By now, everyone is aware of President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown in our nation’s capital. While somewhat controversial, the president has brought in federal troops to bolster law enforcement presence and make the streets safe again in Washington, D.C.
What most are likely unaware of, however, is the fact that part of the D.C. crime emphasis has involved the Trump Administration greatly reducing the amount of time it takes to be issued a gun permit or concealed carry permit in Washington.
Trumps’ D.C. Effort
In March, President Trump created the Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful Task Force. The idea behind the task force was for it to implement policies aimed at “preventing crime, punishing criminals, preserving order, protecting our revered American monuments, and promoting beautification and the preservation of our history and heritage” in Washington, D.C.
According to a recent Fox News report, one of the successes of the task force so far has been to greatly reduce the time it takes to apply for and receive a permit to own a firearm in the city. Before the task force, applicants were forced to wait four months just for a firearms registration appointment. Additionally, the task force has also greatly reduced the wait time for permit processing.
“President Trump is not only stopping violent crime in Washington, D.C., he is also streamlining the permitting process for law-abiding residents who want the ability to protect themselves and their families,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told the network. “The Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force has been working with local officials to eliminate longstanding obstacles and successfully reduced the average permit processing time from several months to just five days.”
The timeline for applying for and receiving a concealed carry permit has also been greatly reduced. According to the task force, while it used to take several months to obtain a concealed carry permit, that process has also been cut down to four or five days.
Such progress is remarkable, as the city’s permitting process was previously stacked against those wanting to defend themselves with a permitting process that is extremely restrictive. Along with the onerous process to acquire a permit, lawful gun owners have to reapply for their license every two years.
A Change For The Better
The Trump Administration’s embracing lawful gun owners as a means to battle violent crime in D.C. is an abrupt about-face from the Biden years when anti-gun executive orders and ATF “Final Rules” were often the order of the day. It’s a refreshing thing to see administration officials trying to make armed self-defense easier. It signifies that the Trump Administration understands that the term “Guns Save Lives” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a reality.
You can look far and wide, but you’ll have a hard time finding a better example of the old saying, “Elections have consequences.”
Very few people want to spend even a minute longer at their workplace than is absolutely necessary. I totally understand that. However, there may be times when hanging out for a while is the wisest course of action. A workplace emergency kit makes sense.
There are a few reasons why you might need to hunker down at work instead of heading for home.
When snow has been piling up for a while, you may want to wait until the plows have gotten out and about.
If the roads are bad, you might want to hunker down and let the plows do their magic.
Maybe you work in an urban area and for some reason, there’s a major protest happening right outside your building. Rather than fight through the potentially violent crowd, you might decide to just hang tight until they disperse.
There may be a shelter-in-place order from the authorities due to a terror attack. In this case, you’re going to have to sit and wait for the all clear.
In each of these scenarios, running out to your vehicle to grab anything might be problematic at best. Thus, it’s not a bad idea to put together a workplace emergency kit that you can sock away, just in case.
What Should Be in Your Workplace Emergency Kit
The exact configuration of the kit should be tailored to the individual situation. Look at the following as suggestions rather than a set-in-stone checklist.
Flashlight – yes, many of us carry a pocket flashlight on the daily. But having a spare means you can let someone borrow it during a power outage. Want to be a hero? Be the one who makes it easy for people to find their way to and from the bathroom when the lights go out.
The Streamlight Nano II is a great option for the workplace emergency kit.
Battery Pack – if you’re playing games or listening to podcasts you’ve been saving for a rainy day, it can chew up your phone’s battery.
Snacks – do you really want to take a chance with the Wheel of Death in the break room, assuming it’s even working? A better idea is to have some trail mix, granola bars, or similar snacks squirreled away, along with a couple of bottles of water or soft drinks. You might even pick up a case of bottled water to keep under your desk so you can share with co-workers.
Toiletries – being able to brush and floss your teeth, and maybe wash up a bit, could be nice.
You might appreciate having a toothbrush in your kit.
Clothing – depending on your work dress code, having a soft hoodie or something else comfortable to change into while you’re sitting around for hours on end might be appreciated. Thick socks are another good addition to the workplace emergency kit.
Medications – if you have any prescriptions you take regularly, keep a stash at work. This could be vital in a bad situation where you run out and you can’t easily get a refill.
Boredom Relievers – a deck of cards can be used by yourself or as a group, depending on whether you like your co-workers or not. A novel or magazine to read, or a book of puzzles could help pass the time as well.
While HR will likely frown on gambling, you can still have fun playing cards until you’re able to leave.
Where To Keep Your Workplace Emergency Kit
This isn’t the type of kit that really needs to be stored all together in one spot. It’s a kit only in the sense that you’ve assembled the items for a specific reason. That said, a canvas shopping bag works as well as a backpack, but might be a little more low-key.
Keep the supplies somewhere accessible, such as your cubicle or locker. Remember that the idea here is to have these items available to you without you having to leave your workplace.
Half of the battle is looking cool. The other half is violence. Sometimes we get the perfect combination, and sometimes that combination gets captured on film. Today, we are going to dissect five iconic photos that are dripping, with, uh, drip. They mix style and the potential for violence with ease. We are going to dive behind the scenes of these iconic photos and tell their tactical tales.
It’s tough to beat the drip of five dudes riding on the side of a convertible with the top down. They’re dressed impressively in blazers and boat shoes, with khakis and collared shirts topping it off. The boys look like they’re ready to indulge in some yacht rock while shooting their mix of Remington 870s and Uzis into garbage.
These men are dressed to kill and well-armed because they are Secret Service agents charged with protecting President Reagan. It’s 1983, and President Reagan is playing a round of golf with Secretary of State George Shultz in Augusta, Georgia. The game was interrupted when a man named Charlie Harris drove his truck through a gate, wielding a .38 Special.
Charlie Harris took hostages in the Pro Shop and demanded to see Reagan. The Secret Service response was immediate, and they stormed the course, securing the President and bringing enough firepower to fight off a squad of communists.
The Uzi had become the Secret Service’s submachine gun of choice and would be famously wielded by a Secret Service agent when John Hinckley Jr. tried to impress Jodie Foster. We can also see the profile of a Remington 870 fit with the law enforcement top-folding stock. The incident was resolved with no one harmed, and Charlie did five years in the can.
President Reagan did attempt to talk to Charlie in one of the first few cell phone calls ever, but the signal was bad, so the Gipper and Charlie never got to converse.
Rick Moranis in Desert Storm
If you look at the modern special operations vet, you see a big beard, tattoos, and testosterone-fueled muscles. Believe it or not, they didn’t always look that way. Sometimes the world’s most elite commandos look like they coach kids’ soccer. If you saw a dude in khakis with a button-down white shirt and big glasses in Desert Storm, he’d stand out; you might take him for an IT nerd. Sometimes the drip can be simple.
That’s not the case here. We have Delta Force alumnus Bill Cronin acting as the personal security detail for General “Stormin’ Norman” Schwarzkopf in Desert Storm. Mr. Cronin is often confused with fellow Rick Moranis impersonator and total badass Miles Vinning, but it turns out that looking like a normal dude can be beneficial. No one sees the guy who looks like he drives his kids to school in a minivan as a threat.
As soon as that Colt 723 with the equipped Redi-Mag device comes out, that impression soon changes. Delta Force is America’s premier special mission unit and is home to America’s most elite warriors. Bill Cronin spent a career in the Army and Special Operations, including 15 years with Delta Force. General Schwarzkopf was certainly in good hands with Mr. Cronin.
Obi-Wan Nairobi
I don’t give the Europeans credit for much, but they do get the drip. It’s always European police and military forces that find a way to blend tactical gear with street clothes and make it look so damn cool. That’s the case for our next photo.
In 2019, the tactical community was exposed to the drip of an unknown commando storming a mall in Nairobi, seemingly by himself, to help thwart a terroristic attack. The photo showed a guy wearing a balaclava, tight blue jeans, a multicam plate carrier, and armed with a very modern rifle. The man became known as Obi-Wan Nairobi, and all we knew was that he was in the SAS.
