​For every day carry (EDC) we use a Vedder Holsters LightTuck IWB Kydex holster since it holds our firearm securely and has a very low profile. But for the range, especially for USPSA-like target shooting activities, we wanted an Outside the Waistband (OWB) holster. After looking at various models from different manufacturers we eventually purchased the LightDraw Kydex OWB from Vedder Holster for a variety of reasons.
 
You can find the details about this OWB holster on the Shooting/Holsters page.

These days there are lots of different sleeping pads on the market and they come in all shapes, sizes and materials. The brand that we use happened to be at the Great American Outdoor Show so we talked to them about their latest products.

As you can see from the picture Klymit’s sleeping pads look different from most of the other sleeping pads out there because of their distinctive “V shaped chambers”. The shape of these chambers minimize air movement and their ergonomic design and dynamic side rails cushion and cradle you to keep you on the pad better and increase your comfort while you are sleeping. 

We like the fact that Klymit’s products come in a variety of styles to support different needs.  Their standard pad is 23” wide – but they also have one that is 30” wide. They even have a pad for two that is 47” wide. Their standard pad is 72” long, but they also have a Junior pad that is 50.4” long. For extra insulation, without adding much additional weight, they have insulated pads that are filled with warm, light Klymalite™ synthetic insulation. To cut the weight in half from the standard ~20 ounces to less than 10 ounces they have skeletal frame pads. So if you are looking for a new sleeping pad you might want to check out what Klymit has on the market.

You can check out all the details about Klymit’s sleeping pads here:

https://www.klymit.com/sleeping-pads.html 

At the Great American Outdoor Show there was all sorts of gear for every type of backcountry camping adventure – to include tent camping, car camping, pop-up trailer camping and RV camping. Although we most often go tent camping, in some National/State Parks you have to pitch your tent close to your car. When you have this situation you can take some heavier items with you since you don’t have to backpack them in. 

One of the items that falls into the category of nice to have if you don’t have to carry it very far is a Dutch Oven – especially if you want to eat better food than a freeze-dried pouch can deliver. CampMaid’s outdoor Dutch Oven combo pack allows you to really show off your cooking skills. The Dutch Oven set can function as a griddle, smoker, grill, steamer, pizza oven, frying pan, and baking pot. To make it easy to use the oven has a patented “Grab-and-Hold” design that allows you to safely remove your lid without needing gloves. The “Grab-and-Hold” also secures the lid and coals so that you can easily stir and serve while keeping the lid free from dirt and debris.

You can check out all the details about the CampMaid Dutch Oven 6 piece outdoor combo set here:

https://campmaid.com/collections/combos   

​Here in New England we only had a couple of patches of snow left in the shady spots of the yard on Monday.

Yesterday we got 12"+ of new snow in 12 hours.

​Today I took a hike in the woods and here's what one of the streams looked like after the blizzard of snow dropped by Winter Storm Stella.

At the Great American Outdoor Show there were lots of large firearm manufacturers and lots of aftermarket accessory manufacturers (optics, sights, rails, barrels, etc.,) – and we tried to see them all. One of the interesting items that we liked was the Law Tactical folding stock adapter. If you’re looking for a way to modify one of your AR platforms from a fixed stock to a folding stock then this might be the product for you. 

This stock adapter works with direct impingement or gas piston systems and fits A2, carbine, mil-spec or commercial buffer tubes and stocks. It can be used with standard bolt carrier groups including: semi- auto and full auto, for 5.56 to .308. The rear portion of the adapter is built to the same specifications as a standard AR platform receiver to ensure maximum compatibility. The adapter is made from CNC machined 4140 steel and has a simple one-button release that folds/unfolds the stock. To use your firearm you just unfold and fire. The stock automatically locks into place and requires no fine motor skills. The adapter also has an integrated single point sling attachment point.

You can check out all the details about Law Tactical’s folding stock adapter here:

http://www.lawtactical.com/ar_folding_stock_adapter_gen_3_m_p/99312.htm 

We’ve all been there - the weather looks good so you don’t take a jacket - then the weather turns on you and you wish that you had one. Or you take a jacket only to find out that you didn’t need it and had to tie it around your waist for most of the hike. Well, if you’re looking for a potential solution to this issue you might want to look at the Xpocket; a product that starts as a jacket and converts to a sling-pack or waist pack.
 
The Xpocket is a lightweight, breathable, waterproof pullover rain jacket that’s good for hiking, camping and other outdoor activities. It stores your stuff in such a way that you have direct access to it in both the pack configuration and the jacket configuration without changing the stuff’s location.
 
The Xpocket has pockets for your hands, a storm flap, water resistant zippers, an adjustable drawstring (at the waist of the jacket configuration), elastic/non-wicking cuffs for foul weather and an adjustable 2-inch nylon pack strap for durability and comfort.
 
