NEW BERETTA GEAR TO FEATURE GORE™ OPTIFADE™ CONCEALMENT MARSH PATTERN
Elkton, MD – January 16, 2012 – W.L. Gore & Associates, a leading manufacturer of advanced technology products including GORE-TEX® branded products, today announced that 2012 Beretta gear will feature GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Concealment Marsh Pattern. The pattern is the third science-based GORE™ OPTIFADE™ pattern, and the first to be optimized for hunting waterfowl. The new gear will debut at the January, 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.
“Gore partners with manufacturers of the most advanced hunting gear in the market to help hunters maximize their performance in the field and improve outcomes,” commented David Dillon, Hunting Category Leader at W.L.Gore & Associates. “With the development of OPTIFADE Marsh pattern, we are thrilled to welcome Beretta to the family of brands that incorporate Gore ingredient technology to ensure ultimate comfort, protection and performance of athlete hunters.”
“Berreta is for passionate waterfowlers who expect the best performance out of their guns and gear. We chose Gore because their passion for quality and innovation lines up with standards that Beretta holds ourselves to when developing new products to address consumer needs," commented Ryan Muety, Director of Marketing & Consumer. “We know that their scientific expertise will now do for concealment what it has done for comfort, and are thrilled to offer gear featuring the GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Marsh pattern.”
The Science of GORE™ OPTIFADE™
In 2008, Gore announced the development of GORE™ OPTIFADE™ – the first-ever concealment pattern based on how prey sees its predators. Created with the assistance of experts in camouflage and animal vision, the new pattern accounts for the animals’ visual capacity as well as the engagement distances and angles of the hunters’ attack.
All GORE™ OPTIFADE™ patterns incorporate a micro pattern and a macro pattern. The micro pattern helps the hunter blend with his environment, while the macro pattern disrupts the symmetry of the human form so that the animal does not recognize the hunter as a predator.
The first two patterns were optimized for hunting deer and other ungulates (hoofed animals) in open country and forest environments. The GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Marsh pattern is the first to be optimized for hunting waterfowl.
The Marsh Pattern
To develop the Waterfowl Pattern, Gore worked with the same panel of experts who helped create the original GORE™ OPTIFADE™ pattern: animal vision scientist Dr. Jay Neitz; Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Tim O’Neill, PhD; and founder and CEO of HyperStealth® Bio Technology Corp. Guy Cramer.
Like the other patterns, the GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Marsh pattern is digital concealment, not mimicry. Rather than trying to make the hunter look like something, the pattern’s intent is to make the hunter appear to be “nothing” to the animal.
Specifically, the pattern takes into account how ducks, geese and other waterfowl see:
· Waterfowl have a large, almost panoramic, field of vision.
· Their visual acuity is very good for an animal, though not superior to human acuity. However, they have low contrast sensitivity – an inability to see “edges” very clearly – and relatively poor depth perception.
· Waterfowl have a fourth photo-receptor that allows them to see some colors that humans cannot see.
Because birds are particularly sensitive to color and continuity with the surroundings the Marsh micro pattern is critically important and is as detailed as possible to confuse bird vision. The colors, in particular, have been manipulated to create a great deal of depth.
In addition to considering the animals’ vision, the pattern also takes into account engagement distance and positioning of the animal in relation to the hunter:
· While most patterns are designed as though the bird is on the ground looking at the hunter – GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Concealment takes into account that the birds are usually above the hunter in flight, and are in constant motion.
· Waterfowl hunting is done in a high contrast environment. Skylight from the horizon, or light reflected from the water surface will shine through gaps in rushes creating concentrated light spots. GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Marsh pattern is high contrast to be consistent with the environment, and includes elements that are light in color and elements that are darker in color.
Because birds are overhead and in motion, and not viewing the hunter horizontally, the macro pattern in GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Marsh is more vertical than it is in patterns designed for ground prey.
Beretta Gear with GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Marsh Pattern
Established in 1526 in Venice, Italy, Beretta manufactures, distributes, and markets a comprehensive line of firearms, accessories, and apparel. Beretta will incorporate the GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Marsh pattern on select waterfowl hunting gear for the 2012 hunting season.
Beretta waterfowl gear featuring GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Marsh pattern includes:
Xtreme Ducker-2 in 1 Jacket
Two in one jacket externally consisting of a GORE-TEX® waterproof membrane and internally consisting of, Primaloft® insulation, which is very warm, water resistant, lightweight, fast drying and compressible.
Xtreme Ducker-Bibs
Unites the waterproof protection of GORE-TEX® as the padded bibs external fabric and the lightweight, fast drying, and insulating qualities of Primaloft®; features full side zippers to allow bibs to be removed without removing boots.
Xtreme Ducker-Soft Shell Jacket
The breathable Xtreme Ducker-Soft Shell Jacket features windproof, water-repellant WINDSTOPPER® fabric technology for the ultimate protection against bad weather.
Xtreme Ducker-Soft Shell Pant
The Xtreme Ducker-Soft Shell Pant features WINDSTOPPER® fabric for maximum protection against inclement weather and waterproof and wearproof piping and breathable mesh lining.
Hats and Gloves
Including the Xtreme Ducker Soft Shell Beanie and the Xtreme Ducker Soft Shell Gloves with WINDSTOPPER® fabric for maximum protection and a soft shell fabric for added warmth against bad weather. Also, includes the waterproof and breathable Xtreme Ducker Hat and Xtreme Ducker gloves containing GORE-TEX® 2 layer performance fabric.
Xtreme Ducker Fleece
The Xtreme Ducker-Soft Fleece features WINDSTOPPER® fabric for maximum protection against inclement weather and a removable hood with mesh lining and an adjustable drawstring at bottom.
Xtreme Ducker Soft Gun Case
This waterproof floating Xtreme Ducker Soft Shell Gun Case contains an easy to use front flap closure, side pockets, and a comfortable shoulder strap.
Xtreme Ducker Slings
The Xtreme Ducker Slings is a hands free shotgun sling for the ultimate comfort hunting experience.
Xtreme Ducker Blind Bag Medium
This handy mid-sized, water-resistant blind bag has a multifunctional interior and exterior pockets with a removable shoulder strap for added comfort.
Xtreme Ducker Blind Bag Large
This handy large, waterproof blind bag has multifunctional interior and exterior pockets with a removable shoulder strap for added comfort.
About W.L. Gore & Associates (www.gore-tex.com)
With more than $2.5 billion in annual sales and approximately 9,000 employees in 30 countries worldwide, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., provides diverse, high-performance solutions in consumer, industrial, electronic, medical, and surgical markets. As well-known for its unique corporate culture as for its products, Gore's 50-year success story rests equally on product and organizational innovation. Perhaps best known as the inventors of expanded PTFE (ePTFE) and the makers of GORE-TEX fabric, Gore is a leading manufacturer of thousands of advanced technology products that comprise a breadth of capabilities.
For more information about GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Concealment visit www.optifade.com.
About Beretta (www.berettausa.com)
Beretta, established in 1526, is the oldest industrial dynasty in the world tracing its roots through 16 generations of continuous family ownership. Firearms bearing the Beretta name have been sold for almost 500 years. Beretta USA Corp. was founded in 1977 and supplies the standard sidearm to the U.S. Armed Forces. Today, Beretta manufactures, distributes and markets a complete line of firearms, accessories and apparel as well as a retail consumer direct catalog and e-commerce site. Beretta also owns and operates six retail Beretta Gallery stores worldwide.
GORE, GORE-TEX, GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY, WINDSTOPPER, OPTIFADE and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. © 2011 W. L. Gore & Associates