gear

Blue Force Gear Triple Mag Pouch | A combat proven mag pouch

In today’s market, there is a myriad of mag pouches to choose from. They range from low-profile to very secure. Its a rarity to have a piece of kit that can do both without compromising the other. In my opinion, the Blue Force Gear Triple Mag Pouch is the way forward. They provide a solid grip on the magazine like no other I’ve used and trust me when I say ‘you put your magazines in these and they’re going nowhere.’

They are highly versatile and work on different mags – 5.45, 7.62, 5.56, no problem. While in my last area of operations (AO), I used AK-74s and AK-47 magazines with zero issues. The 7.62 are a bit tight, but they still work very well. While working, I have mainly used the 74s with 30 round mags and one 45 round mag. Even with the weight of the 45 round mag in these pouches, there’s been zero movements with any force I’ve thrown their way.

One downside is you can forget about a tactical/combat reload of placing the empty mag back into the Blue Force Gear Triple Mag Pouch. During this situation, there is no way you will get a mag back in these pouches. I’ve tried and tried repeatedly, but maybe I’m just not as good as those tactical gods out there. Maybe there is an operator out there who can do this, but it’s not me. Spend the mag, dump it in a cargo pocket, reload, and crack on.

As stated previously, the main positive of the Blue Force Gear Triple Mag Pouch is I’ve never seen a mag pouch hold like this before. Crawl, run, climb, handstands, do whatever you want – your mags will still be there when counts and that’s the most important thing. You would think it must be difficult to put a mag in this pouch, but they side right in with a push. Combat reloads are the only time when it will slow you down. When in need of a magazine you can get another quick as your reflexes will allow.

As for durability, these are tuff as nails and been on the go now for some time. I’ve punished these in some very unforgiving environments and not a single hole has formed in the material. As you can see in the photos, there is some fraying of the material, but they are still fully functional. Also, the Velcro at the bottom of the straps is starting to fade, but this is of little concern to me as they still hold their functionality and have loads of life left.

As you can tell, the Blue Force Gear Triple Mag Pouch is one of my favorite products on the market right now and well worth purchasing if you need a super secure mag pouch. I will continue to use these mag pouches in the future and give any updates if they happen to fail.

Overall, this is a great product from a great provider. I score these 9/10. The only reason they don’t get a 10 is that I can’t manage to get a magazine back in the pouch during a tactical reload. This issue is not a personal concern to me, but I know guys out there that would like the option.

The Blue Force Gear Triple Mag Pouch MSRP is $49 and can be purchased here.

Op-Ed: Stop throwing gear at the things you suck at and train instead

“There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.” — Miyamoto Musashi, “The Book of Five Rings”

Getting “cool guy” gear and tricking out your firearm is awesome, I have several mods and bits of gear I swear by. I routinely trick out my firearms with parts that I feel give me a performance related edge. It is important to realize, however, that these modifications and accessories are not solutions to any shortcomings in technique though. If your skills are lacking in any area, stop attempting to compensate for those shortcomings by applying external additives. Instead train in the fundamentals and perfect the things that you suck through rigorous training.

If you suck at marksmanship, spend more time at the range shooting and practicing the fundamentals of marksmanship through dry-fire off the range. If you suck at reloads, do more reload drills. If you suck at drawing from a holster, practice drawing your gun more often. It all sounds so obvious but far too often people spend the money on equipment instead of training. You will get far better at shooting with a base model gun and 1000 rounds of ammo than you will with a tricked-out gun and 100 rounds. For a couple hundred dollars a month you can afford to shoot and improve consistently. For the cost of around $1000 a year, you could take a training course (should you feel that such a thing would benefit you). I’ve seen guys spend far more than that on an optic for a gun they shoot once a year. If you can afford to do both, go for it but the main thing is that experience and training are far more valuable.

High-speed gear and tricked out guns are cool as hell but you look like an asshole with all that expensive stuff if you suck at using it. If you’re like me, you don’t have a big budget. So, spend your money on improving your skills rather than attempting to buy skill by way of external additives. A Tapout shirt doesn’t make a fighter, gym clothes don’t make someone an athlete, and “operator” kit doesn’t make you a gunfighter. Train efficiently, safely, and often if you want to be a better shooter. The guy with a couple of simple guns and a whole lot of hours behind them will always be a dangerous customer.

