Inside Outdoor Fall 2017

Inside Outdoor | FALL 2017 20 From Trail to Tactics H igh tech performance wear isn’t just for ath- letes and sports enthusiasts. The advanced textile science devoted to developing next- generation sportswear also applies to gear and clothing worn on the battlefield and, increasingly, brands traditionally known for sportswear are aggressively entering the military arena. With so many new advances in performance-enhancing textiles, readiness for war is clearly no longer a matter of just new weaponry or surveillance systems. Advanced textile technologies designed to help war fighters per- form optimally in challenging environments and extreme climates are in hot demand, too. The Pacific Rim is one such environment and recent development requests from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) have focused on the search for textiles designed for wear in hot, humid, tropical settings such as those on the Korean Peninsula. For several years, the DOD has viewed the Pacific Rim as a significant area of potential conflict. A recent joint U.S.-South Korean computer-simulated defensive exercise in late August underscores the urgency involved. Performance industry brands gear up for the battlefield By Glenna B. Musante U.S. Army soldier from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, walks across the drop zone as part of an airborne operation on Fort Bragg, N.C. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Alex Manne.)