Instructor
Head of Product Development
Armin Wagner
Armin is the mastermind behind all UF PRO products. With over 25 years of experience in the textile industry for law enforcement and military units, and after working for some of the industry’s leading companies like WL Gore, Second Chance and Armour Holdings, Armin finally landed, as he describes it, his dream job as head of product development at UF PRO.
Course curriculum
Weight versus Comfort
Wearing comfort of tactical clothing is extremely important. It can lead to better reaction times and speed in operations. The lighter, the more comfortable, right? In reality, weight is only one influencing factor.
FAQ | Weight versus Comfort
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The lighter gear is, the more comfortable, right?
In my experience, you should be careful with such a hasty conclusion. Comfort is defined by the sum of various parameters and finally the comfort is always subjective, because it is related to the individual experience. In the end you have to experience it in real usage and decide for yourself how you feel.
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How important is the correct fit of the garment?
Clothes that don't fit are simply not comfortable, irrespective of how light it may be. It might be trivial, but should however be included in the evaluation right from the beginning. You’re wearing the clothes on your body and usually while in motion. Often a light shirt feels great when you hold it in your hand, but when you put it on and you’re in action, it is still absolutely poor because it tenses, restricts or slouches. This can be caused by the cut, or the mix of materials or because the two do not go together well.
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How big of a role does air permeability play?
The fabric and its construction should offer a well-balanced level of air permeability and circulation, which in best case can be best regulated by yourself. In my opinion you need a fabric, which offers a reasonably good, but not too high air permeability and the clothing should have ventilation holes that can be opened for a short time under high pressure and then be closed again.
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Functional elements like pockets add to weight, where do you draw the line?
Despite all the weight reduction, there are still clear basic requirements for the functional elements that distinguish combat clothing in the desert or in the tropics. The basic principle of all our developments should also apply here: The tactics define the clothing and not vice versa.
FAQ | Is your GORE-TEX Leaking?
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Is GORE-TEX not waterproof after several washes?
This is a common misconception, which is caused most of the time by users getting wet despite wearing GORE-TEX. This can be accredited to multiple factors, like moisture buildup on the inside, clammy feeling because of significant loss of DWR performance or other factors. GORE-TEX membranes remain waterproof even after multiple life cycles.
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Why can you become wet even if you are wearing a GORE-TEX jacket?
Most times, we can determine that wetting of the middle and base layers was not caused by water penetration from the outside, but instead was the result of a physiological/physical process. Specifically, under certain circumstances, the human body produces more sweat than the GORE-TEX laminate is able to carry away to the outer side of the hard shell.
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What other benefits do the GORE-TEX laminates have?
Mainly protecting you from wind and low temperatures. First, let me mention that we like to stay dry because dry means warm. Wet is cold. Cold means we need energy for warming up—energy that we might need to help us focus on and accomplish our tasks. In my experience, even though I know that I will sweat during outdoor activities in the rain, I’ll still wear my hard shell because it protects me against additional weather conditions like wind and low temperatures.
FAQ | Why ergonomic design matters
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Don't tight clothes limit your movement?
Clothing can be made in a variety of ways so as not to restrict your movement. One way, for example, is to use the familiar baggy “potato sack” design. The “potato sack” was a mainstay of the last century because it’s a proven design. It works. But it also carries with it some clear-cut downsides and few, if any, advantages compared to those of anatomically cut clothing. Another way to avoid restricting movement involves incorporating “smart” materials, like Schoeller-Dynamic to create the anatomic fit.
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What are the advantages of an anatomic fit?
Anatomic fit ensures this reflexive ability to find the pocket remains true no matter what you’re doing at any given moment—be it kneeling, standing, or laying down—because that pocket will be in the exact same spot relative to your body. Furthermore it minimizes the risk of getting caught in perturbing elements and tearing your garments.
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Does ergonomic clothing really conserve energy?
If your clothing is not ergonomically designed, you can expect to be constantly tugging at it—basically demonstrating that it’s working against your own gear. This consumes energy, more than you would normally expend were you not frequently readjusting, shifting around in, or in some way manipulating your gear. What’s more, if your clothing is not ergonomically designed, if it’s loose fitting, it’s going to trap more air than it would if it were close fitting. In the summer months, when temperatures soar, a large volume of air trapped between your skin and the fabric increases the heat.
FAQ | FR vs No Melt/No Drip Clothing
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What is the actual point of “No Melt, No Drip”?
It provides the user with a very basic level of protection, by preventing injuries caused by dripping synthetic fibers. More importantly it has superior comfort, durability and weighs less than full FR sets.
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What materials are "No-Melt/No-Drip"?
Depending on sufficient natural fibers presence in a material a blend of a synthetic fiber like nylon and cotton can be No-Melt/No-Drip. However it's important to realize that it heavily depends on the percentage of natural fibers and can not be declared before real life testing.
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Is No-Melt/No-Drip a FR system replacement?
No. NM/ND materials are not the substitute for a professional FR solution and can not be treated as such. In environments or scenarios that require Flame Retardant clothing operators they are the only true way of protecting against severe burns and injuries.