This Tribe

We were recently introduced to Erebis ATP (All-Terrain Pattern) from Cortman Textiles, one of the contributors to the development of the MoD's MTP (Multi-Terrain Pattern, a version of Crye Precision's Multicam).  There is little doubt that Erebis is the closest match to MTP on the market, being very similar in both colour and pattern.

The photos show a square of Erebis 1100 dernier fabric (rucksack weight cordura type fabric) on an issue MTP field jacket and daysack.  Surprisingly the Erebis is a better match to the field jacket than the MTP rucksack!

Cortman Textiles Ltd have nearly 40 years experience in textile coating and production across a wide range of technical fabrics, including NBC suit linings and body armour. Erebis has been developed from the ground up but always with compatibility with MTP / Multicam in mind.

Erebis ticks all the boxes of a high-quality military camoflage fabric - it is anti-fungal, infra-red reflectivity (IRR) tuned and extremely durable, particularly in 1100 decitex.  The pattern is acid-printed, the best choice for military fabrics as the pattern is more permanent than other methods, and less likely to react to damp and extreme weather conditions.

We previously looked at Vista ATP, and one of its key advantages over its main competitor, Multicam, was price. Erebis is even more competitively priced than Vista - the Multi-Terrain camouflage price war is on!

Further Information

For further details please contact Cortman Textiles Ltd on 01772 627262 or visit www.cortman.co.uk.

You can also visit Cortman at the DSEI from 10-13th Sept, stand no. N8-393 (Land Zone)

Many This Tribe and Army Rumour Service regulars will know that we developed our 3 season Kosa duvet jacket last year, with review samples sent out to Army Rumour Service and Kit Reviews users for comment (discussion here).  While well received in general there were some significant flaws, particularly sleeve sizing, and we took the hard decision to go back to the drawing board.  While we really like our own Kosas they weren't ready for sale.

We've been busy on the Kosa Mk 2 and just received two great prototypes that are ready for discussion and we would really value your opinion and feedback before we get the final pre-production samples made and start full manufacture.

The concept remains the same as the first Kosa - we want a jacket that should go in every kit bag.  Lightweight, perfect for use under a field jacket (don't worry about the blue yet!), suitable for damp UK weather, but stylish enough to wear out to the pub on a night off on R&R.

We had two prototypes made, see below.  Both use ripstop windproof and DWR treated outers, with the same excellent mixed synthetic and down Multitherm fill as the first Kosa.  Zips have been upgraded and other minor niggles sorted out.

Version 1 - shows new vislon zips, upgraded pull tags and heavier ripstop fabric

Version 1

The first version is in a tougher fabric than the original Kosa with a strong ripstop hexagonal pattern.  The jacket has the feel of workwear and while undoubtedly rugged is, we believe, too difficult to compress, but also reduces the loft of the fill as the heavier fabric compresses it.  We do think it looks great though, even in these quick snap preview shots.

Shows lightweight ripstop fabric, plus the same upgraded zips as the black version above. More about the colour in a moment...

Kosa in the same weight fabric as the original Kosa, but with ripstop reinforcement.

The second sample is, yes, very blue. That was just coincidence and just because the blue fabric was available for the sample, but actually we really like it. What do you think? It's not going to go under a combat jacket, but is a great casual jacket. Your opinions welcome.

The fabric is a similar weight as original Kosa - very lightweight and suitable for mid-layer or casual use. The light fabric allows the filling to loft well, and the jacket feels lovely as soon as you put it on - instantly warm and feather-light.  Also it is pleasantly matt - we've been trying hard not to produce a shiny jacket.

Zips are upgraded as on the black version.

Both jackets are more roomy than their predecessors, particularly in the arms. We've yet to receive a full set of sizing samples, but so far the sizing seems spot on.

So, in summary, we're going for a black version of the lightweight ripstop jacket shown in the photos, with some minor modifications such as badge design, slightly larger pockets and improved hanging loops.

Two questions to you if you have a moment:  Should these include a stuff-sack (as the first Kosa) or is that just a waste of money, and should we also do the jacket in blue?  Which would you buy if it were one or the other?

Finally, we will likely offer a heavily discounted pre-order opportunity for those on our mailing list, existing customers and Army Rumour Service members.  The best way to ensure you receive the offer is to subscribe to our mailing list.