Article written by Kurt T. for Newsrep

Featured image: The author’s kit while in Ukraine.

Darn Tough tactical boot socks vs. other brands

Socks, the topic nobody really focuses on until it’s too late. Rangers (and pretty much all other SOF or light Infantry types) spend a lot of time on their feet. The importance of a good quality set of socks cannot be understated. I’ve used socks from a variety of companies and have put them through hell over the years. Darn Tough still rains king and Rangers are still having them issued. I did a comparison of some boot socks I’ve used over the years and what I look for in a boot sock for heavy duty use.

–Tim Morgan

Krupto Strategic SERE ankle band: A Crate Club exclusive product

One of the Crate Club exclusives comes from Krupto Strategic. This SERE ankle band is designed to be wrapped around your ankle and to carry the small tools you need to make it home. The SERE ankle band is a simple, but effective idea. It sports three pockets, one large and two small, and is designed to be super low profile. Each pocket sports a simple cover that’s a lot like an AR mag pouch. A little bit of velcro holds the whole closed and secures your goods.

What’s the Point?

It’s a little pouch, and the designer himself has said, “It’s not for your fucking revolver!” The SERE ankle band is designed to hold very small, but important goods. As a SERE kit it’s designed for escape and evasion, so you aren’t packing a fighting load. This Mini SERE kit is perfect for backing some basic essentials for escape in an urban environment. This includes a small knife, a small light, handcuff keys, cash, tools, and anything else you feel you need to escape, evade, and survive with.

Personally, I carry the following in my SERE ankle band:

Crate Club Mini Flashlight
Phillips/Flathead driver
Handcuff Key
Readyman Mini Saws (From ReadyMan card)
P-38 Can Opener
6 Feet or Paracord
1 Small Role Medical Tape
3 Derby Razors

This isn’t a long-term survival plan, this is you just escaped and need to distance from any potential bad guys. This kit will help you get that distance and allow you to gain that ground. This kits small size makes it easy to hide and allows it to remain virtually undetected.

The small pouches are quite tight but malleable enough to squeeze in your gear. That tight design ensures everything is kept in place and where it should be. The band is semi-elastic and quite comfortable. It’s wide and secured with a healthy dose of hook and loop. The band stretches quite a bit and allows it to fit around my tree trunk of an ankle.

When it comes to all-day wear its surprisingly comfortable and doesn’t sag, drag, or rub your ankle painfully. Alternatively, it can be tossed into your cargo or even back pocket, but if searched it’s much more likely to be found.

The Krupto Strategic SERE ankle band is small, effective and you can store a surprising amount of goods in it. I’m curious to see what our Crate Clubbers store in theirs? Let us know below in the comments what goes in your Mini SERE kit.

To get your own SERE ankle band, visit the Crate Club store

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Marine Corps Vets weigh in on Top pieces of EDC gear

Everyone can agree that there are some pieces of EDC, survival, and travel gear that you can’t go without. For this article, I polled the writers of the Loadout Room and asked them to share with me in one or two paragraphs what their top three pieces of kit are. Much of it is due to preferences and lessons learned directly from our military service. Here is what a few of us came up with.

Nick Coffman (USMC)

My favorite items come from plenty of experience with discomfort and misfortune over the years.

Lip balm – This may come as a shock to some as my first choice, but when traveling or operating in any sort of survival situation, any level of comfort can provide a major confidence boost. Whether in Iraq or back in the United States going about my normal routine, I’ve always got some Burt’s Beeswax in my pocket. There are some survival tricks with lip balm but my primary benefit is comfort. Anything that will increase my level of comfort and give me a boost while not taking up much room is always welcome in my EDC.
Silkies – Much like the lip balm, I won’t leave my house without wearing my silkies (also known as Ranger panties) under my trousers. Early in my Marine Corps enlistment I quickly became frustrated by chafing during physical activity from wearing boxers or boxer briefs. At one point for me silkies were just for PT or grossing out civilians on base, but now they are legitimately an important part of my everyday kit because they are comfortable in any environment and allow me to stay focused on whatever I’m doing.
Quality pocket knife – This one seems like a no-brainer to have, and it may be, but I still feel it is important to mention. There are so many uses in virtually any setting you find yourself in that require a good knife. I went through several, let’s say “affordable” knives before I finally decided to spend the money on a $100+ knife that was easy to conceal, durable, and effective. For everyday self-defense and survival, I never leave my house without at least a quality pocket knife on me.

