“Military-grade elastic” is a well-known concept in the world of load-carriage today; but 15 years ago, it was a revolutionary idea. One that no one thought would work.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Isaac Cantrell
The idea was born when the CEO of Blue Force Gear (“BFG”) was nearly side-swiped by a cyclist careening out of an alley. As the “10-speed” cyclist swerved to avoid a collision, the CEO noticed a pair of water bottles tucked into the spandex pockets on the back of his jersey and the idea materialized. The water bottle was heavy, but it stayed in place. Could elastic work for a fully loaded M4 mag as well? That question (and BFG’s answer) changed the way gear manufacturers and warfighters have approached load-carriage for the past decade.
Blue Force Gear has always been an innovator – never reproducing something that was already on the market but rather approaching problems with a fresh look. If you recall from last week’s article, BFG’s design philosophy addresses the old military axiom “ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain.” A Pub Med article stated that “many injuries experienced by soldiers can be attributed to the occupational loads they are required to carry.” (1) BFG recognized our warfighters’ lives, backs, and knees are worth protecting and that’s why the attention to detail – and obsession with shaving ounces – goes into every product they produce.
Ten-Speed was another innovation by BFG to drastically reduce weight for the warfighter. Ten-Speed became known as their line of pouches that uses a proprietary elastic to retain objects. The pouches were originally developed and marketed for M4 magazines, but a few unexpected benefits were swiftly realized when they were beta tested.
Photo courtesy of Department of War
Ten-Speed pouches will stretch to accommodate just about anything, as long as they’re sized to fit within that pouch. This allows the user to carry critical items without changing pouches or having specific loadouts for each mission. One pouch…nearly unlimited utility. Ten-Speed pouches range in size from pistol mag to 417 mag and come in single, double, or triple configurations. Depending on the size selected, they fit various items such as different types of magazines, medical gear, small handheld radios, GPS units, multi-tools, knives, flashlights, and yes, even dip cans.
Ten-Speed pouches lay flat when they’re not in use, adding no bulk and virtually no weight to the user. This is crucial because form-factor is a concern no matter what the mission. Another Pub Med article stated that “it is most efficient to carry load as close to the body’s centre of mass (CoM) as possible.” (2) In addition to reducing risk of injury, men and women with smaller profiles can fit more places and move faster than those with bulkier kit. When a Ten-Speed pouch is needed, it stretches to accommodate an item.
The operational feedback that shaped Ten-Speed came directly from elite units conducting linear assault missions — operations carried out in the confined quarters of aircraft, subways, trains, and buses. In those environments, every millimeter of unnecessary bulk is a liability. A pouch that snags on a doorframe or catches on a seat could mean the difference between a clean entry and a compromised mission. Ten-Speed was built specifically to eliminate that risk.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessi Roth
The best pouch is the one you forget is there. Ten-Speed pouches don’t add bulk, don’t weigh you down, and retain items beautifully until you need them and then lay flat when you don’t. BFG solves problems for the warfighter by drastically reducing weight and at the same time providing even more options, Ten-Speed is just another example of their innovation.
Keep an eye out for next week’s article where we’ll cover the technology that literally changed MOLLE pouches – Helium Whisper.
(1) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25178432
(2) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20060096
About Blue Force Gear®
Widely known for supplying the world’s best weapon slings, Blue Force Gear also leads the lightweight load carriage equipment revolution with Ten-Speed multi-use pouches, MOLLEminus platforms, and their patented Helium Whisper attachment system. Their proprietary ULTRACOMP high-performance coated fabric laminate material, unrivaled innovation, attention to detail, and obsession with reducing weight sets Blue Force Gear apart from others in the tactical equipment industry. Blue Force Gear is a Great Place to Work Certified Company. For more information on products, proprietary technologies, or how BFG continues to reduce weight for the warfighter, visit their website: www.blueforcegear.com
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