Beginning in February of 2011 you will have another option for barefoot running. The Evoskin from Inov-8 Ltd weighs a scant 3.5 ounces per foot. This light weight can be attributed to the material used to manufacture the Evoskin; silicone. As you can see, the toe pockets are molded directly into the footbed. What is interesting is that they have integrated a strapping system across the top of the foot.
via Gear Junkie www.inov-8.com
Founded by mountaineering legend Mark Twight, Gym Jones’ “objective is genuine fitness, not the appearance of fitness: actual capacity strengthens confidence, a facade is merely physical.” They are well known by those who want to reach their true potential. Military, Law Enforcement, and First Responder personnel are athletes. Take a look at the Gym Jones forum and you may find some kindred spirits.
Troops on the go are always looking for compact and lightweight ways to get a workout. For those who find themselves in just such a situation, Rubberbanditz just might be worth taking a look at. The system uses rubber bands to provide resistance and was developed by company owner Ari Zandman-Zeman while serving in the Peace Corps. Rubberbanditz are easy to use and each kit comes with an instructional video. Additionally, they are not only lightweight but also are small enough to take a long on any trip.
John Carlin developed the Train Safe firearms block so that shooters could safely train with their issue or daily carry sidearm. The Train Safe block slightly protrudes from the barrel of the pistol and is brightly colored so there is no mistake that the weapon has been rendered safe. Additionally, the design prevents a round from being chambered. It is an inexpensive way to gain some peace of mind while training with firearms. To order the Train Safe, visit www.trainsafe.us.
Laser Ammo Ltd. manufactures the patent pending SureStrikeâ„¢ dry fire system which is designed to turn your pistol into a laser emitting dry-fire training gun. It does this by having dimensions similar to those of a standard ammunition cartridge. You load the device into the weapon’s chamber though the breech and it is held in place with a safety pipe and nut.
Activated only by a firing pin strike, the SureStrike emits eye-safe laser pulse, or a “shot†of red light, which simulates the point of impact where a bullet fired from the pistol, would have struck providing immediate feedback to the shooter.
SureStrike practice helps to improve techniques related to sighting, target acquisition, flinching, trigger control, etc. The shooter can also practice drawing, chambering, magazine change, racking the slide, and holstering, all resulting in better performance, even under pressure. An additional benefit is that all of this is done with the shooter’s own weapon rather than a simulator pistol.
Incorporated in the SureStrike training kit is the UhrSecureâ„¢ safety system, which locks the laser cartridge into the chamber with a safety pipe and nut that prevents the loading of a live round. The UhrSecure safety system provides a visual and physical indication of the secure nature of the firearm and enables safe use of the kit for both single and multiple users. The SureStrike has been tested by the Israeli secret service, the IDF anti-terrorism school and Israeli police.
The SureStrike laser training system is under warranty to provide 5,000 “shotsâ€. If needed, an inexpensive replacement activation cap is available to guarantee another 5,000 shots. The SureStrike laser training system comes with a 9mm SureStrike laser cartridge, the UhrSecure safety system, a quick-user guide, battery pack and five reflective targets based on classic law enforcement standards, all in a convenient carrying case.
Adapters are available for .40 S&W, .45 ACP, .45 GAP, .45LC revolvers, and 12 gauge shotguns. Also available are replacement activation caps that allow the SureStrike to function as a bore sight, work with some of the market’s leading weapon simulation systems, activate electronic targets, and even use variable laser beam duration for advanced technique analysis.
No, we haven’t used it but it looks like it will give better feedback than dry firing with a washer on the barrel. Additionally, we like the idea that a live round can’t accidentally be chambered with the device installed.
For those of you living under a rock we will get you up to speed on AAC’s new informational website CAN U. Launched yesterday, Can U is an interactive website designed to educate the general public about current silencer laws and regulations. The site also features an Undergraduate section for civilians and a Graduate section for dealers complete with final exams. Successful completion of a course of study results in access to special offers and discounts. It is an excellent concept that not only educates but also makes the consumer part of a community of interest.
Check it out…www.aaccanu.com
If you have been following Vickers Tactical on Twitter, Larry has been hinting that a big announcement would be coming on September 15th. Well, the day is here and the announcement is in fact, pretty big. Larry Vickers has developed a new program whereby he has certified a small cadre of instructors to provide basic instruction in the Vickers Shooting Method. This is a good move that will help to ensure quality instruction for those that want to train with Larry in order to learn his techniques but are unable to attend his classes due to location or funds.