Rich Moore (USMC)

My 15 years in the Marine Corps was mostly spent overseas and my top pieces of gear is constantly carried today especially when I regularly travel.

Water Purification tabs – Whether you are in the Jungles of Asia, the Fjords of Norway, a desert, or any 3rd World Country, the accessibility of clean water is few and far between. A drop or tab of water purification goes a long way to keeping healthy and if you like ice in your adult beverages then a tab or liquid drop in your drink will only keep you healthy.
Multi-tool – A multi-tool is a must on any adventure. You never know when you will need pliers, a file, screwdriver, etc. There are many today that are TSA approved for travel or you can simply stick one in your checked luggage. In my USMC career the multi-tools have progressed a long way in their design, abilities, and job-specific tooling.
Suture kit – There were many times during my career that I didn’t have a Corpsman available to take care of my stupidity, I always carried a suture kit. They come in handy if you are alone and slice open your leg from coral or barbed wire, or your multi-tool slips and the cut requires more than a Band-Aid, I can personally state that going to a clinic or other 3rd World doctor’s office will most likely get you sicker than when you went in. A suture kit in your gear will give you the time and opportunity to get to a proper place. This kit requires some additional training, but if you’re constantly learning, this is one of those pieces of gear that will literally save your life.

Scott Witner (USMC)

The following three pieces of kit were drilled into me while serving in the Marine Corps. Now that I’m on the other side living the civilian life, all three pieces still prove valuable on a daily basis.

Water – From day-1 in boot camp, they reiterated the importance of hydration. We ALWAYS had a canteen of water with us no matter where we went. Due to the physical nature of the training and lifestyle, you had to keep hydrated or you’d end up in medical with an IV stuck in you. Fast forward to current day and I still drink 1 quart of water in the morning and another quart at lunchtime. Your body is naturally dehydrated when you wake up in the morning. Water is the elixir of life. Drink it every day.
Motrin – If you’ve spent any time in the military and dealt with your units’ medic or went to medical for any ailment, you were handed two Motrin and sent on your way. That seemed to be the cure-all in the military along with water. I still to this day carry a bottle of either Motrin or Ibuprofen in my backpack.
Socks – Putting on a clean pair of socks does wonders for your moral and positive mental attitude. As with water and Motrin, socks were always third on the list for personal hygiene. We had to take care of our feet if we were to be combat effective. During long forced marches we had predetermined stopping points to drink water and change our socks. It was mandatory. Even today if I’m traveling a long distance, just changing your socks makes a big difference in your mood and gives you a boost of energy. It may only be a mental thing, but the bottom line is that it works.

In the Marine Corps if you showed any signs of sickness, whether it was the common cold or nasty flu, or you had physical soreness from PT and training, they had the same answer; Drink water, take two Motrin and change your socks. That advice still sticks with me to this day. It may sound funny, but the shit works. Nowadays when I’m traveling I keep a ranger roll inside my bag which consists of a fresh t-shirt, socks and underwear. In addition to that, I have a bottle of Ibuprofen and a full water bottle. If my checked luggage does get lost, I still have the necessities to keep going.

Preparing for disaster? Here are 5 unusual things that’ll help keep your car running in an emergency

In any prolonged survival situation involving a vehicle, the most important things to look for aren’t speed or even ground clearance — the first things you should consider are reliability and ease of repair and maintenance. After all, even the most badass of vehicles tend to lose their appeal when you can’t change a flat or find a replacement alternator when yours goes bad.

Regular maintenance will likely become even more important after a large-scale disaster, as you push your vehicle harder for longer and are forced to make compromises like using dirtier sources of fuel. A clog in a $5 fuel filter can leave a million dollar vehicle permanently planted where it is unless you have the resources and skills required to swap in a good one.

Whether we’re talking about post-apocalyptic survival or just evacuating from the scene of a local calamity, having an emergency set of tools (and coinciding know how) in your vehicle could mean the difference between having a ride and being forced to continue on foot. Some things can’t be repaired in the field, but the right tools could also help you get another vehicle you come across running (I’m not going to go into how to steal a car but suffice to say I’ve gotten barn cars started with the tools listed below before).

