Gear Up: New Survival Gear for May 2021

Tyrant Designs | S&W Shield Extended Magazine Release

COLORS: Various, including Blue, Gold, and Red
MSRP: Starting at $25
URL: tyrantcnc.com

In a life-and-death situation, having a second magazine full of ammo won’t do you any good if you can’t eject the first empty magazine efficiently from your firearm. That’s why Tyrant Designs has come out with this extended magazine release for the popular Smith & Wesson M&P Shield. By extending the length and increasing traction with a crosshair pattern, this sturdy component increases purchase and adds control to your relo.comads so you can press the release quickly without having to grope for it. Not just for show, this upgrade can boost both your gun’s aesthetics and performance. It can be installed in seconds without any tools. Designed and made in the USA, this mag release fits both the 9mm and .40-caliber versions of the M&P Shield, as well as the newer Shield 2.0.

5.11 Tactical | Field Watch 2.0

COLORS: Black, Kangaroo
MSRP: $170
URL: 511tactical.com

Loyal readers will know that an analog wristwatch can offer many improvised survival functions — way more than we have room here to describe. But rest assured, the Field Watch 2.0 will perform admirably both in the backcountry and big city. It retains the best elements from the original Field Watch but adds two important features: a clear date window and phosphorescent Super-LumiNova hands (to see in dark conditions). They’re well protected thanks to a chip- and scratch-resistant mineral crystal display, a 44mm stainless steel case with a matte ion-plated finish, and a stainless steel screw-in backing. While the 22mm-wide nylon NATO band is a tad long for our liking, it’s sturdy and flexible. Plus, the watch is water-resistant up to 100 meters. 

SOG Specialty Knives & Tools | Pentagon XR

OAL: 8.38 inches
MSRP: $175
URL: sogknives.com

SOG isn’t exactly what it used to be … and that’s a good thing! The Pentagon XR is a prime example of how the company has remade itself in the past year by refocusing on functionality over flash, and quality of products over quantity of sales. This folder’s spear-point blade is made of CTS-XHP, a premium stainless steel that has great corrosion resistance, toughness, and edge retention. These attributes make it effective for daily carry, professional use, or hard field use. Plus, the knife features SOG’s XR Lock, dual thumb-studs, a flipper tab, and a reversible pocket clip — all of which allow for ambidextrous, one-handed operation. Add in the ergonomic G10 handle, and the Pentagon XR is a top-performing, versatile folding knife that helps elevate SOG’s folding-blade lineup beyond many of its production-knife peers.

Maven Outdoor Equipment Company | CM.1

DIMENSIONS: 5.1 by 2 by 1.75 inches
MSRP: $150
URL: mavenbuilt.com

Whether it’s finding an injured hiker during a search-and-rescue mission or more mundane tasks like checking out what’s going on in your neighborhood, the ability to see at a distance can sometimes be vital. But when you want something more compact than binoculars or a riflescope (especially if it’s a non-shooting scenario), then a monocular is the way to go. Maven’s CM.1 offers you a mid-level optic solution that fits into your jacket pocket while giving you ample magnification with its 8×32 configuration. With its compact polymer frame and multi-coated ED glass, the CM.1 provides a clear, high-contrast image, strong color fidelity, and a substantial field of view. It’s also waterproof and fog-resistant, and comes with lens caps and a microfiber storage bag.

Mystery Ranch | Tech Holster

COLORS: Black, Coyote, Foliage
MSRP: $29
URL: mysteryranch.com

The Mystery Ranch Tech Holster is a convenient and portable place to stow your expensive smartphone or GPS unit outside of your pants pocket, helping you avoid the fear of it getting wet or cracked. Made of 500-denier Cordura fabric and a water-resistant YKK zipper, this padded pouch can be attached to your belt, PALS webbing, a pack’s shoulder strap, a binocular harness, or any MOLLE-compatible gear. The main compartment also has a separate section for cable storage, while an external front pocket can be accessed one-handed via an adjustable elastic closure with pull tab. One caveat: If you’re rocking a massive phablet (e.g. iPhone 12 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, etc.), it might not fit in this holster, which has external dimensions of 7 by 4.5 by 2 inches. 

Gear Aid | Fire Strand 550 Paracord

WEIGHT: 4.58 ounces
MSRP: $12
URL: gearaid.com

Cordage is an underrated piece of kit. When people prep their bug-out gear, most of the attention tends to go to water, food, fire-starting, and weapons. But rope or a strong string can make all the difference in certain situations, e.g. tying down your gear to your off-road rig. That’s why the Fire Strand 550 Paracord could come in handy. This seven-strand nylon cord is strong enough for all sorts of tasks, from tensioning tarps to making an improvised boot lace. But it has a hidden bonus: It can be unraveled to reveal a wax-coated fire strand for sparking campfires. The fire strand can also double as a fishing line or thread. Plus, it comes with a non-climbing plastic carabiner.

