Massif® was founded on fundamental principles that bridged the gap between world-class outdoor apparel and fully flame-resistant gear. For more than 20 years, we’ve developed innovative, field-tested, and combat-proven fabrics and technology—ensuring our garments truly fit the needs of our end users. From the very beginning, Massif® sought out the most advanced fibers, yarns, and fabrics in the business; often combining new technologies to provide ultimate performance for our end-users. Fast forward to today and we have multiple United States patents for fabrics and garments alike. In conjunction with our fabric mill partners, we bring years of technical expertise across all avenues of fiber development, yarn spinning, fabric construction, and advanced finishing techniques. The result is simple, Massif®’s development teams produce the best combat-driven fabrics and garments in the industry that is 100% Made in the USA and Berry Amendment Compliant.
Fabrics
Blaze
Blaze fabric offers exceptional comfort without sacrificing performance, or FR protection. Soft, lightweight, and engineered with four-way, formfitting stretch, Blaze features M4 technology, which is a sophisticated moisture management system that distributes the absorption of perspiration in a wet/dry pattern on the interior of the garment, helping to prevent total fabric saturation and decreasing the amount of surface area that will stick to the skin when wet. This fabric also retains some moisture on the surface away from the skin, providing evaporative cooling and dramatically increasing comfort when worn under combat loads in hot weather. This helps to prevent user fatigue caused by added heat stress and ultimately keeps soldiers safer and more effective. The Blaze fabric has similar qualities as the Helium fabric but is more durable.
Breeze™
Breeze Gen2 is extremely lightweight and designed for flame protection, maximum breathability, and rapid drying. It features M4 technology, which is a sophisticated moisture management system that distributes the absorption of perspiration in a wet/dry pattern on the interior of the garment, helping to prevent total fabric saturation and decreasing the amount of surface area that will stick to the skin when wet. This fabric also retains some moisture on the surface away from the skin, providing evaporative cooling and dramatically increasing comfort when worn under combat loads in hot weather. The multidirectional stretch in Breeze Gen2 allows garments to move with the user, increasing the range of motion and ease of movement while minimizing bulk for easy layering. Proven durability, soft next-to-skin hand, and exceptional wicking and ventilation capabilities all work to provide superior comfort and performance.
Helium
Helium fabric offers exceptional comfort without sacrificing performance, or FR protection. Soft, lightweight, and engineered with four-way, formfitting stretch, Helium features M4 technology, which is a sophisticated moisture management system that distributes the absorption of perspiration in a wet/dry pattern on the interior of the garment, helping to prevent total fabric saturation and decreasing the amount of surface area that will stick to the skin when wet. This fabric also retains some moisture on the surface away from the skin, providing evaporative cooling and dramatically increasing comfort when worn under combat loads in hot weather. This helps to prevent user fatigue caused by added heat stress and ultimately keeps soldiers safer and more effective.
SuperFabric
Massif® Blaze Superfabric was developed jointly by Massif® and HDM. HDM, now known as Superfabric applies the highly abrasion-resistant dots to our Blaze material used in the elbow of most of our combat shirts. You can find more info here. By engineering Blaze with HDM’s sophisticated, multi-step process we’ve created an abrasion-dot-configuration fabric that has extreme abrasion resistance while maintaining excellent flame-resistance.
Massif® Battleshield X® is a revolutionary flame-resistant fabric engineered to provide warmth and protection from wind, rain, and snow. The extremely durable face of Battleshield X® takes advantage of a polyamide fiber blend not previously available in flame-resistant fabrics, which significantly improves the abrasion resistance and tear strength of the fabric while reducing conductive heat loss in cold, wet weather. Equally important, this fabric features WINDSTOPPER® technology by GORE-TEX LABS; a highly water-resistant, 100% windproof, and very breathable membrane.