We saw the Xpocket at the Great American Outdoor Show, but you can check out all the details about the Xpocket here:
 
http://www.thexpocket.com/ 

In addition to there being hundreds of products on display and for sale at the Great American Outdoor Show, there were also many Services for sale. Included among those were the companies that offer Legal and Insurance support for self-defense incidents. During our time at the show we talked to several of the people from these companies and were most impressed by the offerings of the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) since, in our opinion, they seemed to have the most complete program and products.

To assist and support you in case you need to protect yourself or your family from the legal and financial aftermath of a self-defense action the USCCA has three levels of “Self-Defense SHIELD” support (Silver, Gold and Platinum) that range from $147 to $347 per year. Each of their products offer varying levels of support for the following items:

- Cover all weapons
- Have a 24/7/365 Critical Response Team
- Give you an immediate Attorney retainer
- Fund immediate Bail Bonding
- Provide up-front Criminal Defense
- Provide for Expert Witness coordination
- Insurance against Civil Suit defense
- Insurance against Civil Suit damages
- Provide compensation while In Civil Court
- Provide Firearm theft protection

The USCCA currently educates, trains, equips and insures over 135,000 Americans and their membership are protected by a 365-Day bulletproof Money-Back Guarantee. So, if you are thinking about getting insurance for self-defense, you might want to go through all the material that they have online.

You can check out all the details about the USCCA here:

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/ 

As the warmer weather approaches – so does time near or on the water – and with that the need to make sure that you keep your gear dry.  While we were at the Great American Outdoor Show we spent some time looking at products that would help in this area, and really liked the products that Dry Case has on the market. In particular we liked their backpacks.

The backpack that we liked the most has a fully waterproof main compartment capable of holding 35 liters, an internal zippered waterproof pocket to store smaller items, a front mesh pocket so you can keep wet items out the waterproof area, side water bottle holder, bungee cords that can hold you other items, a durable rubber top hold handle and lots of padding on the shoulder straps and back support.

The backpack is made out of GNARWALL™ Marine-Grade Waterproof Technology so it is 100% waterproof and, unlike many other waterproof bags, has a 2 Way purge valve (inflation/compression) that allows you to eliminate the extra air inside the bag when you seal it. The purge valve also allows you to inflate the backpack or use it as a draining tool if you want to use the pack as a shower or cooler. 

You can check out all the details about Dry Case’s backpacks here:

https://www.drycase.com/category/BACKPACKS.html 

With spring finally approaching it’s time to start thinking about warmer weather and what additional gear you might need to have to get out there. 

One item that is key is your shoes. Not your hiking boots, but the shoes that you wear for knocking around – especially if you’re hiking, camping, kayaking, or canoeing near the water. Sometimes there’s nothing worse than having to wear your boots around the campsite after you have stopped hiking for the day - and getting your boots wet is even worse. But it’s not smart to walk around barefoot and you probably don’t want to carry a heavy pair of sneakers in your backpack all day so that you can relax in the evening. We’ve all tried flip flops but they always seem to feel slippery.

A great solution to this problem is Zeko Shoes. They’re water resistant with a quick-drying microfiber wicking mesh upper and a ventilated sole that drains water away. They have a sturdy compression molded vented EVA sole that is slip resistant, absorbs shock, creates a comfortable cushion and allows for good air circulation to keep your feet cool and dry.  Since they have adjustable Velcro straps, they are easy to get on and off. At 5.5 ounces they’re light enough to justify some space in your pack.

You can check out all the details about Zeko Shoes here:

http://zeko-shoes.myshopify.com/collections/zeko-vintage-shoes  

If you’re looking to learn about, compare or buy a firearm then one of the places that you might want to look at is GunBroker’s companion site that “soft launched” in February 2017: Gun Genius. This new site is powered by all of GunBroker’s backend data and already has the specifications and detailed information about 17,000 rifles, shotguns and handguns from 84 manufacturers. They currently have over 50,000 photos, 1,000 videos and 3,000 reviews and are adding more information every day.

Gun Genius allows you to search for firearms based on who you are or what type of firearm you are looking for (Shooter, Personal Protection, Hunter, Prepper, LEO/Military/Tactical, Collector, Modern Sporting Arms). You can also search the database by Manufacturer, Caliber/Gauge, Series or Model and can filter the results by numerous other specifications: 15 for rifles, 28 for shotguns and 31 for handguns.

The site even has the ability to show you the top selling firearms on GunGroker by month, and if you’re trying to figure out what type of firearm was used in a movie, the site can help you there too with their “What Gun Was That?” database.

You can check out all the details about Gun Genius here:

http://www.gungenius.com/