REVIEW: Claw Gear DSU in SOCOM pattern

AOR2 for everyone? Yes, please! If that's possible... A German company makes it possible: Claw Gear has recently come out with a uniform whose camouflage is named "SOCOM." It is rumored that USSOCOM is set to be equipped with the digital AOR2 after the Navy introduced it as NWU III. Therefore, the Claw Gear identification can be understood as a fitting allusion. And indeed, the SOCOM pattern is more than just inspired by the original AOR2. SPARTANAT has examined the uniform closely.

This is the basic package: the uniform is called Duty Service Uniform (DSU) and the Boonie hat is sold separately. Essentially, it is cut like an ACU - with a few small, good improvements. The Velcro (right side) is covered with a piece of camouflage fabric. The upper arm pockets also have a zipper that opens from the front. Very practical! And the pants have a drawstring inside that can be tightened, which is really nice, especially since you are no longer dependent on a belt.

The Combat Shirt is available for purchase separately, shown here from the back, as it was already shown from the front in the first image above. We were particularly impressed by the quality of the Combat Shirt.

You can see very well that there are Cordura protectors and reinforcements on the elbows. The upper arm pockets here are also covered with fabric in SOCOM camouflage pattern. This also serves the purpose that the Velcro cannot damage the plastic of the sweat-conducting body of the Combat Shirt in the long run: it would pull threads over time. The foldable areas on the hands, which can be unfolded for camouflage, are also good.

The Velcro on the sleeves gives you the choice: camouflage or patches. Above the upper arm pocket, there is a small Velcro loop visible, which can hold temporary IDs. For example, an ID card can be attached here, and when going out into the field, it can be quickly removed and stored in the pocket. There is also a small, coverable opening on the forearm: cables (iPod, GPS, PDA, etc.) can be fed inside.

You can feel the attention to detail: the Combat Shirt not only has a sweat-conducting material in the body but also has an additional fabric that provides good ventilation at the corner where it sweats the most. The workmanship here, as with all seams, is first class. What you get in your hands is not a cheap imitation, but genuine gear that has been made for real use.

The Boonie hat from the inside: Here too, Claw Gear has not skimped and incorporated sweat-absorbing material.

CONCLUSION: The uniform from Claw Gear is not "issued," but it is clearly inspired by real stuff. The template was a jacket in AOR2, which ended up at the German gear manufacturer. If we go by the color of the Claw Gear garment, it was likely a jacket from Beyond Tactical in AOR2, which used a relatively light test pattern of AOR2. The Claw DSU is therefore relatively light, and this is also contributed by the fact that what is black in the original AOR2 has been turned brown here. It camouflages ideally in dry to autumnal grass, making it a useful pattern for arid areas. The color choice, like in the real AOR2, is "multicam-like," but with the advantages of digital patterns, which, if not UCP, camouflage very well. The difference from the currently issued AOR2 is that the patterning runs horizontally, while in the real one it runs vertically. The manufacturing quality of DSU and Combat Shirt is excellent, and the price-performance ratio is very good.

The DSU costs 69 euros at Sniper Airguns, Gen II costs 79 euros. The Combat Shirt from Claw Gear costs 49 euros here, Gen. II costs 54 euros. The Boonie is available for 14.90. The equipment from Claw Gear is also available at Recon Company or in Austria at Comrade.

Find the SOCOM! - Whoever finds it will receive 99 points. (A washing machine with NSN will be given away for 100 points or more.)