Richard Moore

ReadyMan Gray Man Bag | Initial impressions

The ReadyMan Gray Man bag is a simple, well-designed bag that was built to be your everyday carry bag that does not draw attention. The design was based on ReadyMan’s quick opening Patent Pending Scorpion Rapid Access Bag minus the mass amounts of Velcro and adding a laptop, bladder, plate carrier slot. There is a pocket for all the essentials and has an elastic cord on the exterior to cinch down an outside layer (rain/wind jacket, etc.) or put a carabiner on. The grey man bag is a perfect “Get Home Bag” as it is non-conspicuous and provides adequate room for essential solo-survival gear.

The straps and rear padding are enough to go long distances with some weight about 10 – 20 lbs of gear; plenty to get home with. Access to gear is quick, and the zippers are built strong to withstand multiple entries. I have removed the provided zipper attachments with Firestarter zipper-pulls (e.g., Exotac TinderZip). The front pocket also has Velcro to secure the flap and is seriously hearty to keep gear in place. Inside the flap has sewn straps to attach a variety of gear, from knives, holsters for firearms or whatever your imagination can come up with. Just note that they are not MOLLE or PALS webbing. There is a pocket that can hold a 13” laptop pretty easily. However, the bottom is not padded to support a drop at height.

A couple of areas that I find the bag is lacking and in need of some upgrades. First that the bag is not made in the U.S.A., this is too bad as there are some boutique Veterans owned shops that could enhance this bag ten-fold. Add some stiffness to the back, at it is the bag has no support structure for maintaining shape or providing some back support. A full complement of MOLLE/PALS webbing can be added to the flap in lieu of the straps. I additionally would place MOLLE/PAS webbing on the interior for better configurations (i.e., Conceal Carry, etc.) and leverage the quick pocket access. The next-to-last upgrade is to the shoulder straps, I would enhance the current straps with 1919 modular webbing on each side to allow for additional attachment points (e.g., Sternum strap, hydration bladder hose clip, etc.). The final touch would be a ventilation hole for the water bladder at the top of the pack.

Features:

Rapid Access Design (Patent Pending)
Hidden Side Access Pocket perfect for CCW
Elastic Cordage with Drawstring for quick external cargo storage
Laptop / Hydration Bladder / Plate Carrier Sleeve
Tough Poly-Cordura Construction
Limited Lifetime Warranty

Specifications:

20″ x 14″ x 6″
18 Liter Volume
Designed by Readyman, made in Vietnam

Gear shown in Feature Image:

Ontario Knife Company Para-Pry
BattleBox Single Man Tent
Light My Fire Camp Spork
USMC Sewing Kit
Extra pair of Sun Glasses (MILSPEC)
4-way Silcock Wrench Key
Folding Shovel Entrenching Tool (E-Tool) w/pouch
Zippo Cedar Fire Starter
Sawyer Insect Repellent
CAT Eyes and Magnesium Firestarter
Dave Canterbury’s Self-Reliance Outfitters Mini Inferno
Hazzard 4 Poncho Villa
Suunto Compass
Maps for Region
Rite-in-Rain notebook
Petzel Carabiner with rescue ascender and cordage

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Loadout Room photo of the day: Firepower!

So what was it like to fight in the 1990’s as a 0351 Assaultman? Well, if your good with over 150 pounds of gear, fighting in urban terrain with a 72 Kilometer stealthy walk into danger, then this is what it looks like. This a picture of Loadout Room writer Richard Moore and his good friend during the fighting at Khafgi. Those are 12.7 rounds from T-72 tanks in the wall. That night we hammered the enemy with 16” guns from the Battleship Missouri. That’s firepower!

Mobile Communications with the Vertx EDC Satchel

As you know, the folks here at the Loadout Room are straight-up gear nuts; We always look for quality gear and Vertx produces some of the greatest bags. I personally have two already; the EDC Messenger and EDC Gamut, and the new addition the EDC Satchel. I have seen some other reviews on this product that were negative; they missed the opportunity to realize what capabilities this bag has. Let’s first state that it is not a backpack or a messenger bag, but a satchel; a small bag with a shoulder strap. That’s a very narrow definition, but it’s what Vertx designed and why I’ll explain the benefits and some uses. Second, is the EDC part of the satchel, as with all Vertx EDC bags they have built-in Velcro for attaching Vertx’s unique Tactigami as well as other types of “hook and loop” attachment products. Additionally, they have included multiple zippered pockets with their typical accessory, mesh pockets, etc.

