during the heat of the summer in Texas. I was comfortable in both environments, but I was especially curious if the shirt would keep me cool as advertised. Amazingly enough I couldn’t even feel the shirt on me while I was shooting outside in 90 degree weather with a high level of humidity. There are low-profile air vents above the chest area on both the front and back of the shirt that helped keep me cool and comfortable. Other cool features on this shirt are an EEMS (Escape & Evasion Money Stash) pocket that’s found inside the back of the collar and low profile pockets on both the left and right sides of the chest.

Some of my shirts can ride up around the mid-section or under the arms when I’m moving around, but that wasn’t the case with the Magnum shirt. I didn’t have to readjust it even once after drawing from my holster, aiming, firing and re-holstering my firearm. I had my sleeves rolled up below the elbow, without utilizing the roll-retaining snap and button, and the sleeves stayed secure during all of that movement, too.

Overall I found the Magnum RD Long Sleeve shirt to be a very functional and comfortable active-wear garment. If you’re like me then you don’t want flowery prints or pink embellishments on your clothes and accessories when you’re balancing fun with a serious hobby. This shirt provided me with the tactical look that I wanted with a flattering fit.

Stealth Force 6.0 SZ WPI Boots

The Stealth Force 6.0 SZ WPI boots were also amazingly comfortable for me. Let me begin by noting that I have consistently had trouble with high top boots in the past. The high top section typically bruises my legs just above my ankles no matter how I’ve laced them up. I’ve just gotten to where I don’t lace up the top section. I did wear the Magnum Stealth Force boots fully laced up for about 12 hours on one particular work day and I didn’t feel any discomfort or have any bruising. That’s a first for me! However, when I went hiking and shooting I kept the tops unlaced to best fit my comfort level for the terrain I was covering.

The cushion in the soles of the Stealth Force boots is extremely comfortable. My feet never felt tired, the boots didn’t feel heavy after wearing them for an entire day and I felt lived up to the claim of being lightweight. The boots also weren’t overly wide or bulky, which is a good thing because I’ve been known to trip over my own feet on occasion!

These boots had amazing traction which I wanted to make sure to point out. When we went hiking the ground was extremely dry with gravel-like terrain in some areas, which can make for very slippery conditions. But, not once did I slip on the loose rocks while navigating through the steep and winding trails.

Magnum Boots and apparel aren’t just for Military and Law Enforcement personnel. They also work well for women like me who want to be taken seriously at the range and want functional fashion while in the outdoors.

Check out the additional photos below and head over to Magnum’s Website for more details.

Kuiu is a relative new-comer to the market. Their products are easily and accurately summed up in the company’s slogan: Ultralight Mountain Hunting. For a backcountry traveler like myself, that slogan is immediately enticing.

I’m very conscious about the weight of the gear that I bring to the mountains, weighing and logging every gram. But hunting and particularly mountain hunting, also suggests a measure of durability, which is too often missing from the lightweight paradigm.

History

Kuiu was created by Jason Hairston, who previously founded Sitka Gear. Sitka had a large impact on the hunting industry, being the first to bring mountaineering designs, inspired by companies like Arc’Teryx, into hunting specific gear. With Kuiu, Jason is pushing the same envelope further.

Kuiu deserves credit for more than just their products. The company’s business philosophy is also notable. It has been developed with a community-driven, open-source model. In February 2010, before the brand was launched or any of the product designs finalized, Jason launched the Building Kuiu blog. The idea was to provide potential customers with an insight into the company and to build interest so that some sales would be generated when the brand was actually launched in the following year. Things did not go as planned. The blog proved far more popular than anyone expected. Reader comments heavily influenced the design of the products. In recognition of this support, Jason decided to cut out the middle man and sell Kuiu directly to the customer at wholesale prices. The hype was such that much of Kuiu’s initial inventory sold out within weeks of their initial launch this spring.

In all, Kuiu is a company that I can get behind. Their products, their philosophy, and how they built the company are all worthy of support and emulation.

The Gloves

My first Kuiu product, the Guide Glove, was purchased for use as a general purpose mountain glove. I wanted a glove that would offer some protection to my hands when using tools in the backcountry, offer some warmth in cooler weather, and keep my hands comfortable when wet. They needed to be durable enough to survive scrambling on craggy rocks, but breathable enough to not make wearing the gloves overly uncomfortable and so discourage their use. My thought was that the Guide Glove would fill this niche nicely in the two shoulder seasons, when the mountains are both cool and wet. I expected the gloves to be too hot for summer use and too cool for the winter.

Origin

Kuiu bills itself as being made in North America. While most of their products are sewn at Tamoda Apparel in Vancouver, the Guide Glove is the exception. They are made in Vietnam. (I do believe that Kuiu deserves much credit as a company for boldly stating the exact origin of their products. More companies should follow suit.)

