Gear Pr0n: Coyote Ugly?

Plate Carrier, War Belt, Cool Guy hat, and M4 furniture in coyote tan. It sure looks beautiful to me! This guy is ready to go hunting.

Gear Pr0n: Sig Sauer ShotShow 2011

Gear Pr0n: OTB Odhin Maritime Boots

Let's say you're a Navy SEAL. Your typical mission profile (at least in theory) puts you in or near the water a great portion of your time. You need good tactical boots, but you need them to drain the water quicker, resist absorbing water into the materials, and dry relatively quickly. The old answer was the Vietnam Era Jungle boot. That worked. But all things can be improved by technology (or so the American Way of War tells us). Enter OTB Boots and the Odhin.

"OTB" stands for "over the beach" -- a good description of a SEAL mission if ever there was one. And OTB (http://www.otbboots.com/) was adopted as the name of the footwear company that designed the Odhin for the SEALs. OTB now belongs to New Balance, but the boots are made here in the good ole USofA. So if you care about such things, they are "Berry Compliant." If you don't care about such things, don't worry about it.

The Odhin was designed specifically for our brave Navy SEAL friends as a new type of maritime assault boot. It uses water-resistant materials, is engineered with water in mind, and is lightweight and breathable.

Here we see the nylon mesh fabric used to make the boot breathable.

This is the insole system. Notice those holes? They allow water to pass right through the sole of the boot. The Jungle Boot had two brass drain holes in the instep. Compare that to these drain holes. The water passes right through.

Don't believe me? The Military Moron (http://www.militarymorons.com/equipment/footwear2.html) has a video on his site (just scroll down looking for his Odhin review) showing him placing a garden hose in the boot and the water flowing out about as fast as it gets into the boot.

You can see the holes in the sole in this photo.

Yet the Odhin is still constructed like a solid assault boot, as seen in these two pictures. Note the lacing system which holds the laces nicely against the boot to reduce the opportunity for them to snag on anything.

I dig the sexy green/khaki. Typically I like my assault boots in basic black (and that is available), but I'm seriously considering getting my pair in the sage green to go with my multicam working suit.

I know you're thinking, "But Gil, won't those holes let in debris?" Well, maybe. But first, consider that gravity is working for you. Second, they incorporated a mesh to keep out large grains of sand -- as seen in this picture. Third, while the holes will let in water, and some mud, the boot is designed for environments in which that is inevitable. Those are times when it is more important to get rid of the water. And they helpfully designed the boot to be cleaned easily.

What about traction? I hear you. OTB's answer is razor-thin cuts in the lugs of the sole to help shed water, sort of like the way your radial tires shed water. You can see the cuts when the sole is flexed. The user reviews I've read haven't indicated any problem with traction and have been very impressed with the amount of grip the sole gives even when wet.

I'm going to shout out to Gear Geek's (http://geargeeksreview.blogspot.com/2008/11/otb-odhin-boot.html) for the photos. I don't have a pair of these boots yet, so I don't have pictures. But I'm already excited by what I read. I do have a pair of OTB's Thor boots on order. they should arrive next week. The Thor boots are low profile assault boots, so I intend to use them for everyday wear.

Gear Pr0n: Mil-Spec Monkey Zombie Hunter Patch in PVC

Mil-Spec Monkey's popular "Zombie Hunter" patch is now available in PVC.

As the Monkey says:
"We are trying out PVC designs to give some more options. They look clean, are nice and durable, and hook velcro won't stick to them like normal embroidery. Overall matte with very low reflectivity."

These are extremely durable, and may stand-up better in harsh environments better than normal embroidery. For example, if you are constantly in swamps or doing deep dives. The constant wetting and drying process can be hard on standard patches. You may have other applications in mind, such as ID on HAZMAT suits that needs to be disinfected.

Don't go hunting without identification. The zombie hunter patch won't solve all your ID issues, but it is a start.

Gear Pr0n: Glock Collection

The great thing about Glock pistols is how modular they are. Assuming for an instant that all of these pistols are chambered in the same caliber, then the parts are interchangeable. Of course, you can't fit a long slide on a small frame, but you can swap out all the standard size parts. And all of the larger magazines fit in the smaller frame guns.

And all the working parts are located in the same places.

This is a great collection of Glocks. This guy is ready to rock and roll.

Gear Pr0n: Overstuffed WarBelt and Chest Rig

Gear Pr0n: The Tactical Gladius

Swords are awesome for zombies. Especially when you find them in small numbers. But you have to balance the convenience of ammo conservation with carry weight. So while your first inclination might be to get something long for extra reach, you really shouldn't overlook the short sword.

Here we see a selection of swords after the Roam Gladius fashion. Sturdy defenders that will easily cleave into some zed's skull, yet won't slow you down.

Gear Pr0n: CamelBak Shot Show 2010 part 2

The conclusion of CamelBak's Shot Show 2010 lineup

Gear Pr0n: CamelBak Shot Show 2010

Water is essential in a survival situation. So looking at the broader possibilities of the End of the World -- not just the inevitable Zombie Apocalypse -- we need to consider ways we can carry water while still on the move. Whether we're on short patrols, scavanging expeditions, or long hauls.

CamelBak is one of the leading suppliers of hydration systems. This is video of the range of options made available in 2010.

Gear Pr0n: Vintage M1911

These are pictures of a WWI-era M1911 that was carried into combat by the owner's great-grandfather.

