Why We Don’t Build Anything in MultiCam Alpine

With winter approaching, images of soldiers in overwhites and tactical cold weather gear become ubiquitous. One might then ask: "Why doesn't Qore Performance produce any gear in MultiCam Alpine?" Especially since our IceAge Ecosystem caters to extreme environmental temperatures, from searing heat to icy cold.

It does this by providing conductive consumable thermoregulation via our ICEPLATE® Curve, cooling the body with frozen or heated water worn against the body in a hardcell hydration pack. ICEPLATE® Curve combined with IMS Pro or IMS Versa make for great cold weather accessories to tactical winter gear. So, why aren’t products like the ICEPLATE EXO® plate carrier or ICEPLATE EXO®-CRH for chest rigs available in MultiCam Alpine for snowy terrains?

Let’s delve into the reasons:

Practical Implications of MultiCam Alpine

When selecting gear, the environment and season you're operating in are crucial. Even locales such as Alaska will not be covered in snow year-round. Using MultiCam Alpine outside snowy terrains could compromise camouflage effectiveness.

Consider the U.S. Army's approach to their winter tactical gear. During winter drills, they typically use overwhites to camouflage their uniforms and helmets, while layering with MultiCam or other non-white gear. These lightweight overwhites cover large portions of the body, and are perfect for masking the body against snowy backgrounds. But crucially, they can be quickly removed when moving to non-snowy areas, something that can’t be done with purely MultiCam Alpine gear.

Above: Paratroopers assigned to 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, prepare to assault their objective during exercise Yudh Abhyas 21 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 28, 2021.
(Alejandro Peña/Air Force) Image courtesy of Armytimes.com

Present on multicampattern.com, the originators of the camouflage state:

"The MultiCam Alpine™ pattern was developed to effectively reduce the visual and near-IR signature of a person operating in snow-covered environments. It is intended to be used in every area of operation that receives significant snowfall. The MultiCam Alpine™ pattern can be paired with MultiCam® gear as needed to appropriately match the overall level of snow cover present."

The originators stated intent for MultiCam Alpine even highlights incorporating more standard patterns/colors with snow camouflage as appropriate for the environment.

Above: Soldier in MultiCam Alpine camouflage uniform paired with MultiCam gear.
(Image courtesy of multicampattern.com)

Production and Material Considerations

While every MultiCam variant has its merits (except perhaps MultiCam Black, which we’ve discussed here), products using our ICEPLATE EXO® laminate are expensive to produce, especially being manufactured in the U.S.

This laminate is essential for crafting gear that boasts excellent weight, hydrophobic properties, and durability. However, building with new MultiCam patterns, besides the standard MultiCam, isn’t our focus right now. Producing ICEPLATE EXO® laminate in different colors demands significant resources.

With all that said, our focus is on Building A Superhuman Future for American Security and American Prosperity. To achieve this, we are unwavering in our dedication to weaponizing temperature to enhance performance and survivability, striving endlessly to free humans from the limitations of their environment. This mission heavily prioritizes utility over aesthetics, relegating MultiCam Alpine as a main pattern for ICEPLATE EXO® or ICEPLATE EXO®-CRH to very specific conditions, and not all that practical for the equipment we manufacture.

Future Prospects

MultiCam Alpine is optimal for snow-covered terrains. Should there be a surge in its demand by professionals, we’ll certainly consider incorporating it. For now, our MIL-LEO-CIV Collection features MultiCam, Coyote Brown, Black, Ranger Green, and Wolf Grey; our Safety + Devices Collection comes in Safety Yellow and Black, and our SPORT Collection offers an array of vibrant colors.

We hope this helps. For any further questions or suggestions about camouflage patterns for Qore Performance gear, comment below.

Additional Resources:
- Why We Don't Build Products in MultiCam Black
- Does Qore Performance Build Custom Product Solutions?