GRAYL UltraPress Covert Edition
NOTES
We’ve had great experiences with GRAYL’s previous water purifiers, the minimalist Ultralight and the high-capacity GeoPress, so we were pleased to see that the new UltraPress takes influences from both. It removes bacteria, viruses, protozoan cysts, chemicals, and other contaminants from 16.9 fluid ounces of water in 10 seconds flat — just scoop water into the outer sleeve, then press down to force it through the purifier cartridge. The RiverFlow spout has a threaded cap to prevent cross-contamination, and makes this purifier as convenient to drink from as any regular water bottle. Each replaceable cartridge is rated for 300 cycles (40 gallons). The Nature Edition features high-vis colors; the Covert Edition comes in black and earth tones. Meets or exceeds NSF/ANSI and EPA water purifier standards.
WEIGHT
12.5 ounces
MSRP
$90
URL
grayl.com
Haley Strategic / Toor Knives Darter
OAL
8.5 inches
MSRP
$395
URL
haleystrategic.com
NOTES
This full-tang fighting knife is a collaboration between Haley Strategic and Toor Knives. It’s made in the USA from CPM 3V, an exceptionally durable tool steel that’s designed to resist chips and dulling during hard use. The blade tapers to an aggressive piercing point, and features sharp serrations on the spine. The knife is finished in KG Gunkote and clad with textured G10 handles and contrasting liners. Each knife comes with a Flex-Tech sheath, low-profile UltiClip Slim, and stick-on loop appliques to allow the sheath to be sandwiched into chest rigs, belts, and other tactical gear. An inert trainer is also included, enabling the user to practice wielding the knife safely in training environments. Available in Coyote, Disruptive Grey, and Ranger Green.
LOWA Vento Shoes
COLORS
Black, Steel Blue, Olive, Anthracite
MSRP
$165
URL
lowaboots.com
NOTES
If you’re looking for a lightweight, breathable trail shoe that also works well for everyday wear, the Vento might be just what you need. Its elastic heel strap and pre-installed elastic laces make it easy to slip on and off — no knots necessary. However, standard laces are included if you’d rather use those. LOWA’s Urban Trail outsole offers more grip than a standard jogging shoe, but the flexible DynaPU+ midsole balances it with cushioned comfort. A synthetic upper with minimal seams and moisture-wicking textile lining keeps your feet cool and dry, even in scorching summer heat. We appreciate the subdued design and muted color choices, since too many shoes in this category seem to be plastered with bright colors and gaudy reflective accents.
Phantom Hill Design CTF-1
MAX OUTPUT
380-lumen white light / 1,120mW/sr IR illuminator + IR laser
MSRP
$799
URL
phantomhill.design
NOTES
A newcomer to the night vision gear industry, Phantom Hill Design made waves in mid 2021 when it unveiled its (relatively) affordable CTF-1 laser/illuminator. Two momentary buttons control its dual functions — the left button activates a 380-lumen white LED for traditional low-light tactics, and the right button activates a simultaneous IR illuminator and IR laser for active aiming with NVGs. Illumination pattern is a broad flood, ideal for close-quarters. The housing is constructed of 3D-printed DMLS aluminum; its rough finish has the added benefit of minimizing the CTF-1’s infrared reflectivity. Both light sources have independent CR123 battery compartments and user-serviceable heads/lenses. Advertised battery life is 3 hours. The compact design lends itself to weapons with limited rail space, such as AR pistols and PDWs.
RISE Armament Blitz Trigger
COMPATIBLE WITH
Mil-spec AR-15s, AR-10s, and PCC
MSRP
$199
URL
risearmament.com
NOTES
This drop-in AR trigger features a single-stage 3.5-pound pull. Its 6061 billet aluminum housing doesn’t use set screws, but includes anti-walk trigger pins for secure installation. RISE Armament says it “breaks like an icicle,” and after installing it in a 9mm AR pistol and taking it to the range, we’d say that’s an apt description. The shoe isn’t quite flat, but has a barely noticeable “hybrid” curvature we found very comfortable. The break is crisp, and there’s almost zero perceptible creep at the wall. But the area where the Blitz truly shines is its Quik-Klik reset, which provides a tactile and audible click as pressure is released after each shot. It makes it grin-inducingly easy to dump dozens of rounds downrange.
Mastermind Tactics Specialist Pro
COLORS
Black, Camo Green, Tan, Wolf Grey
MSRP
$29
URL
mastermindtactics.com
NOTES
Mastermind Tactics has spent years working on their line of EDC belts. The Specialist Pro is the latest iteration. Specialist belts include a number of well-thought-out touches including double-thickness 1.5-inch webbing construction. The outer layer is Mil-spec flat webbing, with the interior layer being stiffer SCUBA webbing to support the weight of holsters and other daily carry gear. The loop tape is medical-grade, designed for high-cycle use. This belt has survived six-days-a-week wear by our editor for over a year with no loss of function or load-bearing ability. The version pictured here has a thin steel loop, but the Specialist Pro now comes standard with a polymer loop for decreased wear on the nylon. (Steel is still an option if you prefer.)
