NTOA members in various parts of North America field-tested the jackets and rated them on a scale of zero to five in a variety of categories, such as design, quality, durability, cleaning, and comfort. Both jackets received ratings between four (very good) and five (excellent), which the NTOA defines as, "exceeds the advertised specifications on a regular basis and outperforms others in usefulness and quality of workmanship."

One of the NTOA evaluators from Oregon found the GORE-TEX lightweight patrol shell to be ideal as a lightweight duty jacket, stating, "The fit seems just right, not too bulky like some rainwear and not too tight like many of the current designs...well suited for rain as well as any condition." He summarized his assessment by saying, "It is professional in appearance, so a nice option for patrol."

The windproof and water-resistant WINDSTOPPER® patrol soft shell is designed for dry or damp weather in cold to cool temperatures. A Michigan officer who evaluated this shell agreed that it protected in light rain, and he took it one step further, saying, "Where water resistance usually falls down is at the shoulder seams...However, the water just simply beads and runs off."

According to Steve Lampo, Gore's North American product manager for law enforcement duty outerwear, working with the NTOA on product testing is an honor and an excellent opportunity to ensure that the jackets provide the protection and comfort officers expect. "Having NTOA members evaluate our jackets in real-world environments supports one of our core values — fitness for use, which we define as engineering our products to meet or exceed the challenges of a specific application. We are pleased that our first two offerings in this new product line received such outstanding ratings from the NTOA membership."

These jackets are now available directly from Forum Industries, one of Gore's certified manufacturers, at www.forumindustries.com. For more information about GORE® advanced products for law enforcement, visit www.GoreProtectiveFabrics.com/PatrolOfficers, or call 800.431.GORE (4673).