Launch will be September 2013.

Those of you with long memories will recall that we ran a 10% off everything sale at this time last year.  The good news is that we're doing exactly the same thing again this year!

This includes every item in our range and delivery will continue to be absolutely free for those of you in the UK.

Trying to decide what to to buy the military person in your life for Christmas?  Well we’ve put together our suggestions which we hope will make things a bit easier:

• Bridgedale Socks have been well known in military and outdoor circles for decades for the simple reason that they manufacture top class socks.  You can guarantee that opening a pair of these on Xmas day will definitely be met with a smile of appreciation!

• The Spec Ops Recon Wrap is a modern take on the traditional headover constructed using high performance synthetic materials.  Warm when you need it and cool when you don’t, we love them!

• Pits and Bits Wash Kit

  We sell loads of Snugpak Sleeka Elite jackets for the simple reason that they’re a high quality product at a very reasonable price.  Available in green for field use or black for use in the hills/high street.

• The Pits n Bits FOB Wash Kit is a really cheap, lightweight and minimal solution to keeping clean in the field.  Its ideal for keeping in your go pack or at the bottom of webbing pouches

• The Snugpak Kit Monster is a new addition to our line up as we used to stock a similar product by North Face.  We just didn’t think the difference in cost was matched by much (any!) change in quality.  The bottom line is that the Kit Monster is a super tough and mega flexible travel bag that we think you’ll love.

• For the ultimate in ally, we recommend the Templar Assault Systems Low Profile Bush Hat in Crye Precision Multicam.

• A decent field watch needs to be simple, robust and accurate.  That is why we rate the Traser P5900 Military Watch with its tritium lights for night operation.  Looks much better in the flesh than our image.

• Waterproof Bergan Cover

  Keeping your equipment dry in the field can be challenging which is why we always recommend a heavy duty waterproof bergan cover.  We stock them in Multicam which is also a good way of extending the life of all those green and DPM items still out there!

• If you suffer from blisters then they can be a complete nightmare. The Adventure Medical Kits Blister Kit offers three different ways of treating and preventing them.

• The last of our 10 items is the Helly Hansen Lifa top in green and black.  Almost every soldier I know has got at least one of these as they’re such a flexible item which can be used as a base layer on exercise or as a PT top when it gets a bit colder.

Well I hope that those have given you a few thoughts.  Let me know what you’d like for Xmas?

Although its only late November, the preparations for Christmas already seem to have been underway for several months.  Only the recent flash floods prevented our local council from turning on the Xmas lights yesterday and the supermarkets are piled high with tinsel.  It can only be a few days until the dread warbling of one of Sir Cliff’s many horrendous tunes assails my ears.

Still for those of you who need to send things overseas then an early warning is probably quite useful as British Forces Post Office (BFPO) recommended last posting dates are actually quite early.  Helpfully they’re available on the BFPO website which we'd always recommend as the best source of information

For most locations there is still plenty of time left but if you're posting to one of HM Ships then you need to get letters in the post by 20 Dec (First Class) or 18 Dec (2nd Class).  If  they're going to Afghanistan (Op HERRICK & others!) or the Middle East (Op KIPION & others!) then they need to be in the post by 3 Dec 12, i.e a week on Monday!

So if you needed a prompt to get that Xmas shopping done then hopefully that is it.

There’s no doubt that getting the right socks and boots combination is essential if you need the best possible performance.  We stock the Ops Systems range of military boots which offer ‘fit for purpose’ performance suitable for military, security and police users.  From the top of the range Counter Terrorism boots with a high traction, anti penetration sole to the coolmax lined desert boots they’ve got the full range of environments and roles covered.

These are ideally matched with the top class performance delivered by the Bridgedale Essential Kit range of socks.  Using knowledge from the demanding civilian market, they’ve been specially adapted for military use and we don’t think there are better socks on the market today.

For those who’ve been considering their options, we’ve put together two great combination offers:

• Buy any black pair of Ops Systems boots and get a free pair of Bridgedale Essential Kit Trekker socks in black.
• Buy a pair of Ops System Climate 6 Boots and get a free pair of Bridgedale Essential Kit Desert socks.

