TWO HARBORS, Minn. -- Two Harbors-based Granite Gear says that it has been chosen to provide as many as 45,000 high-tech backpacks for U.S. military special operations forces.
Dave Johnson is sales manager with the outdoors gear company. He says he hopes the military contract will jumpstart growth in its tactical line.
The company beat out six other competitors for the contract. It's the first major military job for the company, although it has sold some heavy weather hats and gloves to the military.
The company's Chief Patrol Pack is much more heavy-duty than most packs, fits with or without body armor and has lots of extra loops on which to hang gear.
The pack also holds six liters of water, about double what other hydration packs hold. It's available to the public for $400 at www.bluelinegear.com.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
