Blast-resistant boxers keep soldiers safe below waist

[GAP]

Blast-resistant boxers keep soldiers safe below waist
Article Link
By CHRIS LAMBIE Business Editor Wed, Jan 5

A British company has developed blast-resistant boxer shorts it wants to market to Canadian soldiers heading to Afghanistan.

BCB International Ltd. claims the protective Kevlar shorts, in development for about a year, will help reduce the number of Canadian troops who suffer groin injuries when mines go off underfoot or roadside bombs blast their military vehicles.

The boxers cost about 54 English pounds or C$84.

"We’re selling lots through the good old eBay retail sales," John Rix, the company’s manager of military sales, said Tuesday in a telephone interview.

The shorts have been on sale for about two months, he said. BCB spent about $75,000 developing the product.

The British army is evaluating them, Rix said.

The company developed the boxers after hearing from military medics, he said.

"When you step on an (improvised explosive device), it’s quite often that your front leg, you’re going to lose it," Rix said. "The blast goes up and hits you in the groin area, and it’s the . . . four inches below your groin area and the inner legs where your main arteries are that you need to protect."

He hasn’t tried wearing the shorts yet.
More on link

 

[vonGarvin]

Sounds good, in concept.  But, with a bit of dry, soldier-humour, would they  be called "The Junk Bunker?"  "The Balls Walls?"  "The Defender of the Jewels?"

(I'm not even going to attempt what the ladies would call it....ok, maybe one: "The Beaver Dam?")


:nod:

 

[hugh19]

TV how about a whole new concept of c**kblocking. hehehe

 

[George Wallace]

;D

This whole article is kind of a play on words and emotions.  It brings back memories of the tests done on the first kevlar helmets.

For those wondering what happened there, the test subjects (monkeys) all died.  The scientists couldn't figure out why at first, until they studied the ultra slow speed video footage.  The bullets failed to penetrate the helmets, but the velocity of the rounds impacting the helmets deformed them for a few milliseconds, crushing the monkeys skulls.  I am sure that these "shorts" will function the same way; keeping all your 'parts' together, but crushed.

Painful either way.

 

[vonGarvin]

;D

This whole article is kind of a play on words and emotions.  It brings back memories of the tests done on the first kevlar helmets.

For those wondering what happened there, the test subjects (monkeys) all died.  The scientists couldn't figure out why at first, until they studied the ultra slow speed video footage.  The bullets failed to penetrate the helmets, but the velocity of the rounds impacting the helmets deformed them for a few milliseconds, crushing the monkeys skulls.  I am sure that these "shorts" will function the same way; keeping all your 'parts' together, but crushed.

Painful either way.

So, change the name to the "Nutcracker?"

 

[PuckChaser]

It would just make a puzzle out of your parts then.... doctors are good at putting together puzzles right?!

 

[GAP]

From what I remember one of the first questions asked by guys who've stepped on a booby trap is...."is everything there"? or the equivalant......whether these work or not, at least they're "peace of mind "

 

[HItorMiss]

I know anyone I have worked on that was one thing I ensured they knew was still there first thing.

 

[The Bread Guy]

So, change the name to the "Nutcracker?"

I'm guessing "The Nut Crusher" and the "Pecker Piercing Protector" didn't make it out of the marketing focus groups  ;D

A little more from the manufacturer's schpiel about the product:

The prevalence of IED`s in Afghanistan is causing a high number of "life - changing" injuries to the lower body.

These include blinding and blast injuries to the groin, which can result in a ruptured colon or loss of genetalia. For all soldiers such injuries are "life-changing". They are extremely difficult to live psychologically.

Within the periphery of a blast, perineal and femoral artery injuries can be fatal without immediate specialist medical help. A puncture to the femoral artery can bleed out rapidly leading to death. High up the leg, tourniquets are difficult to attach in the field.

There is always a fine balance between the level of protection and burden (weight, thermal and increased bulk burdens) and without comprising comfort.

Following trails and ballistic tests, BCB have designed the Blast Boxer using a special comfortable Aramid fabric, positioned around crucial zones of the groin. Light open structure mesh is used on the rest of the garment to help offset the weight and thermal load of the ballistic material.

