An Cosantóir

gear review 5.11 Tactical - Rapid Assault Shirt | 35 Sponsored by Team Alpha.ie 5.11 Tactical - Sports Boxer Brief Colour: Black size: Medium price: €69.95 Colour: Black size: Large price: €29.95 The manufacturer says... The new Rapid Assault Shirt is the perfect addition to 511's popular Tactical Duty Uniform. We have worked with a team of law enforcement officers and military personnel across the country to develop the ultimate combat shirt for tactical use. The body fabric is a lightweight poly/cotton/ spandex knit that wicks perspiration and dries quickly. Engineered side mesh panels improve airflow, keeping you cool. With premium stretch the torso is form fitting without being tight or restrictive. Flat lock seams reduce chafing and maximize comfort for wear under body armour. The saddle shoulder construction allows for maximum range of motion for all operations. The sleeves are constructed of a tough poly/cotton ripstop with articulated, reinforced elbows. Large, dual shoulder pockets provide additional storage capacity. The Rapid Assault Shirt has a half zip entry with a woven collar that can be worn up or down. We've considered every detail in designing the perfect addition to your Tactical Uniform. The manufacturer says... The Sports Briefs are very comfortable and designed to keep you dry even under heavy athletic activity. 5.11's trademark 3d Wicking; technology pulls moisture away from the body then promotes quick evaporation. If you are looking for a comfortable pair of under shorts, the 5.11 Sports Briefs will fit the bill. The 5.11 Sports Briefs are cut for an athletic fit and are built with state-of-the-art fabrics and manufacturing processes. Designed for an active lifestyle, the Sports Briefs are a perfect complement to your uniform. The thee-dimensional fibre design keeps you dry and comfortable even under the most arduous activities. Our fabric blend of 95% polyester and 5% spandex is perfect for any type of wear providing a stretchable, comfortable and breathable pair of under shorts. Our reviewer Cpl (Army Ranger Wing) says... The 5.11 tactical shirt is a great design, and its now being used by many different clothing companies as an under body armor system. However the quality of the 5.11 shirt is very good; fits great, it is tight but not constricting (doing what it's meant to do). The design to keep cool definitely works very well as I tested it in the recent warm weather we had, and it did keep me relatively cool. It is designed more to take sweat away from the body and does this job equally well. Again the breathability of this shirt ties into the 'keeping cool' attribute that the shirt gives and the thin material that is used on the torso is made to do such. The elbows on the shirt are ok, but could definitely be improved with a small amount of additional padding for lying on the ground or prone shooting. Durability is very good but I was expecting it to be as the 5.11 brand is known for - making good robust clothing for operators. Overall it's a very good under body armor shirt that does what it says on the tin. Our reviewer Sgt Mick Burke (DFHQ CIS) says... I tested the Sports Boxer brief over the last month in all types of weather especially the last month of great sunshine. I wore the briefs mainly playing golf and when I did my daily constitutional walk. I have to agree with what it says on the pack. It takes the moisture away from the body while still maintaining a comfortable breathable feeling and this was very noticeable when temperatures reached the high twenties. They certainly reduce chaffing of the legs and are designed to look like day to day briefs, with its front opening for "functional toilet breaks" which is missing from many other sports briefs. They came through many washes without losing their shape or compression. The only downside is the price in comparison to other brands but once you start to wear them it's hard to try anything else. Comfort & Fit 10 - Moisture Wicking Fabric 9 - Durability 10 - Price 7 Fit 9 - Breathability 9 - Reinforced Elbows 7 - Durability 8 This month Team-Alpha is offering a €100 Voucher to be used on their website www.team-alpha.ie. For a chance to win this prize please answer the following question: How much are the 5.11 Covert Cargo Khaki Pants on the team-alpha website? Answers on a postcard to An Cosantóir's regular address or by email to subs@military.ie, closing date 20 September 2013. Winner will be the first correct entry drawn. Last month's winner of a €100 voucher for Team-Alpha.ie was Michael Dalton, Co Cork. www.military.ie the defence forces magazine

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