Below is the official press release which covers it well. Further details including an FAQ and the list of instructors can be found at VickersTactical.com.
I get requests on a weekly basis from new shooters that want to attend basic level pistol or carbine classes taught by me. Unfortunately due to my busy schedule including TV filming as well as teaching various classes locally and around the USA I rarely teach basic classes regardless of the location. This has created a dilemma as many of these potential students would love to attend my level 1 classes as well other specialty classes I offer but they have no means to do so. Until now.
After careful consideration I have decided to allow select prior students of mine to teach basic level pistol and carbine classes under the Vickers Shooting Method (VSM) banner. These students have demonstrated a firm grasp of the key marksmanship fundamentals and in fact all of them have attended multiple Vickers Tactical classes taught by me – at least 4 classes apiece. Many of them are teaching classes already on a local level but this new program is designed to get them exposure from my website and direct new or basic level shooters to them in order to get these students up to speed and ready to take a level 1 class from me. Initially only a handful of regionally endorsed instructors will be authorized to use the VSM logo in their basic classes but I expect the program to grow as time goes on and more qualified candidates become available. All of these individuals will adhere to the 3 basic principles that guide my unique marksmanship style;
Rule one; Know and adhere to the real world safety rules that govern professional firearms handling.
Rule two; Only accurate hits on target can decide the fight in your favor – therefore accuracy is King.
Rule three; You are accountable for every round you fire – squeeze the trigger as if your life depends on it because it does.
New shooters attending basic level classes with any of the regional instructors will come away with a firm grasp of these Vickers Shooting Method principles and be on track to apply them in the real world. This will set them up for success and be ready to take it to the next level when they attend a class taught by me.
First off, what is this “THULS” thing? For starters, based on their patented Multi-Environment Rewrite System (MERS), it was developed by Mission Information Resources, Inc and has been adopted by the Marine Corps for use by small unit leaders. Over 40,000 handbooks have been fielded by the Marine Enhancement Program and this is how they describe it…
The Leader’s Tactical Handbook (LTH), TM-10203A-OD, Publication Control Number (PCN) 180102030 00, is the Marine Corps base model of the multi-environment rewritable system known and produced as “Tactical Handbook, Unit Leader, Small” (THULS).
They go on to describe its physical make up…
Breast and sleeve-pocket sized, the LTH is comprised of 60 cards, 10 tabs, & 120 pages of preprinted standardized information on a plasticized medium providing a write-on/wipe-off rewritable surface suitable for use in all weather conditions, including underwater.
And finally, its intent…
The handbook helps less experienced Marines organize information into logical chunks, concepts, and patterns and serves as a reminder during times of time-compressing, stress, and fatigue during garrison and field evolutions.
We want to applaud the Marine Corps for being first adopters on this system. Once you see a handbook, you will realize how useful it is.
There are loads of automated systems showing up in the battlespace to help you manage information and format reports but they all rely on two unreliable factors; power and comms. Power is finite and comms can be a mystery even to experts when faced with some environments. The beauty of this systems is that it is always there whether there are comms and power or not. Like they say, “Where Technology fails…THULS perseveres!” Additionally, it is not affected by weather. You can write with alcohol pens or pencils over and over. The waterproof pages can be written on even underwater for use as a dive slate.
Already the the medical community is looking at ways to adopt THULS. In fact, the pages can be decontaminated with medical grade materials and data written in pencil will not be destroyed.
Really, anyone who uses checklists or other formatted reports can benefit from THULS. What’s more, as additional formats are added to the catalog, the system’s modular nature will be even more beneficial. Pages or cards can be added and subtracted based on AORs, changing TTPs, attachments, new pieces of equipment, or to conform to new ROE. The design is anything but static. The limiting factor here is imagination. The basic technology can be adapted to any application. Aviation, diving, airborne, recce, maritime, you name it.
One thing we will address is the white pages. We asked the designers why they chose white and it was actually by necessity. Early models were offered with tan pages but those wearing Night Vision Goggles were unable to read the pages. Once the color was altered to white everything could be made out under NODs.
We have by no means even touched the tip of the iceberg with this system. And, they have developed other products to assist with the production of fire support and small unit movement overlays in addition to sector sketches. To learn more, visit M I R, Inc at the Infantry Warfighter Conference at Ft Benning 13-15 September or at Modern Day Marine at Quantico 28 – 30 September or visit them on the web at www.thuls.biz
