When we were at the SHOT Show,  we literally stumbled across a booth from PDT or Practical Defense Training Technologies.   What caught our eye was their line of hard knuckle gloves, but as we talked to the head of their R and D, and COO, we were introduced to their line of protection equipment for simunition training.

PDT makes several items for Law Enforcement and Military personnel for when they are training, they have the propper protection to do it safely.  As their motto states ” Train Safe, Train Real”.  What we at The Gear Locker saw was an oppertunity to have some great equipment for younger players and for field referees.  It must be their role, or the name, but once someone becomes a field ref, they will get shot multiple times from both sides.

At one of the local fields that we use for testing and to play at, the referees carry riot shields to give them additional protection. While this is great for the refs,  some players have taken to using that ref as a walking bunker, which is not the right thing to do.

What PDT showed us was their full line of protection equipment:

• Force 1 Helmet – It is a molded plastic helmet with a dual-lens that resists fogging and a lower mesh covering of the vent holes. For simunition training, I am guessing this is to prevent any projectile pieces from going into the mask. For the indoor field ref, it gave them an added bit of security.
• Chest Protector – EVA molded foam chest protector with a lot of adjustment.  You had Velcro cinch straps on the shoulders and the sides. It is very light weight and had Velcro panels for Patches (Referee, Official, or Instructor for example)
• Groin Protector  - Another item made from EVA molded foam to give those of the male persuasion additional below the belt coverage
• Padded Hood – Additional face protection
• Neck Protector – EVA molded foam protection for the neck area. Very light weight and adjustable
• Hand Armor – These gloves have a low profile, inner core of foam on all fingers except the index (trigger finger) and the top of the hand. The palm is covered with a layer of soft cowhide.  And you have wrist cinch straps.

We were very excited to get these items back to New England and head to our local indoor field for some practical testing involving Airsoft.

the TGL team headed to The Citadel with our new bag of PDT Protection equipment.  After speaking with the owners, and the ref for that night, Tom. They agreed to be our Tactical Guneia Pigs for the night.  We gave Tom the following items to wear, and evaluate as he refereed the games, which would last about 5 hours of start/stop play:

• Force 1 Mask
• Hand Armor Gloves
• Chest Proector

The first game was  ”force on force”, with the team with the most players on the field after 30 minutes, the winner. This is also a great game to see how the equipment will protect Tom, as there is a lot of close engagements and itchy trigger fingers.

Before the game was officially started, we had Tom stand at the Chronograph station and he was shot at close and medium distances with airsoft pistols and rifles (AEGs and GBB pistols) that were chronographed between 330 and 360 FPS (Feet per Second).  Tom stated that he did not feel the impacts, and only knew he had been hit by hearing them.  The impacts at the close (and point blank) distances did not leave any markings on the chest protector. You could see Tom’s smile as he sounded the horn for Game 1.

During the game, Tom attempted to fog the mask, which he could not do. He like the field of vision, and the lower mesh layer, but noticed that it would catch on the Velcro of his manderin collar when he  bent his head down. This would raise the mask up in the back.

During the game, Tom said he took many shots to the chest and one at very close distance to the hand area and did not feel them at all. He was very happy to have the equipment and not have to rely on the riot shield.

Over the next 4 hours, Tom used these three pieces of equipment and the entire time, he did no fog or feel the errant BB hits.  We had to beg him to return the equipment. And in turn, Tom begged is boss to look into these items.

PDT did not set out to make protection equipment for the Airsoft community, but their products demonstrate that there is crossover for other types of training. The possible uses for these items are:

1. Field Referees

2. Instructors

3. New/Young Players

4. Field Photographers

If you are a field owner looking for equipment to protect your staff or rent to your younger/newer players. I would suggest going to PDT’s website – www.pdt-tech.com or calling them at 925-552-7503.

Tell them that you read about them on The Gear Locker. I am sure they will love to hear from you.

- Eric