Mens Clothing & Accessories

5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt, SWAT Tested and Approved

The 5.11 Tactical Expedition Shirt is a solid buy. Designed for the tactical professional, 5.11 has a knack for creating attractive clothing with all the bells and whistles. This shirt has them all, dual chest pockets, bartacking at key stress points, shoulder pen pockets, and an overall tough and sturdy construction. All that sounds good, but I put this piece of clothing to the test. Check out the video to see how the Expedition long sleeve shirt performed… and to find out what bartacking means.

Author – Matt Walker is a Texas Law Enforcement Officer of 10 years and serves as a SWAT Officer for his department. He is also the head defensive tactics instructor and holds various instructor certificates such as Krav Maga Force Division Instructor, FBI Defensive Tactics Instructor, Tactical Breaching Instructor and various others. Mr. Walker holds and undefeated Mixed Martial Arts record and is a practitioner of Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Olympic weightlifting.

The 5.11 Defender Flex Jeans

“Oh, I get it now.” was the first thing I thought as I put on the Defender Flex jeans from 5.11. I’m a pretty frugal guy when it comes to clothes. It can be hard for me to justify spending 70 bucks on a single pair of jeans. That all went to the wayside as I slid the Defender Flex jeans on. They are so damn comfortable.

The Defender Flex Jeans aren’t your Mom’s Jeans. These are purpose-built tactical pants that offer you the casual, low profile jeans look. On the outside they are just good looking jeans, when you start wearing them you see the potential. Outside of looking good and being comfortable they are ultra flexible.

They allow tons of movement that jeans often restrict. Running, jumping, taking a knee, or getting in those odd behind cover positions are easy. You never feel the pants restrict you, or make you feel like they’re about to rip. The price made more and more sense as I continued to wear them.

The Defender Flex Jeans in Action

These have quickly become my favorite jeans and I’ve worn them for about a month now. This is the straight cut, but a slim fit is also offered. They feature you traditional five pocket cut, as well as a hip pocket on either side that’s low profile and easy to miss.

This extra pocket just happens to be the perfect size to keep a AR 15 magazine in place. The pockets are cut low enough to easily draw the mag, but high enough to keep it secure. You could squeeze in an E&E kit, a tourniquet or two, or a decently sized flashlight. The pockets are easy to reach and concealed easily under the right shirt.

The flexibility of the pants in the biggest draw to me. I love being able to move freely, and dip, dive, dodge, and duck without feeling restricted. The flex also allows for a comfortable IWB carry of your choice of firearm, large and small. The waist gives just enough to be comfortable but is tight enough to keep your IWB gun secure.

If you prefer a low profile Loadout then the Defender Flex jeans are for you. If you want a stylish, comfortable pair of pants you can work in then the Defender Flex jeans are also for you. I’m not really sure I can go back to my big box store jeans after sliding into these bad boys.

Chums Surfshorts Wallet: The perfect front pocket wallet for an active lifestyle?

The Surfshorts Wallet by Chums is a great option if you’re looking for a minimalist wallet. For me, this wallet fits my minimalist lifestyle almost perfectly. I’ve carried larger wallets in the past, but rarely found myself using half of what was inside it, so over the past year I have tried several smaller low profile wallets in search of one that can hold what I need, yet still be functional.

After some trial and error, I ended up going with the Surfshorts Wallet made by Chums. Chums offers a few other wallet styles, but this one caught my eye. The wallet is made of rip-stop nylon. This type of nylon, if snagged on something, with not rip apart. The rip-stop nylon (if you look closely) looks like a small square pattern woven into the material. This prevents any small rips, tears, or holes from running the length of the material.

There are also two pockets that are secured via zipper closures. On one side of the wallet, there is an ID window ideal for your drivers’ license or any other form of identification. The two zipper pockets are perfect for the few cards I carry, a little cash, and business cards. These also keep everything secure so if you do drop your wallet or it falls out of your pocket you’re not scrambling to pick everything up.

All in all, I am really liking this wallet. At a price point of $10, I may pick up a few just to have on hand in case the one I’m using ever wears out.

