Back in September we introduced the Emberlit Stove. Since then I have been playing with it, testing it, and even carrying it around in my EDC. The conclusion, simply put, this is a great little stove.

As you may remember, there is a great story attached to this product. It’s a story of ingenuity and triumph. In these trying times it’s easy for some to throw up their hands and say, “Woe is me!” But, from a select few we see them rise to the occasion. The inventor, Mikhail, mixed two things he loves to find financial freedom for his family: the outdoors and tinkering.

From Friday Gear Report 9/30/11:

There is even a heart warming story attached to the stove. The Emberlit Stove may look like it was designed by one of the big camping companies, but it’s actually a small business owner who hopes, “To just make enough money so my wife does not have to work at Walmart anymore.” After speaking with the inventor/owner/operator Mikhail, I get the sense that this is someone who really has his heart in his company and his product.

When the Titanium version arrived it was in a heavy resealable plastic bag with simple instructions. While the packaging leaves something to be desired ascetically, the savings to the consumer are appreciated.

For a roughly 36% premium in price, you get a nearly 50% decrease in weight. The Titanium version of the stove weighs in at 5.45oz. versus the 11.25 oz. of the stainless steel. The Titanium Emberlit was light enough that I barely noticed its addition to my EDC bag over the last few months. For context, the iPhone 4s is 4.9oz. and the Blackberry Bold is 4.8oz. So, it’s about like throwing another smart phone in your bag.

Yes, weight does matter. Every ounce you add to carrying weight burns more precious calories whether in a backpacking or a survival scenario. By itself the weight difference may not seem like much, but as you start adding things up it becomes an issue. However, if the $20 difference is going to make an impact in your life go with the steel as 11.45oz is still not that much weight.

The construction is very well done and leads to a very sturdy product. But, the tolerances on the stove are tight. The fit doesn’t make it exceptionally hard to put together, but takes a little effort to get the stove together and broken down.

Aside from the fit, the only other issue I found was that hot embers do tend to fall out the dime size holes along the bottom of the sides. As long as you’re paying attention and the area has been thoroughly cleared of combustible material, this does not create a major issue. However, it is something to stay aware of.

The real question is, how long does it take to boil water? Two cups of water (16oz) took just over 5 minutes to get a rolling boil, with constant feeding, in 57 degree weather at sea level. Not amazing, but pretty darn good.

My final verdict is that the Emberlit Stove gets 4 out of 5 stars with the fit being the main detractor.

Also, seems the innovation bug is still biting Mikhail. Since the gear report he has made a few additions to the products he offers. There is now a pouch for the stoves and an adapter for placing smaller pots on the Emberlit Stove.

Promotional video from Emberlit Stoves:

Like so many others, putting together my first BOB became an obsession. I chewed through forum threads, books and articles, consuming people’s load-out lists. What I found was that they range from down and dirty to Armageddon ready.

One of the items I ended up focusing on the most was the bag itself. I agonized over my decision for what seemed like months (I think it actually was) as I looked at ruck sacks and backpacks. When my search came to an end, I had decided on the Maxpedition Vulture-II 3-Day Backpack ($130) - great for bugging out and storming the castle.

Maxpedition’s Vulture-II is constructed of 1000-Denier water and abrasion resistant light-weight ballistic nylon with a Teflon coating to keep it clean, and high-strength YKK Zippers to keep it closed. Internal seams have been taped and finished to aid in water resistance. Double stitching, bartacking, and box-and-X stitching add strength to stress points.

The Vulture-II is a well thought out bag, with a compartment for carrying a 100 ounce water bladder, three additional sections for your gear, and straps to keep the bag affixed firmly to your body. This includes a hip strap for taking some of the weight off your shoulders. When they’re not being used, the hip strap ends can be tucked back into the bag, getting them out of your way. Layout of compartments and pockets makes organizing and getting to gear quick and easy. The Vulture-11 has four compartments:

• Hydration compartment.
• Large main compartment (19”x15”x7.5”) with a mesh zipped pocket inside.
• Medium sized compartment (15”x12”x2.75”) with open-topped internal organizer and a hook for keys.
• Slip pocket (15”x12”x0.25″) off the front of the medium sized pocket good for documents and small items.

Highly abrasion resistant and non-slip nylon keeps the bottom of the Vulture-II from developing holes in it. In addition, the bottom has strap points for more attachments.

Webbing I could do without, but there is plenty of it on the bag to attach additional survival gear and bags without being over-done.

In general, BOBs are loaded out for 72 hours of survival. The size of the bag a person chooses for their BOB has three basic considerations: how much can the bag hold, what comfort level is expected, and how much can the individual carry. The issue I often find is that bags are either too small or way too big for a 72 hour kit.

The Vulture-II is larger than the typical JanSport one might find at a sporting goods store, yet smaller than most Alice Packs, putting it firmly in the Goldilocks zone of bags. At 2810 cubic inches (46 liters) it may seem like you could carry a lot of gear, but once you stuff it with three days’ worth of clothing, you are left with the perfect amount of room for the essentials and a few extras. It seemed like the perfect balance of size.

Down Side

The Vulture-II is about as tacticalicious as it gets. Nothing screams I am a LEO, private contractor, tactical enthusiast, or survivalist like Maxpedition gear. If being Grey is a concern, this bag is probably not right for you. On the flip side, the shame is that no one has made (in my opinion) a bag that is tactical ready on the inside while remaining Grey on the outside. Even the bags claiming to be Grey, still look tactical.

This poses an interesting question though. When it comes to BOBs and EDC bags, do you like tactical looking bags, or would you prefer a bag that was stylish on the outside but built like a tank, with a tactical-inspired inside?

PocketToolX’s Brewzer may not look like much, but it does a few jobs very well.

The Brewzer is unique in that it does not try to do everything – unlike so many gadgets these days. It offers to assist in accomplishing a short list of tasks that tend to be daily tasks: open bottles, open boxes, pry too, flat head screwdriver, box ripper, beer shotgun tool – for the frat boys out there.

This isn’t the cheap corner store bottle opener your used to. Brewzer is constructed from high-grade heat-treated stainless steel. Good luck breaking it.

The box ripper does a surprisingly good job or opening packages without being sharp enough to cut you from inside your pocket. It’s far better than having packing tape gumming up your knife or getting a piece of the tape wedged into a key to later render your lock inoperable.

Having a screwdriver readily available is a funny thing. You never realize how much you need one till you have one. The flat head screwdriver is a good mid-range size. It will handle the vast majority of slot head screws you come across in a day.