The interior of Battleshield X® features Massif®’s soft, high-loft Nomex® fleece fabric to ensure outstanding warmth and flame protection. The result is an extremely durable, highly breathable fabric with a superior warmth-to-weight ratio that is very water-resistant and fully flame-resistant. Unlike any other flame-resistant fabric, Battleshield X® truly competes with the very best technical performance fabrics on the market today.
Battleshield® (made with DuPont Nomex® + DuPont Kevlar®)
Same as Battleshield X®, but the interior is a lightweight Nomex jersey fabric. Lighter and less warm than Battleshield X®.
HotJohns® (made with DuPont Nomex® + DuPont Kevlar®)
Massif®-designed HotJohns® is our midweight standalone base layer fabric. HotJohns® combines the known Flame-resistant (FR) properties of Nomex® with the added benefits of spandex, to create the best performance and next-to-skin comfort in the industry. Designed to work across multiple environments, HotJohns® offers inherent FR protection with superior moisture management properties, best-in-class dry times, with exceptional wicking properties that move moisture away from the body.
Flamestretch® (made with DuPont Nomex® + DuPont Kevlar®)
Made from a high-loft Nomex® fleece, Flamestretch® combines the inherent flame-resistant properties of Nomex® with the warmth and comfort of fleece to provide unparalleled protection and mobility in extreme cold weather conditions. The fabric's superior insulation and resistance to wear and tear make it ideal for demanding missions in sub-zero temperatures, while its breathable properties ensure maximum comfort even during intense physical activity.
Nitro Knit
Nitro Knit is Massif®’s newest no-melt, no-drip performance fabric utilizing an advanced fiber blend, combining the known performance attributes of synthetic and regenerated cellulosic fibers. Massif®-engineered Nitro Knit with 37.5® Technology. 37.5 active particle technology captures and releases moisture vapor to maintain the optimum relative humidity in your microclimate, which helps maintain an ideal core body temperature. The result is increased comfort, helping to maximize and enhance performance.
Inversion
Massif®’s Inversion is engineered with an advanced inherently FR tri-blend yarn system that provides unparalleled performance across multiple environments. It is highly breathable and scientifically engineered for fast dry times, which allows the user to focus on the mission at hand. By incorporating spandex, Inversion provides an improved range of motion, comfort, and wash durability. Massif® also added an advanced antimicrobial platform for added comfort on those long missions. This fabric has proven to be durable after multiple washes. This longer life span in the field gives it a lower overall cost when compared to inferior products that wear out quickly.
Cool Knit®
Massif®-designed Cool Knit is our lightest-weight standalone base layer fabric. Cool Knit combines the known Flame Resistant (FR) properties of Nomex® with the added benefits of spandex, to create the best performance and next-to-skin comfort in the industry. Designed to work across multiple environments, Cool Knit offers inherent FR protection with superior moisture management properties, best-in-class dry times, with exceptional wicking properties that move moisture away from the body.
SABA™ (made with DuPont Nomex® + DuPont Kevlar®)
Massif®’s SABA™ fabric is a two-layer laminate system that combines proprietary FR processes with unique knit structures. The advanced fabric is lightweight with wind resistance and includes an advanced Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment. With a proprietary knitted FR nylon face, SABA™ has excellent softness and hand, enabling easy donning and doffing while providing quiet operation. Inherent FR backer fabric provides next-to-skin comfort, multi-directional stretch, and superior moisture-management properties. Massif®-built SABA™ with distinct properties, unlike any other fabric in the industry by combining characteristics of your favorite softshell materials with the breathability of your favorite insulative fabrics. As the most advanced, next generation of insulative fabric, SABA™ offers unmatched breathability, packability, and weight reduction with limitless layering opportunities, and excellent inclement weather protection.
Battleskin™ (made with DuPont Nomex® + DuPont Kevlar®)
Massif®’s revolutionary Battleskin™ fabric provides flame and burn protection, along with superior air permeability, keeping users comfortable in a wide range of temperatures. The unique plaited-knit construction allows for precise fiber placement between the face and back of the fabric. Our proprietary processing techniques have allowed Massif® to combine all the benefits of traditional nylon-faced performance fabrics– including outstanding durability and abrasion resistance– with the FR protection we are known for, into a comfortable knit construction.