We know now he was working with local security forces and helping eliminate terrorists as well as evacuate civilians. He seemingly came out of nowhere and responded after hearing explosions and gunfire. He wasn’t alone and was paired with Dan J. Prastalo, a Slovenian member of the Diplomatic Protective Services Tactical Response Unit.
Obi-Wan Nairobi killed two terrorists and was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. Years later, the real man came forward as Christian Craighead. He became famous enough that Call of Duty even made an operator named Otter based on Obi-Wan Nairobi.
Even Ladies Have Drip
There is something so cool about fending off the occupiers of your country while wearing a leather jacket and polka-dot skirt. It’s even better when you add an AR-18 and an almost proper use of cover. For a woman who looked like she was going shopping, you can’t beat her stance, her tactics, or her style.
This famed photo shows a woman firing an AR-18 around a corner. She’s an IRA fighter reportedly engaging British forces with an AR-18 assault rifle. The AR-18, referred to as the Armalite by Irish forces, was a popular rifle with the IRA. They were strapped for arms, so anything was better than nothing, but the AR-18 is a solid rifle. However, it looks a little long in that young lady’s arms.
The photographer, Colman Doyle, claimed he took the photo after she had fired the rifle. The same woman, in the same outfit, was photographed in a piece of IRA propaganda. This has led to some suspicion that the photo is staged. Maybe the young lady only had one stylish outfit?
Women were also rare in the IRA. The IRA wasn’t exactly a progressive force willing to accept women in its ranks. Whether the photo is staged or not isn’t clear, but the drip is still there. Sadly, as far as I can tell, the lady has never come forward to claim her fame.
The Men in Blue Jeans
The Europeans might combine tactical doo-dads and civilian clothing more often, but that doesn’t mean America hasn’t done it a time or two. In fact, we did it so well and so hard that our enemies turned it into a nickname. “The Men in Blue Jeans” was a nickname gifted to Navy SEALs in Vietnam for both their combat prowess and their unbeatable American style.
The jeans aren’t the only thing that stands out in this photo of three chads with too much drip. Let’s not forget the always awesome Stoner 63 light machine guns. Oh, and the camouflage is perfectly accentuated by the cross belts of 5.56 ammo. The guy in the middle gets a perfect 10, with his comrades getting a solid 9; they just lack the jeans.
The SEALs weren’t wearing jeans for style, but for function. They chose Levi’s 501s and 505s. Levis were chosen for several different reasons. They were tougher than the issued pants and protected the wearer from leeches and other pests. Jeans dried faster than the issued cammies and were quieter when worn in the jungle.
The Levi’s made it easy to pick out a SEAL, but so did the Rolexes, the long hair, and the Stoner 63. I guess it wasn’t just good jeans.
More Than Drip
Looking cool matters. Right? It has to at least a little bit. That’s why the Winged Hussars looked so cool. Maybe it doesn’t, unless you want to be remembered. If that’s the case, you’ve got to match your drip to your skill level, and you might be the next tactical icon.
Prepping is not a spectator sport. It requires a lot of work and effort. And it can be even harder when it feels like your family isn’t supportive. “How do I get my family on board with prepping?” is a common concern.
Let’s look at some reasons why family members might be reluctant to jump on the bandwagon.
Financial stress can cripple a relationship. But prepping doesn’t need to be a burden if you approach it the right way.
There is no stress in a relationship like financial stress. It can be all-consuming and infect every other aspect of the household. The thing is, prepping costs money; there’s no way around that. But if the family is already struggling to keep their heads above water financially, sinking money into things that don’t have an immediate benefit might be seen as wasteful.
One approach to try in this situation is that, over time, you’ll actually save money. You’re able to feed the family tomorrow at today’s prices. Let’s be realistic, the cost of just about everything continues to increase. If you shop intelligently and make use of sales as well as coupons when they make sense, you can stock up on food and other necessities to help combat future price increases.
By shopping smart, as well as learning how to cook from scratch, you’ll save money over time.
Hoarding
To the uninitiated, there can seem to be a fine line between prepping and hoarding. One of the differences between the two is organization. Nobody wants to live in a home where every single surface is piled high with boxes, and you have to turn sideways to make it down hallways. Not only is it stressful, it’s a safety hazard.
Keeping your preps organized and under control is beneficial to everyone in the family. Not only does it help keep the home tidy, it allows you to find what you need when you need it. A power outage is the wrong time to have to hunt through 87 different totes and boxes to find the flashlights you know you bought last month.
Passionate
Many preppers are very passionate about it. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if it is shoehorned into virtually every conversation, that gets old fast for the other family members. It is possible to be too passionate, to the point that they tune you out.
Closely related to this is being focused only on end-of-the-world sorts of disasters. For example, if you constantly talk about the threat of the Yellowstone caldera blowing, after a while, it just becomes a Chicken Little situation. I’m not discounting your beliefs, just suggesting that dialing it back a notch or three may benefit your relationship with your family.
Instead of focusing on apocalyptic scenarios, talk about more mundane, and far more common, threats like job loss or severe weather.
Job loss is one of the most common personal disasters people will encounter, and prepping ahead of time can alleviate some of that stress.
For example, let’s say the primary breadwinner in your family lost their job due to cutbacks. It isn’t the end of the world, but it can for damn sure feel like it. If you don’t have much in the way of savings, things are going to be pretty tight until that paycheck can be replaced. But if you’ve stocked up on food and other supplies, that will help ease the strain on your pocketbook.
The most important thing is to keep the lines of communication as open as possible. Actually listen to your family’s concerns and do what you can to alleviate them.
(Warhog Photo) Hold the knife securely and slice down along the ready-set angles. Easy as that with the Warthog A4 Elite!
A new breed of knife and tool sharpeners is here—the Warthog V-Sharp A4 ELITE. Quite possibly the easiest way to keep it keen in the kitchen or outdoors!
Warthog Blade Sharpeners launched in 1999 with a bold goal: to give everyday users the power to sharpen knives like seasoned craftsmen. Drawing on expert knowledge, the team rejected clunky clamp systems and instead engineered a patented V-Sharp design that delivers professional results with speed and simplicity.
In 2000, they introduced the original V-Sharp Classic™, which quickly gained traction for its accuracy and ease of use. As demand surged—especially in the U.S.—Warthog expanded its lineup with the compact, corrosion-resistant Xtreme Edge™, tailored for both outdoor and home use.
By 2010, they refined the Classic into the Classic II™, adding a heavy-duty metal frame and quick-change hones for even greater versatility. In 2022, Warthog pushed the envelope again with the V-Sharp A4, offering four sharpening angles and sleek color options that made it a kitchen favorite.
Operating from a modern factory in George, South Africa, Warthog continues to manufacture high-quality diamond sharpeners and ships daily across North America through Warthog USA. With thousands of retail partners and a reputation for precision, Warthog sharpeners have earned a place in kitchens, campsites, and toolkits around the world.
V-Sharp A4 ELITE
The Warthog Elite A4 Sharpener transforms knife maintenance, keeping your blades razor-sharp with minimal effort. Utilizing a patented V-Sharp system, this sharpener features two spring-loaded diamond hones that sharpen both sides of the blade at the same time—eliminating the struggle of maintaining the perfect angle!
The Warthog A4 Elite V knife sharpener features a solid wooden base and two screws to make the experience a little more solid and looking high-class!
Its sturdy wooden base provides stability while you sharpen, and the durable metal frame construction ensures it lasts. You can easily adjust the sharpening angle to 15, 20, 25, or 30 degrees, making it suitable for everything from delicate sushi knives to robust outdoor blades. The included 325-grit diamond honing stones handle the heavy lifting, while the built-in finishing steels refine the edge to perfection.
For those seeking even more control, you can replace the honing stones with aftermarket options ranging from 270 to 1000 grit, or use ceramic honing stones for serrated blades.