<br />

Specs (courtesy of chums.com)

The perfect stash wallet with disappearing key ring
Durable rip-stop nylon
Two zip pockets for cards and cash
All in one compact size fits small pockets
Outside ID window
Dimensions: 4.5″ x 3″

Magpul DAKA Everyday Wallet: Keep the essentials, ditch the rest

I ditched my oversized wallet years ago and have never looked back. At first, I faced the slight panic of letting go of the 2-inch stack of junk I had accumulated in my old wallet, but as time went on I realized I didn’t miss it as much as I thought I would. Slim wallets are the only way to go, in my humble opinion. Keep the essentials, ditch the rest.

<br />

The Magpul DAKA Everyday Wallet is a great option for a great price. It is constructed of a reinforced polymer fabric that is flexible and strong. It is coated with an anti-slip texture that ensures you can easily retain it. The wallet holds up to 7 cards comfortably and features an ID pocket on the front with a transparent window to display your driver’s license, business card, or library card. The edges of the wallet are made using a welding process of the materials, so there is no chance of it separating under normal to heavy use.

Magpul DAKA Everyday Wallet: Keep the essentials, ditch the rest

The divider pocket in the center for bills and other items is easily accessible and functional, unlike some wallets that don’t flex enough for your fingers to be able to catch what you are trying to retrieve. No chance for wallet-hoarding or the uncomfortable experience of sitting on a wallet with too much stuff in it. This wallet is no-frills, discrete, and EDC approved. The only thing missing is RFID blocking capability. If you are interested in picking one up, head over to the Magpul website and choose between four colors – black, FDE, stealth gray, and olive drab green. MSRP is $24.95.

ADVERTISED FEATURES:

Windowed ID pocket
Center divider pocket for bills and notes
10% larger than the Magpul DAKA Essential Wallet and holds 3-7 cards comfortably
Slim profile eliminates printing
Suitable for EDC and travel
Welded construction creates permanent impenetrable seals
Chemical resistant / Non-hygroscopic
Dimensions: 4.2” x 2.84”
Made in the USA

BluShark NATO straps: Step up your watch game

Before you expand your collection of wristwatches, you should widen your collection of watch straps. Often times, the experience of adorning a new watch strap equates to the experience of buying a new watch. There are plenty of different strap options available: leather, stainless steel, nylon, rubber, suede, cloth, etc. My particular favorite type of strap is the NATO.

The NATO strap was first used exclusively by the British military but has since found its way into every watch enthusiast’s collection. NATO straps are light, tough, comfortable, and available in a myriad of different styles for any occasion, from the field to a black tie affair.

Purchasing a NATO strap from a watch boutique can run you upwards of $160 but you can find the same quality watch straps from companies like BluShark for significantly less. I’ve had the opportunity to sample a variety of their different straps and have bought plenty of them myself. Listed below are all of BluShark’s NATO straps currently available and my review for each of them.

Original BluShark Strap

Soft, but durable nylon
Sealed rectangular holes
1.2 mm thick
MSRP: $18

As the name implies, the Original BluShark Strap was BluShark’s first design. Though it is their entry-level NATO strap, these nylon straps aren’t cheaply made by any means. Like all BluShark straps, the holes and edges of the strap are sealed to prevent any fraying and to minimize wear and tear. Its biggest appeal for new watch enthusiasts especially is its price point. If you’re looking for a casual looking strap for everyday wear, I recommend this one or the Orca Strap listed below.

The Original BluShark NATO Strap on my Seiko SKX007

Orca Waffle Weave Strap

Textured waffle-weave
Sealed rectangular holes
1.4 mm thick
MSRP: $19

The biggest noticeable difference between the Original BluShark and the Orca Strap is the style of weaving used. Both styles make for a tough and long-lasting strap, so it just comes down to personal preference. The Orca is also slightly thicker which makes it look more rugged and feel sturdier, perfect to put on a field watch. The only downside to the Orca that I’ve noticed is that it might make a large watch stick out more prominently because of its added thickness.