Being that I am 14 years past my college days, the ability to “shotgun” a beer is of little use to me. But, I imagine plenty of frat boys will find it useful.

PocketToolX has gone through what must have been a lot of head aches to have several of their mulit-tools approved by the TSA. Now you can screw on a plane with a thumbs up from the TSA!

Specs:

• Stainless Steel 0.140″ Thick
• Heat-treated to 58-60 HRC
• Overall Size: 2.45″ X 0.6″
• 16 grams (0.54 oz.)
• Bottle Opener
• Multi-purpose tip
• TSA-Compliant
• Available Finishes: Smooth Stonewash (Standard) or Smoke Conversion Coat

The final verdict, for $20 the PocketToolX’s Brewzer is simple, well constructed, and useful. The PocketToolX Brewzer is thumbs up.

ESEE Knives (formerly RAT Cutlery) offer some of the finest fixed blade survival knives in the $70 – $200 range. They are designed to be simple and a balance of quality and price.

What I have always found most impressive is their “NO Questions Asked Guarantee”. It says a lot about a company’s belief in their product. For that reason they have been my go to brand when I am in the market for another survival/camping knife.

Amongst the nine basic styles of knives ESEE Knives makes, they produce an excellent neck knife known as the ESEE Izula. If you are not sure what a neck knife is, it’s quiet simply a small knife you wear around you neck via a lanyard and sheath.

Izula is the common name in Peru, a favorite training ground of ESEE founders Mike Perrin and Jeff Randall, for the Bullet Ant. Known for being tough, aggressive, and particularly for its powerful sting that is said to be akin to being shot.

Aside from the warranty, the Izula Neck Knife stands out for its: 1095 steel, weight, and strength.

The 1095 steel means the knife holds a great edge even when abused. Yet, its soft enough to field sharpen easily. Out of the box the Izula is very sharp. With a few minutes on a good stone the knife can take on a razor-sharp edge and hold that edge exceptionally well.

At 2oz the Izula is very light. It adds very little to a pack and feels like nothing around your neck. The addition of the optional Micarta scales do add to that, but the knife still remains relatively lightweight.

What’s most impressive about the Izula is the sturdiness of such a small knife. This is par for the course with any of ESEE’s knives, but you just don’t expect it from a neck knife. The Izula definitely lives up to its namesake.

Technical Specs:

• Over All Length: 6.25″
• Blade Length (end of handle to tip): 2.88″
• Cutting Edge Length: 2 5/8″
• Over All Blade Length: 2 3/4″
• Maximum Thickness: .156″
• Weight: 2 Ounces (Knife Only)
• 1095 Steel – 57 Rc.
• Blade Width: 1.0″
• Grind: Flat
• Handles: None (Optional Scales Available)
• Sheathing: Injection Molded, Black
• Pommel: Hole To Accommodate Carabiner
• Spine: Thumb Grippers
• Finish: Textured Powder Coat
• Colors: Black, OD Green, Desert Tan, Tactical Pink
• Serial Number On Tang

Personally, I sorely dislike things around my neck. However, because of the minimal size and weight (2oz) the knife makes an excellent EDC fixed blade knife when thrown in a bag. For this, and the reasons listed above it has earned a place in my EDC bag for the last several years and has traveled with me through cities, forests, and tropical environments.

The ESEE Izula is a great little knife that good for tasks from every day to bushcraft.

Headlamps are the most under appreciated of the flashlight world. People often think of them as “looking dorky”. However, try one once and you will be hooked forever.

There are three significant advantages headlamps have over handheld flashlights. First, wherever you look the light shines. Second, your hands are free for tasks. Third, if you lose your balance, your light is not going to go flying into the brush because you didn’t put your hand through the leash and opened your hands to catch yourself.

While headlamps do not completely negate the usefulness of handheld flashlights, headlamps do kick their butt when it comes to prolonged usage and the ability to use both hands.

There are a lot of brands and styles to choose from, but one of my personal favorites is the Black Diamond Equipment Storm Headlamp.

Features At A Glance:

• 1 Triple Power LED, 2 Single Power LED, and 2 Red Single Power LEDs offer multiple light options
• Red night vision mode has proximity and strobe settings and activates without cycling through white LED light mode
• Settings include full strength in proximity and distance modes, infinite dimming, strobe, red night vision, and lock mode
• Three-level power meter shows battery life of the 4 AAA batteries
• IPX 7 water resistance rating meaning it can withstand Immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of up to 1 meter.
• 100 lumen max output, 200 hour max burn time (using dual Single Power LEDs)

Power consumption to usable light output is fantastic! Where my handheld flashlights gulp down CR123 batteries like a game of Hungry Hungry Hippo, the Storm Headlamp gently sips at it’s AAAs.

With three basic modes to choose from you get just enough light. The high spot light setting is good for seeing into the distance with focused light. The low broad beam setting casts enough light for walking and 95% of the tasks you will be doing in the dark without draining batteries unnecessarily. Last, but not least, the low broad Red setting can be used to preserve your own night vision.

The lock mode is a great feature that has been recently added to most of the Black Diamond line of headlamps. It locks down the power button to keep from those accidental battery drains. It’s a feature I wish all flashlights came with. There is nothing more annoying than reaching for a light that turns out to be dead because it got turned on accidentally in your bag.

At $48 bucks, the Black Diamond Equipment Storm Headlamp is very reasonable for what you get. It delivers exactly what you need in a durable, feature rich, long-lasting, easy to use headlamp.

Friday Gear Report: 6/24/11 brought you the Nokero N200; the second in a line of solar light bulb products from Nokero. Where the original Nokero N100 left me underwhelmed, the N200 picked up the slack.

The Nokero N200 features a three-position switch allowing the user to choose from: off, low output, and high output. On its low setting the N200 delivers up to 6 hours of light. The low setting provides a perfect amount of light for general activities that require a minimal amount of light. On its high setting the N200 puts out up to 2.5 hours of light. The high setting gives off a very descent level of light for tasks – or eyes – that need to see more detail.The second point at witch the N100 and N200 diverge is in the solar panel. The N200 utilizes a single large solar panel that can be easily positioned to capture and consume lots of light. This improved design allows the N200 to absorb more light at a faster rate. Given how slow solar panels are to begin with, the faster charge times were a huge improvement.

