Low-key luxury with connotation - an incomplete study of Patagonia L9 combat suit

Foreword

Speaking of combat uniforms, the most popular and dazzling one at the moment, standing at the center of "fashion" and at the top of the "chain of contempt", is definitely CP's G3 combat uniform. . The light of the trendsetters of the times is too bright, and people will always ignore other high-quality products under the light, such as the protagonist of this article——Patagonia L9.

Patagonia, an outdoor equipment manufacturer named after the South American plateau, entered the military field. Its military-version products represented by the PCU series have become famous for their high-quality materials and exquisite materials. , and it is very low-key and rarely leaked. For the majority of enthusiasts, it is also a rare and rare sacred object. This article compiles the collection of a foreign collector and appreciates it from multiple angles. The L9 combat uniform is a low-key, luxurious and connotative good thing.

Patagonia L9 NTS top part

1. AOR1 camouflage first-generation Patagonia L9 NTS top

The first thing we need to look at , is a combat uniform top from the same period as the AOR1 color CP NC version G2 combat uniform, and this top using AOR1 camouflage is much rarer than the NC G2.

Some friends may think that the author’s collection has not “kept up” with SF Zhenbing’s clothing trend. That’s just because the author simply likes to collect good equipment with various camouflage patterns that I can find, but also It cannot be denied that many people really like to pay attention to the history and provenance behind the collections besides collecting them, so the author tries his best to write some content in this regard when possible.

This article is mainly about appreciation, and the author will not invest too much energy in these aspects, so if readers want to see some reference pictures about the use of SF real ice, learn more about it In fact, the sources of this information are also very abundant. There are a lot of treasures buried in non-existent websites such as Facebook and Instagram and some forum websites.

In view of the special nature of AOR1 camouflage, these tops using the same camouflage must be issued to the U.S. Navy special operations forces, but compared with the CP NC combat uniforms, the number used is much smaller. .

Of course, this situation changed a little bit later. The good guys from NSW extended an olive branch to Patagonia. After CP’s products became the standard equipment of NSW, Patagonia L9 It also has a place in their clothing trunk. The author is not sure whether these L9 tops are distributed at the same time to supplement the shortcomings of CP products, or because they serve slightly different purposes in the equipment system, but I am more inclined to the former possibility.

This first-generation L9 top contains elements such as single-color fleece Velcro and torso fabric that matches the sleeves, but this combination is limited to the first-generation product owned by the author.

Before this top, I already had a pair of matching pants, and it took a lot of time and energy to find the top, especially given the limitations of the author’s small body shape. Needless to say, there is also the harsh additional condition of good condition, but the final result is worth it to the author personally. After all, the first-generation L9 suit is one of the rare uniform styles using AOR1 camouflage.

The neckline design of this top is in line with the standards pioneered by CP, and the fabric of the sleeves is also 50/50 NYCO material as everyone expects; when the clothes are hung on a hanger, the sleeves will not be straight because They are three-dimensionally cut and conform to ergonomic principles, which is somewhat different from the effect brought by CP's cylindrical cloth.

The upper arm pockets have 2 buttons, just like the CP NC version of the top. You can also choose whether to install elbow pads. The torso material of NCG2 and L9 tops is mainly man-made fiber (Modacrylic, which also includes different auxiliary fabrics).

Man-made fibers is actually a very general term that covers any material that contains a specific percentage of synthetic fibers.

It is possible that manufacturers use this term to avoid the risk of revealing the exact fabric composition of their products to competitors under mandatory labeling requirements for clothing.

A friend asked that AOR1 has many similarities with the MARPAT used by the Marine Corps, so why does the Navy not directly adopt the Marine Corps design? The author believes that the U.S. Marine Corps has its own regulations that restrict other troops from using their own camouflage patterns. At the same time, SF also has its own favorite camouflage patterns. After all, preferences are ever-changing.

2. AOR1 camouflage second generation (transitional version) Patagonia L9 NTS top

Now let’s take a look at the transitional version of AOR1 camouflage Patagonia PCU L9 level "Next To Skin" combat uniform top.

As for why the author calls this jacket a transitional version, the reason is that in the early version of the L9 combat uniform jacket, ordinary solid-color tan fur-surfaced Velcro was sewn on the surface of the upper arm pocket; Later, Bata used AOR camouflage fabric to make the torso part of the jacket, and together with the camouflage Velcro on the arm pockets of this excessive version, the L9 turned into a complete camouflage combat uniform.

By comparing the actual objects of all three versions, the author found that there is no difference in tailoring between the three; however, due to changes in materials, the aesthetic feelings brought by the three versions are different.

The Next To Skin in the name of the Bata battle suit top is usually referred to as NTS. This is worth mentioning, because the author seems to rarely see the battle suit worn in this way.

