Outdoor Retailer Summer Market is the culmination of all the major outdoor brands showcasing what they have in their development pipeline. And I’m like a kid in a candy store at this show. If you’re into outdoor gear, this is the place to be. It’s an REI hopped up on steroids. Each year, the Loadout […]
Gear
Propper International Range Bag: First Look
When it comes to soft goods that are used in both military and law enforcement there is one name that quickly rises to the top and that is Propper International. Over the past few years we have been fortunate enough to review more than a dozen pieces of gear from the company. The products we’ve […]
Mini Frog Kit – Pirates and Trees
Three Reasons: “Climbers Rope Swings” hung high into the forest trees are incredibly fun I’ve got trees that need some trimming I love Pirating ships What the hell is he talking about? The reason I’ve gotten so “into” everything I did as a SEAL is that, for me, it always related back to my personal life […]
The Classic North Face Duffel
I was leaving Ethiopia and I had a lot of valuable and sensitive stuff to bring back with me. I had a decent suitcase, but it was raining out and I knew those who would be handling my luggage wouldn’t be walking around with an umbrella covering it.  Luckily, my brother-in-law, had a North […]
Hydro Flask – The Tactical “Fonzie” Of Water Bottles
Perhaps the best description of this flask is its ability to get baked in my truck, I mean to the point that the exterior of the bottle is hot to the touch, but still keeps the liquid inside incredibly cool. Like it will kind of trip you out how cool it stays. This flask is […]
Paddle Boards – An Operators Recovery Tool
Many of us who are in or from the heavy impact service professions have been beat up, kicked, dropped or even shot a time or two. Staying active and fit can be a challenge for anyone, especially for those with old battle wounds. If your ability, passion or will to get outside and get active […]
Source Hydration Bladders and Accessories
With so many different hydration reserviours on the market today, we wanted to highlight the work that Source has done to put it a step above the others.  The features that we like are: Widepac Wide Opening Access Patented slide closure for easy draining and cleaning. Cool Weave Cover Tube Insulates and blocks UV-light. Water stays cool […]
Outdoor Retailer 2018 Summer Market | Demo Experience
In January, I visited Denver to attend OR Winter Market. With the shift in seasons comes a new outlook on outdoor gear. 6 months have passed and the skis and snowshoes are stored for the summer. Say hello to SUP boards, tents, kayaks, swim trunks etc. Denver is amidst a dry hot spell with temperatures reaching […]
Armor Protection, Cooling, Warming and Hydration: Qore Performance’s IcePlate Black
The IcePlate is a freezable water bottle designed to fit between any body armor and base layer. It can cool you down or warm you up, hydrate you, and protect you. Built for hard use, IcePlate is over designed for improvised uses. Designed to sit close to your body IcePlate integrates seamlessly with your gear. […]
The GORUCK GR1 Revisited
GORUCK was founded in 2008 by a former Special Forces soldier and their flagship product was the GR1.  Jason McCarthy, the founder and CEO of GORUCK, described the inspiration for the GR1 as a “bag that you could use in Baghdad or New York City, that would be tough enough for Special Forces, but that […]