MSRP: $144.99
Simple to Set Up V-Sharp A4 ELITE
Setting up the Warthog V-Sharp A4 ELITE is refreshingly simple. Right out of the box, it’s ready to work. No calibration, no clamping, no guesswork. Just place it on a stable surface, select your preferred sharpening angle (15°, 20°, 25°, or 30°), and insert the diamond hones into the spring-loaded arms. The base holds firm while the arms glide smoothly, ensuring consistent contact with both sides of the blade.
Whether you’re sharpening a chef’s knife or a field blade, the A4 ELITE adapts quickly and delivers a precise edge without the learning curve.
How-To Use Your Warthog
To use it, hold your knife vertically and draw it through the V-shaped hones in a smooth, downward motion. The dual-sided hones sharpen both sides of the blade simultaneously, maintaining symmetry and saving time. Start with the diamond side to grind the edge, then flip the rods to the steel side for honing. Repeat the motion 5–10 times, depending on the blade’s condition. Then you’ll feel the edge bite back with renewed sharpness.
Changing the rods is just as intuitive. Press the spring-loaded arms inward to release tension, slide the rods out, and insert your desired grit or finish. The quick-change system lets you swap between coarse, medium, or fine hones in seconds. This makes it easy to tailor the sharpening process to your blade’s needs.
With the A4 ELITE, Warthog has stripped sharpening down to its essentials. Precision, speed, and ease—all wrapped in a tool that feels as good to use as the edge it leaves behind.
The A4 knife sharpener is user-friendly, quick, and precise.
Key Features:
Four Sharpening Angles
15°, 20°, 25°, and 30° — ideal for everything from delicate kitchen knives to rugged outdoor blades.
Dual-Sided Hones
Each hone features diamond on one side and steel on the other, allowing you to grind. Then refine the edge without swapping tools.
Simultaneous Sharpening
Sharpens both sides of the blade at once, maintaining symmetry and saving time.
Quick-Change System
Easily swap out hones to adjust grit or angle.
Elegant Base Options
Available with a wooden base for a premium look and stable performance.
MSRP
$144.99
Warthog In My Kitchen
The Warthog A4 Elite features 325-grit honing stones for a sharp edge, with 270 to 1000 and ceramic options.
I used the included 325-grit diamond honing stones on my two Chinese cleavers, and two Henckels chef knives. Then, I turned the rods around to the steel side and used it for maintenance.
The Warthog V-Sharp A4 ELITE stays in the kitchen, set to 15°, with the steel side ready to go. After each use, I rinse the blades, pat them dry, and then put them on the Warthog. I usually do about 15-20 quick passes and call it a day. I don’t think I’ll need to use the diamond hone with my method. However, it’s good to know they’re there for me when I need them!
Griffin Armament revamped its Revolution® line of suppressors. The first release is the The (MOD 4) Revolution 45 designed for .45 caliber subsonic rounds, including the .45-70. The MOD 4 is just the latest in Griffin’s line of Revolution suppressors. Read on to see what’s new.
Griffin Armament broke ground with their original Revolution 9 and 45 suppressors with the user-customizable modular length feature. The new (MOD 4) Revolution 45 suppressor builds on that history, but is a total redesign. Griffin focused on user feedback, and the MOD 4 is more secure and easier to mount. It’s also fast and easy to configure and to disassemble for maintenance.
All features are designed to make the end user experience more convenient and satisfying. It also has what they’re saying are vastly increased maintenance intervals, making the need for takedown and cleaning less frequent.
The forward extension cap on the MOD 4 allows toolless reconfiguration. You can easily switch between the full-length 8.81-inch setup and the short 6.56-inch variation. The O-ring biased extension and front cap prevent inadvertent loosening of the extension or cap during use as well.
The MOD 4’s booster housing is permanently installed, so when you tighten or loosen the suppressor, you don’t accidentally loosen the booster housing. Griffin’s booster housing accepts pistons, fixed barrel mounts and spacers, Griffin’s integrated three lug mount, or the Plan A mounts.
The Revolution MOD 4 Suppressors are rated for pistol and subsonic calibers of .458 or lesser diameter, including the .45-70 Government and .45ACP. They do not have any minimum barrel length restrictions. The MOD 4 Revolutions are also full-auto rated for 60 rounds prior to cooling. So if you want to mount one on your .45-70 Gatling gun, go for it. And take a video, please. That would be awesome.
CARBON-GARD™
Griffin has also incorporated another improvement to the MOD 4 generation. They’ve incorporated their patented CARBON-GARD baffle technology. This concept makes cleaning and maintenance of the suppressor easier, even after very high round counts. I’m going to quote them here on this part, so I don’t get anything wrong:
“High-temp silicon o-rings are positioned at each baffle interface as well as the end cap, blast chamber, and extension tubes to fully seal gases and carbon within the baffle stack. This gas seal prevents lead and carbon fouling from building up between the tube body and the baffle stack, eliminating instances of the baffle core being carbon locked inside of the tube body, a condition that is very annoying for the end user.“
EZ-LOK™ Piston
The Revolution MOD 4 Suppressors ship with an EZ-LOK piston. The EZ-LOK provides a more secure and rapid mounting system than direct thread. You will have to get EZ-LOK barrel end adapters separately in order to use the EZ-LOK system. Griffin highly recommends using the EZ-LOK system to “mitigate chances of baffle strikes or catastrophic failure due to the can inadvertently coming loose.”
I thought this next part was interesting. They say that the best practice is to check your pistol suppressor for tightness every 1-3, 15-round magazines due to the excessive vibration inherent to tilt-barrel handguns. If you are using an older direct thread mount, they say that the best practice is to check and tighten the suppressor every 2-3 rounds fired.
I’ll be honest, I’ve mostly used direct thread up until now and never knew I should be checking that frequently. Good to know. Regardless, they point out that the EZ-LOK gives you a 15-fold or greater enhancement in mounting security. That is a pretty huge difference. I may have to consider switching interfaces for my existing Griffin Ultra Light Sportsman HD .36 can. I use it on my 9mm pistols and SBRs as well as on a variety of rifles.
(MOD 4) Revolution 45 Features
17-4 H900 Heat Treated Stainless Steel Baffles
7075-T6 Aluminum tube body/end cap construction
Modular Length
Tool-less Disassembly
CARBON-GARD Sealed Baffle Tech
ECO-FLOW Backpressure-Reducing Baffle Tech
EZ-LOK Piston and Booster Assembly included
Perpetual Lifetime Warranty™
Pricing and Availability
The MOD 4 Revolution 45 suppressors are shipping now. They have an MSRP of $734.95, and you can either have them shipped directly to your home through their Silencers to Your Door program or have one sent to your local NFA dealer. I used the Silencers to Your Door program when I got my Ultra Light HD suppressor, and it was fast and painless. I had my suppressor in under 4 weeks, I believe it was, and I never had to leave the house to get it.
Griffin Armament suppressors are made in the USA and backed by their Perpetual Lifetime Warranty. I’ve actually been in the market for a .45 caliber suppressor to use on my .45 ACP pistols and carbine, as well as my .400 Legend AR. The MOD 4 Revolution 45 may just end up being my next suppressor purchase.
The Allhaula line is a new focus for 5.11 Tactical. It’s a more subdued approach to packs and bags. Sort of a gray man look, one might say. They sent over a couple of their offerings for me to check out. Gotta say, I’m impressed.
I’ve lost count of how many backpacks I’ve owned through the years. Most of them were at least somewhat tactical in appearance if not actual function. They were loaded with exterior pockets, MOLLE attachment points, all that fun stuff.
There’s not much of that here with the Allhaula 30L. On the surface, it’s actually quite plain. And y’know what? It works.
Allhaula 30LSize andMaterials
The Allhaula 30L Backpack measures 20 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches. This puts it solidly in the airline carry-on column. I didn’t have any big trips on the agenda during my review period for the Allhaula 30L, but rest assured, it’ll be with me the next time I board a plane.
The exterior is TPU-coated 840D nylon. This material consists of a thermoplastic polyurethane membrane that’s been bonded to nylon. The end result is a tough fabric material that’s both waterproof and flexible. My fear upon first seeing the pack was that it would feel cheap, like pleather. That’s not the case at all. It’s smooth to the touch, sure, but not in a flimsy way.
