Military-Grade Outerwear | An Overview of Tilak MiG
Written by Ali George Hinkins
With the arrival of Tilak MiG’s ‘Raptor’ Jacket, it only seemed right to let you into, what seems to be, the industry’s best kept secret: Tilak’s Military Gear line.
Understanding the conditions that arise from the hardy outdoor landscape, the family-run, Czech label pledges to design tried-and-tested gear for a number of scenarios and environments. Whether it be their technical lifestyle range, ‘Poutnik’, collaborations with names like ACRONYM or military-grade gear courtesy of their MiG range. They are one of a handful of outdoor names, like Arc’teryx and Patagonia, with multiple lines under their moniker as well as a range specifically designed for military and law enforcement, further demonstrating their prowess.
Started in the 1980s by Roman Kamler, Tilak’s first product was made by a household sewing machine and even to this day, the Kamler family is still heavily involved with the day-to-day running of the Tilak namesake. It’s a brand that rightly - and especially proudly - stands beside the quality of their outdoor garments with each product being made by skilled Czech seamstresses in Sumperk, Northern Moravia. Operating as a family business, each product is crafted with a code of ethics in mind: quality, fairness and responsibility are all considered through design and how employees are looked after.
Their Military Gear line is synonymous with minimal branding and top-of-the-line functional materials. Rest assured, if you know that Tilak’s gear is able to meet the demands for certain military services then it’ll be able to withstand changing urban and rural environments, especially when Gore’s GORE-TEX® 3-Layer technology is involved alongside other technical features. It is not limited to merely outerwear, instead it builds upon the pre-existing military layering system that consists of durable, waterproof systems, soft shell jackets, lightweight down coats, insulatory tops and more; all designed to work in conjunction with each other to optimise performance and protection.
Their flagship model - currently available from This Thing of Ours - is the Raptor MiG GORE-TEX® Jacket which has been specially designed for the most extreme conditions. The Raptor is constructed from a three-layer GORE-TEX® fabric that, straight up, speaks volumes about the capabilities and assurances of this jacket. It is equipped with an integrated ventilation system with WaterTight® pit zips in place to increase breathability, laminated zippers, AquaGuard® Vislon front zipper and Velcro patches for ID badge placement. Alongside this are details like anatomically shaped sleeves, two chest pockets, a big hood with one touch adjustment and a drawcord at the hem. When all of these technical features work in unison with one another, it creates one hell of a jacket that proudly bears the Tilak name. Acting as a lightweight back-up option to the Raptor MiG, the Stinger MiG is a packable alternative made using a 2-layer GORE-TEX® featuring Paclite® Plus technology - a packable and light shell that takes up a relatively small amount of space in your backpack but still offers excellent durability and waterproofing. Boasting similar technical features to its sturdier counterpart, the Raptor MiG, the Stinger features 13mm taped seams throughout, an oversized storm hood with one-touch adjustment and an integrated ventilation system. With all of the aforementioned in mind, you can imagine the level of protection you get with this.
If you need a brand that you can fully rely on, then look no further.
The Raptor MiG is available now from This Thing of Ours.