Materials

The gloves are made of a soft-shell back, with leather on the palm and underside of the fingers, and a simple hook-and-loop closure on the wrist. The leather extends over the fingertips and down the back of the fingers a short way, providing dexterity and durability in the area likely to see the most use.

The soft-shell that Kuiu uses is Toray Primeflex. This material has proved breathable enough for the glove to be used in warm weather, and provides stretch to allow the glove to fit properly without overly restricting movement. The soft-shell has been treated with Toray’s own DWR coating, providing a measure of water repellency that has so far impressed me.

For the leather, Kuiu made the wise decision to go with Pittards Oiltac. This extremely high quality leather is remarkably thin for the strength it provides. The thinness of the leather equates to a high dexterity when wearing the glove, allowing the user to pick up and manipulate small objects with ease. The leather is treated to limit the amount of moisture absorbed from both the outside and the inside of the glove.

While the thin leather is not ideal in a heavy use scenario, such as attempting to arrest a heavy climber while belaying, I think it provides an excellent compromise between durability and dexterity in this general purpose mountain glove.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the leather is its stickiness. What the sole of a climbing shoe is to a normal hiking boot, Oiltac is to a normal leather glove. In a word: sticky. In fact, Oiltac was originally developed by Pittards for use in football receiver gloves, where the ability to keep the ball in hand is obviously an important factor.

In the shoe industry, a stickier outsole usually means a less durable outsole. Whether the same holds true for the Guide Glove’s leather, I cannot yet say, but so far I have no complaints.

In Use

When I first received the gloves, we were experiencing a rare spurt of summer heat (which in the Pacific Northwest means that it wasn’t raining and temperatures were in the 80-degrees Fahrenheit). This was not the weather I intended to use the gloves in, but I was excited to test them out. I’ve not found a better way to test the breathability of any garment than to climb on a bike. I commute on my bike year-round and find that after a few miles of intense pedaling I work up a greater sweat than that achieved in any other physical activity — in any temperature. More so in the heat.

So during a sunny, 80°F day I jumped into the saddle and went for a 10-mile ride with the new Guide Glove. I was quite astounded by the results. My normal bike gloves are a pair of Mechanix Original Gloves, made completely of extremely light, synthetic materials. Was the Guide Glove as breathable as the gloves from Mechanix? No. I certainly ended up with damp palms at the end of the ride. But the Guide Glove was surprisingly close.

The back of my hands were dry at the end of the ride, proving that the soft-shell material was breathable enough to allow sweat to evaporate from those areas of my hands that it covers. My palms were gripping the handlebars for the whole ride, so it is very difficult for the moisture built up there to exit the gloves. What I can say is that the Guide Glove proved to be more breathable than any other glove, of any material and a similar thickness, that I have experience with.

I didn’t have to wait too long for the summer weather to leave us and a different testing opportunity to arise. How would the DWR coating and the breathability hold up during wet, aerobic activity? I went for a 20-mile ride in the rain to find out. The short of it is this: at the end, my hands were the only dry part of my body. Not completely dry — I had a similar dampness on my palms as that experienced after the hot weather test — but very close. During the ride, I watched the rain drops bead up and run off the soft-shell material as I would on a hard-shell. The combination of breathability and water repellency that the gloves achieve is impressive.

After the gloves had passed these basic tests, I took them to the mountains. I wore them while bush-whacking through Devil’s Club, and the thorns did not bother me. I wore them while scaling rock faces, and the leather held up where other gloves have been shredded while the stickiness provided a secure and reassuring grip. I wore the gloves while using an ice axe to cross steep snow fields. After a self-arrest, the shaft of the axe and the gloves (not to mention the whole of my torso) was covered with moisture from the melting snow. The sticky leather still provided an uncompromising grip on the tool.

Vias Camo

The Guide Glove is only available in Kuiu’s proprietary Vias camouflage scheme. Being a hunting brand, Kuiu developed Vias to fool ungulates, who see colors differently than humans. Even so, the scheme has proved impressive to my eyes in dry timber, sagebrush, and snow — that is to say, the environments that hunters will find themselves in most often. The development of Vias can be traced on the Building Kuiu blog.

Fit

The only negative point I can make about the Guide Glove is the fit. For me, it’s a bit off. I consistently wear a size medium in most gloves. After using Kuiu’s glove sizing chart, I found that I was halfway between size medium and large. Short of ordering a pair in both sizes, I had no way to know which would fit me better. I figured the safest bet would be to order the same size as my other gloves, so I went with the medium.

As it turns out, the size medium gloves do fit, but they’re a little tight. It is not tight enough to cause any discomfort after prolonged wear, nor do I find red marks on my hands where the glove’s seams lay (as was the case with a previous pair of Hatch gloves), but they constrain me slightly. When wearing the gloves I can only stretch my hand and splay out my fingers to about 95% of my bare-handed capability. The fit is close enough to cause me to think that if I were to order a size large I would see flop in the ends of the fingers. Between finger-flop and being slightly tight, I would rather the gloves be slightly tight. I think this causes the functionality of the gloves to be depressed to a lesser degree than a fit that is too large.