The owner refurbished the pistol and gave it a new finish to protect it.

This isn't a personal defense weapon, it is an historical artifact to be treated with respect.

The Colt manufacturer's mark.

Here's the full pistol. One way to tell the M1911 from the later M1911A1 is the straight backstrap on the butt of the pistol. M1911A1's have a rounded profile to fit the hand better.

M1911 Week: How to Field Strip

Given that some people think tomorrow might bring forth some kind of Apocalypse, perhaps we should spend a few minutes going over the maintenance of our favorite .45 pistol.

Gear Pr0n: M1911 Week!

Sam Browning's .45 automatic pistol, adopted by the U.S. Army as the Model 1911, and later M1911A1 is a classic. Long considered the consummate gunfighter's pistol, the design turns 100 years old. It has seen service with the U.S. Military in every conflict in which the nation has been engaged in those 100 years.

Here we see a Taurus clone with sexy Punisher aftermarket grips.

Gear Pr0n: Mini Uzi

The Mini-Uzi.

While the original Uzi was intended to be small and comfortable, later engineers believed it could be made even more compact and fill a niche for police, covert agents, and close protection specialists.

Gear Pr0n: Strider LM Nail

Strider makes expensive knives that are worth every penny. It's quality workmanship. So I had to do a little research when I heard they were making a weapon that retailed for $50. Seriously?

It turned out the weapon in question is The Nail. And pretty much, that is what it is. Up to 9 inches of steel ground to a very sharp point and not subjected to heat treatment. It's then paired with a dead simple kydex sheath with paracord looping. You can slip the Nail in its sheath through a single column of standard MOLLE webbing and tie it into place. Nothing to break.

The owner of these Nails has fashioned a paracord grip for a little extra tack in the hand.

So what are these used for? Well, the instruction manual is simple: "Insert pointy end into assailant. Repeat as necessary." It's a last ditch, close combat tool specifically designed to make the bad guy want to get off of you as quickly as possible, or die trying.

I can easily see slipping one of these behind a pouch on my chest rig for those inevitable close encounters. I wouldn't want to have to rely on one of these to finish off a zombie, but it's better than empty hands, and I'm pretty sure I can force into the brain case if I have to. It should strike primordial terror into the hearts of Vampires -- while wooden stakes are the Hollywood mainstay, railroad spikes and coffin nails have also been used to equal effect historically. This thing looks close enough to match.

Available at Blue Line Gear http://www.bluelinegear.com/p-427-strider-lm-nail.aspx and Monkey Edge http://www.monkeyedge.com/Strider_Knives_Fixed_LM_Nail_p/sk0437.htm.

Gear Pr0n: The Uzi

Ah, the Uzi 9mm submachine gun. Compact, reliable, and so deadly.

Designed for the Israeli Defense Forces, this weapon was designed to be easy to carry at all times. It was also intended to be easy to reload, using the principle that one hand will always find the other. And it was rugged, the Uzi was more than a match for the harsh desert terrain in which the IDF operated.

Sure, other 9mm submachine guns have come along. Many of them have been sexier, but this was the kind of full-auto weapon that could outlast the Apocalypse. It pays to have one in your Z-Day bunker's weapons rack.

Gear Pr0n: Cutlery Showcase

Obviously having a good knife in your kit for the inevitable day of Zombiggeddon is a smart thing. You'll need something stout to decapitate your shambling walkers, and you'll need something for your sundry survival needs. You don't need to take it to this extreme, but having options is a good thing.

Gear Pr0n: AA12 Automatic Shotgun

Pump-action shotguns are great in most situations. On human opponents, that clickety-clack working of the action gives you a huge psychological edge through sheer intimidation. They are easy to maintain and super reliable -- which makes them preferred weapons against slow moving zombies. And they are very versatile because they consume a variety of ammunition types.

But sometimes you need all the knockdown firepower of the shotgun with the rapid fire and easy reloading associated with an assault weapon. For those situations, you need the AA12 Automatic shotgun.

Gear Pr0n: Crye Precision SHOT Show 2011

We finish our review of the new 2011 Crye Precision offerings in this second part of the video.

Gear Pr0n: The Rambo Knife

Back in the 1980's, you weren't badass if you didn't have a "Rambo" Knife.

The movie First Blood introduced us to John Rambo, a Special Forces vet suffering from extreme Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and some form of dissociative disorder. Pushed too far, the rugged individualist Rambo struck back with his survivalist skills. And he used his trusty Bowie knife to help him out.

The first two movies set the pattern for the pop-culture phenomena of the Rambo Knife. He used large Bowie knives with sawbacks and hollow handles. An assortment of survival goodies were stored in the hollow, including a compass under the cap.

The third movie broke the pattern by using a knife without the survival kit handle. But the knife was still over-sized and created as an artfully-shaped Bowie.

The recent sequel went further. The knife was the biggest yet, but the shape had changed completely into a Jungle machete or parang type blade. Also, while the other knives had been handcrafted by artisan bladesmiths, the fourth knife was intentionally left more crude and primitive to reflect the storyline of the movie. (The knife itself, of course was still handmade by a bladesmith.)

Above are replicas of these iconic knives. And while the Rambo knife has had critics over the years, any of them will serve you well in the inevitable zombiggeddon. Just make sure you're buying a quality survival knife and not a $15 Taiwanese import.

Zombie Hunter Bracelet: Show Your Pride!

Tell the world you're ready with these popular stretchy-rubber bracelets from Milspec Monkey.