Sizing & Fit
Sizing & Fit – The Need
Sizing and fit are KEY for infantry performance and protection.
It is a well known fact that users like simple “idiot proof” fit that do not requires reading of long user manuals.
It is also a known fact that in many cases soldiers uses the wrong size of helmet, vest or backpack which results in less comfort and reduced performance.
Different Soldiers has different body shapes making proper ballistic coverage and system fit to user size a real challenge!
Poorly designed protective & load-bearing systems will lack proper fit and create pressure points, pain, discomfort and fatigue.
Sizing & Fit – The Solution
A major portion of the SOURCE VIRTUS system development was dedicated to sizing and fit issues.
- We have created a methodology of modeling ballistic patterns from an Army anthropometric survey, optimizing the number of sizes per the percentage of the user population to be covered.
- We have minimized the number of adjustments that user needs to make in order to fit the gear to his body shape and replaced them with design solutions allowing the system to fit itself to the users body shape.
- We have eliminated from the user the task of selecting his correct gear size and moved the task into a simple FORM that determines the size for him. Using a provided measuring tape the user takes 3 measurements of his torso and 3 measurements of his head.
User records the measurements in the FORM corresponding field and the FORM tells him which gear size fits him. He then goes into the base quartermaster to be issued with the system components that fits him.
The SOURCE VIRTUS system includes 8 components that should be fitted to size: Chassis / MOLLE Hip Belt, DWD, STV, Pelvic Protection, Helmet, Spectacles, Visor and Mandible.