Soldiers to test new jungle boot with booby trap protections
WASHINGTON — U.S. soldiers in Hawaii will soon test Rocky Brands’ newest jungle boot, a model that company officials say is more comfortable and provides better protection against booby traps.
Students in the Army’s jungle school will begin wearing Rocky’s Enhanced Jungle Boot in January, said Mark Dean, Rocky’s vice president for commercial military.
It’s the latest test for the Army, which is hoping to select a new jungle boot as it increases its presence in the Pacific. At present, soldiers wear “hot weather” Army combat boots in jungle environments, boots that were phased in to replace Vietnam-era jungle footwear. Officials believe that hot-weather boots breathe better than other Army boots but do not dry or drain as quickly as they require.
Rocky’s Enhanced Jungle Boot is an upgrade to its S2V jungle boot, which soldiers have already tested in the field. Rocky’s latest boot design is based directly on soldier feedback.
New features include:- A layer of protection against Punji sticks in the jungle. Soldiers in Vietnam used a steel plate in their boot to protect against these sharp traps. The Army wanted similar protection for its new jungle boot, said Kevin Carpenter, Rocky Military’s manager of sales and marketing, and the company has added a propriety material that is lightweight and puncture resistant.
- A brand new outsole with a heel. The S2V featured a flat outsole, but soldiers specifically wanted a heel in order to more easily travel steep pitch and navigate the wet, muddy environment. The new outsole also includes a larger lug pattern, angled lugs and a wider toe grip. The lugs are designed to be flexible, so soldiers can shed caked-in mud and debris.
- Faster, lighter, flame-resistant laces. The S2V version had thicker laces, Carpenter said, that required two or three pulls for a soldier to tighten. The new version can tighten with one pull. The new laces also reduced the weight of the boot by less than an ounce. It may not sound like much, but every ounce matters when you’re trying to lighten the load, Carpenter said. Each boot weighs less than 1.5 pounds.
- A new overlay pattern. The leather on the outside of the boot has been redesigned for added comfort.
Dean said the Army has ordered 300 pairs of the Enhanced Jungle Boot...
Article written by Tony Lombardo taken from Army Times. Read the article in it's original publication here.Hagan to celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation week with Freightliner Trucks Funny Car
BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 16, 2014) - Matt Hagan has many different roles in his life. He's a husband, father, farmer, businessman and a racer. This weekend during the NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex near Dallas, Matt will use his role as a racer to thank truck drivers during the National Truck Driver Appreciation week.
The American Trucking Association notes that National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, September 14-20, is when America takes the time to honor all professional truck drivers for their hard work and commitment in tackling one of our economy's most demanding and important jobs.
Matt will pilot the Freightliner Trucks Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car this weekend with the names of more than 100 truck drivers adorning the matte-black body.
"Freightliner Trucks saw its existing partnership with Don Schumacher Racing and Matt Hagan as a way to thank truck drivers during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week," said Stacey Premo, motorsports marketing manager for Freightliner Trucks. "By adding the names of more than 100 truck drivers to Matt's Funny Car this week, we are recognizing these hard-working professionals in a whole new way."
Matt, who owns a cattle ranch in Virginia, has a special appreciation for the more than three million men and women who drive trucks.
"Personally, having Freightliner on board especially during Trucker Appreciation week is huge. I'm a farmer and rely on truck drivers to transport the cattle I buy and sell, the feed, the supplies, everything.
"I truly appreciate the men and women who make their lives out on the road and I hope to put this Freightliner Funny Car in the winner's circle for all of them. There isn't a better banner to fly than Freightliner when it comes to trucking.
"I rely on Freightliner to get my guys and this race car to each NHRA event. Freightliner Trucks is North America's leading manufacturer of medium-duty, heavy-duty and specialized trucks."
The NHRA FallNationals has an added importance this weekend after Sunday's NHRA Carolina Nationals were postponed until Saturday at the Ennis facility. Matt and the team led by Dickie Venables enjoyed an opening round win over Tony Pedregon before the event was postponed by NHRA officials due to rain.
The second round of the event will be completed on Saturday during the third qualifying session which begins at noon (CT). Hagan and team will sport the Rocky Boots colors on Saturday for the completion of the fall Charlotte race before returning to the Freightliner body on Sunday's Dallas eliminations.
