We always talk about bugout bags, survival kits, and the like (we meaning the entire preparedness community). But I don’t think we spend enough time talking about E+E – or Escape and Evasion.
These are items which need to be considered in the event of unlawful detainment, and could be lifesaving in an emergency. While it’s great to have that “Go-Bag” at the ready, you need to hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. All of that ammo and those cool gadgets in your pack won’t help if you are kidnapped and restrained.
For civilian use, these might be a little too “James Bond” but we highly recommend these to high risk civilian contractors, PMCs, or civilians in hostile terrain overseas, where kidnapping westerners is big business.
Companies like Shomer Tec have been providing just these types of devices for years – and they make great products that are concealable, creative, by-and-large undetectable, and most importantly: proven.
The “Access Card” is an outstanding low-profile entry device, which can slip easily into a wallet and look like an unassuming credit card.
Access Card In Wallet
Once you take the item out of it’s sleeve, you will see it had 4 picks cleverly tacked to a metal card, complete with a tension wrench (the tension wrench can also be used as a shim pick). A feeler pick, ball pick, diamond pick, hybrid feeler/diamond pick are included, which can be literally a lifesaver if you need to gain access to a room and you lost your keys.
Disclaimer: SGPT does not endorse or advocate the use of these tools for anything unlawful. Also, make sure you are in compliance with your local laws, some of these items may be illegal in your municipality.
If you look next to the card, you will see a very small handcuff key.
These are completely polymer, and undetectable, and capable of opening double lock handcuffs with ease. They also make products which conceal this very same key on a zipper pull, making it hidden in plain sight, and ready for action.
Next up is a very useful little piece, in my opinion. It’s called the Escape Stick. While easily concealable in a waistband or sock, this piece is thinner and smaller than a pen, but affords you the opportunity to escape if unlawfully restrained and detained.
The rubber sleeve is easily removed, revealing 3 escape implements: 1) A handcuff key at the end of 2) a friction rod, which is capable of cutting tape, cordage, plastic, and even metal. The rubber cap keeps a shim pick in place, which one can use to pick handcuffs or circumvent zip ties. The saw-toothed edge obviously can be used to cut as well. 
The last little item, is one of the biggest implements, but also has the most options attached to it. It’s the Micro Escape Kit. While it fits in the palm of your hand, it literally can get you out of almost any situation where you find yourself detained.
When the sleeve is opened, it reveals quite a few options for escape. While this isn’t the smallest option, it is definitely the most comprehensive. E+E gear shouldn’t be kept in packs or off your person, as the odds are if you are a PMC, civilian overseas, or something to that effect, you will get your kit taken off of you immediately – so one must get creative with how and where they hide this. But, you will be happy you did.
As you can see, a simple vial in a rubber sheath contains a friction saw, ceramic razor blade, shim pick, micro handcuff key, and 6 feet of Kevlar tripwire (80lb test). With these items, a civilian in high risk situations, soldier, or PMC could easily defeat cordage, duct tape, handcuffs, or zip ties, and slip away.
Items extracted
These are just some options for you E+E kit, and expect more gear reviews and cool tools from our friends at Shomer Tec to be showcased. We’ll also be doing video tutorials or tabletop reviews in the near future.
If you want to see something else in this vein, post it up in the comments below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alex Castiglione lives in Atlanta, and is an avid outdoorsman and competitive shooter.
Where-abouts include getting after it in his garage gym, practicing martial arts, hitting the trails, or running CrossFit and Strongman competitions for his non-profit, Barbells for Bullies, which holds fundraiser fitness competitions dedicated to aiding Bully breed rescues, dog rescues, or other non-profits with similar missions.
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