A Glove for the Mountains

At 2.6 ounces (74 grams), the Guide Glove weighs only 0.3 ounces more than a pair of Mechanix Original Gloves of the same size — an impressive feat, considering that the Guide Glove is made of much more substantial materials. In every way, the gloves have exceeded my expectations. They are more breathable, more water repellent, and provide a higher dexterity than I expected.

The stickiness of the leather allows me to honestly say that I feel safer using life-saving tools with these gloves than any other pair I have worn. While I still think that I will opt for a more substantial glove system to provide warmth in winter, I cannot see myself reaching for any gloves but the Guide Glove during the other three seasons. Kuiu has truly succeeded in making an excellent general purpose mountain glove.

For three months now I’ve been putting Magnum’s Rapid Deployment Apparel to the test. I’ve primarily used the apparel for range use and during the Lone Star Medics course I attended back in May.

These last three months have been extremely hot here in Texas and I’m always on the lookout for comfortable clothing to abuse out at the range and for times when shorts won’t cut it. I’m happy to report that Magnum’s RD lineup fits the bill perfectly and was just released Tuesday!

Magnum RD Apparel

Staying cool in hot weather can be challenging for any kind of clothing material and nothing is going to “prevent” you from sweating, but during the activities I’ve put the RD Pants and RD Short Sleeve Shirt through I’ve definitely noticed a difference to other clothing I’ve worn.

One of the main contributing factors to this is the 5.4 oz. cotton ripstop that’s utilized in the RD apparel. I’ve got plenty of ripstop clothing I’ve worn throughout the years, but this is by far the lightest I’ve been in yet. I was worried at first that the lightweight nature of the ripstop would wear quicker and be more prone to abrasion, but I didn’t find that to be true. In the close-up photo of the pants pockets below you’ll notice a wear area near the rear pocket where my JMC OWB Hoster rides, but other than surface wear it’s not much at all.

Another important feature that helped with ventilation and overall heat reduction is the generous ventilation areas on both the pants and especially the shirt. Let’s get into all the features though and I’ll explain what makes this clothing something you should look at picking up, especially in this heat wave that’s sweeping the nation right now!

RD Pants

One thing I immediately notice when I put the Magnum RD Pants on for the first time was how well they fit. They’re cut very generously to allow full-articulation even if you have a Kung-Fu grip. Seriously though, I had no issues with range of motion whatsoever. A common problem I always have with tactical pants is that they’re cut too short for me. My inseam is a bit over 30″ but under 32 and typically when I buy a 32″ inseam to accommodate that, I get pants that fall well below my boots, I didn’t get any of this with the RD Pants.

My waist is between a 32 and 33 depending on what I eat for lunch and generally a 34 is too large for me, but I opted for the 34 due to the 100% cotton makeup. I did notice a bit of shrinking, but not anything that made the pants too tight. Clothing is always going to fit everyone differently and I won’t spend too much time on the fit other than to say for me personally these pants fit great, even after washing and drying!

Some notable features on the RD Pants are the low profile mag pockets that allow you to still access them while crouched and can fit a Magpul PMAG, 1 3/4″ reinforced belt loops to accommodate larger belts, vented mesh hand pockets for added comfort in the heat, dedicated folding knife pocket to take full advantage of the hand pockets, gusseted crotch with stitched vent holes and reinforced knees with knee pad pockets.

Some things to note on the RD Pants are that the rear pockets don’t have a flap or zipper, so they’re open like a pair of jeans. I didn’t mind this at all, but just something to mention if you like flaps on your tactical pants. The RD Pants weigh approximately  1.2 lbs, made in China and the color shown in the video and photos here is Mocha.

Full Feature List

• 5.4 oz. 100% cotton ripstop
• ColorLock fabric dying process ensures garment color match
• GTM 5.56™ low profile mag pockets designed to function in action positions (Patent Pending)
• Lower phone pocket to fit all smart phones/PDA’s
• RDKP™ (Rapid Deployment Knife Pockets) are ergonomically designed with reinforced knife clip guard (Patent Pending)
• Hand pockets with vented pocket bag
• Winged crotch gusset with vents and reinforced overlock double stitching
• Articulated knee with internal knee pad pocket
• Kick plate lower leg reinforcement
• Reinforced rear and side belt loops for durability
• Reinforced comfort strip waistband inner lining
• 8 point zipper glove friendly pull tab
• Low profile button closure
• 6-Month No Fade Guarantee

RD Short Sleeve Shirt

The Magnum RD Short Sleeve Shirt is where the lightweight ripstop and venting truly made the difference in the heat. What I love about the mesh venting on this shirt is that it runs all the way from the interior chest to the upper shoulder blade, creating a nice draft throughout the shirt.