Outdoor Research | Merino Work Gloves

COLORS: Black, Tan/Grizzly Brown
MSRP: $110
URL: outdoorresearch.com

While the snow has melted in most places in North America, there’s still no reason you shouldn’t have a sturdy and warm pair of work gloves for chilly springtime nights or heavy-duty tasks that require a bit more paw protection. As the name denotes, the Merino Work Gloves are made partly of Outdoor Research’s Alpen-Wool — a blend of wool, nylon, and polyester that provides warmth, moisture-wicking, and odor-resistance. This is paired up with deerskin, which gets softer with use but maintains long-term durability. Moreover, the gloves have a pre-curved construction and elasticized wrist for a better fit, as well as touchscreen compatibility so you don’t have to remove the gloves to use your mobile device.

MyMedic | Auto Medic – Stormproof First Aid Kit

COLORS: Black, Red
MSRP: $150
URL: mymedic.com

Stormproof is a recently released line of portable first aid kits that are meant to be stowed in various types of vehicles. The Auto Medic edition of Stormproof is (naturally) ideal for those driving four-wheeled transportation. It has key items for almost any emergency you might encounter while on the road, including a window-breaker, seatbelt cutter, EMT shears, and a pen light. If your ride breaks down in the middle of nowhere, there’s a survival blanket and hand warmers. For cuts and scrapes, there’s a microMend Cut Kit and various bandages. The whole package fits inside a weatherproof bag, which features MOLLE loops for easy attachment and modular mesh pockets on the inside for customization.

Real Avid | Gun-Max Gun Oil

NET WEIGHT: 12 ounces
MSRP: $13
URL: realavid.com

The last thing you want to happen to your firearm in a life-and-death situation is to press the trigger and not hear a bang. Like anything else worth maintaining (e.g. your health, your relationships), this kind of failure can certainly happen if you neglect your guns. Cleaning and lubing them regularly is an essential part of extending their life spans and having them be ready when they’re most needed. Gun-Max Gun Oil helps make that easier, thanks to its powerful inhibitors (which displace moisture to prevent corrosion) and anti-friction additives (which bond to metal surfaces for extended lubrication). Unlike other CLPs or gun oils, this comes in a smartly designed can. Its flip-up nozzle has two positions: “up” for precise applications and “down” for a wider spray.

Lioncrest Publishing | 100 Deadly Skills: Combat Edition

PAGES: 330 pages
MSRP: $25
URL: 100deadlyskills.com

Clint Emerson knows a thing or two about being violent when needed. He retired as a Navy SEAL with more than 20 years of service and founded Escape the Wolf, a company that focuses on crisis management for global companies. His best-selling 2015 book, 100 Deadly Skills, taught readers how to escape and evade dangers while at home or abroad. Now he’s back with 100 Deadly Skills: Combat Edition, a self-defense manual that includes everything from empty-hand combatives and surviving a multi-threat ambush to knife-throwing and drawing and shooting a handgun. Each skill isn’t just explained and illustrated; there are also QR codes that take you to a video for each concept.

Nutrient Survival | Chocolate Chip Cookie-Meals

SERVINGS PER CONTAINER: 15
MSRP: $25
URL: nutrientsurvival.com

Long gone are the days when survival food had to look like gray oatmeal and taste like old cardboard. Forget hardtack or MREs (aka Meals Refusing to Exit). Nowadays food prep technology has become so advanced that you can have chow that doesn’t just last a long time but also tastes delicious. The Chocolate Chip Cookie-Meals from Nutrient Survival are proof. These morsels have no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives yet come packed with 14 vitamins, 14 minerals, Omega-3, Omega-6, fiber, and protein. One serving (two cookies) gives you 220 calories, 10 grams of fat, and 8 grams of protein. Plus, they have a shelf life of 18 months. They’re great morale boosters in a post-SHTF scenario or just as a satisfying everyday snack.

Gregory Mountain Products | Supply Duffel 90

COLORS: Brick Red, Obsidian Black
MSRP: $110
URL: gregorypacks.com

This bag is so rugged and roomy that it could play double duty as a bug-out bag. But the Supply Duffel 90 is better suited as a camp/travel pack, a large gym/training bag, or as a vehicle emergency kit because of its rectangular shape, 420-denier nylon body, and flat Kevlar bottom panel for hard-core durability. Its main, lockable #10 YKK zipper can be opened or closed via a jumbo T-Grip zipper pull, while its side zippered pocket can transform into a storage pouch for the entire duffel when not in use. If you do need it to haul gear while on the move, there are grab handles on either end, padded handle wrap for suitcase carry, and an adjustable and removable strap for cross-body carry.

Find More Gear and Reviews on OFFGRID

• Axes, Knives, and Lume-Patches, New Gear from January 2021.
• Layering your EDC Survival Gear.
• Judging Survival Gear: Quantity or Quality?

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