USA : CamelBak tactical hydration packs offer lighter fabric constructions - Textile News USA

INVISTA’s CORDURA brand and CamelBak have joined forces to help soldiers on the frontline become lighter, faster and more efficient by upgrading a wide variety of CamelBak brand tactical hydration pack systems with high-performance, weight-reduced 500D CORDURA Classic fabric constructions.

Traditionally produced with 1000D fabrics, the CORDURA brand team responded to the request for a lighter weight durable hydration system fabric with 500D CORDURA Classic fabric. Engineered to have a tighter weave and 35 percent weight reduction (per square yard), 500D CORDURA Classic fabric maintains a similar strength-to-weight ratio as the previous version. This innovative fabric solution provides infantry soldiers with a significantly lighter hydration system without sacrificing fabric performance.

“Today’s infantry soldier may carry up to 90 pounds of additional weight on their back. It’s important that they focus on the mission at hand – not what’s on their back,” said Hunter Shoop, CamelBak Military Product Manager. By joining forces with the CORDURA brand team, we were able to zero in on a fabric technology solution to continue providing infantry soldiers an essential hydration pack while removing the strain of additional weight.”

In addition to providing infantry soldiers with a lighter load carriage system, 500D CORDURA Classic fabric continues to offer exceptional breaking strength, tear-resistance, dimensional stability and water resistance. These benefits, coupled with the fabric’s built-in near infrared reflectance (NIR) visibility protection for day- and night-time military operations make for a highly advanced tactical hydration system. As a result, 500D CORDURA Classic fabric is also featured in Camelbak’s ArmorBak series packs which attach directly to outer tactical vests (IOTVs), modular tactical vests (MTVs) and outer tactical vests (OTVs).

“Improvements in military gear and equipment are critical to the war fighters’ success in maintaining an advantage in combat,” said Cindy McNaull, Global CORDURA brand manager. “By continuously advancing CORDURA fabric technology, INVISTA is honored to help our troops have the tools to become lighter, faster and more efficient as they protect us on the frontlines.”

The following 2009 CamelBak tactical hydration packs feature the innovative 500D CORDURA Classic fabric:

• BFM 500
• Motherlode 500
• H.A.W.G. 500
• TriZip
• M.U.L.E. 500
• ThermoBak 3L
• Ambush AB 500
• ThermoBak
• ArmorBak

The 2009 CamelBak tactical hydration packs not only offer a lighter fabric constructions, but they also are designed to increase organization – internally and externally – for carrying essential elements needed on the field. Furthermore, the packs now feature external access fleece-lined pockets for glasses and night vision goggles (NVG), a lower drink-tube exit port for underarmtube routing plus side release buckles for quick release shoulder straps.