One issue mentioned by the other reviewer was that you couldn’t carry a bullet-proof insert. That’s true if you’re trying to stuff a SAPI plate or a standard soft plate in this small bag, but that’s just “inside the box” thinking. There are many companies (e.g., BulletBlocker for one) that can make custom sized inserts for this bag and as with all the traditional EDC Vertx bags it has the designed feature to use it as an expedient shield; any objects that can resist bullets are good.

About the bag, as per Vertx’s site, the bag was inspired to carry SLR cameras with a discreet profile, while being able to store and quickly access your everyday carry equipment. The bag is built with the same ballistic nylon materials as the other EDC Bags; the two I own, have traveled the world twice. I really like the forward opening as it provides rapid access to contents; the other reviewer stated that his tools, knives, etc., didn’t hold correctly. In my opinion, that reviewer should either get new clips or put a small strip of Velcro that will keep the old worn clips in place and still allows swift deployment. The next cool feature is the actual strap, which is made from 1919 modular webbing, which allows the wearer to adjust and add MOLLE attachments, carabiners, etc.

courtesy of Vertx

As an Amateur Radio operator being able to take your communications gear mobile during a disaster or SHTF scenarios is an absolute necessity; especially in this era of continuing natural disasters. The Vertx satchel is perfect for carrying a field radio, portable battery, microphone, and field expedient antenna, etc.; I know all you commo freaks out there will love what this bag can offer. Just remember, don’t be narrow-minded about this bag, it has a ton of offerings.

Gear in the photo:

Yaesu FT-991A “Field Radio”
Kenwood TH-D7A
Diamond SRH320A Antenna
Patagonia Nanopuff Jacket
Oakley SI Ball cap

Check out the Vertx EDC Satchel video here:

Spyderco UK Penknife: A lightweight drop point folder for carry abroad

It wouldn’t be the first time that Americans have been imprisoned in the UK, the most famous were the Americans that were imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle from 1776 to 1781 when the two nations were at war during the War of Independence; obviously imprisoned for not following the laws of the crown (Featured picture of carvings from those prisoners). In the UK, carrying a knife for protection is not recommended as you will be tried by a court if found using it for anything other than work, museum exhibition, or for religious reasons (e.g. Sikhs). While there is much to know when traveling abroad in the UK you are not allowed to carry a knife in public without good reason – unless it’s a knife with a folding blade 3 inches long (7.62 cm) or less.

The Spyderco UK Penknife was designed to meet the new requirements of UK knife laws. One of the restrictions was that the knife does not lock, but has a notch that has resistance similar to traditional slip-joint penknives. It also meets the blade length of 2.938” or (74mm), so it can be carried as a legal tool. The knife is made in the USA with CTS BD1 steel which is less prone to rust, keeps a better edge, and sharpens must easier than most entry-level competitors. The UK penknife weighs in at 1.9 ounces, and the grip has a choice of three color FRN handles and three edge choices to make it more personal. If you are going to carry in the UK I would opt for the plain edge just to ensure that it cannot be misconstrued as a knife used for protection.

What I specifically like about the knife is the minimalist weight, especially as I usually remove the attached clip and carry it in my front pocket; it is very comfortable even in dress pants. The ergonomics of the knife is additionally comfortable to hold. Just a quick note regarding the grip and use of this type of knife; be aware that slip joint and non-lockable knifes are not meant for knife fighting, but are useful in self-defense situations. Additionally, your knife techniques are not going to be the same as a locked or fixed blade, it is up to you to learn about the tools you carry and some common sense can be valuable as well.

Finally, there is less of a chance in any country or state with harsh knife laws that a utility non-locking knife can be beneficial. The UK Pen Knife will be part of my every day carry, as the ergonomics, weight, and material used in the grip are some of the best I have evaluated and the price is reasonable for a good pocket knife.

Technical Specifications:

Overall Length – 6.938”
Closed Length – 4.063”
Blade Length – 2.938”
Handle – FRN
Steel – CTS BD1
Weight – 1.9 oz

Superesse Straps Faraday Hank: EMP, radiation, RFID resistant handkerchief

Superesse Straps Faraday Hank: EMP, radiation and RFID resistant handkerchief

You’re out on an adventure and an alert is received that atmospheric conditions are about to fry your electronics. So, unless you have paid for the U.S. Government TEMPEST edition of your electronics, it’s a good thing you have your EDC EMP hank to shield your devices. Whether the alerts are from solar radiation, nuclear detonation or static discharges, you’ll need something to protect your electronics. The EMP hank is made of your choice of various colors and designs and has a Nickle/Copper backing that is patterned as a Faraday cage. In 1836, Michael Faraday observed that excess charge on a conductor resided only on the exterior and didn’t influence anything on the inside. He then built a room coated with metal foil and hit it with high-voltage discharges and used an electroscope to show no charges inside the room. This hank provides that similar design.

