UF-PRO - tinkering to perfection

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Today, one can no longer speak of a secret tip, because UF-PRO is already too well-known for its excellent gear. The manufacturer from Slovenia takes its own path in design and implementation and is recognized for its clever solutions and high-quality execution. Currently, UF-PRO is coming out with its new winter line. In an interview with Armin Wagner, the head of development and product manager at UF-PRO, we wanted to find out what this Cold Gear can do.

SPARTANAT: Armin, winter is coming. What is UF-PRO's answer to the cold season?

Armin Wagner: Winter is a very exciting season for me as a product developer of tactical outdoor clothing, because in our Central European regions, it can surprise you within 24 hours with a very wide range of climatic conditions. You can experience windy, damp-cold, super uncomfortable conditions between +5°C and freezing point, as well as chilling -15°C to -20°C, with or without wind chill which further lowers the perceived outside temperature. And it can snow, rain, or the sun can shine.

From the beginning, we have placed importance on ensuring that our clothing systems are modular and can be combined for each of these extreme weather conditions. Especially in this season, it is important to wear the right gear to function at 100% even under such adverse conditions.

SPARTANAT: Winter presents the special challenge of keeping gear warm while also ensuring that the wearer does not overheat when in motion. How does UF-PRO solve this problem?

Armin Wagner: That is exactly the challenge; depending on the weather and level of activity, it is often the case that you feel both cold and sweat at the same time. And once you are sweaty, you will cool down even faster.

Since I have not yet seen a truly functioning PCM (Phase Changing Material e.g. "Outlast" or PCM from Schoeller), we focus on designing clothing ergonomically and thermophysiologically to provide the best possible moisture transport, thermal insulation, ventilation, and wind- and moisture repellence.

It is important to realize that there isn't one specific item for extreme weather conditions that provides a complete solution. That means we will still have to be prepared to carry additional and thicker clothing in the winter to dry ourselves off when needed, or to mix and match.

It is also important to understand that there isn't one specific item for extreme weather conditions that provides a complete solution. Furthermore, what works for me might be too cold, too warm, too thick, too thin, too heavy, too light etc. Each person has their own individual constitution and needs when it comes to thermoregulation. This means we will still need to carry additional and thicker clothing in the winter to dry ourselves off when needed, or to mix and match. Thermal clothing must also be transport-friendly, i.e. light and as compact as possible.

SPARTANAT: How important is the function of base layers? What do you focus on there?

Armin Wagner: A clothing system starts to work directly at the interface of human-environment, which is of course the layer closest to the skin, the base layer.

For cooler temperatures, we are absolutely thrilled with the properties of the Merino/37.5 (from Cocona Inc.) blend. It combines moisture transport and thermal properties very efficiently. Depending on temperatures and activity, this can be perfectly combined with another layer of 100% Merino to offer an absolute reliable and breathable system in the first layer.

SPARTANAT: How does UF-PRO create a flexible system, and what temperature range do you plan for? What else is part of the Cold Gear?

Armin Wagner: We know that our systems, when combined correctly, provide comfortable thermal insulation down to -20°C. These are the temperature ranges for our Central European climate regions.

While we currently offer only one product for the very first layer in the system, we have a strong lineup in the Mid Layers, starting with the WINDSTOPPER Liner for all types of pants, to the ML, and up to the AcE Sweater and AcE Plus Jackets.

In the outer layer, the anatomically designed Delta OL Jacket and Pants provide very good solutions for static and dynamic activities in the cold. Depending on the situation, you can also wear a hard shell over it, although rain and temperatures below -10°C are quite unlikely.

There are already very strong products in the area of warmer base layers, such as WoolPower and others. Therefore, it makes little sense for us to introduce another product in this category.

Personally, good gloves and especially shoes are very important to me. While we prefer Meindl for footwear, I find the products from ESKA, an Austrian glove manufacturer, quite good.

SPARTANAT: Many see UF-PRO as the European answer to Crye Precision. In terms of quality and ideas, you are actually better than the Americans. Where do the design ideas of UF-PRO come from? How long do you develop a piece of gear before it is released?

Armin Wagner:First of all, thank you for the compliment. To be compared to Crye is an honor for us. Crye was one of the first to step away from the well-worn paths in combat clothing with new concepts.

We found this approach very inspiring from the beginning because it also aligns with our way of thinking. When we develop products, we are not restricted by the principles of traditional tailoring but define them based on functional and ergonomic requirements. That means, when we notice a limitation during a specific activity in a certain environment that is due to poor clothing, we try to find a smart and system-integrated technological solution that also looks clean and cool. Following our principle, "Limits are a Mindset," conventional clothing becomes gear!

For example, take the Delta OL Thermopants and jacket: Normally, cold protective clothing is bulky, making you look like the Michelin Man. We worked on it for two years until we managed to bring the first anatomically and ergonomically perfected thermal pants to market with the specially developed FlexZone Technology.

With the HoodHarness, it took us over a year from the initial idea to the filing of the corresponding rights.

Sometimes it is important in the development process to make certain mistakes that suddenly open up a whole new perspective. The principle in our work is that you must not be satisfied until you are convinced that it is perfect.

For the Striker XT Combat Pants, which has set new standards in many aspects, we needed two product generations and a year of pure development and testing time.

Sometimes it is important in the development process to make certain mistakes that suddenly open up a whole new perspective. This was the case, for example, with the knee section of the Striker XT Pants.

We thought we had everything under control until during a multi-day test of the penultimate prototype generation, we realized that the knee protection was not optimal for a real combat pant and that we needed a different solution. This led to the development of the adaptive 3-layer knee protection system for the Striker XT and Striker HT Combat Pants after another half year of development time.

And sometimes, you hit the mark with the first shot, like with the Hunter FZ, which is one of my absolute favorite products for the colder half of the year. The idea was suddenly present, and in the 2nd prototype and after 3 months of development time, it was already perfect.

The principle in our development work is that you must not be satisfied until you are convinced that it is perfect. And when we receive feedback that people are excited about our products, that is the motivation we need to continue tinkering, because one thing is clear: it can always be better.