The Allhaula 30L exterior is very water-resistant. Photo credit: 5.11 Tactical.
One benefit of this TPU-coated nylon material is that it’s very lightweight. All told, the Allhaula 30L comes in at a bit more than two pounds. That’s fairly light for a 30L backpack, especially one with quality construction.
How Big Is That?
Now, as a practical matter, how big is a 30L pack? Meaning, how much stuff can you realistically carry in it? While it obviously depends on what you’re doing and where you’re going, your mission, for lack of a better term, think about it like this. If you aren’t the type to pack seven pairs of underwear for each day of your trip, you can fit enough clothes to last several days in this backpack. I’ve lived out of a 30L backpack for 4-5 days at a time, though it did require me to wear the same pants more than once. I recommend packing cubes.
Allhaula 30LFeatures
The Allhaula 30L Backpack is loaded with great details. Let’s start at the front and work our way to the back. Around the perimeter of the pack’s front, there are four small loops for attaching carabiners. They’re subdued, and if you aren’t specifically looking for them, you’ll probably miss seeing them.
Front and center, there’s a section of loop fabric that’s just waiting for your favorite patch. I don’t do much with patches, but don’t let that stop you from adorning this pack with whatever you’d like. Just behind this loop section is a fleece-lined zippered pocket that’s perfect for sunglasses or your phone.
Next is an admin section that runs the entire pack from top to bottom. It has the usual assortment of sleeves and a zippered pocket near the top. But again, you can reach all the way to the bottom of the pack. This is a great place to stuff a lightweight jacket you can pull out if the weather turns when you’re out and about.
The main section opens to about 75% clamshell. This is obviously where you’d pack the bulk of your clothes or gear.
At the rear of the pack is another compartment that houses a laptop sleeve as well as a separate sleeve for either a hydration pouch or a ballistic panel.
A vertical zipper along the right side hides a pocket for a water bottle. This keeps the bottle out of the way as you travel. It will hold up to a 32-ounce Nalgene bottle.
The water bottle pocket is hidden behind a zipper.
Flipping the pack over, there is a luggage pass-through snuggled between the padding on the back. This is great for when you’re traveling and you want to secure it to your rolling carry-on. The shoulder straps are well-padded and feature a few MOLLE cutouts. A sternum strap helps keep the pack in place as you jog to your next gate at the airport. All of the straps are adjustable.
The carry-on handle pass-through is a great feature.
Backpack Performance
As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t have any flights or other big trips come up while I was evaluating the pack. That said, I loaded it up for several walks and generally played around with it a fair amount over the last few weeks.
I think the Allhaula 30L is a solid contender for anyone looking for a subdued, low-key pack for EDC or traveling. I love that it’s pretty discreet as far as packs go. It has a grab handle at the top and another on the side, making it easy to carry if you don’t have time to strap it on your back or if doing so would hinder your movement. I’m thinking specifically of those high-speed trams used at many airports, where they cram you in like sardines.
The Allhaula 30L is available in three colors – Volcanic (shown), Ensign Blue, and Sage Green.
MSRP: $165
Allhaula Waist Pack
Photo credit: 5.11 Tactical.
I’m old enough to remember the first time fanny packs were all the rage. Get a couple of drinks into me and I might even confess to having owned and used one or another of them back in the day. Looking back, they were kind of silly, but they served a purpose.
I tell you that to tell you this. The Allhaula Waist Pack isn’t like the fanny packs you might remember. For starters, you don’t need to wear it around your waist. But that’s getting ahead of ourselves.
Waist Pack Size and Construction
This is a 2L pack. It measures about 9 inches by 6 inches by 1 inch. The exterior is the same TPU-coated nylon as the backpack. The belt extends to 50 inches. The heavy-duty plastic buckle is on the side of the pack. The belt has a keeper loop to secure any slack. On each side of the belt, where it attaches to the pack, are MOLLE loops.
2L Waist Pack Features
As we did with the backpack, we’ll go front to back. There is a padded grab handle on the front of the pouch. Honestly, this kind of baffled me. I can’t imagine a situation where this would be truly handy to have. By the very nature of the pack, you’re not likely to be carrying anything heavy or bulky in it that would necessitate such a heavy-duty handle. But, it doesn’t detract from the bag’s use, so no harm, no foul, I suppose.
Just behind that grab handle is a zippered pocket. It’s just big enough for a cell phone, which is what I used it for.
The main compartment opens very wide. Inside, there are several sleeves and interior pockets. One of the hallmarks of 5.11 Tactical’s packs is their organization capabilities, and even this little waist pack doesn’t disappoint in that regard. There’s even a strap with a snap for your keys.
As with most 5.11 Tactical bags and packs, there are plenty of organizational features.
At the back, there is one more zippered pocket that’s slightly larger than the one on the front. It’s a good size for a small map or a notebook and pencil to take notes as you travel.
Allhaula Waist Pack Performance
Here’s the thing. I’m not a big fan of waist packs. Just a personal preference. However, I’ve grown to like sling packs for short hikes and similar adventures. For about a year now, I’ve been using a Carry Commission Bum Bag for that purpose. My wife ended up snagging one of those from me, and she’s been using it for herself.
The Allhaula Waist Pack works in a very similar manner to a crossbody bag, and it’s outstanding. The 2L capacity, coupled with the admin-style organization, allows me to bring along everything I might need on a hike without feeling bogged down.
A typical load out for the waist pack includes a cell phone, spare battery pack, granola bar or other snack, lighter, bandana or other sweat rag, printed trail map, and a few other odds and ends. I love that the main compartment opens wide enough that I can easily see and find anything inside without taking the bag off.
The grab handle on the Allhaula Waist Pack seems out of place.
My only real gripe about the Allhaula Waist Pack is with the grab handle. It just seems weird and out of place for a pack this small. But again, it doesn’t really hurt anything with regard to performance. It’s just odd.
The Allhaula Waist Pack is available in Volcanic (shown) or Ensign Blue.
Sometimes you just need to disappear. No matter if you’re hunting in the deep backwoods or on a covert mission across the globe, being “invisible” at times is a necessity. Luckily, there is a myriad of camo-patterned gear on the market today that helps you blend into nature’s natural colors and patterns.
These items range from clothing to hats, to packs, to hunting blinds, face paint, and even a simple face wrap. Additionally, though diverse in function, they all share one common denominator. They put stealth and discretion at the top of your must-have list when trekking outdoors. Use one or several of the options below to seemingly fade from sight when in Mother Nature’s backyard.
8 Pieces of Cammo Patterned Gear for the Deep Woods
Hunting conditions are not always at their best. For wet, damp, or cold conditions, it’s time to turn to the Parallax pants. These warm, breathable pants offer weather-resistant properties thanks to their lightweight material and Sofie superfine insulation. You’ll be toasty inside when facing Mother Nature’s worst.
These pants are also windproof and provide optimal moisture-wicking to keep you as dry as possible when in the deep outdoors. The Parallax’s multicam design keeps you well hidden from your prey. YKK zippers, reinforced knee and bum patches, and an included stuff sack round out the pants’ amazing amenities.
Specifications
Waterproof reinforced knee & bum patches
Durable YKK zippers
Adjustable elasticated braces
Windproof, but highly breathable design
Convenient outer hand pockets
MSRP: $299.00
Snugpak Arrowhead Multicam Jacket
Lightweight, windproof, breathable, and water-repellent, you’ve struck gold with this incredible deep woods jacket. Its multicam outer design is just the beginning of this outerwear’s best features. The Arrowhead jacket offers supreme moisture-wicking properties to keep you both dry and warm. It offers an internal and external chest pocket, hand warmer pockets, and a sleeve pocket with a zipper.
Add to this a lined neck warmer and detachable insulated hood for additional comfort while in cold conditions. Its quality and durability are nonstop with YKK zippers, hook-and-loop adjustable cuffs, and its unique Softie insulation that keeps you warm and toasty throughout your hunt. Staying warm when staying hidden, that’s the fundamental of the Arrowhead jacket.