The testing was done using household appliances and multiple other electronics to test the viability of blocking signals when enclosed in the hank. Superesse Straps doesn’t specifically state the actual percentage, width, or makeup of the metals used in the Faraday cage backing, but the Nickle/Copper blend has good properties of each, that depending on the type of copper blends it can restrict radio waves from the mid-kHz up into the GHz frequency ranges.

The first steps were to test the wireless connection using common WiFi. The 802.11 b/g/n standard uses 2.4 GHz ISM band and the 802.11 a/n/ac standards use 5 GHz. Additionally, the IEEE 802.15.1 Bluetooth standard is an ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio that also operates within the 2.4 to 2.485 GHz frequency range. I mention these frequencies as the material used in the EMP hank was unable to stop the common WiFi and Bluetooth radio waves from escaping allowing a full connection between another mobile device and a laptop computer. I connected via the Bluetooth as a personal area network (PAN) and used the mobile device to connect to the Internet without any issues.

The next testing used (after a few Internet searches) was to wrap a mobile device in the EMP Hank and place it in the microwave. Microwaves have the ability to generate static discharges, and small amounts of radiation, which is why your Microwave oven is built with a Faraday cage. You can tell simply by observing the window and noticing the grid patterns. Without these, you would fry your eyes out watching your food cook. All microwave ovens have a magnetron and operate at least in the United States at 2.4 GHz. So, we essentially put a Faraday cage in a Faraday cage and after about 10 seconds, the contact points of metal on the cage initiated a spark and canceled the effectiveness of the cage, and testing was stopped. The device was unharmed and worked instantly. It was efficient in stopping microwave radiation and preventing static to destroy the internal workings.

The Near-field Communication (NFC) and RFID which operate in the 13 MHz frequency range appeared to be effective as the blending of metals in the hank are better at blocking lower frequencies, but further testing needs to occur on active NFC and RFID connections.

The cost of protecting your electronic devices from communications high-jacking, radiation, or an electromagnetic pulse should be a priority and the cost minimal compared to the hard-earned dollars spent. The Superesse Straps EMP Hank can provide you with that last-minute protection and is easily carried. Data theft will always be a means for bad actors to make a quick buck and any amount of frequency blocking is better than none.

*Featured picture courtesy of Superesse Straps

Flowfold Minimalist Wallet | Initial Impressions

Designed for the straight shooter with no interest in excess features, the Flowfold Minimalist wallet is both purposeful and versatile. It’s sleek outline fits seamlessly in the front pocket of your favorite jeans or tucked away in a day bag. If you find most wallets cumbersome, this wallet embodies a simple and clean minimalist approach. The wallet is built with X-Ply™ technology; X-PLY is used to create racing fabrics with incredible resistance to flex, elongation and degradation from U.V. so this wallet will stand against mother nature and has a lifetime warranty, not bad if you don’t ever need another wallet.

I love to use this wallet for going to the beach and leaving behind my every-day leather wallet. It is great to carry just a card or two, some cash, and your ID for some adult frosty beverages. While the wallet is not water proof, it is water-resistant and will keep off a dousing or two from those hooligans who want to throw water on you while you’re catching some rays. Another key feature is its compact size and slim style; it will easily fit in your speedo, board shorts, or whatever you’re into.

A few key concerns I have with the wallet is that the openness of the wallet allows sand and pocket lint to get everywhere, which can ruin the magnetic strip on your cards and laminate on your ID. The other concern is that with many of the modern credit cards, the wallet is not RFID shielded and therefore, could lead to data leakage. I did some research on the X-Ply™ and while some of the fabrics have Aramid built in, and the design could lead to a Faraday cage construction. However, in testing the wallet it still allows for RFID emissions. So, choose which cards you take with you when using this wallet. If your cards have these names on them Visa PayWave, MasterCard PayPass, American Express ExpressPay and Discover Zip, you should get a protection sleeve or a shielded wallet.

Check out my post regarding the Navigator Passport Wallet.

Features:

Capacity for 6-8 credit cards and a few folded bills
Dimensions – 4.2” x 2.75” x0.06”
Weight – 12grams/.4oz.
Material – High performance racing sailcloth with X-Ply™ technology and ballistic nylon webbing
Made in the USA
Lifetime warranty
Water Resistant
Vegan