Let alone that it is only $59.99! US PALM’s messenger bag weighs a scant 19 oz dry but boasts a full 7560 square inches of storage (18″h x 28″w x 15″d). Additionally, the shoulder pad features spacer mesh for comfort. Overall, not a lot of frills, just carrying capacity. This could make a good DIY project for a TacHacker.
You can see US PALM’s wares at SHOT Show in TangoDown’s booth #27303 or visit uspalm.com
RAT Grips offers thermal moldable grip systems. That’s right, with their Rapid Adaptation Technology you can mold your own grip that is custom fit for your hand. You heat up the blank and overmold it onto your existing weapon grip. Using the texture cloth and grip you can create a custom finish. Kits include a blank grip, Texture Cloth, Texture Glove, and Instruction Sheet.
Available in Black, Brown, Camo, Dark Khaki, Khaki and Olive Drab.
We first mentioned the Switch from Quirky a year-and-a-half ago. At the time, it was only available for pre-order. Time went on and we had forgotten about it, until the Think Geek catalog arrived in the mail and there it was nestled between a multi-color LED flashlight of no particular note and a pocket chainsaw.
Featuring 17 different tool attachments, you can configure the tool for your specific needs and this is great news for the TacHacker who wants to customize his gear.
Standard Knife, Pliers, Scissors, Nail File, Tweezers, Thin Flathead Screwdriver, Phillips-Head Screwdriver, Eyeglass Phillips-Head Screwdriver, Eyeglass Flathead Screwdriver, Wood Saw, Serrated Blade, Corkscrew, Combination Bottle Opener/Flathead Screwdriver, Combination Can Opener/Wire Stripper, Pen, Magnifying Glass, LED Flashlight
You can purchase it directly from Quirky but it’s actually quite a bit less expensive from Think Geek.
There are a lot of TacHackers out there reading SSD who are just looking for a new material to experiment with as well as that next project. Sparkfun Electronics is offering Conductive Thread Bobbins consisting of 60 feet of stainless steel thread. This is a great opportunity for those interested in getting into e-textiles and a good entry project is to modify of existing gloves for use with touch screen smartphones.
Thanks to Palehorse1!
E-PAK
The concept behind the development of the E-PAK modular storage system is that the one thing you would keep with you in an SHTF scenario is your weapon. Machined from aircraft-grade aluminum, the waterproof E-PAK storage containers are designed to mount to any Picatinny rail, providing immediate access to gear such as batteries, weapon repair parts, personal items, survival equipment and more.
EPAK Modular Storage Systems are available in two sizes and can be had as complete, prepackaged kits or empty for the DIYer.
Prepackaged kits include:
Deluxe AR/M4 Spare Parts Kit
o Firing Pin Retaining Pin
o Trigger Spring
o Hammer Spring
o Gas Rings
o Extractor
o Extractor Spring Assembly
o Extractor Pivot Pin
o Hammer/Trigger Pivot Pin
o Cam Pin
o Firing Pin
o Disconnector Spring
o Safety Selector Detent Spring
o Safety Selector Detent
o Buffer Detent Spring
o Buffer Detent
o Pivot Pin Detent Spring
o Pivot Pin
Survival Kit
o Liquid Filled Compass
o Serrated Lock back Folding Knife
o Fire Tinder
o Game Snare Wire
o High Strength Wire Saw
o Matches
o Safety Pins
o Split Shot Sinkers
o Fishing Hooks
o Fishing Line
o Ear Plugs
There is also a prepackaged standard M4 parts kit as well as a food procurement kit.
Mod-Rail
Mod-Rail is a complimentary PALS compatible mounting system that combines a MOLLE attachment with the back of a Mil Std 1913 rail. This allows you to rapidly store weapon accessories in a bag or in some cases on your gear.
We first published this article last year, but winter’s coming and it might be time to pull your kit out and check it over before it’s needed.
It looks like it’s going to be a LONG winter. During a recent shooting class I attended it started raining day one and by the middle of the second day it looked like a blizzard. Most of my fellow shooters were wearing waterproof breathable outerwear and several began to feel clammy and then damp the longer each day progressed. A couple of guys were wearing issue Gen I ECWCS parkas. Probably not the best garment available as WL Gore long ago decided that the basic design could not meet their “Guaranteed to Keep You Dry” standards. Of course these jackets were old. More than anything, they needed some maintenance.
The key to any modern outerwear is its Durable Water Repellent (DWR) which serves as your clothing’s first line of defense against moisture. There are quite a few treatments available and different manufacturers have their favorites but they are usually are based on flouropolymers. These are PTFE molecules that are applied to the surface of the fabric and cured at high heat to make them adhere better and increase performance. These treatments have a fluorine atom at one end which is highly hydrophobic meaning it hates water. Heat causes the fibers to align themselves with their flourines exposed. Water tries to move away from the flourines resulting in beading. This allows the water to roll off without wetting the fabric. Interestingly, Quarpel (Quartermaster Repellent) was one of the first DWRs and used to treat field jackets and other military clothing items back in the 1960s.
Since most of us can’t run out and purchase a new jacket every time the DWR needs refreshing I thought it would be a good idea to share a few tips with you that will not only revitalize your garment’s DWR treatment but also extend the life of your clothing.
DWR treatments work best when they are clean. I realize this seems counter to what you think is right since a DWR generally lasts about 25 washings and tactical garments get quite a beating in the field, but you need to wash your clothing. The first thing is to avoid using liquid detergents as well as fabric softeners. Additionally, avoid optical brighteners as they are not good for DWR or IR treatments. There are wash in treatments you can purchase as well as spray on options to help renew your clothing’s DWR. However, wash in treatments may affect the breathability of your membrane. One of the best spray solutions available is Revivex from McNett and it is what I have used in the past. It also serves as a stain repellent. Revivex can also be applied to garments that never had DWR in the first place so if you have hunting or field clothing that you find yourself wearing in inclement weather regularly you may want to give it a once over. If you use a spray treatment be sure to evenly coat your garment while it is still damp after washing and to pay special attention to any seams.
There are two additional ways you can put some life back into your DWR without a full retreatment. One is to put the garment in a conventional dryer on warm and the other is to iron it on low heat. This helps realign the fibers. If water fails to bead up on the surface of your garment you will need to retreat.
No matter which method you choose, proper maintenance of your foul weather clothing’s DWR will help keep you warm and dry and extend the life of your equipment.
These US made lead-free pewter Beret Skull Bead will fit a double strand of 550 para-cord and most accessory cords. They are great for DIY projects. To get yours, visit www.spartanbladesusa.com.