The author’s Seiko SKX007 on a BluShark Orca Strap

AlphaShark Luxury Strap

Smooth “seat belt” weave
Flat stainless steel keepers
Sealed rectangular holes
1.4 mm thick
MSRP: $32

The AlphaShark Luxury Strap is by far my favorite of the BluShark lineup. When I purchased my first Original BluShark Strap, I was impressed with its quality for the price and became curious as to how much better the AlphaShark could be. After trying out a sample, I was even more impressed and decided to stock up on different color variations. Most of my NATO straps are from the AlphaShark lineup. The smoother “seat belt” weave not only feels more comfortable on the wrist but is much more aesthetic, living up to its name. The AlphaShark has a slight shine to it but fits any occasion whether I’m dressed casual or professional. This is currently my everyday strap choice and garners the most compliments. If I were to recommend just one strap from this list, it would be the AlphaShark, hands down.

The AlphaShark has become my go-to strap of choice for my Sinn 104

AlphaShark Slim Strap

Smooth “seat belt weave
Slim buckle
Flat stainless steel keepers
1.2 mm thick
MSRP: $32

The unique feature you’ll notice with the AlphaShark Slim Strap is the use of circular holes in lieu of the rectangular ones. I actually prefer these circular holes not just for its aesthetic look but because they seem to show less signs of wear than the rectangular holes. I also find this to the one of the more comfortable straps offered by BluShark, second only to the AlphaPremier listed below.

Rocking the AlphaShark Slim on my Seiko SKX007

AlphaPremier Ultra Luxury Strap

Silky smooth material
Sliding keeper
1.2 mm thick
MSRP: $36

The AlphaPremier Ultra Luxury Strap is the latest release from BluShark. The strap lives up to its name as the silky texture gives the wristwatch a much more formal appearance. This is the softest of the BluShark lineup and the most comfortable on the wrist. While the AlphaPremier is definitely the highest quality strap from BluShark, it does limit itself to more formal occasions; for that reason, I prefer the AlphaShark lineup. I found that because the AlphaPremier uses a much softer material than its counterparts, it does fit into slightly smaller watch lugs (e.g. my 22 mm strap fits into a 21 mm lug without looking out of place).

All of these NATO straps from BluShark are made with quality craftsmanship and look just as new as the day I first got them even after excessive wear. No need to break the bank to step up your watch game, BluShark has offers some of the best NATO straps on the market for the right price.

*All photos courtesy of the author, Matt Jin

Dynamis Alliance Low Pro 1.5″ Minimalist Belt

Your belt is the foundation of everyday carry, especially if you are carrying concealed. The belt needs to be rigid enough to keep your gear where it needs to be without having to constantly adjust it, but not too rigid to where it’s uncomfortable to wear and difficult to run through your belt loops.

Over the years I’ve been through several iterations of belts from various manufacturers. It’s hard to tell whether a belt will suit your needs by looking at pictures online; you need to actually try it on to know. When I’m looking for a belt to support my everyday carry loadout and my firearm it needs to meet a few requirements:

The belt has to be 1.5” in order to be worn with standard blue jeans or other pants. I’m not always going to be wearing high-speed tactical ninja pants that support a 1.75” riggers belt.
The belt needs to be low profile in the front to reduce printing when wearing a t-shirt. Personally, I just don’t like any belt with a large belt buckle that bulges out in the front.
Typically any piece of kit I carry for my daily loadout needs to fill at least two purposes, if not three (that goes for the belt too). Some may think of using it as a tourniquet, but I’m not an advocate of using a belt for that (that’s why I carry a SWAT-T with me every day). I prefer a belt that can be removed quickly to be used as either a weapon or to wrap around an overhead opening mechanism for doors (this prevents someone from opening the door if you have barricaded yourself in a room). These are usually found in hotels and other commercial buildings.
I prefer a belt made in the United States (personal preference).

The belt I found that meets all the above criteria was designed by Dom Raso over at Dynamis Alliance. The belt is a low profile (1.5”) belt which closes via hook and loop (Velcro), that’s it. Before we get into the exact specs of the belt take a look at the product video by Dynamis Alliance.

This belt is as simple as it gets. It’s a single piece of heavy-duty nylon webbing with hook and loop velcro on the end (no buckles to deal with). The belt is extremely easy to thread through standard belt loops and is rigid enough to support my concealed carry gun, inside the waistband knife and whatever you choose to carry in your pockets.

MSRP is $59 direct from Dynamis Alliance

*Photos courtesy of Dynamis Alliance