The armpit areas are also vented with mesh and exterior stitched vents. The fit was great overall and didn’t seem to be too short, even after washing the Medium size I have. Another great thing about the RD Shirt is the buttons, they’re very simple to snap together and easy to pull apart so you can throw on your cape quickly in a phone booth if you need to.

Some other notable features are the removable collar stays, non-shine buttons, concealed drop stash zippered pocket on right chest, Ab pockets that came in quite handy for storing smaller items.

The RD shirt weighs just 12.3 ounces, made in China and the color shown in the video and photos here is Desert Sage

Escape and Evasion

A pretty cool feature built into the Short Sleeve Shirt is an ingenious hidden stash pocket that’s concealed in the collar. The EEMS (Escape and Evasion Money Stash) is a great way to hide some extra cash, as even feeling the collar wouldn’t necessarily detect it. A small 3 1/4″ x 2″ void is sewn in to the reverse side of the collar and accessed through a 2 1/2″ slit.

This could also be great for concealing other items too, but I’ll leave that up to your imagination.

Full Feature List

• 5.4 oz. 100% cotton ripstop
• ColorLock fabric dying process ensures garment color match
• EEMS (Escape & Evasion Money Stash) pocket inside rear collar
• Combat sharp collar design
• RSCS (Rapid Shed Closure System) non-shine all buttons
• MVBCS (Multi-Vented Body Cooling System) works with and without body armor (Patent Pending)
• Vertical access Nelson pocket on left chest with low profile zipper
• Drop stash pocket on right chest with low profile zipper
• ACEP (Ab Concealed Equipment Pocket) on 2 sides
• Notched side access points
• 6-Month No Fade Guarantee

Notes

The Magnum RD Apparel line is a winner in my book, definitely a well priced option for tactical clothing that works well in the heat of summer. RD Apparel is also available in women’s sizes too!

Don’t forget that Magnum has a 10% discount code for our Plank Owners and Crew Leaders to take advantage of! Head over here to view all our Vendor Discount Codes if you’re logged in.

Photos and Video Review

I know some people will wonder why we’re doing another gear review of a hat, they simply sit on your head and keep the sun and rain out of your eyes. I also know certain people cringe when they see Velcro sewn on a hat.  They say whats next, PALS sewn onto the sides for your IFAK?

To be honest, that’s what I thought of “tactical hats” when they started becoming popular. I figured that I could just wear my Local Motion Surf Co. hat and no one would pay any attention. It’s a different story when you have a MultiCam hat full of Pork Eating Crusader and Jolly Roger patches.

Some people seem to have a strange addiction to hats. There are a few threads floating around AR15.com and Lightfighter.net where people show off their hat collections and man do some people have a bunch! Hats are one of those strange things that people like to collect, like knives and flashlights (I have a good friend who has around 30 flashlights!).

But like any piece of gear, there’s a time and place where fashion goes out the window and being practicable takes precedence. This is where the 215 Gear Operator Hats come into play. They were designed by people who know function comes first and they truly excel in hot and humid weather climates like The Sandbox, or even here in Florida where I’m at.

215 Gear ELW

New at 215 Gear is the Operators Hat ELW (Extremely Light Weight). Unlike the Blended Operators Hat which has mesh panels sewn into the sides, the ELW is made entirely out of a close knit mesh. This takes light weight and breathability to the next level. While being lightweight, it feels nice and sturdy and definitely not cheap.

A great feature is the removal of the top button and the addition of a small 1″ x 1″ loop patch. This really helps when you’re wearing electronic hearing protection as the top strap doesn’t roll to the front or back. This also allows a square glint tape to be attached to the top.

I know you’re sitting there asking who really does this? One application besides the military would be a K9 handler who almost always works in conjunction with a helicopter. At night this would help if the spotter (or pilot) has night vision capabilities. FLIR is great if it’s working, but always have a back up plan.

Like its blended brother, the ELW has 2″ x 3″ loop panels on the front and back to throw on an American Flag or your favorite morale patch and hit work or the range. Both the Blended and the ELW hats seem to have a longer brim when you put them on, which seems to be due to the front top of the hat sitting low on your head because of the lack of structure found on some hats.

The front of the hat features a nice size/slope and doesn’t stick up like a cheap trucker’s hat. There’s also no stiffening added to the front, which is referred to in the apparel industry as a structured hat; this is an unstructured hat. I don’t like wearing hats that have a funky front and there are no worries with any of the 215 Gear hats.

More Features

Adjustment on the ELW is handled via a Velcro closure strap on the rear that features subdued 215 Gear embroidered text. If you’re not a fan of FlexFit hats then this type of adjustment is a great choice. The stitching is very nice and there’s no extra material hanging off anywhere.

