Outdoor Research LLC. (OR), an outdoor and tactical gear industry brand, announced the company, in partnership with Prime Vendor ADS Inc., has been awarded a multi-year $49 million contract from the U.S. Army for the next generation Cold Weather Glove System (CWGS).
The interchangeable system comprises five individual gloves with varying levels of temperature protection and is customizable depending upon mission requirements. The Army received several offers from industry for this Program of Record (POR), ultimately selecting Outdoor Research based on the capabilities of the OR glove system and the company’s past performance providing best-in-class cold-weather solutions for American military service members. Army Contracting Command Aberdeen Proving Ground Maryland will oversee this contract.
The Outdoor Research CWGS includes:
- A fire-resistant liner base layer glove
- A next-to-skin glove for cool conditions
- A trigger-finger mitten for cold to extreme cold conditions
- A regular mitten that combines with other gloves
- A white over glove designed for cold weather and snow camouflage.
Each glove within the system is designed as “no melt, no drip” to protect against rapid heating during combat operations.
The CWGS provides protection from 40 degrees Fahrenheit down to -70 degrees Fahrenheit. Each glove can be worn independently or layered to provide scalable protection against a variety of temperatures. Combining elements of the CWGS provides for “fast doffing,” or rapid removal for short-term manual dexterity and combat operations. The individual five-finger gloves provide index finger and thumb touchscreen compliance, while the mittens are waterproof, windproof and seam taped for unparalleled protection against cold weather elements. The over-white mitten is made of Alpine Multicam™ and fits over multiple glove/mitten combinations, providing camouflage in winter conditions.
Outdoor Research will manufacture the 100 perecent Berry Amendment compliant CWGS in Seattle, Washington, and El Monte, Calififornia. Both facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art sewing and seam taping equipment operated by highly trained, skilled workers.