There is no denying that in some cases, wearing a warm base layer or close-fitting quick-drying clothing under the combat uniform has a good effect, but as a general common sense, basically no one will wear it under the top. Wear anything.

If the weather is cold and the user wears a lot of equipment, then nylon equipment will help the user retain a lot of heat. At the same time, there are also special combat suits made of wool and soft shell clothing fabrics on the market (cold zone Combat uniform); if you don’t need any equipment in cold weather, you might as well wear a jacket which is really lightweight.

Depending on the actual fabric composition and fit of the combat uniform, in some cases it may be wise to wear an additional, tight-fitting, quick-drying synthetic base layer, but in general, a more More layers equals more heat retention, so your best bet is to invest in a lightweight top that allows air to flow, as long as it has quick-drying features in key areas.

In view of the above reasons, if the budget is limited, the author highly recommends the MTP color UBACS frog suit. If you don’t mind spending a lot of money, UF-Pro Strike XT is the perfect choice (the author only gives two examples, but You are also welcome to choose according to your own preferences).

Of course, the above recommendations are based on the assumption that there are no flame retardant (FR) requirements in the tasks that users participate in. After all, flames can change the game pattern, and thus to a large extent. Influence users' priorities when choosing equipment.

3. AOR1 and AOR2 camouflage third-generation Patagonia NTS L9 combat uniform tops

We have already seen the first-generation version of the L9 combat uniform tops. It has a history of several years. Although it is a cool piece of clothing, the color-blocking design common to most combat uniforms is to a large extent a product that adapts to the characteristics of the times; at the same time, the fabric Textile technology has also developed dramatically in the past decade, so now we have a fully camouflage printed and dyed version of the same AOR1.

Personally, from a purely aesthetic point of view, I prefer the green version of the AOR camouflage (AOR2 Jade Saint Cloth).

The basic cut of this one is exactly the same as the first generation, but there are some changes in the materials used. First of all, the third-generation product realizes full camouflage of Velcro, including the Velcro on the arm pockets and the adjustment straps on the cuffs. The Velcro area on each pocket has been reduced to about half of its original size (this change occurred in the first second generation products).

Then the key point comes. The torso also has a camouflage pattern, and the material composition has also changed from a large amount of synthetic materials to mainly cotton. I can't elaborate on how the flame retardant properties change. The third generation of cotton is better in this regard, but the man-made fibers used in the first generation are also mixed with some natural fibers that have certain flame retardancy. .

The only problem with the third generation is that the trunk part is notorious for fading and wearing easily, and it is said that the Velcro has insufficient adhesion to the sticker.

According to the information the author learned from some reliable sources, NSW plans to or has already replaced the AOR camouflage with Multicam (the golden holy cloth is gone), so product projects like the third-generation L9 will not be used in the next few years. In the field of military collection, it can become an interesting collection that must be owned in a specific period.

The AOR2 camouflage L9 top is exactly the same as the third generation AOR1 Patagonia L9 NTS shirt. It looks good, but if you want to know more details, receiving a physical object is the most reliable choice. If there is no other way, asking the boss is also a good choice.

4. MC camouflage third-generation Patagonia NTS L9 combat uniform top

There are few high-quality full camouflage printed and dyed combat uniforms on the market, so I looked everywhere for military products. Gucci’s famous Bata L9. Before purchasing the previous two third-generation AOR products, the author had not tried this high-end product.

If the user wants to wear a lot of equipment on the chest, needs a piece of clothing with light fabrics and full-body camouflage, but does not want to use a classic T-shirt/combat uniform combination style, Nabata The L9 is the best option I'm aware of, and Bata is actually (probably) producing a multicam color version. Some friends found traces on eBay.

There is a product called TAC.U produced by Propper on the market. The author also evaluated it on Youtu Turtle. Its price is very economical, but its materials are very poor and it does not work at all in hot weather. practical. The author still has an old version of the Arc'teryx LEAF combat uniform, which also uses a completely printed and dyed camouflage design (unlike current products), but its zipper is solid color. For a basic top, This problem is quite serious. The only backup option I know of is the high-quality multicam combat uniform produced by ur-tactical. If you want to wear a combat uniform with a full camouflage pattern in temperate areas, these may be the only two options.

5. AOR1 and AOR2 camouflage early Patagonia L9 combat pants

Some time ago, the author briefly owned two AOR camouflage versions of early Patagonia. L9 combat pants, they can be equipped with CP combat knee pads, so I took a photo for your reference. Bata has produced both Multicam and AOR camouflage color versions, and as far as I know, the Multicam version is rarer than the AOR version.

From what I’ve seen, there appear to be only two versions of this particular early model, a stretch fabric version with camouflage and a stretch fabric version without camouflage, as pictured above .

