A while back, I wrote a post called “Make Mine Mom and Pop” about my strong preference to shop with smaller gear makers. The article talks about the three main reasons I prefer smaller makers: communication, willingness to customize, and attention to detail. There is a fourth reason that I thought of at the time but didn’t write about which was how much more nimble a smaller maker can be. They can out-maneuver a larger maker when time is a key factor in the success of a piece of gear. The new Blackjack Battery Brick from Fight and Flight Tactical is a prime example of what I mean.
Two days ago, James G of Death Valley Magazine, asked on his Facebook if anyone could come up with a pouch that could hold 20 AA batteries. Within 4 hours of that post, Dave at Fight and Flight had designed, prototyped, produced, photographed, and shared a pouch that met James’ requirements. How cool is that?
You can check out the new Blackjack Battery Brick at FightandFlight.com. The AA version will work with CR123A batteries if you leave the center loop open and there is also a AAA version.
Now that is why I like small companies as well. No corporate meeting, design planning meeting, prototype meetings, bids for materials for fabrication, etc. Just draw something on a napkin, produce it and bingo….done!
Now if they could come up with one that, let’s say, carries 4xAA, 4xAAA, 4xCR123 and a few small pockets for flat batteries like 2032’s that would be awesome. I don’t need 20 of one kind, I need multiples of a few kind. As much as I try to standardize with one battery for flashlights, headlamps, Red Dots, GPS, it just hasn’t happened.
Patriotic Sheepdog, I bet if you contacted Dave at Fight and Flight Tactical, he could whip up a pouch like that with no problem.
We’ve designed the CR123 version, as well as a larger one for a squad-sized element, we just need to prototype them. We will also be coming out with a multi-battery version that will hold AA, AAA, CR123, and a couple coin cells in the near future.
Wow, That’s great! Fight and Flight is on it! I would like to say that it was my idea, but I’m sure they already had it drawn on a napkin way before I posted that. Is there a way when I would know when you have it ready?
Sheepdog: Shoot us an email through the contact form on our website, and we can discuss further.