The true benefits the ELW offers are the lack of weight and full mesh ventilation. All the material used in the construction of the ELW is ventilated mesh, even the material over the brim.  The brim does have a plastic insert to shape it and to help keep the sun out of your eyes, but isn’t lined with loop velcro like the Blended Operators Hat. The only drawback I could potentially see is sun exposure if you’re balding or rocking a shaved head. I’m neither, so I can’t attest to whether it would even be an issue with the close-knit mesh used on the ELW.

With the ELW you may want to consider a lanyard if you are on a boat or vehicle that’s exposed to wind. The lightweight construction may cause it to go flying. I would say the ventilation is well worth it though. The Made in the USA tag is a great location on the inner back for a lanyard loop.

So there you have it. More than one paragraph on a hat review, amazing I know. If you live or work in a hot climate the ELW is definitely for you and comes highly recommended!

Availability

You can get the 215 Gear ELW in any color you like as long as it’s Coyote. Check out the 215 Gear online store for great hats that are well under $30. Everything that 215 Gear produces is made in the good ol’ USA and comes with a lifetime warranty.

I’ve been wearing two jackets from Magnum for the better part of six months, which includes the cold and snowy season here in Texas. No, Texas doesn’t get the kind of winter weather that more northern states do, but thanks to the Magnum Taurus Softshell and Sparta Jacket I had all my bases covered.

You’re first thought is probably “Jackets… from a boot company?” Absolutely. These are definitely two different jackets built for different purposes, yet they complement each other well. Today I’ll be describing what I feel are the pros and cons of the jackets and how well they’ve held up for me.

Magnum Jackets

I consider myself a pretty active guy; I’m typically out in the elements in one form or another getting out on the trail for exercise, with the dog or out filming our next review for ITS. I made it a point to stick all my other jackets in the back of my closet these last 6 months to truly evaluate the Sparta and Taurus and write up my thoughts.

I’ve taken these jackets into rain, cold, snow, wind and everything in between and I’m here to tell you that my overall impression is very positive. Let’s get into specifics.

Taurus Softshell

What I immediately noticed about the Taurus that sets it apart from every other soft shell I own is the heavily-insulated liner. I say “heavily” not to describe a big puffy jacket, but to set it apart from the typical thin insulation commonly found in “insulated” soft shells. As I started to wear the jacket I grew to love this addition. It’s one of those “why don’t more companies offer heavy insulation soft shells?” Typically with a soft shell it’s worn with a base layer if you need to increase its warmth and why most soft shells have thin, if any, insulation built in.

Let’s veer off on the true purpose of a soft shell, which is designed to provide a happy medium between a hard shell and a mid-layer. The most well known hard shell material is Gore-Tex; while blocking wind and water well, it’s fairly unbreathable. I’ve sweated out my issued Gore-Tex on more than one occasion and is why it sits on a hanger in my closet. A mid-layer is great for a little added warmth and is extremely breathable, but doesn’t block wind or water at all. Enter the soft shell. Common characteristics of soft shells are that they’re made with material that’s flexible, water repellent and breathable.

As mentioned earlier, I found the Taurus and its heavy insulation to be a welcome change for the winter season here in Texas. Rather than needing to layer in all but the coldest conditions, the Taurus had just the right amount of insulation to keep me warm. When we had our notorious ice fest here in D/FW that shut down schools for four days (which was also when these photos were taken), I threw on the layers with the Taurus.

Features

At the core of the Taurus Softshell is Magnum’s proprietary TECPROOF fabric which they describe as a new-generation, high quality thermo-active fabric. TECPROOF consists of two layers of polymers. The outer layer protects against wind, rain and snow while the inner layer allows moisture to quickly evaporate.

From what I’ve found, the material lives up to its description and did a great job in all the environments I exposed the Taurus to. It also retains the flexibility commonly found in soft shell material. The material tag lists the shell fabric as being 96% polyester / 4% spandex and the lining as 100% polyester.

Interior

The quilted liner makes it easy to slide the jacket on over other base layers with ease and adds to the overall jacket comfort. The interior TECPROOF label states that the seams of the Taurus are taped for added water resistance, but the taping is under the liner and not visible.

I’m also a big fan of the dual interior zippered storage pockets and the four pistol magazine pockets (two on each side) with velcro flaps. I found the mag pockets to be particularly beneficial when carrying a KYDEX OWB (Outside Waistband) Holster, as I don’t always like running a mag carrier on my belt. The zippered storage interior pockets are a good size and deep. There’s also a small fabric loop sewn near the collar interior that’s made for clipping in a lapel mic, which is a nice touch.

The interior pockets are completely ambidextrous, meaning the right side interior pocket setup is a mirror image of the left side interior. My only real gripe with the interior is that the polyester stuffing “leaks” over time from the liner. You can see this in the interior photos of the Taurus; it wasn’t always this way, but from repeated wear it seemed to develop about halfway through the six month evaluation period. This doesn’t take away from the utility of the jacket, but an issue that needs some attention nonetheless.

