Comments on: Tomorrow’s Soldier Today http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/tomorrows_soldier_today/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:10:32 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Tom http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/tomorrows_soldier_today/comment-page-1/#comment-13762 Tom Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=5380#comment-13762 Here is a blog from a VC that attended the DARPATECH meetings. A very interesting perspective, and someone who understands the tech and defense community. http://www.pacificavc.com/blog/ Here is a blog from a VC that attended the DARPATECH meetings. A very interesting perspective, and someone who understands the tech and defense community.

http://www.pacificavc.com/blog/

]]> By: John A. Kalb http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/tomorrows_soldier_today/comment-page-1/#comment-13763 John A. Kalb Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=5380#comment-13763 The biggest problem seems to be that the Army won't invest in the new, lighter-weight materials. Most backpackers have an awful lot of stuff made out of silicon-impregnated nylon (silnylon for short), which is a whole lot lighter than the stuff the army uses. Or they could use spectra gridstop for anything that needs to be really strong. If they would put a little into taking materials off the shelf, they'd be in much better shape The biggest problem seems to be that the Army won't invest in the new, lighter-weight materials.

Most backpackers have an awful lot of stuff made out of silicon-impregnated nylon (silnylon for short), which is a whole lot lighter than the stuff the army uses. Or they could use spectra gridstop for anything that needs to be really strong. If they would put a little into taking materials off the shelf, they'd be in much better shape

]]> By: James Joyner http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/tomorrows_soldier_today/comment-page-1/#comment-13764 James Joyner Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=5380#comment-13764 Agreed. Indeed, the SF started doing that years ago for things like sleeping bags. Now, granted, recreational campers don't use their gear for months at a time. But there has to be a way to use civilian technology faster. Agreed. Indeed, the SF started doing that years ago for things like sleeping bags. Now, granted, recreational campers don't use their gear for months at a time. But there has to be a way to use civilian technology faster.

]]> By: John A. Kalb http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/tomorrows_soldier_today/comment-page-1/#comment-13765 John A. Kalb Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=5380#comment-13765 James, I'm not talking about recreational campers. They mostly have no use for the advanced materials, and typically don't buy it. I'm talking about backpackers, and specifically long-distance hikers. The difference between what I carried in my 2002 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and what my friend in the Army reserves has is just sad. So far as I know, SF only carries standard Polarguard. There are actually several generations of it, and anyway, nothing compares to 800 fill power goose down (though that really is expensive stuff). And they only carry first-generation Gore-Tex (actually, Gore-Tex isn't even really necessary; there are lots of lighter, cheaper derivative versions like Marmot PreCip that are plenty durable and weigh a whole lot less while being more breathable). They can do much better. --- James,

I'm not talking about recreational campers. They mostly have no use for the advanced materials, and typically don't buy it. I'm talking about backpackers, and specifically long-distance hikers.

The difference between what I carried in my 2002 thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and what my friend in the Army reserves has is just sad.

So far as I know, SF only carries standard Polarguard. There are actually several generations of it, and anyway, nothing compares to 800 fill power goose down (though that really is expensive stuff). And they only carry first-generation Gore-Tex (actually, Gore-Tex isn't even really necessary; there are lots of lighter, cheaper derivative versions like Marmot PreCip that are plenty durable and weigh a whole lot less while being more breathable).

They can do much better.

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