Specifications
Lightweight, windproof, and water-repellent
Insulated, fully detachable hood
Internal and external chest pockets
Hook and loop adjustable cuffs
Lined neck warmer for added comfort
MSRP: $299.00
Camcon Camouflage Squeeze Tubes (3-Pack)
No matter if you’re on the hunt or carrying out a military mission, you need to be camouflaged, and these squeeze tubes can help. Consisting of black, olive, and brown, you can create patterns to help you blend into your surroundings. They offer non-glare properties, which are essential for stealth and are long-lasting for multiple-hour use.
This make-up is easy to apply, easy to remove, and is compact enough to carry with you in the field. Each tube holds one ounce and is completely odorless for optimal discretion when it counts.
Specifications
Olive, brown, and black colors
Easy to apply and remove
Long-lasting formula
Non-glare properties
Pocket-sized for easy transport
MSRP: $15.00
Tasmanian Tiger Multicam Mission Pack MKII
You may be camouflaged, but how about your pack? Match your apparel with the Tasmanian Tiger Multicam Mission Pack MKII. This bag offers an all-over camo pattern that allows you to keep your gear well-hidden when outdoors. When in use, this backpack offers some incredible amenities.
It features a padded back carrying system, a hip belt with zippered pockets, and a hydration compatible sleeve. Additionally, it holds a lot of gear within its seven separate pockets. A laser-cut MOLLE system, detachable rear panel, and three antenna outlets on the main compartments only add to this pack’s conveniences. An integrated rain cover inside the bottom compartment adds the cherry on top of this camouflaged cake!
Specifications
37-liter available storage space
Durable, reinforced handle
Hydration system compatible
MOLLE system on both sides and the front pocket
Subdivided into seven pockets of optimal organization
MSRP: $279.00
CamCon Shemaghs
You wouldn’t think a single piece of fabric could be so valuable, but it is. This large shemagh is the Jack-of-all-trades when it comes to versatility. Use it as a towel, an arm sling, a water filter, an emergency bandage, as cordage, and a whole lot more.
For concealment, this item is king. Just wrap the camouflage-patterned fabric around your neck, head, and face, and disappear into the background. Not only that, but you can also wrap your weapons and gear in it to hide them all from prying eyes. The shemagh is made from 100% cotton material and is available in a whopping twenty-four different color and pattern combinations.
Specifications
Dozens of practical uses
Lightweight, only 6.00 ounces
Dimensions: 44 by 44 inches
Multiple color and pattern options
Made of 100% cotton
MSRP: $15.00
Arcturus 3D Leaf Suit with Face Mask (Fall Forest)
Become a part of nature when you wear this stealthy leaf suit and mask. Consisting of over one thousand (yes, one thousand!) 3D leaves, you can literally disappear just by standing out in the woods. The suit is extremely lightweight at only eighteen ounces. It offers an elastic waist with drawcord pants, a jacket with an attached hood, and multiple zippered pockets.
The tuck-away veil provides either full facial cover, partial, or none at all to meet your needs while in the field. The suit is highly durable with a polyester mesh frame and laser-cut leaves that won’t fray over time. Just put it on and become invisible to those around you.
Specifications
One size fits most
Elastic waist and draw cord pants
Over 1,000 3D leaves
Extremely lightweight, only 18.00 ounces
Tuckaway veil for a full face covering effect
MSRP: $69.99
GhostBlind Predator 46-inch Blind
Need to disappear when positioned out in the open? If so, the Predator blind can do just that. This four-panel blind reflects its surroundings to hide you and your gear. It’s shatterproof, waterproof, highly durable, and the perfect height for airing with a standard chair. It offers shooting ports especially designed for a rifle, compound bow, crossbow, and traditional bow.
Its interior offers a Stealthy Woodland Camo pattern for backside concealment when needed. The blinds come complete with four tent stakes, two tiedowns, two bungee cords, and carrying straps for easy transport.
Specifications
Lightweight, polypropylene material
Durable and weatherproof
Interior woodland camo pattern
Integrated shooting ports
Dimensions: 46 inches tall by 102 inches wide
MSRP: $259.99
5.11 RUSH 24 2.0 Multicam Backpack
Not all camo is designed for the deep woods. This black multicam pattern allows for urban and nighttime use. The RUSH 24 balances its large interior space with convenient, smaller compartments to keep all your gear and personal needs easy to find. Specialized areas such as the padded laptop sleeve and eyeglass pouch add safety to these delicate essentials, while its hidden CCW pocket allows you personal protection within arm’s reach.
Slip in and out of the darkness with this camo pack for urban exploring, bugging out, or just staying hidden at night while on the street. Durability, comfort, and a discreet design merge into this one, carry-all pack.
Zippo, famous for its windproof lighters, has expanded into a complete outdoor gear brand with a variety of rugged fire-related tools. (ZIPPO Photo)
Zippo, the iconic American brand, knows a thing or two about producing fire with speed and flair! With its renowned line of CASE Knives as its partners, Zippo Gear offers several must-have pocket, pouch, or pack options. These options are perfect for both beginner and seasoned campers alike!
In 1932, George G. Blaisdell invented the Zippo lighter out of frustration with a cumbersome Austrian model. He admired its windproof chimney but recognized the need for a more user-friendly design. By 1933, he launched the first Zippo—a sleek, rectangular lighter with a hinged lid. The lighter operated efficiently with one hand and was priced at $1.95. It came with a bold promise: “It works or we fix it free,” establishing a lifetime guarantee as a key part of Zippo’s identity.
During World War II, Zippo shifted focus from consumer production to supplying lighters to U.S. troops. The reliable black crackle-finished steel models became battlefield essentials, trusted by soldiers in harsh conditions. This further solidified Zippo’s reputation for ruggedness. The lighter’s distinct “click” and windproof flame emerged as symbols of resilience and the American spirit.
Over the decades, Zippo transformed into a cultural icon, appearing in numerous films and serving as a canvas for personal expression. The brand expanded its offerings with innovations like the Slim Zippo in 1956. They recently branched into outdoor gear, including hand warmers and fire-starting tools like the FireFast® Bellows.
Today, Zippo Gear combines heritage with modern utility, appealing to campers, survivalists, and collectors.
Zippo’s Camping Gear
Zippo may be best known for its iconic windproof lighter, but the brand has evolved into a full-fledged outdoor gear company. It now boasts a growing lineup of rugged, fire-focused tools. From torches and hand warmers to camping accessories and apparel, Zippo’s gear reflects the same reliability and timeless design. These qualities made its lighter a legend.
Zippo offers a variety of notable products beyond its traditional lighters. The FireFast® Bellows serves as a battery-powered fire-starting tool. It delivers targeted airflow through a flame-retardant nozzle and features an ergonomic grip for ease of use. Users can also enjoy the convenience of rechargeable hand warmers, which not only keep hands warm but also charge phones.
For outdoor and tactical settings, Zippo Gear provides butane-powered torches that ensure precision flame control. Additionally, their camping essentials range includes fuel, cookware, and fire-starting kits designed specifically for backcountry adventures. Check out the two picks I thought were practical for hikers, campers, and preppers!
Zippo Typhoon Match Kit
Matches are even older than the ZIPPO Lighter, but most of the world still ignites camp and cook fires with matches, especially in developing countries. ZIPPO created the Typhoon Match Kit for those who refuse to let weather dictate their adventure. Designed with rugged ABS plastic (used in knife handles) and sealed with water-resistant O-rings, this kit keeps its 15 Typhoon Matches bone dry. This is true even when it is submerged. The integrated strike pad cap stays protected from the elements, ensuring reliable ignition when you need it most.
Each match is a mini inferno: windproof, water-resistant, and capable of burning up to 30 seconds with a hot, intense flame. At nearly 4 inches long, they offer added safety and plenty of time to get a fire going in harsh conditions. Whether you’re battling rain, wind, or snow, these matches light fast and burn strong.
