An Cosantóir

| 33 gear review Sponsored by Team Alpha.ie Streamlight Sidewinder Compact II: 5.11 Tactical HardTime Glove The manufacturer says... Streamlight Sidewinder Compact II is a multibattery, multi-LED, hands-free flashlight. It accepts multiple power sources to provide ultimate flexibility in the field. It has the same great features as the original Sidewinder Compact®: lightweight, multi-directional and multi-functional. It accepts a variety of different battery types: it uses one 3V CR123A lithium battery (included), AA lithium battery or AA alkaline battery. Four individual light sources: C4® LED, white, blue, IR & red. Pull-to-turn rotary selector knob prevents accidental mode changes and allows selection of LED colour. Rubber dome actuator and 4-position pull-to-turn, locking, rotary selector knob with IR LED tactile indicator provide easy operation even when wearing heavy gloves. Powers on at low output and progresses to high intensity, in four discrete steps. IR Safe mode prevents accidental activation and battery depletion while in IR mode. Double-click push button to initiate strobe (all LED colours have a strobe function). 185º tilting body, rotates 360º on helmet mount. Durable clip attaches to helmet, head strap or MOLLE vest. Cord attachment hole provided in clip capable of supporting 25lbs of load. Three-metre impact resistance tested. IPX7/waterproof to 1-metre for 30 minutes. O-Ring and gasket sealed openings. Meets MIL-STD-810F. The manufacturer says... The 5.11 Tactical HardTime Glove partnered with Ironclad Performance Wear®, to set new standards for dexterity, fit, and durability and provide you with gloves you can depend on. Our commitment to functional innovation and unparalleled quality, combined with Ironclad's dedication to superior fit and tactility, means you can trust our gloves as you navigate through the day's challenges. American made Kevlar® back panel for flash and slash protection. Articulated TPR-covered two-piece hard knuckle protection. Tactical Touch™ precision fit fingertips for maximum dexterity and comfort. Durable Goatskin leather palm. Neoprene and Velcro® wrist closure. Reinforced pull tab. Lightweight and fast drying. Instead of a single piece covering all four knuckles, our two plates flex with your hand, each covering two knuckles and improving your comfort, dexterity, and performance while protecting your knuckles from impact. Tough thermoplastic plates are padded on the hand side and covered with a durable subdued finish TPR laminate on the business side. Retail Price €78.00 Our tester, Cadet Kevin Fitzgerald (Cadet Sch, Mil Col), says... I tested the Streamlight Sidewinder Compact II torch and it was worn at all times throughout rigorous exercises. It never dimmed or got damaged and never moved from its position on the helmet mount clip. It's very durable, shockproof and waterproof. However the helmet mount clip is too small for the thicker parts of the Defence Forces helmet. A very useful feature is that the click is a very small pinprick, which means you wont expose too much light. The torch's brightness settings are easily cycled through, from two pinprick beams to very bright light, which is much brighter than standard torches. The torch is quite difficult to deal with when it is mounted on the helmet, the button is hard to depress and it is very difficult to change lighting modes. However this is helpful in military operations, as it won't be turned on accidentally. Overall this is an excellent piece of kit that exceeds any standard head torch available. It shows that it has been designed with military operations in mind and I would highly recommend it. Rating: Brightness 9 - Battery Life 9 - Waterproof 9 - Safe Mode 7 Retail Price €69.95 Our tester, Sgt John Griffin (Cadet Sch, Mil Col), says... I tested 5.11 Tactical HardTime Glove over the last two weeks. I found them very comfortable to wear and they allowed me to operate the weapon without any problems. The biggest advantage I found was the two-piece knuckle protection. It gives good protection to the knuckles but most of all it allows for better movement of your hand and doesn't hamper you in any way. The gloves are not waterproof but they are fast drying so that helps. They are small and lightweight so they don't take up much room in your admin in the field. Overall I found the gloves very good and would be ideal for fighting in built up areas (FIBUA) exercises. I would recommend these to a friend or colleague. Rating: Dexterity 9 - Fit 8 - Durability 10 - Slash/Flash protection (Kevlar) 10 Comp etiti on This month Team-Alpha are offering a €100 Voucher to be used on their website www.team-alpha.ie. For a chance to win this month's prize answer the following question: What price is the Delux Law Enforcement Cleaning System on the team-alpha website? Answers on a postcard to An Cosantóir's regular address or by email to subs@military.ie by the 20th Feb 2013. Winner will be the first correct entry drawn. Last month's winner of a €120 Voucher for Team-Alpha.ie was Will Rowan, Kildare Town www.military.ie the defence forces magazine

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