These early models were presumably used as CP's NC version of the G2 combat suit before Patagonia began producing their current version of the knee brace with 4-hole anchor points. It is produced as a supplement, but unfortunately the author does not have more reliable evidence to prove this. But it can at least be concluded that the early L9 was probably issued to relevant personnel who had the right to use AOR1 and AOR2 camouflage within a similar period of time.

Except for the knee pad grooves on the knees, the rest of the pants are very similar to the later L9 combat pants.

The AOR2 color pants were part of the first batch of AOR color equipment I purchased (if not the first piece). When I got them, I found that they were not in brand new condition. They were definitely It has been used, but for the author, collecting these pants is also an interesting new beginning in the author's collecting career-the author began to collect something different from the NC version of the G2 and G3 series combat uniforms.

In the end, I decided to sell them because I was personally not very satisfied with their condition, except when looking for something that fits my body size but is unusual. back door. In short, I believe that I will eventually find another good pair of pants as a replacement. At least now I still have an early version of the AOR1 pants and a matching first-generation combat top, so feel free to worry about it.

Without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the early L9 combat pants in AOR1 camouflage.

Some friends always talk about which SF members (especially SEALs) use which equipment when. But I am not that kind of person.

Several friends think that the author is matching the look of a certain NSW army, but in fact, the author has no particular interest in them or their work. I just want to have the most sophisticated combat equipment. Not only does NSW have a lot of great equipment like this, they also have AOR camouflage patterns that no one else can use.

As early as the era of CP second generation/AC version combat uniforms (perhaps early G3), Patagonia was researching and producing an early version of their L9 combat pants. At that time, the pants were Two AOR camouflage colors are available, and the functional layout of the pants was very similar to CP's similar products at the beginning, and CP's knee pads were directly used; later, Bata adjusted the design of L9, deleted some elements, and Adopt self-researched 4-hole positioning knee brace system (donkey face knee brace).

However, the author still prefers the CP system, but the latest version of the L9 combat pants uses a lock-type fixation method instead of the previous press screw. Even a picky person like me won't mind it. Choose to use L9.

The author understands that there are at least two versions of this model: the early version used solid-color stretch fabric, as seen in the one shown here, and later it was replaced with camouflage-printed and dyed stretch fabric. . I don’t know if Bata has made a batch of products using solid-color exposed Velcro earlier, but in any case, from the perspective of modern equipment, the rare equipment in my hand is also very old.

As shown in the picture above, there is a piece of elastic fabric behind the waist of the pants, but not around the knees and crotch; interestingly, the AOR2 version of the L9 combat pants I owned some time ago had a tear in the crotch , its predecessor obviously did the extremely lethal quick squat/kneeling action.

Compared with other combat pants, L9 eliminates the hip pockets, but still retains the other 8 pockets (thigh pockets, calf pockets). The small pockets only use Velcro for closure, while the main pocket uses buttons and Velcro.

Compared with CP, one of the great advantages of L9 is the use of Canadian-style buttons, which are fixed with a strip of cloth passing through the buttons. This design is significantly better than CP’s NC/UKSF customized version of the battle. The 4-hole straight-seam buttons (military standard sewing method) used on the suit, and what is shocking is that CP will continue to use this kind of unreliable button on the upcoming G4 tropical version of the combat suit, ugh.

6. Later version of Patagonia L9 combat pants

The author once briefly mentioned the public release version of AOR camouflage L9 and The difference between the MC color/solid color L9 that can be purchased online through legal permission. After that, it only took me a short time to buy these two pairs of L9 combat pants that represent public distribution and self-purchased, so now it is time to proceed Good time to compare.

From what the author has learned, compared with the pants on the commercial version, the public AOR color L9 is made by a group of unskilled workers who are not very motivated.

There has been various industry speculation about using prison inmates as labor force in the garment industry. With the United States’ lengthy military supply chain, this is entirely possible, but I have no conclusive evidence to speak of any prison labor theory.

The most obvious difference between the two pants is that the commercial version of the MC color combat pants has two adjustment strips on the knee pads. In addition, there are at least 1 or 2 other less obvious differences. This is a feature that the public release version of AOR camouflage lacks, but I can’t get the actual object yet, so I can’t say it clearly.

Of course, there is also the AOR2 camouflage L9 combat pants worth talking about.

CP, Beyond, Wild Things, Patagonia, and probably more companies I don't know about have long produced different AOR camouflage combat garments for U.S. Naval Special Warfare Forces.

The AOR1 and AOR2 L9 combat pants originally produced by Patagonia are more similar to the CP G2 Army/Navy customized combat pants in tailoring, and use the CP AC version of the combat knee pads.

Going forward, the author believes that Patagonia has received a larger contract to provide more equipment to the good guys in the Navy, and to use their own patented designs to produce the above Pants like the picture; however, the new products still have many similarities with Crye Precision's products, but those new changes cannot be ignored.