"It was really unfortunate that we couldn't get the Charlotte event in on Sunday but now we move on to Dallas and we'll race on Saturday for the Charlotte win and go after the Dallas win on Sunday.
"The Dallas event is essentially a double-header now and we're fighting for that championship. Now we not only need to do well on Sunday but we need to get those win lights on Saturday too."
The Freightliner Trucks Funny Car has qualified in the top-five positions in six of the last seven NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events.
"We have had a good car in qualifying lately and that gives us confidence heading into this weekend. It's supposed to be hot but I know Dickie and the boys will have a game plan and we'll be ready to go after two Wally's in one weekend."
ABOUT FREIGHTLINER
Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets Class 4-8 trucks and is a Daimler company, the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.
About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., fields seven professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel world champion Matco Tools dragster driven by Antron Brown, the U.S. Army dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher and the Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher dragster driven by Spencer Massey; and in Funny Car, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Valvoline/MTS Mail for Wounded Warriors Dodge Charger R/T, 2011 world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge, the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge of Ron Capps and the Make-A-Wish Dodge driven by Tommy Johnson Jr.
DSR has won 232 NHRA national event titles and 11 world championships.
Follow Don Schumacher Racing at ShoeRacing.com, on Twitter at @shoeracing and Facebook.com/shoeracing.
12/4/2013
Rocky Partners with Ohio National Guard Association for 2014
NELSONVILLE, Ohio – Rocky, a Nelsonville-based manufacturer of commercial military footwear, will partner with the Ohio National Guard Association (ONGA) in 2014 to build awareness for prospective members, recruiting support and event sponsorship.
"I am extremely pleased by Rocky Boots' commitment to establishing a long-term, strategic partnership with the Ohio National Guard Association,” said Major Robert Paley, Association President. “They are a local, Ohio-based company that has gone international, and their incredible range of products makes them a natural fit for the Soldiers, Airmen, and families of our association."
Rocky will work to increase awareness among prospective members during the ONGA 2014 membership drive as well as sponsor aspects of the organization’s annual state conference. Both parties expect to grow the relationship throughout the year and into the following years.
“Rocky is proud supporter of the U.S. military and we are always looking to further support those within our region,” said Kevin Carpenter, Brand Manager for Rocky’s Military Division and a US Army Veteran. “Our company prides itself on producing cutting-edge products to suit specific needs for members of the Ohio National Guard Association.”
Founded in 1932, ROCKY manufactures and markets rugged outdoor, military, duty, work and western footwear apparel and accessories. The company’s products are available in nearly 3,000 retail and catalog outlets. It is a division of Rocky Brands, a publicly traded company on NASDAQ® under the symbol: RCKY. More information can be found at www.rockyboots.com.
6/2/2013
Hagan, Magneti Marelli team earn second win of 2013, take NHRA Funny Car points lead at Summernationals
ENGLISHTOWN, N.J. (June 2, 2013) - Matt Hagan did it all this weekend at the NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park at Englishtown, N.J.
On Friday's second qualifying session, crew chief Dickie Venables tuned the Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar/Rocky Boots Funny Car to a 4.050-second lap at 315 mph to take the No. 1 qualifier spot.
On Sunday, Hagan took over the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Funny Car points lead en route to victory on the hottest weekend of the season and ousted two of his Don Schumacher Racing teammates in the process.
Hagan won his second event title and second pole of the season.
In the second round, Hagan earned the holeshot win over teammate Johnny Gray, who had won the previous two NHRA event titles and leads the Funny Car category with three titles in nine events this season.
"The matchup with Johnny, that's pressure," Hagan said. "He was the points leader, won three races this season. It's been a big battle between me, Johnny and Cruz (Pedregon). It's just a dogfight out here. It felt like someone handed me the ball and we got to slam dunk it."
In the final round, Hagan was paired with DSR's defending NHRA world champion Jack Beckman, who reached the final round for the first time this season. Crew chief Dickie Venables and assistant Michael Knudsen produced a time of 4.112 seconds at 308.00 mph to edge past Beckman's time of 4.182 at 303.98.