To take advantage of this offer just add a pair of boots and the appropriate pair of socks to your shopping basket and you’ll see that the value of the socks is removed!

Note: This offer valid until 28 Feb 13

I'm guessing after Bradley Wiggins' heroics of the summer that a lot more people are cycling to work at the moment. Once clad in the necessary lycra however there are not many (comfortable) places to carry essential items for the day at work.

Enter the 5.11 Tactical Rush Delivery Messenger Laptop Bag...

The ultimate cycling bag?

Wow, quite a title but then it's quite a bit of kit. Although it has military origins there has obviously been quite an eye on the civilian market during it's design and it makes an excellent bag for the daily commute.

If you cycle or ride a motorbike to work you will love this bag. Unlike a lot of cycling luggage it looks great when you aren't in the saddle too.

The Delivery Messenger is made in 1050D Nylon and comes in either sandstone or black. It's water resistant but does have drain holes in the main pocket in case of disaster.  It's built to last, in fact if you fall off, get it down on the road first and you will be fine.

It has lots of great features for the cyclist. There is a light/reflector fitting on the front flap and the shoulder strap comes with a small waist strap to stop it moving around while riding. The main compartment flap has velrco as well as the standard webbing clips. This is great on a bike as even if you leave the clips undone, the bag will stay closed. Each end of the bag has a collapsable pocket that can carry a water bottle.

End pockets collapse when not in use

The bag is designed to carry up to a 17 inch laptop and the main pocket is padded to protect it. The whole thing is a maze of pockets, some zipped, most with velcro inside for various attachments. You will spend a good few minutes working out where you put the first few items.

A word of caution if you are bit of a Wiggo stick on sideburns fan, there is enough velcro in the Messenger that if you get your replicas stuck I don't think you're going to get them back!

Once off the bike you can carry it either as a briefcase with the handle on the top, or use the shoulder strap. It's obviously not just a bike bag though and has a fitting on the back to allow you to attach it to other luggage if you need to.

Overall it's a great bag for the action man commuter (there's even a concealed pistol pouch on the back for those truly tough days!). With the Delivery Messenger you can easily carry a large laptop and papers as well as all the gadgets and adapters that seem to clutter our desks.

Check out the 5.11 guided tour on YouTube. Pick one up and see for yourself, they will even make you cycle faster, honest!*

*At least as well as the sideburns do.

The introduction of multi-terrain camouflage patterns to many armies has raised the profile of the humble camouflage pattern. British DPM (disruptive pattern material) was developed in the 60s, first issued in 1966, and has stayed more of less the same ever since. Most members of the UK forces never really gave any thought to the pattern, other than noticing that desert combats were sand coloured.

As the British military switches to MTP and the majority of the US military to MTP's parent Multicam, camouflage is at the centre of military attention. Of course, as we've discussed many times, the MoD license for MTP limits its sale, so focusing even more British attention on camouflage patterns, and opening a gap for a commercial equivalent to MTP; Vista ATP.

MTP Compatibility Stamp

All this is easy enough to get to grips with if you spend your days, as we do, working with stocks of camouflage equipment, receiving spec sheets and new products, and taking photos of the various combinations of clothing and equipment. However our customers have better things to do, so we are aware of the need to simplify matters. In a nutshell what is compatible with British MTP and how should we assess that?

Well, we've gone some way to answering that and are aiming to give a very simple and very clear sign to camouflage that is assessed as "MTP compatible", using the graphic 'award' shown here.

The 'compatible' badge assures customers that:

1) The pattern is not obviously different when worn with an MTP uniform. This takes into account the pattern itself but also the type of clothing / equipment and it's size.

2) The hidden properties of the fabric match or exceed the MTP equivalent. This includes IR reflectivity treatments and fire retardant properties. Properties of this sort are quick and precise to assess based on manufacturers specifications.

3) The performance of the camouflage is comparable with the original pattern. This is a work in progress and at the moment based on common sense in the visible spectrum (ie. daylight) and lab measurements in the IR spectrum.

At present our compatibility measure is a draft and we are using it with great caution. I would certainly welcome feedback on the assessment criteria we've chosen, and particularly how to thoroughly test the third point - visible spectrum performance.

