Rick Dembroski

Rick Dembroski I spent 10 of the best years of my life as a USAF Civil Engineer, traveling the globe, drinking beer, and causing chaos. My superiors dubbed me "King of Useless Knowledge" a title that I still love to this day. I separated in 2002 as a SSgt (E5- in the USAF), and chose to stay in the frozen north of Alaska, currently I work as an Emergency Management Specialist where I combine my love of chaos and preparedness to ensure people know how to survive disasters.

The Woodsman’s Pal | A Multi-Functional Survival Tool

This week, we launch into our first tools-of-prepping review. This one is an American classic, a tool I own and love: The Woodsman’s Pal—or as it was known to World War II aircrews in the Pacific theater, the LC-14-B /Type IV Survival Axe , NSN 8465-973-4807. The United States military used this handy tool as a standard-issue survival axe […]

Princeton Tec Sync Headlamp: First Impressions

Winner of Backpacker magazine’s 2015 Editors’ Choice Award, the Princeton Tec Sync headlamp is reliable, easy to use, and easy on your wallet.

Are Trekking Poles the Answer?

In this review of the Leki Cristallo Trekking Poles, Rick discusses his recent use of trekking poles and how they may save your back and knees.

Zero Tolerance 0180 Knife

Today we will introduce you to the Zero Tolerance knife company’s line of fixed blade knives.

Sea to Summit X11 Camp Set

Here at The Loadout Room you may have noticed a theme among our writing staff, we like to push our boundaries beyond what other people might consider normal. On these excursions, we love to test the limits of the equipment we get to demo and tell you about it. One major reoccurring concern we have […]

GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist Camp Set

It’s never too early to start planning for next years excursions. The problem that many of us face when planning our trips, loading up our backpacks and vehicles, is what style of cookware do we take with us, and what kind to leave at home. In my trip planning, I am fortunate to only have […]

Microtech Crosshair Combat Knife

I’m not a complicated man when it comes to tools that I want. I want a tool that is built by Americans, that is robust, and that I don’t ever have to worry about breaking or falling short of my expectations. If it does fall short, I want it repaired or replaced. The Microtech Crosshair is that […]

Mountainsmith Endeavor Camera Bag

Photographers have been known to be extremely critical and picky when it comes to bags and packs to haul their gear. It doesn’t really matter if the photographer is a working professional or an amateur, we all have wants, needs, and pet peeves when it comes to camera equipment. Most of us just want a […]

G-Code OSH Kydex Holster

When I was searching for a holster for my daily concealed carry weapon(CCW) weapon, I looked at a lot of them—Uncle Mikes, Fobus, DeSantis, Safariland, just to name a few—before choosing the G-Code OSH made by Edgeworks Manufacturing of Jackson, North Carolina. Honestly, what made me first realize this company even existed was Travis Haley […]

Range Bag Tools: MagLuLa Loader

For virtually every model of modern firearm magazines on the market today, the MagLuLa Loader keeps things simple, efficient, and clean for long days at the range.