Web-tex Military Products: a closer look

Used by Military, Territorial Army and cadet personnel as well as the paintball and airsoft community.

Web-tex UK a British company are backed by its parent company Thatchreed Ltd UK, who have been involved in the military markets for over 25 years, manufacturing many of the Web-tex products from there own factory. Web-tex webbing, clothing, pouches,DPM bergans and other military field equipment, are all manufactured under strict quality control and fully tested to the highest standards using quality materials such as 1000 denier waterproof Cordura. Cordura is a high technology nylon fabric, which is engineered for strength and lightness and is used on many camping rucksacks and pouches. Web tex use the 1000 denier.

The full webtex product range is available from eCamo, we are registered webtex dealers and carry the full product range, we also carry a large stock of military, paintball and airsoft products from other leading brands, such as Viper uk at very affordable prices.

Web-tex is equipped to handle very large contract orders and can manufacture and export to any part of the World. Any design of camouflage pattern can be used on either military clothing, rucksacks, pouches or the webtex modular system, which is compatible with other brands like Molle, Alice, Blackhawk strike and Viper. The webtex modular system uses a combination of webbing, both horizontal and vertical; you simply thread any of the many webtex modular system pouches making up any combination you require. Using either the modular vest, drop leg platform, belt platform or chest harness, making the webtex modular load carrying equipment or MLCE for short, the perfect Lightweight Load carrying equipment.

Camouflage History

Animals of the world have evolved over millions of years both on land and in water, with a breathtaking display of Camouflage and survival techniques, these include colour and shape to help warn off or just too simply blend in to their surrounding area. Even early man used camouflage techniques, mud, foliage and even dung to help blend in to the surrounding area when hunting. But astonishingly it took the army’s of the world a long time to catch on to this; armies haven’t always used camouflage to blend in to the surrounding terrain. In the beginning it was common for soldiers to wear very brightly coloured uniforms, this was in order that they could identify themselves from their enemy, keep them looking smart and boost morale. Unfortunately this also made the soldiers very good visual targets for their opposing army.

The word camouflage "concealment of personnel and equipment to help blend into the natural terrain and surroundings" Dates back to the French term "camofler or Veil. It wasn’t until an American artist called Abbot Thayer back in the early part of 1900s started to log down how many animals manage to blend in to their surrounding natural terrain.

In 1912 the French commissioned artists to come up with a camouflage pattern that could be used on solders uniforms, these designs were first used in world war one. The French even created a division called the camouflage division. Armies of the world have used many designs and camo patterns for military clothing. The British use the DPM camo pattern made up of greens and shads of browns, the same design is also used for the dessert DPM using light browns and sand colours and used by the British Army on operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, whilst the Americans use the digital pattern ACU camouflage design. An example of the ACU Camouflage can be seen on these Men’s combat trousers in ACU camo.

Uses for Camouflage

Whilst Camouflage patterns have mainly evolved for military specific uses, in more recent years, manufactures have developed a range of clothing to suit the hunting and fishing fraternity and have developed a range of clothing to suit their needs. Companies such as Real Tree and Jack Pyke have developed Camouflage patterns that resemble real woodlands and English Oak camo. Even the fashion industry embraced the camo pattern with many designs found on t-shirts, trousers and baseball caps. Apart from Camouflage being used to conceal military personnel it is also used to conceal equipment using mainly camouflage netting and scrim nets. Camo nets also make great hunting hide nets or even use camo netting for decorating children’s bedrooms, play areas and dens.

Bushcraft Extreme Survival and Camping

Bushcraft and bushcrafting have become extremely popular with the help of survival skills television programs, in particular the more traditional bushcraft technique used by Ray Mears and the SAS Survival and Born Survivor skills of Bear Grylls.

Viewers can learn how to survive out in the elements using basic Bushcraft techniques such as firecraft and fire starting and how to use natural materials from the surrounding habitat for survival. Hunting for survival with some of the same techniques used by early hunter gatherers.

How to cook your kill using a campfire.

To make a camp fire, first collect a small pile of tinder, to use as an accelerant material, or you could use Maya dust, which is treated wood shavings, cotton wool, or even hexamine fuel tablets. To ignite the fire use to sticks of wood rubbed together or one of the many fire starting devisees available from ecamo, like the SOF survival match, fire starting flint rod with steel striker or even waterproof matches. The SOF survival match is very easy with a one handed operation, pressing the strike plate down creates very hot fire starting sparks. Web-tex also make a fire starter kit which contains 1 flint, 2 fuel tablets, cotton wool all contained in a tidy tin.

Small compact cooking units like the web-tex warrior-cooking unit, allow you to cook a small meal using just a solid fuel block or gel as fuel. These cooking sets consist of the burner and non-stick-cooking cup and only weigh 360gms. A basic camping cutlery set such as the KFS Nato set or fulpa will pack away into the smallest space. If cooking for more then one a set of gilwell nesting set or billy cans would be a good choice.

When it comes to survival, a source of clean running water is essential. One way to guarantee clean water is to use a water filter such as the Surviva Pure system. Simply fill your container from absolutely any water source and drink safe, tasteless water instantly

To survive in the wild you will need basic skills in tracking, the use of a map and compass and some basic shelter building abilities. To make your emergency shelter you will require tools, such as knives, machete and axes. A very usefully piece of kit which is very light and fits into your pocket, is the warrior hand chain saw tool, this will slice through wood, bone or ice and cuts in both directions.

The warrior hand chain saw will be very handy when foraging from around the campsite for suitable wood for hand carving, and twine for tying things together. For larger wood and speed a folding saw may be needed. Para cord is a very useful addition to your basic survival tool kit, and makes a fast alternative to twine. Many people when out on a bushcraft and camping trip use the simple but effective basha as an emergency shelter. Basha’s can be put up in a matter of minutes and are very light to pack into your rucksack or army bergen. When an emergency shelter is required to protect you from the elements, just run a piece of paracord between two trees, hang the basha over the para cord forming a tent shape. Then tie of the sides of the basha using the reinforced loops around the edge, alternately use an extendible bivi pole to support your basha like a tent pole. You now have shelter for the night that will keep you dry and out of the wind. For even better insulation from the weather use a bivvy bag, these are made of water permeable material or WVP for short, these are both waterproof and breathable. Ray Mears uses a hammock and hootchie for shelter (which is a basha or tarp cover) he says this is his preferred and favourite way of sleeping out. If a little more comfort is required then the army KT2 Bivi tent could be the answer, made by Highlander this tent replaced the Microfast KT2 Bivvy Tent. Just release the Rapid Force KT2 Bivi tent from its retaining straps and it simply pops open. A very popular choice these days is the hammock tent. Hennessy and DD Hammocks are both very light and give you a good nights sleep, they also have the added advantage of getting both you and your kit of the ground keeping you dry and warm.The Hennessy Hammock has a Nato Stock Number: 7195-99-422-2815 and is used by the British army.