The new L9 mainly uses the new knee pads designed by Bata. Although they are somewhat similar to CP’s knee pads, they do not infringe CP’s patents at all. We’ll talk about the knee pads later, but focus on the pants first. Readers can see that there are four small holes for positioning around the outside of the knee pad groove, instead of digging a big hole in the middle like CP.

The foam pad installed inside the knee brace groove features 4 male bolts, while the plastic cover installed on the outside has 4 female bolts. Slide in the foam pad, clip on the outer cover, and the knee brace installation is complete. Just like D3O's protective gear products, but Bata chose to use bolts instead of fasteners that require a quarter turn.

In view of the terrible and embarrassing use of D3O by the author, I am not confident in the comfort of Bata's knee pads, but you have to try it to know.

The entire knee groove and the area around it are made of an elastic material that is the same color as the pants itself. Similar to the design of the CP battle suit, there is also elastic fabric on the back waist. Although the crotch is cut with triangle fabric, it is made of NYCO fabric instead of the usual elastic fabric used by CP.

Most of the pocket layout is the same as that of the G3, with the exception of the hip pockets. The lack of butt pockets is to some extent a minor regret, but these pants also have other pockets. There are velcro on the trouser legs that can be used to tighten the trouser legs, but the L9 does not have a waist adjustment function. In comparison, I personally think that it does not make much sense for CP to add this function to the trousers during design.

L9 is equipped with buttons on the placket and main thigh pockets, and is used with Velcro, which coincides with the CP NC version of the G2 combat suit.

The funny thing is, Patagonia also likes to pretend they don’t make products for the military, and then secretly take Department of Defense funds, as if this self-deception doesn’t make them a dirty-armed company. Bloody evil gun fetishists are the same as people on the right, or similarly ridiculous people.

The reality is that Bata’s main customers in the United States do not support the military or 2A, and their main products are not military supplies, not to mention that their management stands on the same front as their customers. In order to get orders, Bata came up with at least two plans to meet the demand. Like this piece of clothing, a lot of Bata's military products come from Readyone Industries, and they do terrible promotional videos.

Judging from the information I found on the Internet and the rumors I heard, Readyone is obviously a black hand hiding under Bata, but if readers want to know about this kind of thing, who really makes it for the army? If you are interested in something, I suggest that you just search it yourself, instead of promoting conspiracy theories.

(Actually, their official website also states clearly that they receive orders from the military just like ORC, employ clothing manufacturers with disabilities, and manufacture ACU, NWU, PCU, ECWCS, Army Tropical Combat Uniforms, etc. It’s a familiar public-issue thing; but who knows what’s going on behind the scenes? The ORC official website at least shows a scene of disabled workers at work. Readyone can only see an empty delivery room. Maybe the beautiful country is forcing prisoners to work? Stone hammered 2333)

However, other Patagonia garments owned by this author have different manufacturer names on them, and there seems to be a correlation between the manufacturer and the color of the garment. In my opinion, the L9 Combat Uniforms are available in multicam and solid colors for any US military member (or anyone else working for the government who may need this type of uniform). These commercial versions come from other manufacturers, are slightly different from the public versions of AOR1 and AOR2, and appear to be better made.

Other than that, I don’t have much knowledge or good experience with these combat pants, but considering that not many companies can produce such complex high-quality military clothing, L9 is worth owning.

7. Patagonia second-generation knee pads

This knee pad is VIKP’s second-generation product and can be used on Patagonia L9 combat pants.

A few years ago, the author wore the first-generation knee pads and played a not-so-intense airsoft game for a day, and gained a basic understanding of this old pad. Airsoft is a game with no major dangers. The author only did a little jogging, kneeling and shooting during the whole process. However, during a few hours of casual gaming, I broke the plastic of the outer cover and used The bolts that connect the plastic outer cover to the inner foam pad have popped open on their own more times than I can count.

There is no doubt that this is the lowest quality and worst product I have ever tried, and such a bunch of stuff will actually be distributed to the US Special Forces (although only a small number of people use it). The author also knows that the problem discovered is not an isolated case. There are a large number of pictures and posts on the Internet with the same problem, and everyone is complaining.

The author has not yet tried wearing the new version of the knee pads pictured above, but on the surface, they seem to have corrected the two main problems that the author has complained about before. A more flexible material was chosen for the outer cover. The connection between it and the foam soft board installed on the inside becomes a small bayonet. The entire locking mechanism can be rotated by a quarter and locked in a fixed position.

But the bayonet still looks quite thin and weak, and it still gives people an unreliable feeling. However, it can be seen from the feedback of friends that the new version of the knee pad seems to be more effective than the previous generation. A friend’s knee pad collapsed once during strenuous exercise, and then only used soft pads. This is a good idea. w