The ZIPPO Typhoon Match Kit is designed for adventurers, keeping 15 matches dry even when submerged thanks to its durable ABS plastic and water-resistant seal. (ZIPPO Photo)
The kit’s ergonomic design includes a textured grip for easy one-handed use. Also, a molded lanyard hole for quick attachment to your pack or go-bag adds peace of mind. The large striking surface is excellent. Lightweight, reusable, and built to float, the Typhoon Match Kit is a fire-starting essential for survivalists, campers, and anyone who ventures beyond the beaten path.
ZIPPO Gear Mag Strike
The Zippo Mag Strike is a fire-starting powerhouse built for precision, durability, and performance in the wild. With a 5/16″ ferrocerium rod and a hardened 420 stainless steel striker blade, it delivers a shower of sparks that easily ignites tinder—even in cold, wet, or windy conditions. The blade’s sharpened edge ensures maximum spark output with minimal effort. This makes fire-starting fast and reliable.
Its triangular body and textured grip offer superior leverage, especially when wearing gloves or working in low temperatures. The snap-lock closure keeps the rod and striker securely housed in a shielded internal chamber, protecting them from moisture and damage. Lightweight yet rugged, the Mag Strike features a molded lanyard hole for easy attachment to your pack or gear.
The Zippo Mag Strike is a reliable fire starter made for outdoor use. Its 5/16″ ferrocerium rod and hardened stainless steel striker create sparks that easily ignite tinder in any weather. (ZIPPO Photo)
Whether you’re building a fire at basecamp or lighting tinder in a survival scenario, the Zippo Mag Strike gives you control, confidence, and consistent performance. It’s a compact tool that punches above its weight, ready to ignite every adventure.
Designed for success, Zippo’s gear is not just functional—it’s essential for your outdoor adventures. Get ready to ignite your camping experience with Zippo’s unbeatable fire starters!
Smith & Wesson recently announced two new .22s, a rifle and a pistol. The pistol is the M&P 22X, and the rifle is the M&P FPC .22LR. Both are designs familiar to S&W fans, but they’re now available in the economical .22LR.
The M&P 22X is very similar in size and appearance to the .22 Magnum and 5.7mm pistols from Smith & Wesson. It should make a good, inexpensive training alternative to both of those pistols. As noted, it’s chambered in .22LR and has a formidable 20-round internal magazine.
The new .22LR has a sleek, slim grip despite the copious magazine capacity. It has a crisp trigger and hammer-fired action. That, along with the negligible recoil of the .22 round, should make it a very pleasant shooter. It’s optics-ready, but does come with iron sights, including a HIVIZ fiber optic front sight.
The M&P 22X has a 4.1-inch threaded barrel, so it’s ready for your favorite suppressor or muzzle device, too. With its polymer frame, the weight is a very manageable 16.32 ounces.
MSRP is $499.00.
The M&P FPC
Just as the M&P 22X will be familiar to Smith & Wesson fans, so too will the M&P FPC .22LR. The FPC follows the same form factor as Smith & Wesson’s other FPC carbines. If you’ve used one of these, the operation and handling of the .22LR version will be the same. It uses the familiar grip and trigger of the M&P pistol series. It also uses M&P pistol mags. In this case, it takes the same mags as the new M&P 22X. So you have the same 20-round capacity.
If 20 rounds aren’t enough for you, don’t worry. You can carry two spare mags with the in-stock storage, so you have 20 rounds on board just by grabbing the gun. That has great survival rifle implications. And you actually get three magazines with the gun, which is also great. The forend has M-LOK slots for accessory mounting, and there’s a full-length Picatinny rail for mounting optics.
The FPC has a 16.25-inch barrel that’s factory threaded. Overall length open is 30 3/8 inches and just 16 3.8 inches folded. Weight is 65.2 ounces, which is just a touch over 4 pounds.
MSRP on the FPC .22LR is $549.00.
For more info on these two new releases, check out the video from Smith & Wesson:
Rewild Gear offers essential outdoor gear like the Gasper 4 Knife, Titanium Utensil, and Tinder Ridge Ferro Rod.
When I stumbled upon Rewild Gear, I was left scratching my head about what kind of company they were. They offer a 4-inch fixed blade knife, a grill, handy telescopic pocket bellows, a ferrocerium rod, a food utensil, a stylish trucker’s cap, and pyro balls! Yes, you read that right, pyro balls!
Rewild Gear, a family-run business founded by four brothers from South Central Kentucky, creates high-quality, lightweight outdoor gear. With a focus on conservation and minimalist design, they aim to inspire a love for nature in the next generation. Their gear works seamlessly together for an excellent camping experience.
Rewild: verb “To reverse the process of domestication. To return to a more wild or natural state.”
Gear for the Wild
Gasper 4- Inspired by the Gasper River in South Central Kentucky, where four brothers enjoyed kayaking and fishing, the Gasper 4 knife is a tribute to their adventures. With a 4-inch blade symbolizing the brothers, the knife measures 8.84 inches overall and weighs just over 8 ounces, including the sheath.
The Gasper Knife features a 4.07-inch CPM-S35VN steel drop point blade with excellent corrosion resistance and a long-lasting edge, ideal for various tasks like skinning. Its 4.78-inch orange/grey Tero Tuf handle provides a secure grip, even when wet, and includes a glass breaker, nutcracker pommel, and a Ferro rod striker notch for easy fire-starting. It comes with a kydex sheath and versatile belt loop attachments for both vertical and horizontal carry.
The Gasper 4 has a sharp 90-degree notch for striking a Ferro rod and scraping tinder, making fire-starting a breeze with the Tinder Ridge Ferro Rod!
Kitchen Worthy
Trailside Utensil – This featherlight gem from Rewild Gear packs a full-size fork on one end and a spoon on the other, complete with a handy bottle opener for those moments when you need a refreshing sip. It folds down to a sleek 5.35 inches and tips the scales at just 0.85 ounces. Rewild Gear chose titanium for its strength, lightness, and safety in utensils. A clever locking mechanism ensures everything stays securely in place, enhancing durability.
Granite Grill – This compact and ultralight camping essential weighs just under 12 ounces and is only 0.2 inches thick. With its 18-inch by 7-inch design, this grill features two cooking areas: a center section with ½-inch spaced tubing for veggies and smaller meats, and larger outer tubing spaced at 1 inch for brats or fish fillets. It even includes a multi-purpose canvas sheath to protect your gear and keep debris at bay. With the sheath, the total weight is just 16.5 ounces.
Rewild Gear on Fire
Pyro Balls– When the rain pours, fire starters are your best allies. Pyro Balls are twelve cotton balls filled with a gooey accelerant that ignites your kindling until the bigger logs catch fire. Housed in a handy, reusable tin measuring 3 ¾ inches by 2 ½ inches, they easily fit in pockets.
Simply fluff a Pyro Ball, strike it with the Tinder Ridge Ferro Rod, and watch it ignite. Add your kindling and some dubious wood, then use the Firelite Bellows to turn that spark into a roaring fire!
Tinder Ridge Ferro Rod– Check out this Ferrocerium rod with a comfy bamboo handle, measuring 5 ½ inches total—3 inches of that is solid Ferro—and it’s.3125 inches thick. Rewild praises it for delivering 10,000 strikes at a scorching 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, designed for all those campfire moments. This waterproof fire starter is reliable survival gear in skilled hands.
A Pyro Ball sits atop the author’s upside-down fire, perfect for cold-weather cooking. It’ll burn down and ignite the layers below until it becomes self-sustaining.
It comes with a multi-tool striker and 29 inches of 550 paracord, all in a lightweight canvas bag—totaling just 2 ounces.
Firelite Bellows– The bellows has a vital role by directing a focused stream of oxygen right into your fire. This collapsible stainless steel tool is like a magic wand that adds the often-missed element—air! Remember the HAF mantra: heat, air, fuel. Remove any one of those, and your fire struggles or goes out.
At 5 ½ inches closed and 21 inches open, it’s lightweight at under an ounce, easily slipping into any pouch or pocket. So, save your breath for breathing and give it a good puff to bring your fire back to life!