So where are we so far? Well still assessing, but here are some examples of what we would and wouldn't award the compatibility seal to:

The Snugpak Sleeka - Not MTP compatible. Over such a large area the jacket is obviously not MTP, even though the genuine Crye Multicam theoretically has the same colours and shape sizes. The jacket is great as a mid layer under an MTP smock, but does not get our Compatible seal. IRR performance is also not up to the mark.

Vanguard's Vista ATP range is being assessed for compatibility, but the belt shown in this blends near perfectly with the MTP and Osprey. Over smaller areas like this, both Vista and Multicam are a good match for MTP, but Vista is significantly cheaper with no loss of performance.

Once we've finalised standards we will work through our products and mark them "MTP compatible" where appropriate. We hope that this will help customers who are particularly concerned about pattern matches to make the right choice when choosing clothing and equipment.

Vanguard's new Vista ATP airborne webbing shown with MTP UBACS

Vanguard have just released their very popular Pegasus Airborne webbing in Vista ATP camouflage which got me thinking about whether its day had perhaps passed. Certainly you don’t see many people using it in HERRICK probably due to the fact that it is difficult to wear with Osprey body armour and people rarely spend that long away from the mothership, whether that be a FOB, PB or vehicle. Ammunition is now carried in Molle pouches attached to Osprey whilst daysacks have water, additional ammunition and other mission equipment such as ECM, radios and all the tat that is now deemed essential for every patrol.

I have heard it suggested that all future operations will require body armour and that there are already plans to withdraw the current PLCE and use Osprey as the base for the future load carriage system. Perhaps this is indeed the way of the future and we’ve seen the last of webbing.

A MOLLE / PALS pouch worn on Osprey. The way forward?

An alternative approach suggests that HERRICK isn’t the model we should be adopting and that soldiers should continue be able to operate for long periods of time on the ground covering large distances on foot. Weighing them down with Osprey, or equivalent, means that this simply isn’t achievable. In this context it was fascinating to see that 16 Air Assault Brigade exercised exactly this scenario earlier in the year on Ex JOINT WARRIOR as part of preparation for returning to contingency and resurrecting the Airborne Task Force. Guess what, no sign of Osprey but lots of webbing in use!

The reason for this is clear. Webbing/belt kit is simply the best way to carry 24 hours worth of ammunition, food and water on your person. It’s comfortable, ammunition is easy to access and the webbing doesn’t get in the way when you’re on your belly or running.

As you can probably tell by now I’m convinced that webbing is here to stay which is why we’re very proud to continue to stock the excellent Pegasus Airborne webbing by Vanguard. Both the two camo variants, Multicam and Vista ATP, offer excellent compatibility with the new Multi Terrain Pattern (MTP) uniform. A further bonus is that the new Vista ATP pattern is also significantly cheaper.

Ben Brabyn at the British Library

On Tuesday 3 July I was invited to speak at the British Library on "Inspiring Entrepreneurs: From Battlefield to Business". I was one of 4 panelists with a military background, and we were asked to share lessons from our journey from the Armed Forces to Entrepreneurship in front of an audience at the British Library and also online.

I explained my journey from the Royal Marines via JP Morgan to setting up, building and selling www.bmycharity.com and then on to www.thistribe.com, and highlighted the nine tools I have picked up along the way and found most useful. I'll summarise them here and please comment below if you think of others that could be useful to people leaving the Armed Forces to set up their own businesses. You can see the full webcast of the presentation here - my part starts at 17:17.

Hammer - symbol of determination

The first tool is the hammer - one half of the "Royal Marines Toolkit", a symbol of the determination that every member of the Armed Forces will be used to applying to the problems they encounter.

I think that the hammer mentality is transferable way beyond the Armed Forces, and every entrepreneur needs to have high levels of determination.

But as Abraham Maslow pointed out - "If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem begins to resemble a nail".

Duct tape - symbol of adaptability

The second tool is masking tape - the second half of the Royal Marines Toolkit also known as "Black Maskers".

Just as black maskers can fix almost any problem that cannot be solved with a hammer, so military experience creates highly adaptable entrepreneurs.

For people leaving the services and considering a career in business, adaptability and the ability to improvise are key advantages that few other corporate employees get the chance to develop to the same extent.

