KIT & GEAR: FT DEFENDER

BILL HAS BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH US BRAND FIRST TACTICAL (FT) SINCE THEY LAUNCHED IN EUROPE AS WELL AS IN AMERICA AND NOW BOYCIE HAS JOINED HIM AS A BIG FAN OF THE BRAND. SINCE FT APPEARED THEY’VE GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AND THE ADOPTION OF THEIR DEFENDER SERIES SHIRT AND PANT BY A NUMBER OF UK POLICE FIREARM UNITS TAKES WHAT THEY OFFER TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL!

Bill: It’s really edifying when you support a brand that enters the market and within just a couple of years you see them gaining great plaudits from reviewers and users alike, including professionals who use the gear “at work”.

I’ve been very fortunate to have met the First Tactical Team in person a good few times now and they are super people that are intent on delivering the very best tactical kit and clothing that they possibly can. Having now worn their excellent Defender clothing for some time, it’s also great to see others in the AA team discovering it, so I’ll hand over to Boycie for his “take” on their Defender clothing!

Boycie: One of the things I find in airsoft, especially online, is the snobbery around “replica” and “real deal” clothing and equipment. But is there really a need for “real deal” in airsoft?

We all have different budgets available to use for the kit we need for skirmishing and MilSims. At the end of the day we are all slinging BBs at each other and numerous times I’ve seen “rentals” out playing on site when they take out a group of “elite” players. What really is nice to see is when those “elite” players in their thousands of pounds of kit, approach the “rental” and say “well done mate!”

There are a large number of players who spend a lot of time researching a specific “loadout” that they have seen in photos of Military and Police operations. Accuracy, for them, is very important and it’s this that can lead them to spend hundreds of pounds on just one part of the gear, for example, combat trousers that can cost £400-£500 a pair! While there are a lot of manufacturers in the Far East who make some great replicas, which are more suited to the lower budgets of some players, there are pros and cons to each side.

Through “Lockdown” I’ve been looking more at the kit I have and thinking “Do I really need all this really expensive kit?” I’ve decided that I’m not worried about building a specific multicam “loadout”, so I’m going down the more generic “look”. The main thing that I am not changing is my C2R Lite body armour but the “uniform” is going to change.

Out with the old… My “old” kit is Crye G3 trousers and a Massif UBAC shirt. Whilst comfortable, for a lot of players they can’t help having in their mind that if kit gets damaged it will cost a small fortune to replace. For some players with a large budget, this will not be as much of a problem.

In with the new… I’ve been using First Tactical Defender clothing, in black, as a “work” and company uniform for two years now and find it really comfortable and functional; not only that but it is very cost effective when you compare it to things like Crye™.

This is the same type of clothing that 27 of the 43

“THE FINISHING IS OF THE VERY HIGHEST STANDARD AND IS ABSOLUTELY IMPECCABLE! NOT ONLY ARE THE FABRICS THEMSELVES DESIGNED FOR EXTENDED DURABILITY BUT THE WAY IN WHICH THEY ARE PUT TOGETHER AND COMBINED HAS SHOWN ME THAT THIS IS GEAR THAT WILL TAKE ALL YOU CAN THROW AT IT AND COME BACK LAUGHING!”

UK’s territorial Police Forces now issue to their officers, mainly their Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) on Armed Response Vehicles (ARVs). This is a great advantage as more photos start to appear with the Police AFOs wearing it, more people will be interested in acquiring it to use in their “loadouts”. First Tactical clothing is also used by numerous Police Forces and Government agencies in the USA and around the world to equip their personnel. It’s a really highquality product that can stand up to a fair amount of “abuse” in day to day wear. For the “loadout” I’ve built I am going to be using the First Tactical Defender Multicam™ camouflage products.

DEFENDER SHIRT

With the Defender Shirt the main body is a UBACS type material made from Spandex and polyester to keep the wearer cool and give great breathability when wearing a plate carrier. The arms are made from a cotton Multicam™ material, again ripstop and reinforced at the elbows with Cordura™. At the wrist there is plenty of adjustment to suit the user. In addition, there is a flap of the same Spandex/Polyester mix material which prevents chafing and a built-in sleeve which could hold something like markers or pens. Each arm has a mid-humerus pocket, faced with a very fine loop material to allow the wearer to display unit or other patches. At the side of the arm pocket there is also a sleeve

which can hold a couple pens/ or even a

of markers medic’s torch. In the centre of the chest there is a zip to allow the user to wear the collar up and closed if required or down and open to help with ventilation.