Camping with Rewild Gear
Late autumn and early winter are my favorite seasons for camping. With bugs, heat, and casual hikers out of the picture, the environment attracts a different kind of adventurer. Having a fire is essential for cooking and survival, and luckily, Rewild provides the perfect gear for that!
The author blows air into a winter fire using the Rewild Gear Firelite Bellows. In cold weather, condensation can build up, but it still does the job.
To start a fire, you need a good bed of coals, but first, let’s ignite it. I always look for standing deadwood on wet days and for blown-down branches in the trees for kindling to load into the Uberleben Stoke Stove to boil water and cook.
For my fire, I combined Rewild’s Pyro Balls, Tinder Ridge Ferro Rod, and Firelite Bellows. I prepared a top-down fire lay with thicker hardwood at the bottom and kindling on top. Lighting it up was a breeze with the Ferro Rod—fire secured!
I used the Granite Grill’s canvas sheath to keep my kindling off the wet ground, keeping the camp organized. Once the damp fuel ignited, the Firelite Bellows added the oxygen boost to flaring flames.
Fire
The Tinder Ridge Ferro Rod worked like a charm, striking sparks effortlessly while the comfortable bamboo handle withstood the elements. The Gasper 4 knife was my primary cutting tool. It was perfect for food prep. Sausages, veggies, and chicken for kabobs weren’t safe. This 4-inch slicer carved feathers and held its edge without any sharpening.
The grill has ample space for a kettle and kabobs, and the Granite Grill can easily fit a frying pan alongside a kettle.
Finally, the Granite Grill proved to be a versatile asset. It cooled quickly, didn’t warp, and worked as a coal mover in the cold. Its design was great for cooking, making the Gasper 4 and Granite Grill the true stars of my Rewild Gear!
Rewild Conclusion
Rewild Gear creates high-quality, minimalist gear designed to help you reconnect with nature, family, and friends. Whether you’re camping, hiking, or fishing, they’ve got the perfect equipment for your outdoor adventures!
Have you ever crouched next to a struggling campfire, waving a hand or hat at it to try and coax it to life? We’ve all done that a time or two, I’m sure. What if I told you there was a better way? The fire bellows deserves a place in your kit.
Not every fire will start easily. Sometimes, even if they do start quickly, they falter after a short while. The point is that you may need to help it along. Just pushing air toward the fire with your hand or something isn’t effective. Most of that air will be blocked by the fire lay itself. A fire bellows lets you direct that air exactly where it’s needed most.
Fire Bellows Origin
I first learned about this tool from John McCann, author of Build the Perfect Survival Kit (2nd edition). Back in the day, you’d use the antenna from an old portable radio. Take the antenna off the radio, snip both ends, and you can create a hollow tube that you can expand and retract.
Over time, a few companies began producing purpose-built fire bellows. They were often longer and wider than a radio antenna, allowing for greatly increased air flow.
Fire Bellows Use
These are very simple to use. You just extend the bellows to its full length, then point the narrow end at the base of the fire. That’s where the air is really needed. Then, blow into the larger end. You may be surprised at just how effective this method of fire lighting can be.
Extend the tube, blow into the large end, and aim the small end at the embers you’re trying to coax into life.
When you’re using it, the length will help keep your face a short distance from the fire. But be wary of flare-ups anyway. In some cases, it doesn’t take much for the fire to come roaring to life.
Part of the beauty of a fire bellows like this is that it shrinks back down to an easily packable size when you’re done. The one I currently use is made by Epiphany Outdoor Gear. Closed, it measures just 3.75 inches long. But it extends to a full 19 inches.
Survival Resources Modification
Until he recently retired, McCann owned and ran a company called Survival Resources. They were an online supplier of a wide range of gear, some of it designed by him. One of them was an innovative twist on the fire bellows, which he called a Fire Blowing Tube. It consisted of the standard sort of expandable metal tube, but with a length of flexible rubber tubing attached to the large end.
What this did was increase the distance between the fire and your face. You’d blow into the rubber tube while pointing the bellows at the fire.
L to R: Survival Resources Fire Blowing Tube, Epiphany Outdoor Gear Pocket Bellows.
Unfortunately, I’m not aware of any other companies selling this modified sort of setup. But I’m sure you could source a length of tubing yourself to add to the fire bellows. Just measure the bellows so you get the right diameter tubing. While the product itself is no longer available, a video he did showcasing the Fire Blowing Tube is still available.
The fire bellows is a valued piece of my fire kit. I use it quite often when we’re camping or even just roasting marshmallows in the backyard.
What the hell is a Mossberg Persuader? Seriously, search “Persuader,” and the only thing I can guarantee you is that it will be a Mossberg shotgun in a pump-action format. Most Persuaders are Mossberg 500 models, but they have called a few 590s Persuaders as well. In my mind, a Persuader is always a pistol-grip Mossberg 500 series with a short barrel.
In reality, the Persuader series is a lot more than that. The Persuader series has featured stocks and pistol grips, and a long time ago, there were Mossberg Persuaders with Choate folding stocks. You might ask how the Persuader with a pistol-grip-only design varies from a Cruiser?
I’m asking that too.
I couldn’t tell you. To be honest, it seems like the Mossberg Persuader is just a piece of marketing that’s become a brand for Mossberg. To this day, the catalog shows Mossberg Persuaders in .410 and 12 gauge, all with fixed stocks. However, while it’s not in the catalog, there is also a Mossberg 500 Persuader in 20 gauge.
I know this because I bought one. It’s not just a 20-gauge Persuader, but it features a heat shield and barrel that have a parkerized finish. I know this is a new production because we have what I call a Gen 2 Safety. Mossberg has made the tang safety larger than normal and more aggressively textured.
The Persuader – Pistol Grip Shotguns Suck, Right?
The general knowledge of shotguns says that pistol-grip-only shotguns suck. This idea has changed a bit due to the Shockwave and the more horizontal pistol grip. Vertical grips, they still suck, right? Sure, maybe, but mostly.
They put a lot of recoil into your wrist. Even when you use a proper push/pull, you’ll feel the sting. With a proper push/pull, you can control a PGO shotgun fairly well, but it won’t deliver the same control as a stocked shotgun.
This forces us to ask: Why did guns like the PGO Persuader ever become popular? I didn’t know, so I asked. I contacted Mike Searson, a legendary firearms writer with an encyclopedic knowledge of firearms and tactics. He told me pistol-grip shotguns became popular as special tactics teams rose to prominence.
Police forces wanted an entry weapon, but it wasn’t always easy to convince administrations to purchase submachine guns, and it was even harder to convince them to purchase AR-15s. A lot of these special teams weren’t favored by bean counters and administrations. A pistol grip added to a shotgun was an easy way to create a short and sweet weapon for the first man in the door.
Police forces quickly discovered that it wasn’t the best gun for the role, and so did most of the shooting public. These guns faded from police use, but never from Mossberg’s catalog. They might not be the best option, but they scored high when it came to the rule of cool.
The Persuader Perfected?
I’m not sure why Mossberg doesn’t list the 20-gauge Persuader in their catalog. Maybe it’s a limited-run thing, but I’m seeing them around a little more locally. This configuration is the way to go if you want a traditional, old-school, pistol-grip-only shotgun. Namely, due to the 20-gauge design.
The 20-gauge Persuader reduces recoil significantly from the 12-gauge variant. It’s less painful and arthritis-inducing on the wrist than the 12-gauge guns. With the 20-gauge Persuader, I can put two rounds of buckshot into an IPSC-sized A-zone in less than a second. Is it almost a second? Yes, but still less than a second.
Load the 20-gauge Persuader with Federal Flitecontrol and let it rip, and you have a very short, but powerful gun. Like any Mossberg 500, it’s a reliable and capable weapon. It’s also very affordable. I got away with paying Mossberg Maverick money for a Mossberg 500 shotgun.
The Mossberg Persuader offers a short and sweet shotgun that works in states that might ban the Shockwave and similar platforms. Yes, those states exist, and that’s the reason why Mossberg made a 990 Aftershock with an 18.75-inch barrel. In 20 gauge, it’s easy enough to handle, and if you don’t like it, you can make it a shotgun with a stock.
