Archive: Gear Reviews

Shoes are obviously a very subjective and personal thing. I mean, everyone has different feet, a different stride, and a method of movement. That’s pretty obvious. What wasn’t obvious to me was that 5.11 makes awesome shoes – not just boots, gear, and plate carriers. That has obviously changed. I was highly impressed with these... Read More

There is something about a shoulder holster that is iconic. Maybe it’s got that allure from the movies I grew up on in the 80’s and 90’s, especially for a Beretta 92. Bruce Willis, Jean Claude Van Damme, Mel Gibson and the characters they portrayed all rocked that leather shoulder rig and full size Beretta,... Read More

By Alexander Castiglione Every headline seems to be a new shooting or a new inspired attack. And if you’re reading this, you’re probably erring on the side of caution. You probably like to be prepared. Us too. In today’s world, you need to be ready. You need to have a go bag. If you can... Read More

We got our hands on a SOG S30V, and in this author’s humble opinion, it just might be the perfect EDC knife. Let me say that again – this knife is nearly perfect for EDC. It boasts an aluminum handle, with carbon fiber inserts, accenting the 3.6 inch S30V steel blade (with a RC of 58-60... Read More

You’re probably getting tired of us telling you that you need to have a medkit. Well too bad. You need to. In your car, your go bag, in your office, and probably even on your person, you need to have the ability to patch holes, control bleeds, and save life. We’re not just talking about... Read More

Good things come in small packages. Cliches are cliches for a reason, and the DE-01 lives up to that particular cliche. At a scant 3.8 inches overall and a 5.2 ounces, it’s even smaller than the DE-03 – the AA version in the dark energy series of tactical illumination. This little guy has more output... Read More

Retention knives and quick deployment back up blades seem to be all the rage lately. As they should be. Think about it, whats the point of pulling out a knife if you can easily drop it when you need it most. Similarly, what’s the point of carrying that massive KaBar is you take a year... Read More

We’ve already reviewed a couple CRKT products, many of which were from either their Forged By War program, or directly from the mind of other veteran designers – like Darrin Sirois. As with the other products pushed out by Columbia River Knife and Tool – the SIWI is a big winner for us. Mr. Sirois... Read More

If you’re going to carry a weapon, you will need a good holster. Not some one-size fits all or bargain bin holstaer. You’re going to want something to put the tool you will trust your life with into. I’ve got a lot of holsters, and several for the Glock 19 for instance. But I came... Read More

 Up for review today is another kick-ass holster from Werkz. Quality Kydex construction, great retention, and the same versatility of their APLc holster make this one another winner. Constructed from high quality Kydex, this one mounts my preferred light for EDC and personal defense loadout – the TLR-1 HL. Suffice it to say that I... Read More

I’m a big fan of a curved blade, like that of a karambit – especially for EDC as a backup. The martial art Kali makes heavy use of them but even for the person untrained in Kali, it’s a great tool. Bastinelli Knives’ tagline is “Tactical Art” and I’d have to agree. This blade is... Read More

As you saw from my post about the TimTam Power Massager, I was a bit skeptical at first. But then I tried it, and wow, was I blown away. It broke up knots I had been trying to get for months. Literally months – that’s not hyperbole. Ones that were deep in between my scaps from... Read More

My Medic does it again with an awesome piece of kit. It’s easy to see that their kits are designed by LEO and spec ops personnel, as with this kit you get everythign from a rip away “boo boo kit” to a trauma kit and even sutures to close vicious lacerations. We’ll go aspect by... Read More

The black rifle. It’s got so many shapes, sizes, and flavors nowadays. The possibilities are endless, and there are a ton of manufacturers out there. While some just ship them out, and have necessary QC issues, others, like APOC Armory, pride themselves with their products. As well they should. I’ve built my share of ARs,... Read More