It goes without saying that gear and equipment made for military use needs to be of a certain standard. The clothing, luggage, and other accessories used by military forces need to be able to withstand a beating in harsh conditions and still perform in the way they were intended. This gold standard is sometimes replicated in other non-military sectors – the best technologies and designs always trickle down from the top in most industries. And that trickle-down has been opening up possibilities for companies who create this kind of gear…
Military-style gear has always had a place in the civilian shooting market – some people are former military themselves, some covet the great build quality and durability, some just like the aesthetic. But whatever the root cause is, one thing is certain, military gear is now hugely popular among regular shooters. Whether it’s for paintballing, airsoft, target shooting, or just general outdoor use, the growth here is the tip of a pretty significant iceberg. Selling this kind of gear to the civilian shooting sector has huge potential to grow further in the years to come, and here are a few reasons why…
Getting the look
The look and aesthetic of military gear is very distinct, especially when it comes to clothing. When you imagine military-style apparel, you probably think of earthy greens, stoney, sandy, and muted grey colours. Not to mention a little camouflage thrown in for good measure. At their original point of use, these colour palettes were designed to help military personnel blend in, to ensure they are difficult to spot. But the distinct look has an appeal to civilian shooters too. On one hand, it helps airsoft users, or paintballers, closer emulate real-life tactical situations and also makes them harder to spot, on another hand, some people just like the plain and functional designs.One company discovering the hunger for its military and law enforcement apparel range among general shooters and outdoor enthusiasts is Pentagon Tactical. This Greek company has been offering jackets, pants, sweaters, shirts, t-shirts, hats, footwear and other accessories since the 1990s, and found that in the late 90s, more and more customers were seeking military gear with all the technological advancements and design features that they offered. This, in Pentagon’s eyes, was the birth of the tactical generation. It decided to fill the gap that it saw in the market. The range of products it offered – with modern fabric constructions, impeccable material functionality, and high-quality trims – began to grow, and it even invented a couple of its own camouflage patterns. This range of tactical sportswear, as Pentagon calls it, became one of the gold standards in military-style apparel that not only looks the part but also offers the same performance attributes of the real thing.
