The Invaluable Dump Pouch

If there is one piece of equipment that is overlooked, it is the dump pouch. This simple, yet potentially vital piece of gear adds a storage compartment to your person when cargo pockets just won't cut it.What is it good for you might ask? It is good for any number of applications whether it be on the range or in the field. It's not flashy, it's not sexy, but it is very effective for its purpose and it can make your life a whole lot easier when you least expect it. Here's how...

Let's say you are in the field. You have your hooch set up, you are feeling comfortable, then all of a sudden hell breaks loose and you have to evacuate your site fast! You don't have time to pack your ruck up, but fortunately for you, there's a dump pouch resting on your belt. You open it up and throw an MRE in there, along with extra mags and some 550 cord. With these items, you are prepared to survive a little while longer until help arrives. Without the dump pouch, you would be forced to carry any extra items in you hands. Not very effective for a hasty retreat. Of course, where you will probably find yourself using a dump pouch most is at the range. These little guys are handy for holding all your extra magazines so you don't have them clunking around in your cargo pockets.

All a dump pouch consists of is a pouch that can be rolled up and buckled so that fit on your belt without taking up much space. A lot of manufacturers make versions of this, but the most popular is Maxpedition's dump pouch. It's small when rolled up, so it won't get in the way of your movement, or get caught on branches if you have to negotiate brush. Should you need it, simply undo the velcro and the pouch will unroll. When the items are in the dump pouch you can secure it with the elastic strap at the top to keep the contents in. When you want to store it for later use, just roll it back up and redo the velcro tab.

You can find many more uses for a dump pouch when you start finding how annoying those extra odds and ends feel clunking around in your cargo pockets. Like I said before, they are not sexy, so don't expect to see these being worn in the next great action flick. For the real operator, however, you will find these to be an invaluable piece to your gear set up. If for nothing else than to have just in case you need to move locations quickly and don't have time to gather up all your gear. Stay safe out there!

A Quick Blurb on the CDI Factor

The best marketing tool that tactical manufacturer's have on their side is the CDI Factor (Chicks Dig It.) This isn't so much because women are actually turned on by your new PVS-14 mount or your cool new FastMag holster, but it the way that it makes a lot guys feel when they strap on new gear. You probably have a guy on your team who's ego seems to expand with his gear. If you would, allow me to break down this phenomenon.

CDI is the mojo that drives most guys to go out and get the flashiest gear they can find because it will make them look "cool." It's amazing what a new IR strobe can do for some guy's self confidence, and if that same IR strobe is seen being worn in the next Hollywood blockbuster it's a done deal.

One year the higher ups got a case of CDI and got my team Benchmade Infidel knives. Don't get me wrong, it is a very nice knife, but for our purpose it just became an expensive letter opener because it has no use in the field. I know that they felt it would be a cool tool that would fit in a specialized team, but what we needed was practicality and not "cool."

Another item that I see being used for the CDI Factor is drop down holsters. These are a great tool when they are used correctly, but look around and see how many guys drop it a little too low. Really, do you have to draw from your knee? Drop downs were designed to be used if your gear set up does not allow for a conventional hip holster. When you drop it down too low, yea it looks more bad ass and you get CDI points, but it inevitably slows down you draw time. I'll take a CDI point reduction for functionality.

Next time you go gear shopping because you have that itch, be sure to take a moment and reflect on your possible purchase. Ask yourself, "Is this item going to make my work life easier, or will it just be used for CDI." If it does both, then great! If not, and it is only serving your CDI fascination, you might want to hold off and let the buzz die down before you go throwing money away.

Love for Molle Belts

I use to always go into the field with my BlackHawk S.T.R.I.K.E. vest and it worked great! That was until the summer months came and coupled with a layer of clothing and armor underneath, it got pretty hot at times. Somedays, I would drink up my entire Camelback and still have another half of the shift left to go. I started searching for other options to aleviate the discomfort of profusive sweating, and that brought me to the padded molle belt.

When I first started to consider switching to a padded belt, the CDI (Chicks Dig It) factor was holding me captive to my original vest set up. Finally, I decided to take the lunge and took all the essentials I needed for work and strapped them on to my BlackHawk Padded Patrol Belt. It only took an instant to notice how much lighter and more agile I felt without having gear clunking around in front of me, not to mention the relief in body temperature. I instantly became a fan!