Glow Rhino Reactor Knife
COLORS
Black, Satin stainless
MSRP
$250
URL
glowrhino.com
NOTES
Glow Rhino has carved out a unique niche for themselves with a line of EDC tools that includes built-in tritium inserts for easy location in low-light/no-light conditions. Tritium needs no battery, has a half-life measured in years and emits radioluminescent light without any need to “charge” under a light source like phosphorescent glow paint. The Reactor is a titanium frame-lock knife with a 2.9-inch drop-point blade made of S35VN steel. The clip is set up for tip-up deep carry, and a low-profile deployment nub pokes out the back of the frame when the knife is closed. The Reactor is sleek, sharp, and lightweight — ideal for daily carry and use.
Longship Designs JTAC Adapter
COLORS
Black, Coyote Brown, MultiCam, MultiCam Black, Ranger Green, Wolf Grey, Woodland
MSRP
$45
URL
longshipdesigns.com
NOTES
The JTAC Adapter is meant to provide a convenient, accessible place to mount a smartphone on chest rigs or plate carriers that do not have MOLLE loops on the front. Consisting of laser-cut laminate with a stiffened Tegris core, the adapter can be mounted via the included hook-and-loop flap and shock-cord loops, which then provide a MOLLE grid just large enough to utilize a Kagwerks, Juggernaut, or similar “claw” mount to hold your smartphone of choice. While originally meant for chest rigs, we were able to squeeze it onto our OTTE Gear LVZ-OVT plate carrier, seen here.
Paragon WLC Weapon Light Cleaner
MSRP
$15 (5mL bottle)
URL
weaponlightcleaner.com
NOTES
This product is so clever in its simplicity, we’re not sure why it took so long for someone to figure it out. After years of using caps, peel-off stickers, window cleaner, ChapStick, and other inadequate methods to keep our weapon lights clean, Paragon has devised an inexpensive and impressively effective formula for getting carbon buildup off of lenses. In our experience, a single drop of Paragon’s cleaning solution is enough to get 1,000 rounds of carbon buildup off the lens of a weapon light mounted next to a muzzle brake. We’ve also used it on optic lenses and IR laser/illuminator units and have found the results to be consistent.
Emissary Development Handbrake Velox Edition
MSRP
$50
URL
veloxtraininggroup.com
NOTES
We’ve been running the Emissary Development Handbrake for several months now, and appreciate its ability to bridge the gap between hand-stops and full vertical grips. Velox training has taken the Handbrake one step further by adding silicon carbide to the gripping surface. Considered by some to be the ultimate grip material for weapons manipulation, silicon carbide offers enhanced traction compared to molded- or burned-in texture without being painful or uncomfortable to grip. The Velox Training Group anvil logo is also included on this model, but it’s otherwise identical in form and function to a standard Emissary Handbrake.
Strike Industries Strike K1 Knife
OAL
8.22 inches
MSRP
$42
URL
strikeindustries.com
NOTES
Strike Industries, known for their firearms accessories, has recently released their own version of an EDC knife, the Strike K1 Knife. With a blade length of 3.51 inches made of AUS-8 stainless steel, this ambidextrous knife has a reversible pocket clip to carry the knife tip-up. The textured handles are available in black or translucent smoke and made of SI Polymer Extreme material. The back of the blade features two jimping areas to accommodate different grip styles as well as a thumb hole for one-handed opening and back lock closing mechanism.
Lockdown Logic Vault Doors
DIMENSIONS
30” W x 80” H; 32” W x 80” H
WEIGHT
350 pounds; 400 pounds
MSRP
$1,700 to $2,000
URL
lockdown.com
NOTES
Want to turn a room in your house into a dedicated vault or safe room? Designed to replace most conventional interior door and mount to 2×4 studs, Lockdown’s Vault Doors enable you to do just that. Available in left- or right-hand inswing or outswing, these doors feature a motorized locking mechanism with eight locking bolts that slide directly into the frame and can be powered with the included 110v adapter and battery backup. Set up to 10 PIN codes consisting of four to nine digits. Built with heavy-duty 11-gauge steel construction, these doors have optional Wi-Fi functionality that can interface with Lockdown’s Logic App to monitor temp/humidity, impact, tampering, and access status. Lockdown also offers 36-inch Bunker Doors that can mount to concrete frames for basements.
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