RE Factor Tactical has hit the big time. Their Operator Band has been picked up by Brownells!
The Operator Band combines many useful survival functions into a survival bracelet including:
Check out the Operator Band at Brownells.com.
I get a lot of mileage out of my RE Factor Tactical Blasting Cap. I wear it often, especially when I am on the range. Do I need an “operator” style cap that lets me affix patches and ID to the Velcro panels? No, I really don’t, but I like the hat. Does it make me look like a poser on the range? Probably, but I like how it fits and I like the mesh construction. I came up with the name for the darn thing for goodness sake! I just really like these hats.
I will also probably really like the Multicam version when it becomes available even though it lacks the mesh construction. RE Factor Tactical recently showed a prototype of the Multicam version of the cap on their Facebook Page. It looks pretty darn good. I bet they will sell a ton of them for no other reason than people really like how Flexfit caps fit and I am not sure anyone else is offering them in Multicam.
Ball caps don’t really have to do much to fulfill their purpose. If they keep the sun out of our eyes, we are usually pretty satisfied with them. The Blasting Cap from RE Factor Tactical is a ball cap, but it does a lot more than keep the sun out of your eyes. It might just change what you expect from a cap.
It seems like everyone makes a tactical hat these days. Many are basically identical low crown, unstructured hats with a Velcro panel on the front. Others have incrementally introduced innovative, end user centric features like ventilation and interior signal panels. However, few have so successfully combined these features into something that feels completely new like the RE Factor Tactical Blasting Cap.
The cap itself starts out as a Flexfit ball cap with mesh side and back panels. The Blasting Cap has features that you expect from a “tactical” cap. It has front and rear Velcro panels for attaching patches and identification. The edges of these panels are embroidered for durability. It has a 1”x1” Velcro panel that replaces the button on the crown. This allows for comfortable use of over-the-head hearing protection and attaching IR glint tape. Additionally, there is a second 1”x1” Velcro panel on the inside of the cap for storing your IR glint tape when not in use.
The interior of that cap contains still more functionality. The binding tape on the interior of the cap is printed with the RE Factors of various Es as a reference for those who need this sort of thing (which is not me). The front most two panels are lined with high visibility orange material that can be used for signaling which I find to be extremely useful.
Basically, this cap has many more features that you would typically expect from a cap.
Caps must be comfortable to wear or they are useless. Since the Blasting Cap starts with a genuine Flexfit cap, it is extremely comfortable. The fact that it has mesh panels to greatly increase ventilation improves the comfort exponentially in warm weather.
The embroidered edges on the Velcro panels are a nice touch. It should help extend the life of the panels by preventing the edges from pulling when you remove a patch.
The signaling panel is the kind of feature that you will get more use out of than you realize. You can get someone’s attention in a crowd, get noticed if you find yourself in an emergency in the woods, or use it as a reference point for land navigation while using the leap frog technique. Of course, there are military uses for the panel that I am not qualified to comment on.
I have been struck with the thoughtful touches that can found in this cap. Things like the embroidered edges on the Velcro panels and the interior glint tape storage panel show attention to detail from the types of people who wear these caps on the job. Many of these features can be found on other caps but you will only find all of them in the Blasting Cap.
Check out the Blasting Cap on REFactorTactical.com.
Disclosure: RE Factor Tactical provided me this cap for review, free of charge.
The new cap that we mentioned recently from RE Factor Tactical is now available and you can check it out on their brand new website that went live yesterday. The cap has been named the Blasting Cap which is a nod toward RE Factor Tactical’s focus and background.I have one of these in hand for review and it has become an instant favorite.
You can read more about the Blasting Cap and check out the new site at REFactorTactical.com. Stay tuned for the full review.
OC Tactical continues to add cool new product lines from small makers to their store. They are now carrying the RE Factor Tactical Tourniquet Holder and Tactical Trauma Shears Holder. You can check out the new items at OCTactical.com.
On a related note, RE Factor Tactical recently authored an informative post on how to configure a tourniquet for use whether you are using their holder or not. The post can be found on their blog.
