REVIEW: Two years of intensive use with UF-PRO Striker XT

Eli from PROJECT GECKO has been wearing his UF-PRO Striker XT Pants for two years during training operations and is now giving a long-term verdict on the pants, which we reviewed HERE in the SPARTANAT Review. The post originally appeared on the UF-PRO Blog. We want to present it to you as an exciting in-depth review of a convincing product:

One, two, three in a trot, time rushes by, and we rush along with it! But it leaves its shadows and marks. The virtual space is full of product reviews, but this one stands out a bit. I will give you a closer look at the Striker XT combat pants that I have used over the last two years in different climate zones and environments as part of the activities of my tactical training and consulting company "Project Gecko."

This short but detailed article features pictures of my Striker XT combat pants and shows how well they have held up. Just a brief note at the outset: I use this product (and many others) under extremely demanding conditions and very frequently.

Now is the time to do them justice.

Every creation has its own lifespan. Every product will eventually break or the material will fatigue at some point.

The question is: when?

UF PRO® is known for its quality and unique design. But the question always remains: how long will their product hold up under continuous use?

Well, for a long time.

In this article, I particularly want to focus on three features of the Striker XT combat pants:

• the stretch material
• metal parts (zippers, buttons, rings)
• the fabric properties

The Stretch Material

Stretch material is both a hallmark of military clothing and perhaps also one of its biggest weaknesses. The stretch material I used during my service either tore quickly or wore out rapidly - not all of it, but with mass. Furthermore, I would like to point out that ordinary stretch materials have the terrible property of reflecting IR light.

I must admit that I was not completely convinced when I first received the Striker XT clothing from UF PRO® before our Alpine expedition in 2014. I was torn between weight, design, and especially the stretch material, which I saw as a weak point. This was due to how it felt and because it looked very thin due to its lightweight.

But what can I say? I was wrong!

The stretch material - or, to use its actual name, "Schoeller®- dynamic" - is still in excellent condition. And despite its age, it has lost nothing of its shape and performance. See for yourself!Metal Parts (Zippers, Buttons, Rings)

There are two words tailor-made for the word "failure": torn or broken. Like many other pants, the Striker XT has various functions enabled by the use of non-textile materials. These include zippers, elastic bands, buttons, etc. You know what I mean. Over the years, these things tend to fail due to weather influences and continuous use. Now you may ask: why? Quite simple: because they are constantly opened, pulled, stretched, or even abused.

So far, all of these zippers and metal parts have worn out. Their color has turned silvery and they smell like s*#€!§§. But honestly: they work! No zipper is stuck, no buttons or rings have gone missing. Everything is in place, working, and ready for action.

Now you may be wondering where the point is. Why focus on such a small zipper? Well, that zipper is like a door to your warehouse. It keeps everything safe that you store in it. Without it, your pants could have superpowers, but what good are they if the zipper doesn't close a pocket?

Fabric I - Condition after continuous use

So far, the fabric is in decent condition. The PenCott™ GreenZone camouflage print has faded somewhat and lost some of its camouflage effectiveness. I have also noticed some small tears or tiny holes. I suspect these occurred during my regular visits to the Alps.

They say you can learn from history, right? Well, let's be honest.

During my service in the Israel Defence Force (IDF), I had to request to exchange my combat pants every two months. Most of the fabric-related issues I encountered at that time were holes in the crotch, the buttocks, or at the bottom of the pant legs over the combat boots.

Due to these facts, it has been my perception since then that it is relatively common to replace combat clothing quite often. Until I met UF PRO®.

Fabric II - Performance

The fabric is of high quality, no question. It has gone through (no joke!) at least 100 wash cycles. It is still high-quality, albeit a bit stiff. All in all: If you were to ask me if it is still functional, my answer would be a clear "Yes!"

Hot weather - NyCo is basically a blend of nylon and cotton (in a 50/50 ratio). I must add that the pants are a bit warm in hot weather conditions, compared to the Generation II combat pants we were issued in the IDF. The main reason for this is that those were mostly made of pure cotton. Cotton absorbs and retains sweat better and is - as far as I know - more breathable, letting heat out and air in.

An important note: UF PRO® has responded to the demands of its users who often work in hot weather conditions. Therefore, UF PRO® also released its HT combat pants.

Knee pads - as you know, the XT knee pads are covered with fabric. This preserves noise discipline and prevents abrasion. I have to say: considering the many times I have knelt down and when I think of the s*#€!§§ holes I had to do it in, I am delighted that they are still in one piece. That's an extraordinary performance!

CONCLUSION: All in all, it can be stated that the pants are still functional for me after two years of use and abuse. Of course, this is only my experience with the Striker XT combat pants.

Eli served in a special unit of the Israeli military. After his military service, he founded the company Project Gecko, specializing in tactical training and consulting. More information about Project Gecko and Eli can be found HERE.

PROJECT GECKO online: www.projectgecko.info