Sigma 4 Star™ Ripstop (made with DuPont Nomex® + DuPont Kevlar®)
Sigma 4 Star™ FR fabric represents the latest technology from Safety Components and the Burlington military group. By leveraging their technology leadership position achieved in the commercial firefighting market with one of the largest and most diverse apparel fabric producers in the world, they present Sigma 4 Star™ protective fabric. The ultimate in FR battle dress protection, comfort, and durability.
Technology
Flame-Resistant (FR) Garments
Flame-resistant technology is embedded in Massif®’s DNA. A term so intrinsic to our success and used with such frequency, often we forget it may be helpful to clearly define its meaning. Flame-resistance or “FR”, means the fabric and components within a garment won’t support combustion, won’t melt or drip, and will self-extinguish during and immediately following exposure to a flash fire event. Typical fabrics are flammable, meaning they will easily ignite, in some cases melt, and will continue to contribute to a user’s burn injury after exposure to such an event. All the FR garments you see are the result of thousands of hours of research and development so you can be confident they will perform as intended when put to the test.
Non-Flame-Resistant (Non-FR) Garments
Massif® also makes non-flame-resistant garments. The reason for this is simple, while we stand by the lifesaving and injury-mitigating characteristics of FR materials for use in environments where exposure to flash fires is a concern—not every mission requires that type of protection. Our mission at Massif® is to provide comfort and flame protection for people in the world’s most dangerous jobs. Whether a garment is made from FR fabrics or not, you can rest assured the products in this catalog were made to protect.
4-Way Stretch
- Multi-directional stretch provides greater range of motion and overall comfort to the garment.
Moisture Management
- Moisture management is the ability to transport moisture away from the skin to the garment's outer surface and where it can then evaporate. Moving moisture away from the body helps to regulate body temperature by providing evaporative cooling that dramatically increases comfort.
Compressible
- This is centered around packability.
Highly Breathable
- Highly breathable materials have high air permeability. Air permeability is the amount of air that can pass through the fabric and is measured Cubic Feet / Minute (CFM). The higher the CFM the more air that can pass through. Typically, higher air permeability means a cooler garment and just the opposite for warmer garments.
Antimicrobial Properties
- Antimicrobial fabrics are used in various applications across various industries because they inhibit the growth and spread of bacteria, mold, mildew, and other microbes. Some fibers have natural antimicrobial properties like wool. Fabrics can also be topically treated with antimicrobial chemistries. These fabrics help control odor-causing bacteria and reduce the growth of microbes resulting from sweat and moisture, thus promoting freshness and hygiene during physical activities. These fabrics also prevent the transmission of harmful microbes on the battlefield and in triage units.
Waterproof Membrane
- Fabrics containing waterproof or water-resistant membranes are designed to repel liquid water while allowing water vapor to pass through and are typically lightweight for packability and all-weather use. Membranes are typically used in laminate fabric where the membrane is attached to a face textile (2-layer) or sandwiched between two textiles for a 3-layer fabric. The ability to allow moisture vapor to escape provides greater user comfort. Moisture vapor transport rate can be tested in lab form.
Durable Materials
- Fabric durability is the ability of a fabric to resist tearing, abrasion, and color loss.
Quick Drying
- A fabric’s ability to quickly go from completely saturated water or sweat to completely dry.
Durable Water Repellent (DWR)
- Most inclement weather gear is treated with a DWR, or a durable water repellent finish. While a waterproof/breathable membrane will stop water from penetrating to a rain jacket's interior, a DWR is also needed to prevent precipitation from saturating the garments exterior.
Vector Protection
- Normally permethrin-based technologies that may help prevent the spread of insect borne diseases by repelling insects through apparel, uniforms or gear. This technology is similar to the natural insect repellent found in certain chrysanthemum plants and works as a contact repellent affecting the insect's nervous system causing it to fly away before a bite can occur.