Excel - getting to know finance

The third tool is financial analysis. This is usually less familiar to service leavers. I was lucky enough to be sent on a training course by JP Morgan. In 8 weeks on Wall Street we were taught the basics of accounting, and how to build and analyse Excel-based financial models.

It's not to everyone's taste, but understanding the commercial fundamentals of business is essential for an entrepreneur, and being able to look at a set of accounts and make sense of it is a very valuable skill.

Marketing - understanding demand

The fourth tool is marketing. One of the biggest changes in moving from the military to the commercial world is coming to terms with marketing. Having worked for a monopoly, service leavers suddenly find that they are competing with millions of other providers of expertise and services.

Learning how to prepare and present a marketing campaign is a key skill gap for many former members of the Armed Forces and time spent on a sales and marketing course is probably a very good investment.

Sense of timing

The fifth tool is a sense of timing. Every market evolves and each entrepreneur should know what stage his or her market is at - and pitch their strategy accordingly.

Agile businesses may have the best chance of addressing early adopters in the early stages of a market's development, whereas larger more established companies may be better suited to serving the mass market. If you want to compete to win you need to know when to pick your moment.

Understanding capital

The sixth tool is understanding of capital. Ideally this should also include access to capital, but under any circumstances, an entrepreneur needs to know what to do with the capital they are using to create their business.

Before committing resources to an enterprise, an entrepreneur needs to know what rules govern their capital - whether the capital is their own or comes from external investors.

The key question to answer is - what levels of risk can I take with the capital in the business? While some high risk speculation may be possible if the investors have the stomach and resources for it, many entrepreneurs will be wise to choose lower risk uses of their capital. In all circumstances they should avoid "betting the shop" - risking capital without which they will not be able to continue to trade.

LinkedIn - ultimate networking tool

The seventh tool is LinkedIn. This is the foremost business networking website with over 100 million users, and through it it is possible to research prospective customers, investors, suppliers, employees, partners and just about anyone else in white-collar roles in the world.

To test just how far LinkedIn networking can lead, I set out to discover how connected I am with Kevin Bacon - the Hollywood actor who is famously connected to all other Hollywood actors.

Although I have never worked in Hollywood (more of a face for radio really), I was surprised to find that I have 7 contacts who have a mutual contact with Kevin Bacon. In other words, I know 7 people who each have a friend in common with Mr B. He only has 172 contacts on LinkedIn, so it's not that he is reaching out more than most people.

Of course this is only one example of the ways you can extend your network, but for a network to be really valuable you need to engage as well as reaching out.

Coffee - the networker's friend

The eighth tool is coffee. I advise every entrepreneur to spend time meeting up with people and asking their advice.

While market research and financial analysis may give a "big picture" view, there is no substitute for meeting people and learning directly from their experience. People are not machines, and often what people do, buy, like and believe in are not what the economists predict.

So I recommend taking every opportunity to spend some time over a cup of coffee with people - learning about what matters to them and also asking them who they know who they can introduce you to for further learning.

The wisdom of crowds

The ninth tool is the wisdom of crowds. Understanding individual people is important, but understanding groups is even more interesting, and so the most important tool in my list is the wisdom of crowds. While entrepreneurial vision is important, ultimately most businesses depend on customers, investors and communities, and every entrepreneur needs to become a crowd-pleaser.

Recently I've learned that it's better to ask people what they want than to try to guess it or work it out. We founded www.thistribe.com to harness the wisdom of crowds - or tribes - in the military and beyond. We're spending as much time learning to understand the needs of the customers we serve as we are making sure that the business runs smoothly. We know that communities like www.arrse.co.uk contain broad and deep expertise and our role is to find it and share it. So when some people have identified the best kit for a given situation we want to learn about it and spread the word. This even extends to how we build the business, so we've been investigating "crowdfunding" This Tribe by inviting ARRSE subscribers to invest. This approach has already flushed out some real experts, several potential investors and additional potential sources of finance - so thanks to everyone who has responded!

Over the coming months we'll be doing more to gather this crowd wisdom - both by asking questions and by inviting engagement with specific proposals, new products, and service ideas. In the meantime, I've offered my nine tools for entrepreneurs, but if you have any others you'd suggest please share them here with a comment at the end of this post.