Aside from a regular toolkit (I recommend a half-inch drive rather than 3/8 for leverage’s sake) with a full complement of standard and metric sockets, and the rest of the usual emergency vehicle gear (jack, flashlight, tire iron, etc) here are a few tools you may not have thought of, but that deserves a place in your car’s emergency kit.

A Spool of Wire

Although most modern vehicles have complicated electrical systems governed by one or more onboard computers, you’d be surprised how much you can get accomplished simply by grounding a circuit and running a lead to the positive terminal of your battery. A failed driver’s side power window switch, for instance, can render all the windows in your car immobile (all switches run through a primary in many applications) so the only way to get your windows back UP may be to run that lead. In older model vehicles, you can circumvent a number of steps when diagnosing a fuel issue simply by running a lead from the battery directly to the fuel pump (it’s important to include an in-line switch or to remove the lead when the engine isn’t running to prevent burning out the fuel pump motor).

Understanding that most of the electronics in your vehicle operate via a simple mechanism (power on or power off) means that in an emergency, you can hack up some temporary fixes using little more than a spool of wire and some electrical tape. I also recommend carrying a test light to help you ensure current is moving properly when diagnosing electrical issues.

An Impact Driver

Even under the best of circumstances, a seized screw or bolt can make common repairs or maintenance a big problem. In an emergency, a stripped screw or bolt could be all it takes to leave you stranded — but an impact driver can turn the tides in your favor. These tools usually have a 3/8 or 1/2 inch drive at one end, and a flat striking surface on the other. Place the impact socket or screwdriver bit on one end and place it on the stuck fastener securely – then smash the hell out of the other side with a hammer or rock. The impact forces the bit onto/into the fastener as it rotates, breaking bolts and screws loose while avoiding stripping them.

For less than $15 bucks, you won’t find a more versatile or valuable tool when working on vehicles that may be a bit long in the tooth (or that just exist in the Northeast where winters wreak havoc on the vehicle’s undercarriage).

A sturdy pipe

As I mentioned above, I recommend carrying a half-inch drive socket and breaker bar in your vehicle’s toolkit — they occupy more space than a traditional 3/8 drive, but I’ve always appreciated the extra leverage I can exert via the heavier hardware. Just like with the impact driver, a good pipe can mean the difference between breaking something loose or not — sliding the pipe over the handle of a wrench can help increase the length of your lever, thus increasing the force you can exert. Be aware that using that much muscle may well break a bolt that’s seized in place, but that isn’t always a bad thing. A cross threaded lug nut could make it nearly impossible to get your wheel off when changing a flat, and while breaking a cross threaded lug stud may not be the best case scenario, your vehicle will have no trouble getting you home with the 4 remaining studs (on a 5 lug vehicle). The same principle applies to cars with only four lug studs, though spirited driving on only three lug nuts isn’t recommended but then how often is surviving about keeping things within the “recommended” parameters?”

The same pipe can also serve as a hammer for striking your impact driver or for leverage when trying to shift the engine within the limits of its rubber motor mounts to reach something deeper in your engine bay. Trying to swap rotors but they’re seized on? Bash it with a pipe. Car starter not working properly? Believe it or not, banging on it a few times with a pipe might do the trick as well.

Tire pressure gauge

A tire pressure gauge comes in handy any time you’re filling your tires up with air, but that’s not actually the value it provides in a survival situation. Driving on low traction surfaces like snow or mud can mean having to take your time to cover terrain, but if you find your vehicle struggling to maintain traction, letting some of the air out of your tires can actually make a big difference. If your car’s tires are rated for a maximum of 41 PSI, try dropping 10-15 pound of air pressure from your drive tires to increase the tire’s footprint on the ground, and as a result, adding a bit of traction. This method won’t get you un-stuck (you’ll still need kitty litter or sand and a shovel for that) but it can hopefully help you avoid getting stuck in the first place.

Duct Tape

You can fix anything with enough duct tape — but if you’re just trying to keep a car running long enough to get you out-of-town, it can really be a lifesaver. A vacuum leak on any of the lines leading into your Mass Air Flow Sensor or cylinder head could wreak havoc on your car’s performance or even kill the engine completely. Identifying the leak and sealing it with duct tape could get your vehicle moving again. The same can be said for leaking fuel lines in a pinch, though gasoline has a nasty habit of eating its way through temporary fixes of that sort. Duct tape won’t make your vehicle reliable but it might keep it running for long enough to get you to safety.

Feature image courtesy of Flickr