So What Is It?
I still can’t tell you what makes a Persuader different from any other Mossberg tactical shotgun. There doesn’t seem to be any distinct differences between the Persuader line and every other gun. It just seems to come down to marketing. It’s a plain-Jane tactical shotgun that’s affordable, but capable.
Concerned with constant calls by anti-gun advocates and their political enablers for a ban on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, a Congressman from Wisconsin has introduced legislation to ensure such limits never become law.
Doing Away with Laws that Limit Firearm Magazine Capacity
On July 17, Rep. Tony Wied, R-Wisconsin, introduced the “Freedom from Improper Regulation and Enforcement (FIRE) Act.” It prohibits any federal agency from restricting firearm magazines based on capacity and prohibits states and localities from enacting or enforcing capacity restrictions on any firearm magazines.
“For too long, the federal government has infringed on American’s Second Amendment rights while maintaining a confusing, inconsistent system that lacks a uniform national standard and invites legal disparity,” Rep. Wied said in a news release announcing the legislation.
“The FIRE Act ensures that law-abiding gun owners can access magazines of any size, no matter where they are in the United States. It’s well past time we take the Founding Father’s words’ ‘shall not be infringed’ seriously.”
No More Mag Bans
In recent years, anti-gun states and localities have enacted bans on so-called “high-capacity” magazines. All prevent law-abiding gun owners from legally accessing the majority of available firearm magazines.
A 2024 report published by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) found that of the over 973 million detachable magazines that were produced between 1990-2021, at least 718 million had a capacity that exceeded 10 rounds. This includes the period between 1994-2004 when the Federal Assault Weapons Ban was in effect.
Original co-sponsors include Reps. Tom Tiffany, R-Wisconsin, Mike Collins, R-Georgia, Dave Taylor, R-Ohio, Sheri Biggs, R-South Carolina, and Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho.
“Second amendment rights are one of the foundational principles America is built upon, and they must be vigilantly affirmed and protected,” said Rep. Taylor.
“TheFIRE Act will not only enshrine Americans’ right to self-defense, but it will also remove confusion about permissible magazine capacities by prohibiting a patchwork of state and local restrictions which inherently infringe on our freedoms. Where a person lives shouldn’t limit their ability to defend themselves, and I am proud to help introduce this America-First bill.”
The measure is being supported by several pro-gun groups, including Gun Owners of America (GOA).
“Firearm magazine bans do not work and fly in the face of the Second Amendment’s unqualified command: SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED,” Aidan Johnston, GOA director of federal affairs.
“We thank Representative Wied for introducing the Freedom from Improper Regulation and Enforcement (FIRE) Act to prevent states, local governments, and future presidential administrations from banning standard capacity magazines, or so-called ‘high capacity’ magazines. This bill is a common sense solution to ensure gun owners are not criminalized for owning a mere firearm accessory. We urge Congress to quickly send the FIRE Act to President Trump’s desk.”
OCASO's elegant EDC wallet is designed to hold your essentials, fitting 3 to 6 credit cards, cash, and a small pocket knife and pen.
EDC wallets aren’t just functional; they also make a bold statement about personal style and values. Choosing a wallet that matches your personality conveys confidence and individuality. EDC wallets effectively combine utility with aesthetic appeal, enabling us to leave a lasting impression.
Three styles of EDC Wallets from tactical, elegant, to utility-minded.
Armatus EDC Wallet
The Armatus EDC Wallet is a compact and strong option made from Kydex. As a minimalist wallet, it offers just enough space for eight credit cards and some cash—nothing more, nothing less. Each wallet is handcrafted in the United States using the finest materials.
The Armatus wallet features a Mil-Spec Pull The Dot strap, ensuring your cards and valuables stay secure. This robust strap has a special press stud that can only be loosened from one side, preventing unexpected openings. You can easily close it with a simple press. The Mil-Spec Pull The Dot strap meets military specifications for durability.
The kydex material of the Armatus EDC Wallet is not only strong but also easy to clean—simply rinse it under a tap. With its well-thought-out and sturdy design, this wallet is ready to accompany you every day.
The wallet measures 4.2 inches in length, 2.7 inches in width, and has a thickness of 0.45 inches. It weighs just 1.6 ounces when unloaded and comfortably holds up to eight credit cards. It also boasts a waterproof feature, enhancing its practicality in various conditions.
MSRP: $25-$30
The Armatus EDC Wallet provides a compact and sturdy option made from Kydex. As a minimalist wallet, it combines functionality with simplicity.
The Longest of EDC Wallets
That’s correct, I’ve had this longer than any of the other combined EDC Wallets featured here. The rigid design keeps my important debit, laundry, and ID cards from bending. I can either fold cash and stuff it into the main compartment or keep it on the outside with a Victorinox Bantam via a Ranger Band. I’m a fan of experimenting and whatever works.
OCASO EDC Wallet
Known for their Gentlemen’s Folding Knives, OCASO also has an elegant EDC wallet, meticulously designed to hold your everyday essentials. It accommodates 3 to 6 credit cards, cash, and your favorite small pocket knife and pen.
Crafted from full-grain leather, the wallet features a practical wrap-around pocket that secures your knife and pen in the front while providing extra card storage in the back. The notched top pocket allows for easy card access, and its compact design fits comfortably in your front pocket.
Included is a lightweight, removable stainless steel money clip with a diamond pattern, securely holding over 10 folded bills. This wallet pairs perfectly with compact knives like the Mini Seaton and pens such as the Titanium Mini Pen, making it an ideal choice for your daily carry.
The wallet features a knife slot that securely holds most small folding knives and pens measuring up to 3.5″ long and 0.82″ wide. This includes popular models like the Mini Seaton, Gerber Paraframe Mini, Victorinox Cadet, Kershaw Gadsden, Buck 503 Prince, and Leatherman Skeletool KBx, as well as small pens such as the Big Idea Design Titanium Mini Pen and the Benchmade Shorthand Tactical Pen.
MSRP: $64.99
OCASO’s elegant EDC wallet is designed to hold your essentials, fitting 3 to 6 credit cards, cash, and a small pocket knife and pen.
Bells and Whistles Wallet
The OCASO may be the most involved of the three EDC Wallets I have. I’m still experimenting with this wallet. I added a Fisher Space Pen Bullet Pen and a mini-Seaton knife from OCASO. However, a Victorinox Bantam and Waiter model fit perfectly. I can see nail clippers or a small, flat sharpener fitting in one of the two pockets. The back has a clip that serves as a money clip, which I can remove for independent use. The main slot can fit cards or cash, whichever you prefer.
BCO No.2 Minimalist Wallet
Minimalism in everyday carry (EDC) emphasizes efficiency. The Badger Claw Outfitters No.2 Wallet features a slim profile that reduces bulk and keeps essentials organized. Made from durable Horween leather, it promotes intentional living by prioritizing function over flash.
The No.2 Minimalist Wallet from Badger Claw Outfitters strips everyday carry to the essentials—eliminating bulk and fuss for pure function. Made in the USA from premium Horween leather, this slim 7-oz wallet accommodates 6–8 cards in the back pocket, with space for cash or extras up front. It seamlessly integrates into your pocket, only making its presence known when needed.
Perfect for those looking to simplify their carry, this wallet proves that less truly is more. Plus, it comes with a lifetime guarantee, designed to age alongside you.
MSRP: $29.95.
The No.2 Minimalist Wallet from Badger Claw Outfitters simplifies your everyday carry by focusing on essentials, removing bulk and hassle for ultimate functionality.
New Travel EDC Wallet
This wallet is so new to me, as I write this, it’s been my airport and travel wallet to parts of Asia. I like how slim it is and the individual patina I can already see forming. I stick to cards, and stuff a toothpick in the outside for quick, easy access. The leather is classy all the way, as is everything John at BCO makes.
I’m looking forward to more trips with these simple EDC Wallets. What would you pick?
