Outdoor Research LLC announced that it had, in partnership with Prime Vendor ADS Inc., been awarded a multi-year $49 million contract from the U.S. Army for its next-generation Cold Weather Glove System (CWGS).
The interchangeable system of five individual gloves with varying levels of temperature protection are customizable depending upon mission requirements. U.S. Army Contracting Command Aberdeen Proving Round Maryland will oversee the contract.
The glove system includes a fire-resistant liner (base layer glove), a next-to-skin glove for cool conditions, a trigger-finger mitten for cold to extremely cold conditions, a regular mitten that could combine with other gloves, and a white over glove for cold weather and snow camouflage use. The gloves in the system are designed as “no melt, no drip” for protection against rapid heating during combat operations.
The CWGS provides protection from 40 degrees Fahrenheit down to -70 degrees Fahrenheit. Each glove can be worn independently or layered to provide scalable protection against a variety of temperatures. Combining elements of the CWGS provides for “fast doffing,” or rapid removal for short-term manual dexterity and combat operations. The individual five-finger gloves provide index finger and thumb touchscreen compliance, while the mittens are waterproof, windproof and seam taped for unparalleled protection against cold weather elements. The over-white mitten is made of Alpine Multicam™ and fits over multiple glove/mitten combinations, providing camouflage in winter conditions.
“The contract award for the OR Cold Weather Glove System is the culmination of three years of work by our dedicated team of engineers and production staff and represents the largest contract award in the history of our company,” said Roger Barton, President of Outdoor Research. “Providing best-in-class cold weather gear to the U.S. Military is one of the most important things we do as a brand.”
Outdoor Research will manufacture the 100% Berry Amendment compliant CWGS in Seattle, Wash., and El Monte, Calif. Both facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art sewing and seam taping equipment operated by highly trained, skilled workers.