Construction of the N200 is very similar to the N100. The polycarbonate body can take a reasonable amount of abuse. Repeatedly dropping the N200 from a high of 8 – 10 feet did little to damage it excluding some cosmetic scuffs. The domed lens did pop off several times, but was very easy to screw back on without issue.

The N200 preformed as well as the N100 in extreme heat and cold. Sticking it in a deep freezer for three days produced no ill effects. Leaving it out in the 105 degree Texas heat for several days also did not diminish the N200 capabilities.

Points of Interest:

• Rainproof
• Ni-MH battery lasts 1.5 years, and is easily replaceable
• Simple to use
• Four wide-angle, light emitting diodes
• AA-sized recyclable battery
• Automatically switches off in bright light to save charge

Only one thing stood out to diminish the N200, the clip. This is the same clip that I found sub par on the N100. It’s flimsy and rusts. However, it can easily be removed and replaced by a lightweight carabiner found for a dollar at every outdoors and home improvement store.

For $5 more – $20 – Nokero has hit the mark with its release of the Nokero N200 Solar Light. It’s perfect for camping and extended power outages.

$100 and up tactical flashlights are cool, but carrying them around in a pocket can be a hassle. Not to mention they are a tad unnecessary for most people’s EDC needs. Six months ago I added a $6.45 Steamlight Nano to my keychain and have not been disappointed once since.

Measuring just 1.47 inches in length and weighing a minuscule 0.36 ounces, the Steamlight Nano packs 10 lumens in a sturdy little package. This, and the attached clip, makes it small enough to fit comfortably on a keychain, zipper pull of a backpack, or just about anywhere.

While 10 lumens may not sound like much, it’s plenty to light your way and find things in the dark. You really don’t need 100 lumens for 99% of the things you are trying to see in the dark – unless you want to also blind what you are looking for.

The Nano is made to take some abuse. Constructed of machined aircraft aluminum with an anodized finish, it takes a licking and keep on shining.

Single mode operation is simple. Just twist the head clockwise to activate the keychain flashlight and twist to turn off. It does some times turn on in your pocket, but four alkaline button cell batteries (included) give 8 hours  of run time.

The Steamlight Nano is a perfect EDC flashlight for people looking for light weight convenience in a small, inexpensive, yet durable package.

The Benchmade Triage 915 is a well designed knife for emergency responders and people looking for a good EDC Knife that is not Tacticool. However, it has its imperfections.

Tactical pocket folding knives are great for, well tactical applications. But, for the 99% of us who are probably never going to be in a force-on-force encounter involving knives, there seem to be few choices these days.

For many years I have carried and really enjoyed my Ken Onion Tactical Blur Tanto point folding knife, made by Kershaw. However, I am more likely to need a knife for opening boxes, cutting rope, or freeing myself from a seat belt after a car wreck than I am for fighting (let’s hope).

For my next EDC knife, I decided it needed to be something less aggressive-looking and more applicable to the activities I engage in everyday. It should also fit the more likely emergency issues I may encounter.

The sheepsfoot-style blade is perfect for slicing and cutting without concern of stabbing anything on the other end. They are popular among rescue workers, as this blade shape can easily be slipped under a seat belt and other restraints without fear of injuring the person they are trying to free. Among sailors, the blade shape is favored for similar reasons – on unsure footing you are less likely to stab yourself or your sails.

There are a couple of knife makers, each with variations, that make a sheepsfoot folder. The one that caught my eye as being the most well thought out was the Benchmade 915 Triage.

The 915 Triage features:

●   AXIS® locking mechanism
●   Modified sheepsfoot blade style with ambidextrous thumb-stud opener
●   N680 highly corrosion resistant blade steel (57-59HRC)
●   440C hook-shaped safety cutter (58-60HRC)
●   Textured G10 handles (available in black or safety orange) with 420J full stainless steel liners and a reversible tip-up deep pocket clip
●   Carbide glass breaker

Basic Specs:
●   Overall Length: 8.20″
●   Closed Length: 4.70″
●   Blade Length: 3.50″
●   Blade Thickness: 0.130″

When my new 915 Triage arrived I was a little disappointed. The design and function is awesome, but some things just weren’t right.

The first thing I noticed was that the odd pattern on the G-10 scales makes the knife look kind of cheap. Rather than going with a traditional cloth pattern, Benchmade used a strange bumpy raised pattern. It has no effect on grip, but it just makes a relatively higher end folder look cheap.

The second thing I noticed was how big the blade is. I did read the specs before buying and knew what I was in for, but the overall design seemed to make up for the excessive size. In my opinion, 3.5” is .5” in excess for an EDC folding knife. Over the weekend I showed the knife to Ron Davis, and he gave a head scratch at the sight of the blade’s length.

The third thing I noticed – most important – was that the blade was dull. When you pay more than $100 for a knife, you expect it to come with a proper angle and a damn good edge. The edge was so bad, Benchmade might as well have sent it out flat. It was sharpened like an Axe or other chopping tool with a very shallow angle. I was not alone in this experience. Every review I read before I bought the Triage complained about this. I had hoped Benchmade had corrected it, but apparently not. Benchmade should be truly embarrassed sending out a knife I can run my thumb over and not cut.

Fourth, the safety cutter does not lock back. When opened it sounds like it locks back with a click, but no such luck. Does it need to lock back? No. The bottom inside of the safety cutter has jibbing for your thumb. With your thumb firmly in place, the safety cutter is not likely to go anywhere. However, I still say charge me a little more and put a lock on it. It would make me feel better.

Lastly, the assisted open is weak. I am used to the speed safe on Kershaw knives. You barely touch the things and their blade is in the game. The Benchmade 915 Triage takes a little more effort.

What I did like about the 915 Triage, as I mentioned before, was the thought that went into the design of the knife.

On all the other knives I looked at that had a safety cutter, it was built into the handle and exposed. Putting an exposed sharp edge in my pocket just seems like a recipe for damaging something. The cutter on the 915 Triage folds neatly back into the handle like any other blade.

Several fixed blade knives on the market have glass breakers on the butt of the handle. This is the only fold I came across that had a dedicated glass breaker. I may only ever use this feature once in my life, but it will be that one time that I need it that will make it worthwhile.

The modified Sheepsfoot blade is a very interesting design. It has more of a belly than a proper Sheepsfoot, giving it more versatility in function.

After I changed the angle from a 30 to a 15 and put a polished edge on it, I find it to be great knife that will remain my EDC for some time to come. I will however remain wary of purchasing another Benchmade knife sight unseen.