DEFENDER PANTS

The Defender trousers complete the “uniform” and, as I’ve already said, we use these as company kit for events and pyro jobs we go out on. I’ve found these really comfortable during day-

to-day wear and also

when out on site.

For the new the material pants is a

really fine ripstop weave of genuine Multicam™ which after a wash is

really soft. There are reinforced belt loops around the waist and a button and pop stud fastening. This fastening I prefer as it “gives” and I really like the ability to add or remove knee pads through a side zip on the leg. Where the knee pads fit there is reinforcement on the back of the Multicam™ but when the knee pads are not fitted the trousers sit and feel as comfy as a pair of jeans. Also, there is no sagging of the material around the knee pad pockets. In the crotch area there are air vent holes to help keep the wearer comfortable in hotter weather. On the back of the knee pad pockets is a soft mesh fabric. There are rivets around the waist band to hold the belt loops in place, this is particularly important as those who wear these in Military and Law Enforcement environments will be wearing belt kit that may be quite heavy. At the opening of the pockets they are reinforced with webbing-like material which prevents a lot of wear occurring. On the front there are a pair of normal pockets, like you may find on a pair of jeans but in addition to these, there are a further four smaller pockets which can hold things like knives and phones etc.. Each of the pockets have vent/drain

holes. On the rear are two pockets with zip closures and pull cords. The sides of the legs have large cargo pockets, with internal dividers inside to help keep equipment from rattling around in the pocket. Each of the cargo pockets have zip closure and by the ankle on each side is a small pocket which could hold part of a med kit, or even a spare pistol magazine.

I think that if I/we were to wear a cheaper brand of clothing for the work environment then I would have maybe had to replace them a few times over the two years we’ve been using First Tactical, whereas the FT kit is still perfectly serviceable and fit for use. Yes, the trousers retail at £210 for a pair plus £22.95 for the optional knee pads when Crye can be around £400+ and where cheaper brands range from £40 upwards. The old addage “buy cheap, buy twice (or more)” is certainly true. I would suggest that wherever possible that you consider your budget and then buy the best quality products that you can with that budget that you have. This also applies to when you are building a specific impression or loadout.

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

Bill: I was lucky enough on Range Day at SHOT 2017 in Las Vegas to meet the FT head designer, Cory, who introduced me to the then-new “Defender” shirt and pant and I have to say that it was, at the time, the most overtly tactical clothing that FT had put together!

First Tactical’s Defender Series Shirts are, in my mind, the best of both worlds, performance built to handle any task while maintaining the sharp look needed by the professional user. In the performance department specialised pockets boast ample space for oversized gear, a specialised yoke eliminates unwanted bulk, and oversized sleeve pockets accept patches or embroidery. Creating the perfect warm weather shirt was at the forefront of their design as articulated elbows, running gussets and vented mesh locations providing advanced movement and breathability.

The Defender Series Pants offer a total of 28 (yup, you read that right, 28!!!) specialised pockets which give ample space for oversized gear, magazines, and all other equipment. Articulation is at the forefront of design as articulated knees, running gussets throughout and vented mesh pockets provide superb freedom of movement and breathability. Ventilation in multiple key areas makes these the ideal warm weather pants. The Defender Fabric features a breathable cotton and Cordura Nylon blend. The 2-way mechanical stretch Nyco is one of the first to the market and has double ripstop fabric that is moisture wicking and perfect for warm weather.

The specifications are mighty impressive and when I first saw the models themselves, I did feel that this was new territory for First Tactical. They’ve always made a point of using first rate fabrics and material technologies but their initial designs, although perfectly attractive and workmanlike were, in fairness, not dissimilar to other tactical brands. I can totally understand this as the tactical “uniform” clothing market, especially in the procurement sector for the professional user, is a very competitive one, so they needed designs that would immediately appeal to all potential users.