"Even though Johnny and Jack are teammates you get to poke them in the chest a little bit. It's bragging rights. They have the same stuff we do. Dickie is the kind of guy to step up and not be afraid to be too aggressive."
The team has been consistent despite not having a test session to date. Venables joined DSR just weeks before the season opener in Pomona, Calif., and hasn't missed a beat.
"Dickie Venables puts a car underneath me that's just phenomenal," Hagan said. "When you can have a team of this caliber that does everything right, makes the right calls on the racetrack it just makes my job that much easier. I just kind of sit back and grin and hold onto the steering wheel."
Hagan is also enjoying watching his team members grow in the sport.
"We have a young assistant crew chief," Hagan said of Knudsen. "It's the first time he's stepped up and been in that position. He's up there making calls on the racetrack, where to line up, how much grip there is, clutch weight, that kind of stuff. For Newt (Knudsen) to do that, I'm really, really proud of that guy."
It was fourth time in nine events that the Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar/Rocky Boots team reached a championship round.
"That's our fourth final of the season and it's still a young season. All of these guys didn't know if they'd have jobs this year. They toughed it out. To come back and be this strong blows me away. It's just an awesome feeling to see those win lights turn on every time. It's something that you can't buy out here."
The following are Hagan's results from the Summernationals:
FUNNY CARMatt Hagan, Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger R/TQualifying position: No. 1CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATIONS:
FRIDAY QUALIFYING
SATURDAY QUALIFYING
NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES (Unofficial standings through nine of 24 events; DSR drivers in CAPS)FUNNY CAR
NEXT EVENT: June 14-16, Thunder Valley NHRA Nationals, Bristol, Tenn. About Don Schumacher Racing
Don Schumacher Racing, headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., starts 2013 with seven professional NHRA teams. In Top Fuel, the 2012 NHRA Top Fuel world champion Matco Tools dragster driven by Antron Brown and the U.S. Army dragster driven by seven-time world champion Tony Schumacher and the Battery Extender Powered by Schumacher dragster driven by Spencer Massey; and in Funny Car, 2012 NHRA world champion Jack Beckman in the Valvoline/MTS Mail for Wounded Warriors Dodge Charger R/T, 2011 world champion Matt Hagan in the Mopar/Rocky Dodge, the NAPA Filters of Ron Capps and the Pitch Energy Dodge of Johnny Gray.
DSR has won 207 NHRA national event titles and 11 world championships.
6/5/2013
Rocky Introduces Barnstormer Collection For Equestrian Lifestyle
ROCKY is expanding its western collection of footwear with the exciting introduction of new equestrian footwear, the Barnstormer, for spring 2012.
“We expect the Barnstormer to perform well because of its versatility in the equestrian and western markets,” said Bonnie Bleile, marketing manager for ROCKY. “This collection of shoes and boots is comfortable, durable, fashionable and available in a style that will meet any need.”
Constructed with a heel for riding and an outsole that stands up to muck and mud, the Barnstormer was designed for the equestrian lifestyle, although the full-grain leather and waxed canvas details make an easy transition outside the of barn. All styles feature ROCKY waterproof construction, while some have a molded TPU vamp, making them easy to clean.
Women’s styles include fashion-forward 11” and 14” pull-ons,a 9” pull-on and lace-up hiker styles. Men’s styles include an easy-on camp moccasin, lace-up hikers and 10” pull-ons. The hiker and shorter pull-ons are also available with a vamp shell for easy cleaning.
All styles are constructed with moisture-wicking mesh lining, as well as outsole and footbed features that are lightweight,supportive and comfortable.
Men’s styles have suggested retail prices from $129.99 to $169.99 while women’s styles range from $129.99 to$199.99.
Founded in 1932, ROCKY manufactures and markets rugged outdoor, military,duty, work and western footwear, apparel and accessories. The company’s products are available in nearly 3,000 retail and catalog outlets. It is a division of RockyBrands, a publicly traded company on NASDAQ under the symbol: RCKY.
6/7/2013
Rocky Athletic Mobility: A New Generation Of Duty Footwear
ROCKY is bringing the versatility and flexibility of its popular military boots to its Duty line with the introduction of Rocky Athletic Mobility, an innovative approach to footwear that offers various levels of protection for different work conditions.