The Stovetec Biomass Stove sat on my shelf for over a year. Having bought it on a whim, at a time when I was buying a lot of stuff on a whim, it took me a good long while to use it.

The intended purpose of the Stovetec Biomass Stove is to provide a cheap, cleaner burning alternative to traditional coal, wood, kerosene, and paraffin burning stoves in 3rd World, poverty-stricken nations. They also claim it helps to fight deforestation, climate change and global warming from greenhouse gasses.

Well, I finally put it to use, and what I like about the stove is how efficiently it works. The Stovetec Biomass Stove lit quickly and easily. Cooking on it was consistent and efficient. Unlike my Coleman PerfectFlow 2-Burner propane stove, a light to moderate wind did not affect the stove’s cooking ability and it did not suffer from random bursts of high to low flames.

For sheltering-in-place situations or even car camping, it allows the use of several types of dry fuel such as: wood, paper, or charcoal. These fuel types are plentiful, renewable, and readily available even in urban survival situations.

The Stovetec is not what I would call a backpacking or light travel stove. Weighing in at roughly 19lbs, it’s more than a bit to lug. For car camping or hunkering down though, it’s pretty good.

Using the Stovetec Stove in high winds proved problematic, but this is an issue for most stoves and methods of containing a fire. What I found was that the stove needed to be positioned rather carefully. If the opening where the wood was fed faced into the wind, sparks and embers flew out of the top of the stove, creating a potential fire hazard.

The doors on the model I have (one year old) slide into and out of place. While they worked, it just felt cheap. The brick block in the wood-feeding door was also loose and required some gyrations to get out. Recently Stovetec has updated the design, changing the doors from sliding to hinged. They have also affixed the brick to the door itself – no more fishing the brick out.

Stovetec marketing materials heavily promote the need for cheap stoves. However, the $129 price tag of a Stovetec stove is a far cry from the “cheap” mark. An article on the Ashden Awards website lists the manufacturing cost of the stove as $3.50 – $12 US. So, $129 is a pretty big margin from manufacturing cost. As a devout capitalist, I am all for people making money, but this seems excessive and mis-priced for the market, even when freight and packaging costs are considered.

The Stovetec design is pretty neat, and for a biomass burning stove, I liked it. The idea of an efficient stove that can take just about any organic debris and use it as a fuel source without creating clouds of nasty smoke is great. The price tag just kills it for me though.

If you are interested in learning more about these kinds of stoves, checkout the book Rocket Mass Heaters.

The Windmill Stormproof Butane lighter has proven itself through numerous camping trips, river rapids, general abuse, and a year in a BOB. I’d say it stood up very well.

Fire is one of the most basic of survival tools. Based on archaeological evidence, it is presumed that mankind has been controlling fire all the way back to the very early days of Homo Sapiens (approximately 230,000 years or more, depending on who you ask… Neanderthal).

Thankfully, you don’t have to rub two sticks together to light a lass’s cigarette anymore. The advent of the modern butane lighter is a far cry from the days of primitive fire making techniques.

My Windmill lighter has hung from a loop of Paracord through river rapids, tons of camping trips, and Project Appleseed shoots. In three years of service, it has never failed to light. The closure latch has never stuck or broken. Most impressively, it holds its charge beyond expectations.

Typically I keep mine in a pocket of my EDC bag, tucked away. Occasionally it comes out for the random task. Every time I extract it from my bag I expect to find it empty, but the charge is always good – minus drainage from actual use.

Under constant daily use, I can’t attest to the Windmill Stormproof lighter’s durability. However, based on what I have seen of mine, they hold up better than expectations.

If you are in the market for a Butane lighter, give the Windmill Stormproof Butane Lighter some serious consideration.

After five plus years of use, my Coleman PerfectFlow 2-Burner Stove has held together through numerous camping trips, car trips, and Project Appleseed shoots – but it’s not without its short-comings.

The fuel is relatively cheap. At roughly $6 a can, and lasting 3 days per can cooking three meals a day, I have found the fuel costs and usage to be acceptable. There are numerous reviews online of people’s Coleman 2-Burner (non instant-start model) using propane inefficiently. This seems to be a hit or miss issue.

The stove features a heavy-duty nickel chrome grate that’s rust-resistant and easy to remove and clean. Although, it gives a good rattle as you drive.

Side wings – or the “built-in WindBlock System” as Coleman calls it -  on the stove look like they should keep the wind off your flames, but not so much. This is not to say that they are an epic fail, but they are short of adequately designed for the job. Even in moderate winds I have found the stove greatly affected by the wind. This leads to greater cook times and propane expenditure.

A strange issue my Coleman PerfectFlow 2-Burner Stove started experiencing around its second outing was that randomly the flames would go to full blast as if I had turned the knobs to full. I would shrug and adjust them. Then after a few minutes, the stove would return to its previous pressure, reducing the flame from almost nothing to extinguished. Not what one might consider a “Perfect Flow”.

Coleman promotes the stove as good for many activities including backpacking, but at 12 lbs and measuring 21″L X 12.8″W X 4.25″H, that’s a stretch. I would hardly say it fits what most backpackers would want to stuff in their rucks. For car camping, bugging out, and bugging in, the stove is a good size.

If you are looking at two burner propane camping stoves, my suggestion would be to pass this one up completely. At this time I do not have one to recommend. Although, some of the more recent Coleman PerfectFlow Stoves tend to get good reviews.

Have an experience with a camping stove you like? Leave it in the comments below.

The Maxpedition Last Resort Tactical Attache is a great EDC bag for folks who are not terribly concerned with being “grey”. Even though my “gear” has been paired way back, and I would prefer to be more subdued in my appearance, I still really like the Last Resort Tactical Attache and carry it daily.

Several years ago I hung up my Tumi Attache for something a lot more rugged. I felt I needed something that could carry all my survival gear and that I wouldn’t mind getting dirty.

The feature I love the most is the hidden gun pocket on the side of the bag. With the quick pull of a D-Ring a hidden compartment is exposed. It’s hidden well enough that when I first got the bag I had to watch a video to figure out where the pocket was. The interior of the pocket is partially lined with velcro, where a specially designed holster and magazine holster can be adhered. This makes excellent easy access storage of a firearm when you can’t carry on your person, concealed well enough – or for a backup piece.

The water bottle pocket on the front of the bag does a great job of holding a bottle firmly in place. The pocket features well thought out touches like a grommeted bottom so condensation build-up can drain out, and an elastic band to pull over the top of the bottle to make sure it goes nowhere.