On a 10 mile run the Blast Boxers did not cause undue discomfort. The blast boxers are currently being trialled with a number of European ministries of defence.

Though the boxers cannot completely protect against blast, the double layered version retailing at under 60, will offer ballistic protection of 230 meters per second in the standard NIJ V50 ballistic test. Though they can be washed, the blast boxers are more hygienic if worn over ones normal underwear.

All soldiers asked whom have recently returned from Afghanistan, confirmed that had the Blast Boxers been available for them, despite the added burden, they would have all, to a man, worn them.

"Our Blast Boxers which have been extensively tried and tested have proved extremely popular with not only our soldiers but their wives and girlfriends. We are proud to have done our bit to raise awareness of the issue of groin protection against potentially life threatening and life changing injuries from IEDs. Whilst we are disappointed that on this occasion the MoD have decided to go with an alternative product, we welcome the fact that they are taking this issue seriously. Because our soldiers and their families are telling us that our Blast Boxers are making a real difference, we will continue to make them available to any soldier who wants increased groin protection."

More at the Blast Boxers site here.

 

[Journeyman]

John Rix, the company’s manager of military sales.....hasn’t tried wearing the shorts yet.

Ah, so roughly the same credibility as, say, someone who's military experience is primarily sewing tacvests in his mom's basement telling us that the CASW is no problem to hump.  :

Personally, I'd think chaffing may be an issue during all those other times when you're not getting blown up.

 

[GAP]

Whilst we are disappointed that on this occasion the MoD have decided to go with an alternative product,

Who's that?

 

[Kirkhill]

Everything old is new again......

 

[ballz]

Potential that I'm missing something obvious here but...

If this concept and all works... then why can't we cut out the boxers altogether and just have pants and shirts made like this?

Then you can continue wearing comfy drifire or underarmour underwear and still be protected...

 

[jollyjacktar]

Economics for one I would think.  The cost of Kevlar uniforms would be out of this world in comparison I would think.  I have always wondered why the uniforms did not include some form of fire protection like the NCDs for a start.  That too, would be bloody expensive as well.  At any rate, they are interesting S'Nics.

 

[I_Drive_Planes]

Those things look like chafe-o-matics to me.

 

[jollyjacktar]

Maybe not.  I have worn Kevlar gloves and found them to pretty comfortable.  I would hope these will not be as bad as you fear.

 

[armychick2009]

(View full article and picture of the fancy boxers at :  http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2011/01/07/16807626.html )

So, would YOU buy a pair??



'Blast boxers' now available in Canada
By JESSICA MURPHY, QMI Agency

’Blast boxers’ are made of a woven Kevlar fabric and meant to protect genitals, the body cavity and the femoral artery during IED blasts. (QMI Agency/Image courtesy BCB International)
MONTREAL — Canadian soldiers have a new way to keep the family jewels safe in war zones.

A U.K. company has developed a product called “Blast Boxers” — protective military clothing the company claims can reduce severe and sometimes deadly groin injuries caused by mine blasts.

The boxers, which look a little like two-toned bike shorts, are made of a woven Kevlar fabric and are meant to protect the groin, upper leg and body-cavity from blast and fragment injuries from IEDs.

A pair costs about C$85 and BCB International said they’ve proven popular with both UK troops, their wives and their girlfriends.

Esprit de Corps publisher Scott Taylor, who served as a professional soldier and has spent time in war zones, said he could see the product taking off in Canada because soldiers fret about the genital injuries caused by land mines.

“That’s every guy’s worst nightmare and if they could find anything to (protect themselves) they would do it,” he said Friday in an interview from his Ottawa office.


(Modified to add a thanks to whoever moved the post, didn't realise there was another thread already going on it! Thanks!)

 

[BDTyre]

I'm surprised no one has commented on this bit of the article yet:

"Here in the U.K., the Blast Boxers have proved enormously popular with not only our soldiers, but also their wives and their girlfriends. They have told us that unlike other products, they offer significant protection without hampering mobility or comfort, do not deteriorate in the wash and are heat-defying at affordable prices."

So...women like them because they don't fall apart in the laundry.....

 

[Scratch_043]

I think they are attempting to play to a man's fear of losing popularity with the ladies if their junk is gone.

 

[Journeyman]

I could have used something like those going through the divorce