Partners
For over 200 years, DuPont has been synonymous with life-changing discoveries and scientific know-how, reinventing ourselves along the way. The history of DuPont is a history of scientific and technological breakthroughs. But more than that, it’s a story of transformation. From the beginning, DuPont has changed and evolved, so that we can keep finding essential innovations to solve the most challenging problems and help people live safer, healthier lives.
Nomex® Fibers for Heat- and Flame-Resistant Protection
DuPont™ Nomex® fibers are heat- and flame-resistant and are used in protective fabrics, garments, insulation, and other high-performance applications to help provide protection to millions of people and processes worldwide. Nomex® is an inherently flame-resistant, high-temperature resistant fiber that will not melt, drip, or support combustion in air. It is offered in paper, felt, fabric, and fiber forms. Nomex® brand fiber is used across a diverse range of applications, but it is perhaps best known as a critical component in protective apparel. Nomex® also used in apparel worn by military pilots and combat vehicle crew, and industrial workers at risk from flash fire and electric arc hazards. Troops are being outfitted with Nomex® flight suits to help protect them from burns caused by roadside bombs, the greatest threat to American troops.
Kevlar® Fiber — Light in Weight, High in Performance
Versatile and strong, Kevlar® fiber is more than just a series of threads. DuPont™ Kevlar® fibers are used in a variety of clothing, accessories, and equipment to help make them safer and more durable. With five times the strength of steel based on an equal weight basis, it’s the go-to fiber for protective apparel and accessories.
Founded in 1958, Gore is a global materials science company with more than 12,000 Associates spanning five continents and thousands of products across industries — from high-performance fabrics to implantable medical devices and products that reduce emissions, explore space, and solve other complex challenges.
Safety Components primary focus is on the design and production of textiles for markets which include fire service, military, outdoor fabrics, aerospace escape slides, fuel cells, and automotive air bag fabrics. Safety Components also produces a wide array of highly technical fabrics for industrial and commercial applications such as filtration, specialty military, composites, tire manufacturing, and coated fabrics.
Testing + Approvals
Massif® tests all of our fabrics to stringent ASTM, AATCC, and military standards. Each test protocol is designed to insure performance in garment specific environments and areas of operation. Once prototype garments have been made, Massif® utilizes expert in-house user evaluators to ensure initial performance criteria and garment form, fit, and function have been achieved. The final test is the actual user. Massif® utilizes active military personnel to perform external user evaluations to fine tune or correct any minor detail or performance criteria that might have been missed. All of these steps insure you get the quality of garment that Massif® is known for.
ASTM F1930 - Flash Fire Manikin Test: The fire test chamber is equipped with the PyroMan™ system. PyroMan™ is a fully instrumented, life-sized manikin used to evaluate the performance of thermal protective clothing. This is a highly sophisticated instrument that creates a realistic simulation of a flash fire condition and analyzes the response of manikin heat sensors to predict the potential tissue burn damage to the wearer of military, first responder, or industrial work wear. (Directly from NCSU)
ASTM D6413 - Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test): A test specimen is positioned vertically above a controlled flame and exposed for a specified period of time. Following exposure, the flame source is removed. After removal of the flame, measurements are made on the amount of time the specimen continues to burn (after flame), the time it takes for all embers to stop glowing (afterglow), and length of a tear in the charred portion when a specified weight is applied (char length).
ASTM F1959 - Standard Test Method for Determining the Arc Rating of Materials for Clothing: An arc rating directly measures a fabric's ability to insulate the wearer from second-degree burn through the fabric. The higher the arc rating, the more protective the garment. The magnitude of an arc rating is measured by its arc incident energy level. This fabric test is used in determining conformance to ASTM F1506 - Standard Performance Specification for Flame Resistant and Electric Arc Rated Protective Clothing Worn by Workers Exposed to Flames and Electric Arcs.