Pockets, pockets, and more pockets. This tactical attache has four Velcro closures on the away- facing side of the bag. Each is perfect for organizing gear, gizmos, and other small objects. It is largely the busyness of the pockets that conceals the hidden gun pocket from casual observers, and often more serious scrutinizing looks.

The inside-facing side of the bag features a zipped compartment with its own set of pockets, cracks, and crevices to fill. There is even an open top pocket that fits my iPad perfectly, as well as some paperwork; and keeps them separated from the other less delicate contents of my bag.

The center interior of the bag features a decent size zipped compartment that can fit a laptop and an inch or two of paperwork, or the latest Tom Clancy novel. The center compartment comes with a removable center divider covered in hook and loop on both sides.

I make fun of a lot of Maxpedition bags, but while the Last Resort Tactical Attache is fairly tacticalishious (yes, I am making up words), it has never garnered much attention from TSA, various LEOs, or a team of masked FAL toting Mexican Federales in the woods – long story.

Downsides

Black is, well, always the new black. Khaki, ACU, and digital camo are harder to pull off in an everyday lifestyle that does not carry a high likelihood of a force on force encounter.

In my usual dress of a Polo and cargo shorts, the bag does not stand out terribly. However, this is not a bag I would sling over my shoulder while wearing a suit. 5.11 Tuxedo¹, it would fit nicely. With a suit or trendy clothing, forget it.

Final Opinion

The Maxpedition Last Resort Tactical Attache while being more tactical than the average urban survivalist would prefer is still a pretty awesome bag. Lots of storage space, rugged construction, and a hidden pouch make this a great EDC Bag.

[1] 5.11 Tuxedo: Head to toe 5.11 brand tactical clothing.

A couple of years ago I found myself in the market for a new match case. After heading to the local outdoors store I found nothing but cheap junk.

You are probably thinking, “How nice does a match case need to be?” Honestly, the inexpensive match cases will work just fine. I have never had a plastic one meet a demise and I am sure the tin boy scout match cases are comparable. However, I am nuts – this we know.

After spending three months (we covered that I am nuts) asking around, looking through forums, and searching the web I finally came across K & M Match Cases. A month or two later and my order came in and the cases were as exquisite in person as they are in the photographs.

K & M, which stands for Keith and Marjorie, is a mom and pop operation out of Elk River, Idaho. Except for the Suunto compass, the match cases are made in the USA with a lot of pride.

Originally I believe I paid $30 (I could very well be mistaken) a piece for mine. They have come down to $18 for the long version and $16 for the short version making them $10 more than conventional plastic match cases.

K & M Match Cases come in two sizes: Standard length cases are 3 7/8 inches (99mm) and long cases are approximately 4 1/4 inches (108mm). Owning both sizes, I would recommend the longer cases unless you want to sit around cutting the long weather proof matches down to size.

From the manufacturers site:

K & M match cases are simply the best. Match cases sold to military and survivalists around the world. Why simply the most effective waterproof match case ever built? All our match cases are fitted with a unique tensioning lanyard. A press-fit stopper on all match cases is held securely in place by the lanyard which provides a positive lock but allows quick and easy access to the match case contents.

Ten Points of Interest on these match cases:

• 1. Match case is the original K & M Match Case and made in the United States.
• 2. All our match cases are machined from solid bar stock.
• 3. Crystal clear sealed compass is now on all our match cases.
• 4. Mil-spec lanyard.
• 5. Double O-ring seal = 2 rubber seals = DRY matches in match case WHEN NEEDED.
• 6. Waterproof to 2000 PSI. is our match case guarantee.
• 7. Of course all our match cases come with an unlimited lifetime warranty.
• 8. These match cases are issued to US Air Force downed-pilot rescue crews.
• 9. K & M match cases are in the running for US Air Force survival kits.
• 10. Purchased and carried by individuals serving in US military, outdoorsmen, bushcrafters, Antartica expeditions and Africa too.

Word of cation if you are getting excited over the red case. They are no longer offered. Keith from K & M stated in a conversation:

Color consistency were just next to impossible to achieve. The body and cap would often not match. I am not sending out a product like that nor would my wife. We use a high Copper aircraft grade aluminum. It does not take well to the anodizing process.

I also got the chance to ask him why the caps are simply pressure/friction fitted instead of threaded.

That comes from years of experience and annoyance. The threads can get gummed up or freeze up. Nothing worse than needing a match to start a fire and you can’t get the match case open cause the cap has seized on you. You’ll find old collectable match cases some times with threaded caps. They always have teeth marks in the cap.

Roughly two years have gone by since I first received my match cases. I like them as much today as when they first arrived. They have stood up to a fair amount of abuse and earned a permanent place in my BOB and my girlfriend’s BOB.

They are available for sale through the K & M Match Cases website.

In September of 2010 I introduced you to the Nokero Solar Light Bulb. Now it’s time to give you my thoughts after months of strict scientific testing. Ok, so it was not very scientific. Basically we just dreamed up random stuff to do to the three we received and observed how they did.

The Nokero Soloar Light Buld arrived in good packaging and without molestation from the parcel career – always a good day. The design seemed sturdy and like it could hold up to most reasonable abuse. Then came time for the testing.

The days it got tested on were all full sun days and the device was facing South. It got moved around a couple more times in the yard, but with the same results.

The Good

Factory clip replaced with a small carabiner.

For $15, they are very reasonable.

At approximately 2.6oz they won’t weigh your pack down and since they are about the size of an incandescent 60w bulb they don’t take up a lot of space. For some reason I thought they would be bigger, but was happy to find this not to be the case.

They are pretty sturdy. Tossing the Nokero from the second floor balcony of the Urban Survival Podcast studio balcony produced some scuffs, but nothing cracked or came flying off.

Sticking them in the freezer repeatedly produced no ill effects.

The Nokero Solar Light Bulb comes with a rechargeable none branded AA battery. Also a plus, it only takes one. I replaced it with a fully charged Sanyo Eneloop and nothing blew up. When the day comes that the factory AA gives its last, you can replace it yourself with a rechargeable from the store. The nicest part is since it is one of the most common battery sizes, finding a replacement when the time comes will not be an issue – baring some Zombie apocalypse.

Seven months hanging in my backyard and the Nokero is still going strong with little too no cosmetic or mechanical defects. This impresses me most of all. It’s rare that you find anything that can stand up to the elements for even a few months.