Exterior

One of my favorite features on the exterior of the Taurus is the way the collar stands up, even with the hidden adjustable rain-hood tucked away in it. It’s not obnoxiously tall like the typical popped-collar wearing preppy seen at the mall and doesn’t really appear to be standing up. It’s nice in windy conditions and adds to the warmth of the soft shell.

Other great features are the reinforced elbows, left sleeve zippered utility pocket and the chest pen pocket. Call me a nerd, but I happen to like carrying a pen and Molskine notebook with me everywhere I go for when inspiration strikes. The exterior also has zippered hand warmer pockets, cuff zippers and side zippers running just up to pit height.

I can appreciate the utility of the cuff zippers and side zippers, but found that they’d come unzipped and ride up. They also don’t feature a pull tab like the other exterior zippers on the jacket, causing the jacket to jingle slightly. I think some kind of velcro strap addition would keep the zippers in place and also eliminate the jingle.

The cuff zippers seem like a great way to allow for adjustment when donning the soft shell with large gloves and the side zippers are a nice way to gain some room in the waistband area if you’re carrying concealed, helping you reach your weapon when drawing.

One other thing I want to mention about the Taurus is that it features three different locations where the Magnum logo is embroidered, along with the TECPROOF 10000 logo embroidery on the lower left sleeve. If you know ITS, you know we’re all about branding, but I just thought it was a little overkill on the Taurus.

Sparta Jacket

Now that you’ve heard me talk a bit about hard shells from above, you know, or have already known that hard shells don’t always breathe as well as you might like. While Gore-Tex does breath, the resulting clamminess can get annoying; it’s better than being cold and soaked though. You’ll often see pit zips on hard shells to release the built up perspiration.

Hard shells can also be noisy compared to soft shells, which is due to the waterproof/windproof nature of the fabric. The Sparta Jacket is constructed with the same TECPROOF proprietary material as the Taurus Softshell and definitely has taped seams, which are visible on interior of the zip-away rain hood. The taped seams are done very well and I haven’t noticed any peeling whatsoever.

Features

In regards to the breathability of the TECPROOF material in the Sparta, I wore this jacket quite a few times while running in the rain and found it to definitely be more breathable than Gore-Tex. That’s not to say I didn’t sweat it out, but it did feel to breathe more compared to the activity I’ve done in Gore-Tex.

The material tag lists the shell fabric as being 50% nylon / 50% polyester and the lining as 100% polyester.

Interior

The only insulation in the Sparta is the thin polyester liner, which appears to be the same liner as the Taurus, but not stitched in a quilted pattern. I would have liked to see the liner attached to the jacket more than it is, but didn’t find it to stand out as something that got in the way. The two zippered storage interior pockets (one on each side) seem to be the same great size as the Taurus.

The sleeves each feature not only elastic, but also a velcro adjustment tab to cinch down the cuffs if necessary. The liner also doesn’t get in the way when ditching or donning the jacket.

Exterior

As mentioned earlier, pit zips are usually found on hard shells and the Sparta features an interesting take on the pit zip; instead of having a mid-length zipper opening in the pit area, there’s a full-length zipper that runs from the side of the jacket all the way up to the pit. At first I didn’t care much for this, but have come to appreciate the utility. When the zippers are full-open it almost turns the Sparta into a poncho that you can take off and throw on quickly.

The only suggestion I’d have would be to add a second zipper to the top pit area so that it could be opened as a pit zipper without having to open the entire side of the jacket. It’s great to have the added versatility, but there are certainly times when having the side open wouldn’t be necessary. I didn’t find that these side zippers made noise or came open like on the Taurus, due I think in part to the larger zipper that’s used. It definitely negates the zipper creep that I found on the Taurus.

With the exception of the side zippers and hood access zipper, all other zippers feature a girth-hitched rubberized zipper pull. There are a multitude of pockets on the exterior of the Sparta and no lack of places to keep important items at the ready. The sleeves each feature a waterproof zipper pocket with zipper cave to keep the zipper in check. The sleeve pocket also features a 3″ wide x 1.5″ tall loop velcro strip for affixing morale patches. I personally would have liked to see a little more velcro real estate, but I know there are some that would prefer none at all too.

There are also two vertical chest pockets that feature waterproof zippers and caves and zippered hand warmer pockets with a flap to help keep the elements out. Within the hand warmer pockets are the shock cord termination and cordloc of the front waist adjustment. Due to the side zipper access the adjustment is limited to the front half of the jacket.

In addition to all the aforementioned pockets there are also two horizontal clavicle pockets. The left hand pocket also conceals an ID window carrier sleeve that can be left exposed for identification or zipped up. There’s a flap that covers the opening in the top of the sleeve so that the elements don’t sneak into the sleeve.

