Gear Reviews

The Kershaw Knives Barstow | First look

The Kershaw Barstow is an excellent example that form can follow function. Sure, we don’t need our gear to look pretty. We just want it to work. If it just so happens to look slick and work you are batting 1,000. The Kershaw Barstow is an interesting little folding knife that aims to stand out […]

Loadout Room tip of the day | Use an Exotac tinderZIP as a knife lanyard

Attaching a lanyard to your favorite pocket knife can add some multi-functionality to an already valuable tool. 550 paracord seems to be the most popular material for lanyards, but you can’t really utilize that for much due to the limited amount you can store in the form of a lanyard. Why not take it to […]

Stanley Master Series | 8oz flask review

There are few things more enjoyable and relaxing as getting out into the outdoors. Camping is obviously one of the best ways to experience this as you are immersing yourself in the wilderness around you. What’s more enjoyable than smoothing it out in the woods? If you ask me, I’d say drinking while you do […]

Tac-Tote Magazine Carrier | Ammunition resupply

When it comes to force protection, defensive, and offensive operations, a solid plan is the foundation that can determine whether a force succeeds or fails in accomplishing their mission. A defensive plan usually incorporates a multitude of topics, but I’m going to be focusing on one topic in particular for this review. Ammunition resupply. Why […]

CamelBak MULE hydration system

After having arrived at 2nd Ranger Battalion I began the process of being issued gear. Not your standard uniforms, those were provided by the CIF facility. Instead the Ranger specific gear: fast-rope gloves, Oakley sunglasses (ballistic with four different lenses), CamelBak, soft armor, ceramic plates, ruck, combat gear (Rhodesian, etc), sleep systems, you get the […]

Spyderco Matriarch 2 | Extreme cutting performance

The Spyderco Matriarch 2 conforms to the idea that your EDC blade should be a tool and your defensive blade should be a weapon. Looking back in the Matriarch’s family tree we see the original Spyderco Civilian, designed for undercover officers who were in a non-permissive environment for defensive firearms. With it’s distinctive reverse-s blade […]

Velocity Systems: Speed, direction and protection

With violence prevalent in the motherland and abroad these days, more people are packing around protective plates. True, the majority of those people are law enforcement officers (LEO’s), active military or are in the contractor world. Many more are civilians preparing for an event they hope never to see in their lifetime. Regardless of profession […]

Brandon Webb’s Afghanistan reconnaissance loadout

Photo: Brandon is top row second from the left next to Navy SEAL Astronaut Chris Cassidy and Navy SEAL Heath Robinson below. London Bridge Rhodesian Chest Rig. The linked version is slightly different from my original. Eight 30 round magazines of 5.56 match (wish I had the Surefire high cap mags) Magnetic Compass Blood Chit Area […]

Sentry Solutions: Knife care and maintenance kit

Being able to maintain your knife is as important as maintaining your firearm for several reasons. You may need to transition to your knife in a defensive situation, so you’ll need to have the confidence that it will deploy when you need it and that it has a serviceable edge. In the field one of […]

Gossamer Gear Twinn Tarp | Stay dry while travelling superlight

The Twinn Tarp by Gossamer Gear is one of the best ultralight tarps I’ve come across in a while. I’ve used a standard sil nylon tarp for a while, but wanted to push into the ultralight arena. The Twinn Tarp weighs a total of 8.5 ounces and packs down super small (smaller than a Nalgene […]