The Bad

I hung the Nokero from a tree in my backyard and left it for a few days with the switch turned to the on position so the batteries could cycle a couple of times. Being that it was fall, there were no leaves to interfere with the solar panels. Saddly, the most I was able to get out of it was just over an hour – manufacturer claims 2 hours.

At a recent Project Applseed shoot, while camping, I ran the test again with all three solar light bulbs over a couple of clear sunny days. Still the Nokero only produced just over 1 hour of constant light.

Hiking with the Nokero attached to a pack only produced 20 minutes of light on average.

The light is not very bright. In a small tent it did produce enough light to illuminate the tent sufficiantly for most tasks. However, I don’t think most people would be wowed by it. Reading by it will be lack luster at best.

It was difficult – if not impossible – to really tell if the switch was in the on position or not without covering the sensor.

Flimsy factory clip.

The clip that it comes with will do the job, but is pretty small and flimsy. With gloves on or if you have particularly large hands, you will find it difficult to manipulate. I ended up replacing them with a small light weight carabiner.

There is absolutely no indicator to tell you when the battery is full. At $15 though, I actually wouldn’t expect one.

Final Thoughts

The Nokero under preformed expectations when it came to light output and longevity. Given the relative uniqueness, light weight, and $15 price tag, I found the solar light bulb to be “good enough” and would buy one. Just don’t expect to get much out of it when hiking and consider charging it completely before use.

Roughly six months ago I got wind that a new personal size solar charger was hitting the market soon. The marketing material made some very bold claims at which most people in the gadget world scoffed at. Having been a little disappointed in my Solio, I did not hold out much hope, but signed up to be alerted as soon as this new solar charge came available.

Meet the Joos Orange

Surprisingly rugged and water-resistant

The day came and a package arrived; whoohoo TOYS! However, when my Joos Orange finally arrived I was short on time setting up the new Office/Studio for the Urban Survival Podcast. As it turned out though, I was due for a five-day trip to Puerto Vallarta Mexico and would be presented with a few situations where this new gadget could be tested.

Ok ok, so it was not a rugged backpacking trip, white water adventure, or anything of that nature. Instead it was two days at an all-inclusive four diamond resort and three days in a seven room villa on the beach. However, after the amount of tequila I was made to drink during the five days of celebrating my friends’ nuptials, I did find a few creative ways to abuse the Joos Orange.

My primary goal for it was to see if I could go five days without using grid power to charge my iPhone.

What It Comes With

The Joos Orange came in a box not much bigger than the device itself. Inside the packaging I found the Orange, a handful of adapters, and two USB cables. One cable was USB to USB Mini and the other was USB to a jack which the adapters fit into. In addition, there was a small plastic bag I assume was for keeping up with the adapters.

Pack Your Bags Joos, We Ride Tonight

Two days before boarding the plane for Mexico I threw the Orange in a wide kitchen window that faces exactly true South - recommended by the directions. It dutifully charged with its red “I am charging – stop poking me” light blinking away. I occasionally picked it up and messed with the sturdy little legs that fold into its body, but other than that I tried to leave it alone and let it do its thing. The morning our adventure began I tossed it in my carry on bag and away we went. At the airport I expected it to get some spanish inquisitions or at least a good groping from TSA, but they opted to harass my girlfriend instead. I guess she looked more interesting.

On the plane was my first real experience juicing the Orange. I plugged it into my iPad using the adapter that came with the Orange and my normal charging/data cable. It worked flawlessly and kept my iPad topped off the entire ride to Mexico’s Pacific Coast.

Joos still charging even in filtered non-direct sunlight

For the first two days of the trip the Orange lived on our room’s patio. It did a surprisingly good job of soaking up the sun even during parts of the day when it was not receiving direct exposure. At night it held up to being dropped repeatedly on marble floors by a someone who might have consumed a little too much as they plugged it into an iPhone; hey I was on vacation what do you want.

On the third day a few of us went for an all day horseback ride through the backcountry to a waterfall. Having forgotten to plug my iPhone in the night before, I decided to charge it on the ride. Jostling around in my bag atop a horse, the Orange stayed plugged in and doing its job till my iPhone was full. By the end  of the ride it was no worse for the wear of being in a bag bopping around and being tossed into a lagoon next to a waterfall.

On the fourth day it survived being a foot or two underwater for 5 minutes in a swimming pool and being tossed one story into some grass – once was on purpose. The Orange still showed no signs of damage or diminished ability to charge my iPhone.

Day five the Orange was still going strong. Taking a charge and passing that charge to my iPhone all the way back state side.

So Now The Ugly

First, the Joos Orange is going up in price from $99 to $139. Honestly, at $139 it is still a good buy. I think I paid $150 for my Solio originally and it did not do half the job of this bad boy.

Joos is the fastest charging of any personal solar charger I have found, but it is still a solar panel and it will only charge so fast. A couple of hours in mostly full sun yielded a 50 – 60% charge. Hence, why I kept leaving the charger out whenever I could.

There are two indicator lights on the front which makes seeing what the device is doing without it loosing exposure possible. The red light blinks when the device is charging. Slow in low light and fast in full sun. The green light blinks to indicate how much of a juice the Joos has stored. Here is where things with the lights get dumb. The green light will blink zero times when it has no stored charge. Then a series (1 – 5) of blinks denoting how full it is. Finally, ZERO blinks to let you know it is full. The signal for “I am full” should not be the same as “I am empty”. It’s not a deal breaker, but just plain goofy as heck.

Joos also has mirrors to increase the output of the Orange, but they are sold separately for $20. They seem to be problematic and look like they would interfere with positioning the Orange, but I will have to get back to this at a later date as I forgot to order them when I was ordering my Orange originally.

No case; not even a cheap plastic crappy one. While the Orange is pretty rugged, it would still be nice for it to have come with something to protect the solar cell from scratches when riding around in a bag.

The Orange is a little more like a Great Fruit; its not small. By volume I would say it is the same size as an iPad and weighs a hefty 24oz.

These few short comings aside, the Joos Orange rocks. If you have been on the fence about getting a personal solar charger now is the time to get off. I like mine so much I am ordering another one.

In the future I hope we see a larger Joos product come out for charging laptops and larger camera batteries needed by SLR cameras.

