GOING GREY
As always with my personal gear I like to be able to have choice
and versatility based on one “core” set of kit, so the first choice
I had to make was the base for this. 5.11 offer a considerable
(HUGE!) range of shirts and trousers, but something on their
stand at back at SHOT 2015 really took my eye, and I bought
into it as soon as it was available and have been using it on
and off ever since! Enter the STRYKE Tactical Duty Uniform
(TDU)! This uniform is really a three component set that gives
a lot of flexibility. Crafted from highly durable 4.84 oz. Flex-Tac
mechanical stretch fabric and treated with DuPont Teflon Shield+
fabric protector for superb stain, liquid and soil resistance, the
new Stryke TDU Shirt from 5.11 features two canted front
chest pockets and sleeve pockets for increased storage, hidden
document pocket, together with Velcro adjustable cuffs and
mandarin collar for a truly personalised fit and overall comfort.
Additionally, the Stryke TDU Shirt comes with a YKK concealed
zip front, reinforced articulated elbows for added durability,
loop patch platform and an epaulette kit which can be sewn on
where you want them.
This highly practical shirt features the Flex-Tac, a revolutionary
fabric utilising proprietary fibers and developed exclusively for
5.11 Tactical. The lightweight, breathable, Polycotton Ripstop
incorporates mechanical stretch yarns, meaning the stretch and
recovery of the fabric is achieved without the use of Spandex. As
a result, the breathability, colour retention, and durability of the
Flex-Tac are superior to other Cotton / Spandex fabrics currently
in the market. If you favour more of a UBACS style shirt though
the Stryke TDU Rapid Shirt is probably the one to go for. This
model has a torso made from a highly flexible blend of Polyester
and Spandex material, and the shoulders and sleeves are made
of an exclusive 4.84 oz. Flex-Tac mechanical stretch fabric, again
treated with Teflon.
Crafted from a specialised proprietary blend of mechanical
stretch Polyester and Cotton material, the Stryke TDU Pants
are perfect for general use; they are made from a specialised
proprietary blend of mechanical stretch polyester and cotton
material, and are the perfect partner for either of the shirt
models. The TDU pants feature canted ergonomic cargo pockets,
double layered articulated knees and fully gusseted crotch for
superb freedom of movement in virtually any tactical situation.
The TDU pants come with stretch panels at the waist and
behind each knee, and are Teflon treated for stain, liquid and
soil resistance, and enhanced bartacking is used throughout for
increased durability and longevity.
TAC
as black is not a naturally occurring colour. Are shadows black, is
it black at night? You could argue that in both cases the answer
would be yes, but in reality, if you’ll pardon the expression, it’s
all shades of grey.
5.11 Tactical though took their time about things. They are a
huge international company that have the luxury of being able
to really work things through rather than just jumping on the
bandwagon for the sake of a quick buck. As much as 5.11 gear
has always been popular for “tacticool” casual wear they really
do build for the “real world” so every single thing that they
make has to be 100% fit for purpose. No corners are cut in terms
of fabrics, materials and construction, so when you buy into 5.11
you really are getting the “real deal”, not a dollar store copy
that’s going to come apart just because you look at it!
This is an interesting topic in itself, a conversation that came
up very recently with a good friend; He was kind enough to
share with me a very thought provoking article he had written
which addressed the need for “real gear” in relation to training
and leisure pursuits, and the conclusion that I personally drew
from it was that although we don’t need gear of this standard
(hopefully our weekend range day is not going to put our lives
on the line!) buying into it can actually be a financially sensible
thing to do.
As I always say, spend your money wisely! Yes, you’ll pay a
little more for gear from brands like 5.11, but in the long term it
will wear much, much better than cheap copies; I’ve got a pair
of ten year old tactical Pants that are still going to this day that
attest to this fact!
pmcimagazine.com