If you don’t wear a suit to work, odds are you wear a pair of boots. Working as a CBP Officer I have some basic requirements when it comes to my foot wear. Despite on my work location (which will change the type of uniform I need to wear), there are some pretty standard footwear […]
Gear Reviews
New and improved Multi-Tool from Gerber: the Suspension NXT
Everyone loves a good multi-tool and Gerber is one of the most well-known and respected companies producing them. One of the challenges for a company like that is to keep innovating and improving their product lines. The new Suspension NXT offers an increase in the number of tools from the original – 15 total – […]
Yeti Camino Caryall 35 | A multi-use gear hauler
Best known for their bombproof Tundra coolers and soft-sided Hopppers, Yeti is continuing to innovate outside their box. The Yeti Camino 35 is one such product. Like all of the products that roll off the production line, the Camino 35 is yet another over-engineered and well thought out item. Made from the same “Thickskin” material […]
Massif Advanced Quarter Zip Combat Shirt
I’ve previously covered the importance of FR (flame resistant) clothing in hazardous environments. The protection provided is paramount, and to date has saved countless lives on the battlefield. Massif is a continuous industry leader in the field of FR clothing for soldiers, independent contractors, LE, and wildland firefighters. The evolution of the combat shirt has been […]
Survival Food and Prepping: Living off the Land is Harder Than it Looks
You often hear people say that if the SHTF that they will simply “live off the land”. I am here to tell you that it is harder than it looks, especially if you have more than just yourself to feed. I had the opportunity to test my skills on the TV show “Alone” on the […]
Altra Lone Peak Trail Running Shoes | Quick Look
In my quest for ultralight hiking, fastpacking and trail running gear I’ve comes across the Altra Lone Peak running shoes. These shoes were designed from the ground up for trail running and the ultra runner. With a weight of only 9.7 ounces you could wear this shoe all day long on the trail without much […]
Wilderness Survival | Finding Shelter
In a survival situation whatever you have on you is all you have. Improvisation is key to ensure your survival in many cases. You need to first determine a need. During a phase of training I had little cover from the sun and would likely expire from heat exhaustion unless I got a shelter erected […]
Darn Tough Wool Socks | Uncompromised durability and fit
Darn Tough Wool Socks. Uncompromised durability and fit. I’ve been through several brands of wool socks in the past years, but just recently got my hands on a few pairs of Darn Tough socks, 3 to be exact for testing. I went with 3 pairs from their Hike/Trek line since that is what I plan […]
My alternative knife concealment method
I often find myself in countries where I either cannot obtain a handgun or I am not permitted to carry one outside of a military capacity. The alternative to this is a concealed knife, preferably a fixed blade but on occasion a folding knife. A knife can be procured almost anywhere and while not a force multiplier in the way a firearm […]
5 methods to purify water from a survival instructor
During some training in the military I was sent on a second solo evasion living exercise because I did terrible at my first one. The weather wasn’t terrible and I mostly had sun. The temperature dropped well below freezing at night but I was allowed to have a fire. Life was quite peaceful and I […]