The Loadout Room
Professional Gear Reviews
From the earliest days of mankind, one of the few things that separated our particular breed of big-brained monkey from the rest of the competition in the wild was our ability to harness light, in the form of fire. Fire, of course, was paramount to our success as a species for a number of other […]
For the security conscious, walking into a crowded bar usually isn’t your idea of a good time. Crowds are exceptionally good at concealing threats, and those who have built careers (either legitimate or otherwise) by being a threat know that. These days, I’m a pretty big fella. At six feet tall and around 245 pounds, […]
Since becoming a dad, thereās been a running joke among my friends and family about how fatherhood is making me soft. Itās a fair observation to make: I do spend a lot more time watching animated animals sing nursery rhymes now, and words like ācuteā and āadorableā are now a part of my day-to-day vocabulary… […]
WHY DIDN’T THE PERSON JUST SHOOT THE BAD GUY IN THE LEG? Law enforcement and those carrying a firearm for self defense are poised with the same question every year; Why didn’t they just shoot to wound or shoot them in the leg? Sometimes those asking the question sincerely donāt know and want to understand.Ā […]
I remember saving up to buy this beautiful $350Ā Microtech SOCOM EliteĀ automatic/switchblade back around 2001-2002. One night I was waiting for a friend to meet me in his parking lot at his apt building, super sketchy neighborhood. I saw a crazy looking dude walking through the parking lot, so I pulled it out and had it […]
I was browsing roughly through a gun and gear Facebook page when I stumbled across the Knyphe. The Knyphe is a great name for a really sweet idea. It’s simple, you already have a phone, and it’s likely in a case. So why not carry a fixed blade in the case? The Knyphe is a […]
Clint Emerson and his BookĀ 100 Deadly SkillsĀ is a must-read for anyone who has an even passing interest in fieldcraft should read. It providesĀ 100 Deadly SkillsĀ in an easy to digest format that provides vivids illustrations combined with easy to read and remember instructions. Crate Club has partnered with Clint before, but in my opinion, the Deadly […]
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program has been the basic hand-to-hand combat system employed by the United States Marine Corps since 2002, and as IāveĀ written aboutĀ in the past, it tends to get dragged through the mud by young guys with limited experience and a lot of bravado. In order to complete recruit training, you need […]
If you are a Digital Nomad, or a frequent flyer, or someone who just eats breakfast with their kid at school you’ll likely find yourself disarmed at some point. Metal detectors, pat-downs and more prevent you from carrying a gun, a knife, or even a multi-tool. In this regard, we have to start looking at […]
I love automatic knives, aka switchblades, and over time they’ve edged their way into my collection and my EDC rotation. One I’ve had for almost a year now has been one of my favorite companions. This little guy is Gerber’s Mini Covert Auto. It’s one of the smallest switchblades I own, second only to Hogue’s […]