Thanks to some quick work by Mil-Spec Monkey the Limited Edition SSD 5th Anniversary Patches are in! During 2013 we will be handing out 500 of these bad boys at various trade shows and events, but we know we won’t run into all of our readers that way so we are going to kick it off with a giveaway. Enter for your chance to win one of 50 patches.
To enter:
1. In the comments section of THIS article on SSD tell us what you’d like to see SSD do in the future. Only entries here are eligible to win.
2. Comments are open from now until 1600Z 31 May 2013.
3. Use any alias you want to post but be sure to use a valid email address since that’s how we’ll contact the winners.
4. 50 winners will be selected randomly from the comments we receive.
5. One entry per email address. We will delete entries that violate this policy.
6. Must be 18 to enter. Void where prohibited.
Remember, there are only 500 of these patches available in total.
Keep up the good work!
And more Camo and knifes!
Android app!
Long term reviews of gear made with Non-standard fabric (Hypalon, LiteLok,…) and more stuff from companies in EU, Asia, ME,…
To keep at what your doing. You already have a full plate being awesome.
Follow-up reviews on new kit seen at trade shows and more CCW gear reviews.
I hate to sound like a kiss-ass but keep doing what you’re doing. In addition to the gear news continue to keep us up to date with training. I’m a big fan of Gunfighter Moment and Canipe Correspondence.
I would like to see an SSD IPad app.
Porn.
Gear porn, that is. I’d like to see a collaboration with Military Morons, in the way you might be able to provide him with early new gear and he will test the sh*t out of it. Reviews both on his and this page.
Also, I’d really appreciate you also have an eye for European vendors and in that perspective I’d like to say more is alway better.
I would like to see long term reviews, for example tested BoodX in this enviroment, and tread split. These arcticles would be something like an ongoing series, the basic stuff we all use from Tier 1 to weekend warriors. (boots, gloves, socks, base layers) (This could also be a chance for volunteer testers?)
What about equipment MOD/repair arcticles, we all spend big bucks for gear how does one keep it going? (Besides buy more!) Even an industry response, “wow, we never thought of that,” or we will make it right/better.
You and your team do a great job by providing relevant, up-to-date content for a variety of readers, while covering many interesting topics/items. That in itself is valuable and know you will continue to do that. I have two; 1) collaboration – guest posting or bloggers, 2) more interviews. Keep up the great work and good luck.
long term reviews/returning to stuff previously reviewed with updates would be great, as well as an app for updates would be nice.
SSD already does a wonderful job at keeping us up-to-date with high quality information on several subjects and I’d like, most of all, to see it make it at least another 5 years while getting better and better
It’d be really nice to see it covering armored vehicles and more electronic systems. More reviews, seeing your Youtube channel getting some more love – maybe with gear and stories – and an Android/iOS app would also be appreciated. As to the app, it would be nice to see it containing both the site and videos, and perhaps a discussion area.
Keep doing the outstanding job you’ve been doing.
I’d like to see a bit more historical “Everything old is new again” type articles.
For example, after 20 years of vests and chest rigs, we’re looping back to LBE (warbelt anyone) albeit updated with better materials and construction.
I love the Saturday insights from the field. I wouldn’t mind seeing more opinion articles. The facts are great, but some insider interpretation would be cool.
More LEO-centric articles? I know it’s “Soldier Systems” but you have a pretty wide audience judging from all the trolling in the 2A posts.
More coverage of stuff built outside of the USA, but keep up the good work
I’d be really happy to see more interviews with people from the industry as interviewed by the SSD staff. It’s obvious from comments and the narrative you take in some posts that you guys are incredibly well informed, have heads firmly attached to your shoulders, and aren’t afraid to call out idiots or idiocy in general.
This sometimes comes in harsh contrast to spartan articles that almost feel like it’s just the promotional message provided to you guys from whatever org is marketing their newest piece of kit. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the expectation that every post can be solid gold (I mean, look how many milestones for post counts you guys have hit over the last year!). It’s just that you guys have a great voice and in a lot of ways are right on the mark for reflecting the feeling of many in the industry.
The sense I get from us readers is that SSD calls out what should be called out, and isn’t willing to push around its readers when wrong. This is a good thing. I remember seeing the comments of an article on testing female IOTV and a guy asked something along the lines of ‘what’s the point of this?’ to the response of ‘they fit’; it was a badly phrased question, and the guy rephrased it into a better question.
Applying that sense and voice to interviews of people in the industry I think would be great. You guys have addressed everything from budgets to bureaucracy, counterfeits to commercial sales, memoriams to mediocrity. SSD would not be pushing above its weight to go after what it wants to review as opposed to being predominantly a recipient of what organizations or individuals are hoping to get discussed on that day.