Also featured in Episode 1 of the Urban Survival Podcast

Manufacturer’s Website: www.solarjoos.com

———- UPDATE (1-29-2011) ———-

SNEAK PREVIEW

Joos has introduced a case for the Joos Orange at MacWorld. Warren Sattler – CEO – was nice enough to send us a snapshot. No word on price yet.

Joos Orange Case being shown at MacWorld 2011

Just a few months before my 15th birthday I was preparing for a two month long stint at summer camp. What made this year special was that it was my final year as a camper which meant approximately four weeks would be spent backpacking, mountain biking, repelling, and white water rafting across Colorado with 20 some odd other kids my age.

My mother took me down to my favorite outdoor store to pick up the necessary gear I would need for such an extended woodland trek. I had already accumulated quit a collection of gear after six years of going away every summer for two months, but this year I would need stuff that was a little more sturdy.

Swiss Army Adventurer Pocket Knife

My Maternal Grandfather, a Marine, Judge, and consummate woodsman, always insisted I take a Swiss Army Knife whenever I went camping. So, among the items my mother bought me for the trip was a new Swiss Army Adventurer Pocket Knife.

That knife traveled with me through some of the most memorable moments in my life. It never broke and it never wavered from it’s constant use. Believe it or not, 20 years later, I still own this knife and it still has a special place in my camping backpack. I even have a bit of a superstitious rule that I can’t go camping without it.

Although it could use a good sharpening, it still serves me well to the day when asked to perform a task.

I own many other knives now and most considerably more expensive. However, I always come back to my Adventurer. It’s light weight, in expensive (these days around $40), has just enough tools to be useful and not so many that you spend 5 minutes digging through trying to find the right tool, and is very durable. As an Urban Survivalist, what I most like about it is that it is not intimidating to people who are not accustomed to seeing other people caring a pocket knife, “Oh, it’s just a good ole Swiss Army Knife.”

Swiss Army Adventurer Features:

• Large locking blade
• Can opener with small slot head screwdriver head
• Bottle opener with large slot head screwdriver head and wire stripper
• Reamer with sewing eye
• Phillips screwdriver
• Toothpick
• Tweezers
• Key Ring
• Guaranteed a lifetime against defects in material and workmanship

Other variants of the Swiss Army Adventurer Pocket Knife do exist with such things as: cork screw, saw, scissors, window breaker, 6mm Screwdriver, Cap Lifter, Belt Cutter, and one-hand operation large blade.
Variants:

• Swiss Army Forester Multi-tool
• Swiss Army OutriderMulti-tool
• Swiss Army Trekker Multi-tool
• Swiss Army Rescue Tool
• Swiss Army Fireman Multi-tool
• Swiss Army Soldier Multi-tool

I bought the Embassy Pen on sort of an impulse. I had been considering a “tactical pen” for some time, but it was not really high on my list of things to buy. After playing with one for the past couple of weeks I really like the concept.

If you like survival type gadgets and EDC gear and have never checked out CountyComm.com you should. It’s a horribly designed web site with a wide collection of some really great odd little survival items. Some of the items you can pretty much find anywhere, but a good portion of the products offered are somewhat unique. Three weeks ago I was pursuing their site ordering a few hard to find items to complete another Blackout Kit when I came across the Embassy Pen. Thinking it looked really neat and that I had been meaning to pick up a Tactical Pen I decided what the heck.

Tactical Pen Review First Impressions

On first impression the The Embassy Tactical Pen is very well constructed. The anodized aluminum is of a good gauge giving the pen some heft. The cross hatched checkering gives the pen a good grip without being overly aggressive and taring up your fingers while you write. The clip is sufficient enough to not easily get bent if the pen gets caught on something. It also comes with a medium black SPR4 pressurized Fisher Space Pen ink cartridge that is good for writing in wet conditions and upside down.

From County Comm about the Pen:

the new Embassy Pen after recently acquiring a small batch from a government contract. This tactical pen is robust and made to last a lifetime; whether it’s on the training field or in the office. A black medium SPR4 pressurized Fisher Space Pen refill, good from -30F to +250F is included. The machined deep knurled grip is made for non-slip use. The built-in 301 grade stainless steel clip provides a secure fit in your front shirt pocket or in your EDC bag.

The Embassy Pen is also available in a more snazzy stainless steel version.

Closer Inspection

The Embassy Pen doesn’t seem to have been designed by someone who really knows anything about pens. For starters, the doggone cap does not attach to the back of the pen. This makes things rather awkward as you go to use the pen for its primary purpose. When you unscrew the cap you are left trying to figure out what to do with it while you write. Great way to lose the cap of your $40 pen. Good pen makers design pens to be properly balanced by placing the cap on the end of the pen while you write. The final thing I noticed about this tactical pen that really irked me was that it regularly comes unscrewed in my pocket. Numerous times I went to pull the pen from my pocket only to pull off just the cap. Besides being annoying, this could be really bad if you are pulling the pen out to use it in a self-defense situation. It would be kind of like drawing a gun only to have the magazine fall out – ooooops.

Final Thoughts

As a tactical fighting instrument disguised as an innocuous everyday item the Embassy Pen seems like it could really hold its own. It is much less menacing looking that the other fighting pens out on the market. As a good every day pen the Embassy Pen has some really annoying flaws that make me advise folks to pass on it and go with one of the more established brands like Smith & Wesson Tactical Pens, Surefire Tactical Pens, or Benchmade Tactical Pens.

To learn more about using a tactical pen for self-defense and Kubotan techniques checkout these products:

• Kubotan Techniques – Book
• Official Kubotan Techniques – DVD

I admit it, I am a gear geek. No matter how much I preach about skills, I still love gadgets, gizmos, and whatsihoozits. When it comes to flashlights, I have loved them since I was a kid. The Streamlight Sidewinder Tactical Flashlight is the most interesting flashlights I own.

It’s not a cheap flashlight at a suggested retail price of $94 (you can find them most places for under $60), but when you need a flashlight that will stand up to abuse and all your needs the price tag is not that bad. After examining it, you can tell Streamlight put a lot of thought into the design and construction.

From the Streamlight website:

Sidewinder® — This flashlight has been engineered to meet a variety of hands free task illumination requirements with C4® LED and various color LEDs operable at varying outputs and runtimes. The flashlight features a 185˚ tilting head and belt or web clip to allow positioning of the illumination source at the work area.

