Product News: 5.11 Tactical, Elbeco, and School Apparel

This month’s product offerings come from 5.11 Tactical, Elbeco, and School Apparel.

The painful process of breaking in boots is a thing of the past, thanks to 5.11 Tactical ® . The Modesto, California manufacturer has launched several functional and comfortable boot designs with minimal break in time, and customer response, according to the company, has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Comfort right out of the box, lightweight, supportive, and they stand up to the rigors of the job,” says Guy Jones, a retired Colonel in the US Army and a law enforcement trainer. “The 5.11 HRT boot is lightweight and fits as comfortably as a tennis shoe with almost no break in time.”

“They help keep your feet dry and comfortable when working in 110+ degree weather.” adds Sgt. Todd Goehring of Phoenix PD’s Gang Enforcement Unit.

The two core design elements of light weight and comfort were considered in every step of the design phase. 5.11 Tactical sought input from experts in federal, state and local law enforcement for the design and functionality of these boots. Once the requirements were finalized, 5.11 looked for a partner that understood how to construct lightweight, comfortable footwear. After sourcing the world, 5.11 Tactical developed a relationship with the top factory in the world that produces high-end Nike ® and K-Swiss ® athletic shoes. “We wanted the boot to be lightweight, look and wear like a duty boot but feel like a running shoe.” explains Dan Costa, CEO of 5.11 Tactical, Inc. “Law enforcement personnel not only spend long days in the boots, but they also have to perform some pretty athletic duties in those same boots.”

The three lines of 5.11 Tactical footwear are all lightweight and have been designed for duties from foot patrol to special operations. Each line has features specific to a duty function such as carbon based rubber that minimizes slipping and squeaking and is oil resistant; waterproofing; or a blood borne pathogen resistant lining.

Features common to all three boot lines are injection Phylon in the mid-sole to make the boot light weight and comfortable; full grain leather to maintain high quality finish; and the 5.11 Tactical Series Shock Mitigation System ™ to protect an officer’s feet and legs.

To find the 5.11 retailer nearest you, visit www.511tactical.com or call toll free at (866) 451-1726.

Last Fall, Elbeco Incorporated, a Reading , Pennsylvania manufacturer, introduced the Meridian Modular Outerwear Jacket system. The product delivers a complete weather protection system capable of meeting core public safety demands for warmth, visibility and identification. It’s 4-part component system meets the specific needs of a large variety of public safety departments.

The core Meridian Jacket combines water resistance with intelligent design features, including Elbeco’s exclusive 360 degree telescopic sleeves, for a full range of arm motion without riding up. Meridian is designed with a unique, double-layer shoulder flap system that offers an additional protective barrier to inclement weather. Double entry, inverted pleat front patch pockets provide room for supplies, and with mike clip shoulder straps, complete the look of a full functioning Public Safety Jacket.

The Meridian Jacket comes standard with a zip out insulating liner featuring microfiber insulation (LDST Low Denier Soft Touch) suitable for core weather protection. Its ergonomically placed openings allow access to the 3 inner pockets of the main jacket.

Meridian also offers optional features to complete the package, including matching snap on hoops and drop down ID/Safety panels. These panels, available in shell colors as well as Hi Vis Yellow, can be purchased with either “Police”, “Sheriff”, “Fire” or “Security” lettering from stock. They can also be purchased plain to customize on your own. The ID panels utilize Scotchlite retro-reflective lettering, giving Meridian jackets added visibility in Low Light situations. The flaps are attached via hook and loop closure to the protective flaps, which also incorporate a permanent storage solution for the panels when they are not in use

For more information, call 800-468-4654, or visit www.elbeco.com

Our final product news this month comes from School Apparel, Inc. The company has developed a line of high performance sport socks and crew socks made with Innova® yarns from American Fibers and Yarns Company (AF&Y).

Manufactured by Crystal Hosiery of Colombia, South America , the socks combine the comfort of cotton with the high performance characteristics of synthetic yarn.

Innova yarns from AF&Y are engineered to have the look and feel of virtually any natural or man-made fiber, with inherent performance characteristics including stain and fade resistance, durability, moisture control, and bacteria and odor resistance.

“Our marketing strategy has been to use technology to give our customers a competitive advantage,” said Jim Morelli, AF&Y executive vice president, “and we are delighted to be working with Crystal Hosiery to provide School Apparel with a unique and differentiated product. The company has long been known for providing extra value to its customers and our

Innova yarn technology is a perfect fit for that philosophy.”

Consumer benefits of A+ socks featuring Innova include moisture control and quick drying for comfort; bacteria, mold, mildew and odor resistant for healthier feet; stain and fade resistant for longer wear; and superior engineering for foot support.

School Apparel, Inc is based in San Bruno , California , and manufactures a full line of school and dress code apparel for children as well as a compete line of men’s and women’s career and corporate casual apparel. American Fibers and Yarns Company (AF&Y) is the world’s leading supplier of solution dyed filament yarns.

For more information on School Apparel, visit www.aplusfabrics.com or call 1-800-227-3215. Please visit www.afyarns.com or call 919-969-4300 to learn more about AF&Y.

Editor’s note: Would you like to see your new products featured in a future installment of Product Round-up? Send an email to Jackie@uniformmarket.com