Sweat-wicking, grime-kicking garb - Off Duty, Technology - Navy Times

Sweat-wicking, grime-kicking garb

Of all the slick stuff on display at SHOT Show, the new garb was far and away the slickest: gritty ballistic goggles, tough-as-nails tactical gloves, European underpants (that’s right, we’ll explain later).

Here’s a rundown of the coolest finds:

• driFire

Using the same no-melt, flame-resistant technology that got its silklike “moisture management” T-shirt in the door with the Marine Corps, driFire is developing a line of heftier sweat-wicking garments — including fleece — to complement its “next-to-skin” wear. This year, expect to see a host of new FR outerwear from driFire, including vests, sweatshirts and balaclavas, as well as socks and glove liners.

Cost: Undetermined

http://www.drifire.com

• X-Bionic underwear

Talk about rocket science: X-Bionic functional underwear fights to keep your body temp at 98.6 degrees — regardless of your environment and your level of exertion. “It warms when it’s cold, and it cools when it’s hot,” said Dave Seligman of LOWA Boots, X-Bionic’s U.S. distributor. Whoa. Smart undies.

X-Bionic’s compression base layer gear is designed with large “traps” and “canals” stitched into key sweat zones: your chest, back, armpits, groin and butt. The developers say this wizardry will ward off shivering and prevent excessive muscle vibration, both of which can sap your energy.

Cost:        boxers, $45;        short-sleeve shirts, $110

http://www.x-underwear.com and http://www.lowaboots.com

• Under ArmoUr

Under Armour took one on the chin with its military clientele when commanders in theater started barring troops from wearing synthetic sweat-wicking gear that can melt when it’s exposed to fire.

The company has since started churning out a line of flame-resistant shirts, which is now in its second generation. Available in tactical olive drab and desert sand, the new Heatgear Fire Retardant Shortsleeve and Longsleeve shirts are built to keep you safe, dry and stink-free.

Cost:        short-sleeve shirt, $80;               long-sleeve shirt, $100

Also new from Under Armour: the Gen II Tactical Pants. Proven in an aggressive wear test by special operations troops, they have easy-access angled cargo pockets on the thighs and extra fabric in the crotch allowing wider leg movement when climbing.

And they air out quickly. “You can literally come out of the water and be dry in a matter of minutes, depending on the temperature,” Under Armour’s Pete Gilmore said.

Cost: $80

http://www.underarmour.com

• Multi-Time-Machine Inc.

New this year from Multi-Time-Machine Inc., the Special Ops Vulture is among the most advanced timepieces you’ll find. It’s water resistant to 660 feet and features ultraviolet lights that illuminate the dial, plus three LED “torch” lights with strobe effects.

Cost: $700

http://specialopswatch.com

• Command Arms Accessories

New this year, Stryker Assault Gloves are made with a lightweight Nomex/Kevlar blend to fend off flames and protect your hands from getting cut. A super-tough knuckle guard is built to withstand even the most ferocious impact. The niftiest feature, though, is the retractable index finger. Keep a solid grip on your trigger while shielding the rest of your hand from fire and flying debris.

Cost: $80

http://www.commandarms.com

• Wiley X

A junior enlisted grunt serving in Iraq sent Wiley X a note in November along with a photo of his heavily bandaged hand. “Dear Wiley X,” he wrote, “During a firefight I was ... shot in the hand by an AK47 round. The doctor told me that if I had not been wearing your gloves, I would have lost my whole hand. Instead, I just had tissue and ligament damage.”

In his other hand, this corporal held a mucked-up CAG-1 Combat Assault Glove, its molded, reinforced knuckles split by the AK’s bullet. “We protect your hands from getting shattered,” Wiley X’s Anthony Sotomayor said.

The CAG-1, made with flame-resistant goatskin, allows for improved dexterity, and its stitching is reinforced in areas prone to “blowout.”

Cost: $100

http://www.wileyx.com

The company, of course, is best known for its eyewear. New this year, the anti-fog WX Patriot ballistic goggles cover more of your face than earlier Wiley X gear. And they’re fitted with a removable gasket — called a “facial cavity seal” — that stops sweat and scuz before it oozes into your eyes.

Prescription lens inserts can be made for these and other Wiley X goggles.

Cost: $100

http://www.wileyx.com

• Eye Safety Systems

ESS branded its new Advancer V-12 ballistic goggles “war-fighter tough,” a testament to their widespread use in combat and the fact that they meet military specifications. But that clever label doesn’t fully explain just how smart the V-12s are.

To keep the lenses from fogging, for example, ESS developed an adjustable ventilation system that regulates — or eliminates — airflow. Pop ’em open to let in more air; click ’em closed to keep out dirt and dust.

Cost: $110

http://www.essgoggles.com

• Revision Eyewear

The new Hellfly ballistic sunglasses are 2mm thick and made of high-impact polycarbonate so they’ll keep you safe from flying debris — further enhanced by their “wrap-around design” — and provide vivid clarity. The six color variations regulate the amount of light allowed to pour through the lenses.

The frames, meanwhile, are built to fit your melon’s various curves. They’ve got an adjustable nosepiece and specialized moldings that help to keep them from slipping. And, if you want variety, look no further. Revision makes these bad boys in eight frame-and-lens combinations. The Hellfly will not accommodate a prescription, however.

Cost: $80

http://www.revisioneyewear.com