"The inspiration for the Rocky Athletic Mobility footwear came from the versatility of our military boots," said Bonnie Bleile, marketing manager for ROCKY. "This collection gives the consumer different levels of protection while maintaining the top-notch durability and performance expected of ROCKY boots."
The Level Two (L2) boots are constructed with high quality, polishable black leather, waterproof GORE-TEX® fabric and a lightweight rubber outsole. This style is available in a laceup boot with an optional side zipper for easy on/off. L2 styles have suggested retail prices ranging from $119.99 to $129.99.
Level Three (L3) is constructed with the same high quality black leather and 900 denier high-abrasion nylon for the ultimate protection. It also features waterproof GORETEX ® fabric, 400 grams of PrimaLoft® ECO FOOTWEAR insulation and a lightweight rubber outsole. L3 is available in a front-zip style, as well as a hidden lace system with a side-zip. The L3 styles retail for $139.99 and $149.99
Founded in 1932, ROCKY manufactures and markets rugged outdoor, military, duty, work and western footwear,apparel and accessories. The company’s products are available in nearly 3,000 retail and catalog outlets. It is a division of Rocky Brands, a publicly traded company on NASDAQ® under the symbol: RCKY.
11/19/2012
Helping the Community One Can at a Time
With the Holiday season quickly approaching, Rocky wanted to participate in an activity that would benefit the community and surrounding areas of Nelsonville, Ohio. Food banks have been having an especially hard time keeping food on their shelves to offer to those in need. Due to these dire circumstances, Rocky employees decided to join together to collect non-perishable food items to donate to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Food Center.
For three weeks, the company as a whole diligently brought in food items to donate. Together, over 2,000 food items were collected to help the underprivileged! Through our efforts, we hope that during this Holiday season and the cold winter months that lie ahead, more people in our community will have full stomachs and happy hearts!
6/3/2012
ROCKY Takes Home PLUS Award!
"WORK: ROCKY The hard work that led to Rocky's 2010 Plus Award in the Work category began more than two years ago with a commitment to develop a more collaborative process for making the best possible work boots. David Sharp, president of Rocky Brands, says everyone was included in the process from start to finish, which involved members from marketing, sales, design and sourcing. While such a team effort may seem logical, Sharp says it's not a common industry practice and it wasn't easy to get everyone on the same page at first. "We even held team-building exercises that demonstrated how a collective decision is much better than working individually." Sharp offers.
Two years later, the team effort is paying enormous dividends: Work boot sales increased by 34 percent in 2010 - not bad considering the overall work boot market shrank in size thanks to a brutal recession leaving many construction workers in the unemployment line. "We wanted to get closer to the consumer," Sharp says, noting the brand conducted more focus groups. "It has resulted in a much better percentage of styles being selected by the consumer as opposed to two or three years ago." Sharp adds that improvement is noticeable at a distance: "At 15 to 20 feet away from a shoe wall, Rocky product now stands out. Even the logos are in the right, consistent places, which increases our brand identity. There is a brand DNA now that is now pretty strong."
Specifically in 2010, Sharp says Rocky scored a couple of home runs. Boots featuring the brand's Net-Fit welt construction resonated with consumers seeking comfort, value and durability. The boots are backed by six-month outsole and 60-day comfort guarantees. "Basically we are putting our money where our mouth is," Sharp says. Along those lines, Sharp says the brand's Hi-Vis collection (designed especially for road crews and EMS employees) was another big success. The brand's exclusive reflective leather addresses a worthy need: increased visibility of workers where such improvement can be the difference between life and death.
Sharp describes Rocky's new approach to its work boots' design as more purposeful. "We actually had more employees working on our designs, but actually making fewer shoes - better," he says. It's a logical approach, considering the importance footwear plays in a tradesman's job. "Boots are on the same level of importance as their tools," he adds. "They have to be really comfortable and hold up to whatever the conditions."-G.D. Original article in Footwear Plus Magazine
6/3/2013
Matt Hagan: Winner At NHRA Four-Wide Nationals
Matt Hagan ended a 17-month winless drought by racing to the Funny Car victory Sunday at the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals fueled by Full Throttle at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C.