• C4® LED, 50,000 hour lifetime
• Pull and rotate locking color selector knob to attain desired color
• Double click button to initiate strobe function from “Off” position
• Push and hold button for light output levels
• Pull-to-turn locking rotary selector knob prevents accidental mode changes and allows selection of 4 illumination sources: White C4 LED; IR LED; Red LED; Blue LED – tactile indicator on rotary knob for IR LED position
• Powered by 2 “AA” batteries.
• Also accepts 2 “AA” lithium batteries, which allow extended operation and use in extreme temperatures (-40˚F – 150˚F)
• Mounts to MOLLE or ACH for hands-free use
• O-ring sealed for waterproof operation. Meets MIL-STD-810F, Method 512.4
• US and foreign patented design
• Height: 4.65″ Width: 2.34″ Weight: 5.02 oz.
• Colors: Coyote and Green

What I Liked About The Sidewinder

The tiling head is great. It allows the flashlight to be clipped to a pocket or MOLLE strap on a backpack, tilt the head down, and free up your hands.

The multiple illumination sources are handy. I have not needed the IR or the blue, but red (prevents night blindness) I have used a couple of times.

The belt clip can be secured to either side of the Sidewinder. Since the head tilts 180 degrees, being able to move the belt clip from one side to the other allows it to be customizable to the user’s hand dominance.

The IR indicator on the source selection knob. This indicator on the knob gives you a quick reference to know if you have left the flashlight in IR mode or not. Why is this important? Since we can’t see in the infrared spectrum, it’s easy to leave the light on and kill the batteries. Also, for soldiers, you can give you position away unknowingly by forgetting the IR light on.

The overall construction of the Streamlight Sidewinder is very rugged and well-built. It looks and feels like it could take a real beating and never skip a beat.

The battery compartment cap is tethered with aircraft cable (braided steel cable) from the inside. Caps for anything seem to just want to fly off and go hide which is always a pain. On a flashlight, loosing the cap can be a disaster. The cable does a great job of keeping the cap from getting lost while you change batteries. Steamlight gave it the added touch of putting this cable on the inside which keeps it from snagging on anything.

Things I Did Not Like About The Sidewinder

While the overall design is very functional and easy to use, I did have a couple of issues with the operation of the light. Ok, not a couple, just one – the on/off button. To raise the light output you have to hold the button down. It’s not Earth shattering, but it bugged me. I much prefer the Surefire switch function of tapping the button multiple times to scroll through the power outputs. The Sidewinder does have a multi-tap function, but it is for a signal light. This isn’t a deal killer for me, just an annoyance. Most other people probably would not care.

Tip

Putting the AA batteries in caused me a minute of confusion. I could not figure out which battery went in which way. I had to, dare I say it, pull out the directions.

Final Thoughts

Great features aside, my personal favorite for day-to-day use in the Urban Jungle is still the Surefire E1L Outdoorsman. It is about a 1/3 the size, is easier to operate, and puts out a much brighter beam of light. For military or camping use though, this is a great light and I would be more likely to reach for it than my Surefire E1L.

There is a compact version dubbed the Sidewinder Compact selling for between $49 – $75, but I have not played with it yet. I am sure I will pick up on in the near future though.

A few months back I came across an article that mentioned private contractors using Glowrings. At first I was puzzled, “what the heck is a Glowring?” I had never heard of such a thing. Being the gear geek that I am, with a very inquisitive nature, I asked the author what it was. When I got the answer I decided I had to have one, but tracking them down proved difficult and explained why I had never heard of them before then.

Tritium Glowrings are small glass tubes filled with a radioactive gas called Tritium. These tubes are then encased in a solid plastic housing. Typically the Tritium filled tubes are about an inch in length and, depending on the manufacturer, 1/16″ in diameter. The plastic casing adds about 1/8″ to the top, bottom, and either side. One end of the plastic casing usually has a hole through it that some form of lanyard can be run through. What you end up with is a small glowing object that a can be attached to anything you want to locate in low light or total darkness.

The neat thing about Tritium is that it glows without a power source for roughly 10 years. It does not need to be charged by light or powered by batteries. The light emitted is not to a level you could read by, but it is enough to easily see from thirty feet or more.

Don’t worry, the levels of radiation (weak beta radiation) given off are considered to not be harmful from the quantities of Tritium you are likely to come in contact with; such as Tritium Glowrings or any of the other products. I will cover the other products in a larger upcoming article. The gas IS dangerous if you somehow manage to break the casing and glass tube housing the Tritium. If you break the casing, you should immediately open a couple windows, leave the room, shut the door, and stay out of the room for at least one hour. This is the best advice I could find, but I could not validate this 100%.

Buying Tritium Glowrings can prove to be a pain. As it was loosely explained to me by a manufacturer, they are classified as gadgets and under this classification can not be imported into the US. As far as I could tell, there are no US based manufactures of them. Whether it is an error by shipping clerks or an oversight by customs officials, small quantities can be brought in. I know this because as an experiment, I ordered a couple from two different places, and a week or two later I received them in the mail. One of the places I received three from was the same manufacturer that told me over email that they could not be imported when I contacted them about buying them wholesale.

As an experiment I put one on my keys and threw them 40 feet into a grassy field at night. I was able to find them with minimal effort – thankfully. Green is the brightest, flowed by Blue, finally Pink. The size of the glass rod containing the Tritium is directly proportionate to how bright the Glowring will be; the smaller the rod and the less Tritium, the less light emitted.

In total I ended up with five of these trinkets. Three from Nite and two from DealExtreme. The two from DealExtreme were of lesser quality, came individually in the mail, and I am still arguing with them about the third I ordered, but have not received. The three from Nite came in as quickly as you can expect the postal service to deliver internationally (a little over a week). When they arrived I was pleasantly surprised to find them of a higher quality than the DealExtreme Glowrings. The fit and finish was better and the diameter of the glass rod containing the a Tritium was slightly larger. This produced a brighter Glowring. The Nite brand also came in Green, Pink, and Blue variations were as the Deal Extreme only come in Green and Yellow. Prices from either company was about the same as was shipping.

So what did I use mine for? One went on my keys, one on my BOB, one on my girlfriend’s BOB, and the last went on my sister in-law’s keys. Over all I have been happy with the purchase and found them useful. All said and done, I would buy the Nite Glowrings again and will be buying a few more. I will probably never buy anything from DealExtreme again. Are they a necessity? No, but they are neat and are handy.

Yes, in a tactical situation they could be a give away, but I am not likely to ever be in that position. If I am they can be quickly removed.

If you are a US based manufacturer of Tritium Glowrings please use the Contact Form and let me know. I would love to talk to you.