As one of the top mil blogs, to some degree you’re providing THE record of the sense of feeling in the industry as time goes on. Having semi-regular interviews where you guys ask questions on what’s good, bad, and ugly in the industry would be refreshing, and would get you guys more leading that conversation capably as you can. We’ve seen every business worth its mettle in here commenting; push that idea a bit further. We don’t see enough of it. As an interesting thought, there’s no reason why you guys couldn’t have interviewed people like Chris Kyle or John Noveske before they left us. And I can’t think of anyone better to do so.
Either way, keep it up.
1. Smartphone (MAC and Windows based phones) APP
2. More “Give-aways” like this
3. “flashback” gear reviews.. (basically reviews on time tested kit that has been around for decades, still works and still out-performs)
4. “Spotted Gear” articles with pictures of specific kit caught in pictures of dudes doing good work around the world.. of course with blurred faces.
5. Articles on how to obtain badass kit on the cheap.. or How to make or find a replacement of equal to or almost equal value. (i.e. You like the TAD Jacket, boom check out Condor.. I know that is a simple example.. but I hope that paints the picture).
fuck it heres another example. (Insert expensive tactical company) Cargo Pants – retail 109.99 – Lee – Cargo Pants 19.99 – Wal-Mart
Soldier Systems is already fantastic, the only suggestion i could make would be some articles about fitness. Keep up the good work
A small online store for select items…
Needs more cowbell.
This already suits my need for info perfectly, so dunno what to hope more 🙂
Keep up the good work!
Droid App!
1. Continue providing the best and most comprehensive insight to tactical gear on the web.
2. Provide additional commentary on the procurement practices of the government. Personal insights and comments by SSD are welcomed and appreciated and provide a valuable education to many of us neophytes on the whole government bureaucracy/industry interface.
3. Do more critical reviews of industry players and offer more opinions about products. Use your bully pulpit to point out great companies; but, don’t shy away from pointing out companies that do not have the best interest of our Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine consumers at heart.
Create an attitude filter for the comment section
Android app!
If you guys get a new app it would be awesome!!!
Industry news and updates on the technology and… well, just keep doing what you do!!!!
I’d honestly say that more of the same is all that you need, although I do like the idea someone else posted about putting up some articles about older kit that works well and is still going strong.
Links page for all manufacturers / retailers mentioned in articles, categorized similarly to the Category page.
I want so see moar of the last five years! You do a great job. Thank you for all your hard work and sacrifice.
I would just like to win something.
Just once would be nice.
Thanks for all the good work keep up the info.
Think you guys are doing a bang up job… keep it up.
iPhone app!!!!!!
With notifications
ohh!! thats a great idea! I second that!
Updated reviews of kit gear, how its lasted, improvements, pros and cons, etc and some articles or reviews of Kalash weapon platforms. Great job though, this is one of my daily news websites!
This is one of the coolest news sites I know at the moment! Thanks for the up to date info on gear! I would like to see more pictures in the future!
Think you should do like an award for new products each year…SSD Award for new innovative product.
I have always really enjoyed SSD, I have only been reading it for 6 months but it was love at first sight. I frequent the site several times a day. One thing I could recommend is some more frequent DIY content. It is hard to find good quality DIY. I think Soldier Systems would be a great place to weed out the lame and share the quality content DIY with the community.
More Opinions on Witch companies you guys think carry’s better equipment required for particular task’s, and Just keep on bringing the Same old Awsome daily SSD!
More Patches!
I’d like to see SSD evolve past the online review and forum by reaching out even further to communities with SSD gear/weapon shows…an annual or semi-annual event in different cities around the country that allows sponsors the opportunity to show/sell their products, organizations such as Wounded Warrior to raise funds, and (depending on the city and state) training and/or range events for weapon manufacturers and/or trainers/instructors to showcase their products and/or skills.
This website is an absolute gold mine of tactical product information and even if SSD stayed on the same course, it’d still be a loyal follower regardless.
I’d like to see: where to buy the newest pattern camo in yds of cloth. I think the next thing would be to custom cut and sew pants and shirts for the new gunfighters. We all are not between five foot two and five foot eight and sizes larger than forty.
I’d like to see expanded (firearms) convention coverage on smaller vendors. The big guys already get the lions share of the product coverage (usually for the same products as last year).
I’d like to see 6 month and 1 year follow up to gear and weapon reviews, how did the items hold up over the long haul.
I’d also like to see a rating system of sorts for training companies like Costa, Haley, Grey Group and other not so “mainstream” groups. Help us stretch our dollar by eliminating mall ninja and Tier Zero groups.
More articles and info. on new and classic guns.And other product reviews on accessories.
Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke! Thanks for everything you do!
I would like to see more reviews on old military weapons.
Forces Focus on psyop/miso and CA. The guys that put the soft in SOF.
I would like to see more reviews on weapons and their accessories.And how good they are.
Continue to push forward with what you already do…it works well and I for one appreciate SSD!