Spencer Massey (Top Fuel) and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) also were winners of the only NHRA Mello Yello Series Drag Racing event that featured competition in four lanes simultaneously.
Hagan, a Southwest Virginia cattle rancher, powered his Magneti Marelli/Rocky Boots Dodge Charger to the final round win over fellow Virginian Blake Alexander, veteran driver Tim Wilkerson, and rookie Chad Head to take his sixth career victory. Hagan covered the distance in 4.071 seconds at 315.34 mph and finished in front of Alexander's Auto Service Plus Charger, which ran 4.156 at 294.56 in his first ever runner-up finish. Wilkerson and event top qualifier Head both lost traction in their machines early in the four-wide final.
“This was a big win for us,” Hagan said. “It's been a year since we won, or longer; I don't know. It's been too long, and that feeling is just great to have back."
Hagan moved through eliminations as the quickest in each of his first two rounds and it was a great turnaround at this track for the 2011 world champ who has endured several spectacular explosions here in the past.
“We finally put some gremlins to rest here at the racetrack at zMAX,” Hagan said. “I love this track. It's home for me, three hours away from home. It's one of those deals where it's a great track. Bruton Smith does a great job with it, and it's a fast facility. Our car just ran phenomenal in lane two all day long, and that says a lot for [crew chief] Dickie Venables. He's kind of been passed over and looked over the past couple of years as a crew chief. It's one of those deals where he's got two rings on his fingers, and he just hadn't found a home yet. Don Schumacher gave him an opportunity to go out here and do his own thing. The guy came in and is doing his own thing, and he's taking notes home and doing what he's supposed to be doing, and that drives me to do what I'm supposed to do and step up to the plate.”
With the victory, Hagan moved into the series lead, 50 ahead of second place Cruz Pedregon. It is the first time Hagan has led the points since winning the 2011 world championship title.
“We took over the points lead, but it's too early to start counting that stuff,” Hagan said. “But anybody who tells you they don't count it is foolish; everybody's counting points.”
In Top Fuel, Massey earned his first victory in nearly a year and won his second consecutive title at this event by holding off Tony Schumacher at the finish line. Top qualifier Shawn Langdon and Brandon Bernstein finished third and fourth. Massey's Schumacher Electric dragster led all the way with a 3.771 at 325.45, while Schumacher was just behind in his U.S. Army dragster, finishing in 3.778 at 320.81.
“The last two years we've taken home the Wally, but if you think about it, [crew chiefs] Todd [Okuhara] and Phil [Shuler] have had an awesome car and an awesome team for a number of years,” said Massey, also the winner of his first two rounds. “Back when Cory McClenathan drove that FRAM car, Cory owned this racetrack. The first four wide was won by my crew, so it bleeds over from the old team, which is my team now. Whenever there's a racetrack that you do well at, you just seem to do well at it. It doesn't seem to make sense, but you just seem to do well. When you have confidence, it really seems to help, and when I roll up here, I know that we can win. We've won here before, so we just get out there and do what we know how to do and have fun.”
With his 11th career victory, Massey moves up to third in the points standings, trailing leader Schumacher and second place Antron Brown.
Pro Stock top qualifier Edwards led wire-to-wire to also put an end to a mini-slump, powering his I Am Second Chevy Camaro to a 6.495 at 213.67. Erica Enders-Stevens finished second in her GK Motorsports Camaro with a 6.521 at 211.76, while Greg Anderson and Shane Gray were third and fourth in their respective Camaros.
It is the 35th career victory for Edwards, who opened up an 84-point lead on defending world champ Allen Johnson in the series standings. The Oklahoma native picked up an additional 20 points during the weekend for setting the national elapsed time record at 6.471 seconds during qualifying.
“It does feel satisfying to close the deal,” said Edwards, who finished first in each of the first two rounds of eliminations. “We've had numerous opportunities, and anytime you can run really good and win, it's a phenomenal day. We ran good but we were really conservative. I've been shooting myself in the foot, but today, I thought if we get beat it's not going to be because we squared the tires up and not because of the lame-brained driver we have. I'm off to a better start than my championship season. Our team is coming together, and it's a long season, but another [title] would be great.”
Story Written and Published By: AutoWeek.com http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130421/NHRA/130429965