I’ve left one of the coolest features for last and that’s the hidden horizontal zippered pocket that conceals a tuck-away ID panel. At 12″ wide and 7.5″ tall it’s large enough to accommodate a large Police or Agent identifier that can be sewn to the panel. The entire panel can also be removed via a velcro strip that secures it. Of course you could also sewn a ton of loop velcro to it and turn yourself into a walking morale patch billboard.

Notes

Overall I really enjoyed the time I spend in each of these jackets and as mentioned earlier they really do complement each other well. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend either of these jackets to anyone on a limited budget looking for a good soft shell or hard shell. The Magnum Taurus Softshell and Sparta Jacket run $100 and $170 respectively, direct from Magnum.

Both jackets feature a six month no-fade guarantee and are available in sizes M, L, XL and 2XL. You can also get them just like the Ford Model-T; in any color as long as it’s black.

Be sure to stop by Magnum Boots to grab either of these jackets and check out their great boot lineup while you’re there.

After right at a year of putting EOTAC clothing through the ringer at various training courses, the range and every day use; I’d like to share my opinions on their Operator Grade Discreet Clothing and how everything has held up.

What I’ll be reviewing today are two of their shirts and two pairs of pants. The Mechanic Short-Sleeve Shirt, Tropical Short-Sleeve Shirt, Discreet Pants and Discreet Denim Pants.

Let me start off by saying the durability of this clothing has truly impressed me. As with abusing any article of clothing, there’s bound to be wear. The great thing about these items from EOTAC is how we’ll they’re still performing on a daily basis.

Baseline Alignment

Blending in with your environment is just as important in an urban setting as it is in the deserts of Afghanistan. It’s all about the appropriate camouflage. This doesn’t mean the urban black, white and grey camouflage you find at the army navy store; it means aligning yourself with the baseline, whatever that may be where you are.

The EOTAC Discreet line of clothing does a great job of being tactically functional while providing you with a look that doesn’t draw attention. They do this by eliminating cargo pockets, visible Velcro or other significant tell-tale signs that would lead someone to know you’re packing or may know what you’re doing.

Of course, clothing isn’t everything; you have to “walk the walk” and always remember your Cover for Action and Cover for Status. You’re definitely not going to disappear by wearing EOTAC’s Discreet clothing, but depending on your baseline, it can’t hurt your chances.

Pant’s Features

What I found to be the best features of the Discreet line of pants were the Action Waist, gusseted Crotch, and zippered security pocket. These features all helped to provide greater functionality, range of mobility, ease of drawing a concealed weapon and concealing it.

Action Waist

The Action Waist is a feature on both the Discreet Pants and the Discreet Denim Pants which allows the pants to flex, through the use of elastic panels, in order to draw from an in the waistband holster. The pants also feature large 1″ wide belt loops that will accommodate up to a 1 3/4″ belt.

Gusseted Crotch

Having a gusseted crotch definitely helps when you’re on the move or throwing a drop kick towards a threat. A gusset is simply a triangular-shaped piece of fabric that enables more flexibility in a certain area of a garment; in this case, the crotch. Both pairs of pants were extremely flexible and provided fantastic range of motion.

Zippered Security Pocket

Each pair of Discreet Pants features a zippered pocket built right into the seam line on both the left and right sides. This pocket is fairly concealed to the onlooker and able to hold things like a flashlight or ID.

It’s depth is just slightly lower than the front pocket, which means that you won’t have a something in that pocket rattling against your knee or getting in the way while you’re running.

Shirt’s Features

The specific features the reviewed shirts provided that I found the most useful were the hidden Velcro behind the shirt buttons, generously-cut widths and name tapes on the mechanic shirt. First and foremost, these features helped to provide easier access to a concealed weapon in a waist band. The name tapes were definitely an added bonus though.

Hidden Velcro

On the Mechanic Short-Sleeve Shirt, the bottom two buttons feature hook and loop behind them to “break-away” and avoid interference while reaching your weapon. The Tropical Short-Sleeve Shirt not only has buttons down the front, but also up the sides of the shirt on the vents. On the front buttons, just the last bottom button features the “break-away” design. On each side vent of the shirt, for righties or lefties, there’s a single button “break-away.” To access this feature, the bottom button must be undone first.

Shirt Cut

Something I really liked about these shirts is how generously their cut. I feel this really aided in the concealment of a weapon and something that most shirts don’t take into account that are designed for concealed carry. Despite being pre-shrunk, I did feel the shirts were a bit short on me, but I’ll discuss that below in the notes.

Name Tapes

As a true testament to EOTAC’s attention to detail, they included four embroidered name tapes with the Mechanic shirt; three with business names on them already and even a blank one to embroider yourself. These business include Speedy Quik Lube, Mario’s Pizza and Lou’s Plumbing – 24 hr service.