After wearing my belt in the field for some time, I noticed one major flaw, it loosened up on it's own! There were times that I would be on patrol and I would have to stop in order to tighten up my belt so it didn't drag around my thighs. It was getting to the point where I considered reverting back to my vest and forgetting all about the belt idea when I discovered High Speed Gear Inc's Sure-Grip Padded Gear Belt.

Unlike the Padded Patrol Belt, the Sure Grip features neoprene on the inside of the belt. This keeps it securely in place once it is on and adds an extra level of comfort to the user. It has enough columns of molle built into it to comfortably carry your equipment. On mine I have my flashbang, pistol, med pouch, two Fast-Mags, knife and radio. The best feature about this belt as opposed to other molle belts is that the inner belt is velcroed in place for a secure fit. After I started using this belt, I knew that my days of using the chest rig was done!

As I said before, I reccomend the molle belts as a way of carrying your essential mission equipment. Depending on the nature of the situation you may want to carry more equipment such as magazines if you are serving a high risk warrant. When the summer months are hot, however, and you just need the essentials, I highly reccomend the molle belt as a way to stay cool and travel lighter. Stay safe!

Survival Bracelets: What to Look For

A new trend in gear is the 550 cord survival bracelets. These are nifty little gadgets that can supply you with varying amounts of 550 cord if need any, and you never know when that might be. Before you go buying the coolest looking one though, take a moment to make sure you are getting the best quality for your buck.

First, take a look at how many different colors of cord is in the bracelet. If there multiple colors, it means that the cords are fused at some point and the integrity of the 550lbs test has been compromised. Instead, look for bracelets that are one color and made from one strand of 550 cord.

Don't pay extra for the buckle! Some companies make bracelets using stainless steel latches. While these are very secure, you could save yourself the money by purchasing one with a plastic buckle instead. Just make sure that the buckle is strong enough that you can't just pull it apart.

Make sure it the cord is made in the USA! Other countries like China make knock off versions of 550 cord, but American made paracord still requires it to withstand a 550lbs test. If it doesn't have this stamp of approval, don't waste your time or money.

Paracord bracelets are a very simple piece of gear that is always handy to have on hand. With a little practice, you can make your own. There are plenty of YouTube videos out there that tell you how, but if you are going to purchase one, follow these simple notes to ensure that you are getting a quality product.

Faster Reloads with the Magpul B.A.D. Lever

You can clutter your AR with a plethora of gadgets that to help it function better, but what happens when your weapon runs dry and the fight still rages on? You have to get your weapon up and running and get back on the trigger. The time it takes to reload could be the difference between going home that day or taking a long dirt nap. A fast reload is the product of repetitive practice and drills, but the Magpul B.A.D. Lever has made this process slightly faster and can save the operator valuable seconds when they are needed the most. Those that run with the B.A.D. Lever have found it to be invaluable to their reload speeds and with a $30 price tag, it is one of the cheapest pieces of equipment you could add to your AR furniture.

The B.A.D. Lever allows for the operator to control the bolt release on the left hand side of the weapon with your trigger finger on the right. It takes minutes to install and as the name implies, it does this by utilizing a lever. When the weapon runs dry, the lever will lock out and once you insert a fresh mag, you can operate the B.A.D. Lever with a simple flick of the trigger finger. Unfortunately for you lefties out there, this product won't be of much use to you on a standard AR, but for righties, it is a godsend!

I started running with the B.A.D. Lever three years ago. Like any new piece of gear, mishaps were to be expected. I would sometimes hit the lever prematurely and send the bolt forward before my mag was set and would have to use the charging handle to reload. Over time and with practice, I began to enjoy the benefits of this device. On the firing line it became obvious how much faster it had made me when I compared myself to my teammates. Let me tell you, it's a good feeling when you are up and running while your buddy next to you is still fumbling to hit his bolt release!

The Magpul B.A.D. Lever is a simple and reliable product in a market that is otherwise cluttered with more complex pieces of gear. It's price makes it a must for anyone looking to speed up their reloads and get back in the fight. If you haven't tried the B.A.D. Lever yet, do yourself and your team a favor and test it out for yourself!