The Defender gear though, in my opinion, was the next step in their evolution and when I received the production samples for testing I was immediately drawn to just how intricate the design is, and just how clever the use, and combination of cutting edge fabrics is. However, the features tell only one part of the story…

If, for instance, you look at the Defender shirt the main body area is 6.5oz 100% Polyester jersey; snag, fade and wrinkle resistant with a wicking and anti-microbial finish. The sleeves and collar are a 6.9 oz, 55%

cotton/45% Cordura Nylon mechanical 2-way stretch double ripstop with moisture wicking finish and the whole thing is finished off with high quality YKK zips and Duraflex pull-tabs! The trousers are no less impressive in terms of the fabric mix as they make use of a 55% cotton/45% Cordura Nylon 6.9 oz. 2-way mechanical stretch NyCo fabric, with double ripstop and moisture wicking finish, YKK zips, Prym snaps, and Duraflex pull-tabs.

When it comes down to it though, you can have the very best fabric technologies on the planet but unless the design is right and the quality of finishing to the highest standard, you could still end up with a right turkey! I’m pleased to report that after some years of use the fit is absolutely spot-on, with the ergonomically designed articulated areas working just as they should and comfort is superb. The finishing is of the very highest standard and is absolutely impeccable! Not only are the fabrics themselves designed for extended durability but the way in which they are put together and combined has shown me that this is gear that will take all you can throw at it and come back laughing!

To date I’ve been very impressed with the quality and finish of all the First Tactical gear (I use their briefcases and now the “Recoil” range bag on a daily basis!) and with the Defender Shirt and Pant I believe they now have the basis of a clothing system that fully lives up to what they intended to achieve. I certainly look forward to seeing what they come up with next!

PUTTING THE BOOT IN!

Bill: As well as both having now tested the Defender gear both Boycie and I have also been putting the First Tactical Operator Boots (quite literally) through their paces!

One of the most regular debates I see in online gear chat groups is that of boot choice. Obviously for the UK a fully waterproof boot is going to be a firm favourite and recently I’ve seen some absolute “BS” written about the efficacy of lined or unlined footwear. Whilst a boot with a waterproof lining will give you immediate protection from the elements, it is a huge misnomer that this type of model requires no maintenance! Absolute “black arts and wizardry” that is… All boots require maintenance (I’ll go into the whys and wherefores another time…) but just

because a boot is unlined with an internal membrane or the like, doesn’t mean it won’t protect you - IF you look after it properly. But sometimes you just need a boot that suits your foot shape and your environment and if you’re going to be more in a CQB or range training setting rather than the dark, dank backwoods, then the “Operator” model from First Tactical is going to definitely be worth a look! Built for speed and comfort the First Tactical Operator Boot features a lightweight yet tough synthetic upper providing agility while welded construction ensures the boots can stand up to highlevel use and abuse. Lightweight and breathable while maintaining an unmatched level of durability needed for extended use the Operator Boots benefit from a Torsion Flex fiberglass reinforced composite shank that is 75% lighter than steel. The Operator takes inspiration from athletic shoes, providing the flexibility and comfort you expect from a running shoe but with the durability of your favourite tactical boot. From Ortholite foam to enhanced airflow pockets this boot is well ventilated and will provide comfort in the warmest of environments. Boycie: I have a pair of the Black 7” Operator Boots which I use for day-to-day wear and after coming up to two years there is little evidence of wear on the sole, when I compare my black (used) boots to a pair of factory fresh Coyote coloured boots. Once you’ve tied the laces there is a small pocket on the front of the tongue where you can put the loose lace ends to keep them tidy and prevent them coming undone or caught. Around the ankle are two small pockets in which it is possible to fit a small 1.5” First Tactical knife in its sheath if required, where local laws allow. What I really like about this boot is that they are really light, coming in at around 700g each for size 11 and very breathable. I would venture to say that, for me, the FT Operator Boot is about the most comfortable boot I own/have owned over 40 years. For more information on the Defender Series Shirt and Pant and Operator Boots please visit www.firsttactical.com or if you’re in the UK www. firsttactical.co.uk. We’re also pleased to report that good retailers like www.military1st.co.uk already have First Tactical products in stock, with more arriving all the time! AA “…FOR THE UK A FULLY WATERPROOF BOOT IS GOING TO BE A FIRM FAVOURITE AND RECENTLY I’VE SEEN SOME ABSOLUTE “BS” WRITTEN ABOUT THE EFFICACY OF LINED OR UNLINED FOOTWEAR. WHILST A BOOT WITH A WATERPROOF LINING WILL GIVE YOU IMMEDIATE PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS, IT IS A HUGE MISNOMER THAT THIS TYPE OF MODEL REQUIRES NO MAINTENANCE!”