Material and Makeup

Mechanic Short-Sleeve Shirt – Made from 5.5 oz. all-cotton poplin, the Mechanic Short-Sleeve Shirt is fade resistant, pre-shrunk and coated with a DuPont Teflon® Fabric Protector to provide a breathable, durable barrier that repels water and oil based spills. It’s available in traditional mechanic shirt colors like grey, black and navy.

Tropical Short-Sleeve Shirt – Made from a soft and lightweight 4.25 oz. lino cotton, the Tropical Short-Sleeve Shirt is fade resistant, pre-shrunk & washed; featuring a anti-wrinkle finish. I found it to be very comfortable even when dripping wet with sweat.

Discreet Pants – Made from a Bomb-Proof 8.5 oz. all-cotton canvas the Discreet Pants are fade resistant, pre-shrunk and coated with a DuPont Teflon® Fabric Protector to provide a breathable, durable barrier that repels water and oil based spills.

Discreet Denim Pants – Made from a 12.5 oz. all-cotton denim and stone washed, the Discreet Denim Pants are sure to blend into the baseline.

All items reviewed list the country of manufacture as imported.

Durability

All these items I’m reviewing from EOTAC today have held up wonderfully over the past year, the more I seem to wash the shirts the more I feel they blend in. Everyone can spot a new shirt. There has been some pilling on the crotch area of the Discreet Pants, but nothing to where it feels like the material is becoming worn or broken down.

The DuPont Teflon® Fabric Protector has not only done a good job in terms of durability, but has also been extremely stain-resistant. This was an unexpected surprise from the Discreet Pants, as I thought for sure that khaki colored pants would show staining for sure. This is not to say that after a year there’s not any staining, but I’ve run the pants hard through some classes where I was all over gravel, mud and grass. Despite this, you really have to look hard at these pants to notice any staining.

Notes

One thing I would have liked on the shirts is a slightly longer cut. While the width definitely helps to conceal a weapon, there were times that the length was a concern. When bending down to pick up items, even ensuring not to bend at the waist, the shirt would still ride up; exposing my weapon. In fact, you can see this in one of the photos of me climbing up a drain pipe.

This may have been a sizing issue, but I’m a pretty medium build and most of my clothes are medium. The shirts were both mediums and EOTAC’s sizing chart shows that my chest size (44″) makes me a large, but my waist, neck and sleeve size shows I’m a medium. Just something to consider when purchasing.

The other thing that I thought was functional, but a personal dislike were the scalloped back pockets. It’s nice to drop things down into the second larger pocket, but I didn’t care to tuck in a shirt because I’m not a fan of the half-moon shape that’s created between the front and larger rear pocket. This also makes a horizontal line on the back of the pants legs that is more visible on the Denim Pants. The khaki Discreet Pants seem to hide that line better.

It’s not so much the looks that bother me about the scalloped pockets and line that’s created. It’s the fact that those two things make these pants visibly different than most pants and takes away from the discreet nature they have.

My wife actually told me the Discreet Denim Pants looked like “grandpa pants,” but I don’t quite agree with that statement, nor feel that fashion is a number one priority when choosing clothing for concealment. Of course that all depends on the baseline, right?

I’ve been wearing around a 215 Gear Blended Operators Hat at the range now for the better part of 8 months, with nothing but great things to report.

The durability and construction of this hat is outstanding and as someone who’s pretty picky about hats, this is one I’ve truly become fond of.

What makes the Blended Operators Hat perfect for shooting in the Texas heat are the built in mesh panels to increase airflow, lightweight cotton fabric and a black under-brim surface to help prevent glare.

It’s also an unstructured 6-panel hat, which means the front two panels don’t have any support material added to them. These hats are sometimes called “floppy” hats. They’re definitely not as “floppy” as boonie hat, but are lightweight and weigh in at just 2.7 ounces.

Details

Much like a Trucker’s Hat, but without the traditional plastic mesh panels. The Blended Operators Hat panels are made from heavy duty fabric for increased durability. If you’re familiar with Eagle’s CIRAS line of vests, this appears to be the same heavy duty mesh that they use on the body-side of these. The material is rigid at first but softens nicely with wear.

Another thing that sets this hat apart is the black Velcro-compatible material under the brim, which not only provides a non-glare surface, but to also allows attachment of things like small LED Bite Lights or Keychain Lights to provide hands-free illumination (see photos below).

215 has also removed that annoying top button and replaced it with a 1.5″ x 1.5″ loop Velcro square for attaching IR patches, and provided a front and rear 3″ x 2″ loop Velcro panel for attaching your favorite patches. The closure is something I also really like about this hat, which is handled through a Velcro adjustment rather than the typical slider or plastic peg adjustment.

Availability

The 215 Gear Blended Operators Hat comes in Black, Coyote, MultiCam, Desert Digital, UCP and a MultiCam JTAC option with two added high visibility panels on the inside for signaling. The BOH is a one size fits all hat that’s made right here in the USA and comes with a lifetime warranty.