The Loadout Room
Professional Gear Reviews
Let’s keep the record straight once and for all: Flashbangs are produced for military and law enforcement purposes, and civilians are therefore not allowed to own one in the United States without a special license. Too bad because they’re pretty cool with their disorienting effects on enemies— temporary blindness and deafness. What if I tell […]
Who hates grenade launchers? Seriously, grenades are awesome, and the ability to fire grenades several hundred yards is awesomer, or is it more awesome? I don’t know, but damn do I appreciate a grenade launcher. In Afghanistan, in every firefight I was in, there were two weapons that made a considerable difference: machine guns and […]
Plate carriers are among the most fiercely debated pieces of kit on the market today and it’s easy to see why. With so many options and prices that can range from thirty bucks to three hundred, just about everybody has an opinion on what you need for your purposes. Like most things, it’s been my […]
5.11 Tactical made big waves this year with the introduction of the new Hex Grid system they are using for packs, bags, and plate carriers. Needless to say, the idea of being able to mount gear at a variety of angles spoke to me. Upon seeing the All Missions Plate Carrier I knew I had […]
I’ll admit it. I have a bag problem.  In my garage, there is an entire storage shelf where I keep my wide assortment of shoulder bags, rucks, backpacks, duffels… you name it. There are many categories and I have at least one entry from each. Although I have a wide variety of them, my favorite […]
There are quite a few GPS devices out there and several companies who make good ones. However good is subjective and dependent upon what you need it for. When it comes to a GPS unit I need something that is lightweight. More so than that I need something that conserves battery power and can give […]
Not all bulletproof backpack inserts are the same. Here’s a rundown of what you need to know when it comes to ballistic backpack inserts. Are you looking for a bulletproof backpack insert? Whether you landed here because you’ve seen them in the news or you just decided to look for new ways to protect yourself […]
When it comes to duty belts, concealed carry belts, or gun belts in general, there are a number of manufacturers out there with products I can recommend whole-heartedly. I mean, let’s be honest, the things that make for a good quality pistol belt aren’t elusive: the material of the belt needs to be stiff enough […]
In a perfect world, we wouldn’t have to be discussing ballistic protection that you can slip into your backpack, but being prepared means taking the world as it is, not as we’d prefer it to be. In this era of active shooters and mass casualty events, more and more of us are looking for some […]
In early 2010 when I first joined the military the Oakley SI assault glove was the go-to glove for any hard use activities. Over time new players have come to the game offering their own take on a hard use glove. When Magpul Core announced their Breach glove I was immediately interested. It had many of the aesthetic qualities […]