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The Technology Used For A War In Iraq May Lead To New Outdoor Gear Again

By Mike Boisvert.

GPS, for example, was released to the public after the last conflict with Iraq. Signals were unscrambled for civilians, and GPS became an instant hit in the backcountry. So what kind of gear might we get out of this military bout?

Missile guidance technology that was first developed for Desert Storm will filter down into backpack-mounted car detectors. Outdoor enthusiasts will purchase these systems and will never again get lost in the backcountry – instead, a guidance system will steer them towards their car.

Next year, a new base layer fabric called Tempralene will be introduced at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. Using integrated micro-sensors, the fabric will sense vital body conditions — such as heat and cold — and then appropriately either warm your body via thermal heat and cool it down with cold compresses, circuitry powered by a micro solar panel attached to your pack.

Following final approval from the EPA, a chemical weapon technology will be used in a bug repellant tentatively called SmartBomb. This repellant won’t just deter mosquitoes; it will cause them to spontaneously combust before they make contact with the skin. In preliminary tests, though, several side effects were noted by users, including spontaneous combustion, sending the product back for further refinement.

Less than sixth months after the end of the war, there should be a new product on the market called UltimateShell. This ultra breathable fabric will be waterproof, bulletproof, grenade proof, and sand proof. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts who venture into countries where terrorism is a concern. However, UltimateShell was developed for infantry and may be too heavy for modern backpackers. Fortunately, military-issue paper napkins incorporate the same technology and may be soon transferred over to recreational users who prefer to pack light.

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