Off Duty, Technology - Navy Times

Predator shell is tough enough for battlefield

Soft shells are all the rage, with outdoor outfitter stores so packed that you feel like you’re squeezing your way through to the open bar at a Jacques Cousteau cocktail party. But when it gets really cold and wet, you need something to throw over that soft layer — and that’s when the T.A.D. Gear Predator hardshell comes out of your ruck.

We put one to the test on a six-week deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan to give you an idea of what to expect from this combat-tailored jacket.

Keep in mind, though, that this is a specialty item that not every unit commander will let you use.

Fit, construction and features

The Predator doesn’t fit like an off-the-shelf adventure sports shell. It feels roomy and the sleeves feel billowy, but once you’re in the prone position, you realize they are just long enough to keep the cuffs from riding up, even with body armor restricting fabric movement in the chest area. The shell never feels tight, even when worn over bulky, Army-issue fleece.

Adjustment points at the hood, cuff, chest and waist offer plenty of flexibility, depending on how many layers you’re wearing underneath.

The jacket isn’t long enough to cover your backside, but it will keep moisture from dripping onto your trousers as you walk.

Constructed from breathable, water-resistant nylon, the Predator feels lighter than the standard-issue Gore-Tex parka, but just as sturdy. Seams are taped and sewn nearly flat; the rugged, quiet zippers have an elastic seal to resist moisture, and fabric covers at the top of each zipper pull. Side zippers running from waist to elbow offer plenty of ventilation when things heat up.

It’s available in one color for now — a foliage green that’s grayer and lighter than olive drab and complements the Army’s new pixel-pattern camouflage for field use.

Patrick Ma, chief executive for T.A.D. Gear, said the next-generation Predator will be “available in an updated M.E. green, and a second color to be determined.” It also will feature “an additional pocket in the lower back similar to the old-school hunting jackets. This lower back pocket has a dual zippered entry and is designed as area to store gloves, beanies, or even an MRE if necessary.”

The main chest pockets are designed and positioned to allow access while wearing body armor, but are best suited for documents and other flat items — bulky gear is better off in the oversized shoulder pockets. (The additional shoulder protection now included in military body armor could make access to these pockets difficult, though.)

Each of the four larger pockets features rubber grommet pass-through points for headphone wires and a D-ring so you can dummy cord your pricey gear.

This could come in handy, since the pocket bottoms are square and run right to the edge of the zipper, making the oversized zipper opening a bit of a liability. Anything in your pockets that isn’t dummy-corded is likely to slide out if the zipper is fully open. The easy fix is not to open the zippers all the way, but we’d rather have an angled pocket bottom.

For such a big shell, it folds up to a reasonable size. We got it down to a flattish rectangle about 6 inches by 9 inches by 3 inches and lashed it to the outside of my pack for fast access. Bonus: It doubles as a pillow this way.

How it performed

In Iraq, the Predator was treated to three storms and performed well — not a drop of moisture got through the fabric or seams. The fine Iraqi sand that works its way into fabric tends to stiffen straps and ruin zippers. After three weeks of steady wear, we found no ill effects.

We found that the billowy arms (which feature stiff Velcro areas for patches) made dumping a ruck difficult, since they tend to hang up in the pack straps.

Among the features we’d love to see added: a Velcro patch on the back of the hood for a square of glint tape, a pen pocket on the upper or lower sleeve, a flashlight “cave” at the end of one sleeve and an interior pocket for earbuds or earplugs.

At $295, the Predator is about $50 cheaper than a premium hard shell such as those offered by Patagonia or Arc’teryx, but is much better suited for battlefield use. The few minor gripes we have can’t take much away from this shell’s good looks and proven function and durability in the field.