Long before I was a member of the team here at SOFREP, I was a Crate Club member. I love gear. I love outdoorsy gear, shooting gear, fitness gear, and all the fun extras that our team puts together for our members.
You’ve heard from the guys. Now it’s time to get the female perspective.
This month’s Crate Club Pro Crate has some pretty great items. Most of them are for self-defense. Some of them are for self-indulgence. My husband pilfered the self-indulgence items: a deck of Bond girl style, pinup playing cards and a badass .50 cal Bottle Breacher. He usually procures at least one thing out of my crate before I open it. More reason to buy Crate Club for the men in your life. They will always find something that they want.
Anyone can use the self-defense items, but as a woman, I am particularly happy with the loot this go around. I recently developed a problem with a stalker and I take my self-defense pretty seriously. I can’t always carry a firearm and even a knife can be problematic when pocket space is at a premium, so I am always on the hunt for quality tools I can use in less weapons-friendly environments.
First up, the Tactikey. A pretty basic concept really. A smart little lightweight cover for your house-key that makes it easier to hold between your knuckles and turn into a weapon. My dad told me early on to use my keys as a weapon if nothing else was available and the Tactikey helps make that plan slightly more ergonomic. It’s not as easy as it should or could be because I have entirely too much junk on my keychain that gets in the way. But in a pinch, this is nice to have and it fits well in my hands.
Pros: Lightweight and takes up no extra space.
Cons: Currently compatible with Kwikset keys only
Second up, and one of my favorites is the custom Crate Club Tactical Pen. It’s not only a real pen, but it also has a tungsten tip that can pierce thin metal and break glass, or flesh. I am a mom and a writer, so I always need something to write with. This just happens to be a writing instrument of death if I need it to be. Ok, maybe not death, but certainly something to inflict serious damage in close quarters until I can remove myself from the danger or acquire a bigger, deadlier weapon. If you’ve seen “Casino” or “John Wick,” then you know a pen can be as mighty as a sword when it meets the jugular or the inner thigh. Ladies, this fits nicely in a small purse or on a lanyard and I plan to have it with me at all times.
Pros: Discreet and Deadly
Cons: Close range only
And finally the custom Crate Club Neck Knife. This little baby is meant to be an ace up your sleeve, error your shirt, in violent situations. It’s a great knife and can do some serious damage at close range. The only problem is that it was designed to simply reach up your shirt, grip the handle and rip the blade from its sheath. Simple instructions, if you’re a guy. Not so much if your girls get in the way.
What I discovered is that if I was wearing a regular bra, the knife laid nicely in between the girls, making the instructions easy enough to follow. I could, in a dangerous situation just reach up my shirt and surprise a would-be attacker with a blade they never saw coming. But if you’re wearing a sports bra, this is not quite as easy. The knife ends up lying on top of the “uniboob” we girls are familiar with and making it bounce, which completely ruins the point of concealment. Or it gets stuck underneath the elastic band, making it impossible to grab quickly. I tried pulling the knife all the way through the bottom of the band so it settled just underneath and this solved the problem when standing. But bend over and you’re one sheath mishap away from gutting yourself. The key here ladies is in the clothing layers!
This is now a standard every day carry item in places I know I won’t be going through a metal detector or other security screenings. Stalker Beware!
Pros: A lot of deadly surprise in a small concealable package
Cons: Needs some slight modifications in how you wear it to account for lady parts
All in all, a great close-range set of self-defense tools that can easily fit into your EDC plan. Fellas, feel free to order an extra crate for the woman in your life. And ladies, sign up for yourself and share the goodies with your guy. Why? Because that’s what she said!
*Originally published on SOFREP