Bates Enforcer Series® Ultra-Lites

Whether in urban or rural terrain, Tactical Sport footwear from Bates is ready to perform. This Ultra-Lites™ 8" boot is part of the Bates Enforcer Series®. Ultra-Lites™ feature stealth technology and are 30% lighter than original Enforcer Series™ models. Leather and nylon uppers feature a breathable high performance mesh lining. A full cushion removable EVA footbed features shock absorbing pads for maximum energy return. Cement construction and a long-wearing rubber outsole. Stealth footwear is undetectable in electronic security environments. Fiberglass shank, non-metallic hardware and construction. Made for officers in special forces, law enforcement, and the security industry.

Note: these boots are not authorized for wear in the Army. AR 670-1 Paragraph 27-3 Subparagraph d. (4) states that "Soldiers are not authorized to wear any boot... deemed to have sneaker-type construction, unless they are authorized an exception to policy by Headquarters, Department of the Army."

Danner Acadia 8"

Water-resistant leather, 1000 denier Cordura nylon and Danner's patented GORE-TEX liner make the lightweight, uninsulated Acadia a great choice for warmer climates and high activity levels. The midsole is made of two layers: thin, hard rubber for support and thick, soft EVA for comfort. Features a Vibram 148 Kletterlift sole, which can be re-soled unlike sneaker styled soles.

Under Armour

Oh the wonders of material engineering! Clothing lines made with Under Armour Fabric™ wick perspiration off your skin to the outer layer of the garment, and dries four times faster than cotton. Field-tested by Delta Gear personnel in summer training activities, Under Armour® garments kept the core body temperature of each wearer well over one degree cooler than subjects wearing cotton. It doesn't sound like much, but sometimes every degree counts.

The snug-fitting shirts we wore were made of a lightweight micro fiber and worn inside our regular clothing. One soldier said the tight fit made him feel more "buff" than usual, but some of us had difficulty getting used to the body-hugging feel. Overall we found the Under Armour Fabric™ worth having on a long, sweaty ruck march. The drawback? Price. To enjoy the benefits on a budget, we recommend you buy one and rinse it out every evening. The fast drying time will allow you to wash and wear that one shirt over and over again.

Don't get to caught up by the manufacturer's overly dramatic advertising. It would be nice if the shirts came with care instructions. If that's too much to ask, they could at least provide it on their website. Insect repellents can damage some synthetic fibers (i.e. spandex, rayon, or Dynel). So do insect repellents damage Under Armour? We don't know, and Under Armour isn't about to say one bad thing on their website.

PolarMax® Acclimate® Performance

This is the undershirt that the Army currently issues. 100% Acclimate® Polyester premium microfiber knit fabric is soft, stretchy, and designed for maximum performance. Acclimate® keeps you cool, dries fast for all-season comfort. Acclimate® will not pill or fuzz up like other synthetics and is odor, mildew and bacteria resistant. Machine washable and dryable, and will never shrink or stretch out of shape.

These shirts wick perspiration to the fabric's surface where it evaporates and keeps you drier (cooler in the Summer and warmer in the Winter). The seams use Flatlock construction for comfort.

Polypro Neck Gaiter

The neck gaiter is a great product that the Army should have authorized earlier. The majority of your heat loss is through your neck and head, so why not keep it covered. When you don't need it, the gaiter easily fits in your pocket. You can also wear it in several different configurations for varying degrees of coldness: around your neck, pulled over your mouth/nose, or pulled over the top of your head.

Note: the neckgaiter is authorized for wear in the Army. AR 670-1 Paragraph 27-17 Subparagraph b. states that "The neckgaiter is a dark brown or tan knitted cylindrical tube of approximately 10x15 inches, consisting of 90 percent polypropylene and 10 percent Lycra. The neckgaiter is camouflage compatible; one size fits all soldiers."

Field Jacket Liner

A great piece of army-issue equipment, but who wears a field jacket these days? Still, they continue to issue and require it. Many soldiers now wear this liner under their BDU top, but it is not tailored for BDUs and sticks out around the collar. Not only is it warm, but the quilted liner is also very comfortable. Add some buttons and it would really be functional. In the past, the liner would actually fasten to the inside of the field jacket but as we said, those days are pretty much over.

Poncho Liner

The poncho liner was previously used primarily as a blanket and, unlike the name implies, it was never used as a poncho liner for the obvious reason that there is no hole in the center of it for your head to fit through! So why the name? Typical military logic of course. This was a must-have piece of equipment until the advent of the three-part sleep system, which now consists of a sleeping bag, a liner, and a gortex bivy.

The sleeping bag liner is used now in place of the poncho liner mainly because it has a zipper which provides for better insulation. Ranger Rick makes a kit that adds a zipper to the poncho's exterior and a zipper for a head hole. AT this point we have to say, “Look it Einstein, instead of spending all that money on a liner and conversion kit, why not just use your sleeping bag liner?”

Emergency Blanket

There are many brands out on the market but they're all pretty much the same. This blanket is not just overblown piece of tin foil, it is actually made from a special thermal material evolved from insulation and used in the aerospace industry. The way it works is by reflecting back 80% of your own body heat. This is a light weight and compact blanket designed to use in emergency situations. A small, light-weight staple for any survival kit.

Space® Brand All Weather Thermal Blanket

This blanket might be considered the big brother of the standard emergency blanket above. It is constructed from four-ply laminated clear polyethylene film, a precise vacuum deposition of pure aluminum, a special reinforcing fabric and a layer of colored polyethylene film. This blanket will reflect and help retain over 80% of radiated body heat and is useful even in sub zero temperatures. It is 50% more tear and puncture resistance than other versions. It is waterproof and also reflects radar in combat scenarios.

We recommend it for camping, hunting, viewing sporting events, shelters, and ground covers. It would also be a good thing to keep in your vehicle. Its size and weight is a bit cumbersome for backpackers and hikers but the grommeted corners are good for making improvised shelter. It is olive drab on one side and silver on the other. Made by MPI Outdoors.

ReviveX® Water Repellent for Outerwear

This is a DIY spray-on product that can be applied to all types of fabrics (outerwear, sleeping bag, or tent), making them water and stain resistant. It won't interfere with fabric breathability and adheres to areas of outer fabric that has been untreated or where the original waterproof coating may have worn off. It is easy to use by first washing the garment, spraying the garment while wet and then drying for 60 minutes in a medium dryer. Spray shell fabric only - especially for garments with high-performance, moisture-management linings. It is nontoxic and safe for the environment.

We tested ReviveX® on a boonie cap to see how well it works on a fabric that wasn't water repellent. After properly applying and drying, the water beaded up and rolled right off. The soldier testing it claimed his head felt a little “damp” after being out in rainy weather, but definitely did not get wet. One 148mL bottle only treats 1-2 garments, which seems kind of expensive. On the other hand, you can bring your battered $200 jackets back to life for only $10. Not bad when you look at it that way.