Author Archive | Matt

Lightning Review: OCOOPA Rechargeable Hand Warmer

I have gone through a lot of disposable, chemical hand warmers over the years. I like using them to keep my hands warm without the need for bulky gloves, keeping my hands more free for kung fu and such. I also think having a way to charge up a cell phone on hand is a good idea. So, the more I read about OCOOPA Rechargeable Hand Warmers, the more I wanted to try one.

I purchased the 5200mAh model which features 3 levels of warmth, USB-C charging, and a very pocketable and sleek shape. The single-button interface is easy to use – tap once to view charge level or hold for heat, then tap to change heat levels. These warmers have two aluminum plates (one of each face of the warmer) that give you plenty of surface area to make contact with or even share heat between both hands so I haven’t felt the need to buy a second one.

This hand warmer has surprised me with just how much I use it. It is great for cold hands, obviously, but I have found it to be a decent battery bank as well. It also works well tucked into an inside pocket of a jacket to add a little warmth. My office gets a little cold sometimes so I even use it there for warming hands or tucked under my flannel.

I will say that I think the duration time that OCOOPA states (8 hours of warmth on low) is optimistic. I have noticed that it lasts longer when kept in a pocket so it seems there is some kind of thermal regulation and the insulation provided by the pocket means the warmer heats less often, extending the battery life. I might consider buying a larger capacity model if I was doing this again.

All things considered, I love this thing more than I care to admit. I see it as a battery bank with a very useful bonus feature. If you already carry a battery bank, it would be easy to swap this into your EDC when the weather turns cold.

Given the time of year (as I write this), this would also make a great gift.

I bought mine from Amazon where they are frequently on sale so watch prices: OCOOPA Hand Warmers on Amazon.com

Review: Vosteed Raccoon Cross-Bar Lock

I’ll just spoil this review up front. Vosteed provided me a Raccoon with cross-bar lock for review and I think it is an exemplary knife. It isn’t just great for it’s price. It’s great at any price. It’s great, period. The Raccoon shows what a knife company can do when they design for simplicity and get everything just about right.

Stats

Overall Length: 7.60″ | 193.12 mm

Blade Length: 3.25″ | 82.55 mm

Blade Width: 1.07″ | 27.27 mm 

Blade Thickness: 0.125″ | 3.20 mm

Blade Material: 14C28N

Grind: Flat 

Blade Style: Drop Point 

Hardness: HRC 60±2

Handle Length: 4.36″ | 110.75 mm

Handle Width: 1.10″ | 27.95 mm

Handle Thickness: 0.49″ | 12.4 mm

Weight: 3.06 oz | 86.8 g

Opener: Thumb Stud

Lock Type: Crossbar Lock

Pivot Assembly: Caged Ceramic Ball Bearing

Pocket Clip: Reversible | Stainless Steel

Carry Position: Tip-up 

There are other finishes and handle materials available but my review sample has a satin-finished blade and black micarta handles.

Observations from Use

The Raccoon goes hard out of the gate with its first impression. It comes in a nylon knife pouch which itself is inside of a tin. There are stickers and two patches included in the tin along with a set of spare omega springs for the cross-bar lock which is GREAT. The inclusion of spare springs is a great way to show attention to detail. These springs don’t break as commonly as internet goobers would have you think but having spares is nice.

I would say that, if the Raccoon was a sports team, the blade would be the MVP. Vosteed ticked every box. 14C28N steel is perhaps the best budget steel of all time with its balance of edge resistance, toughness, stain resistance, and sharpenability. The .125″ stock and nearly full-height flat grind means the blade is slicy but also plenty stout. The drop point (almost spear point) shape is versatile with both plenty of point and lots of straight edge near the handle for high leverage cuts. It’s topped off with a crowned spine and perfect jimping. This is the kind of blade that should appeal to everyone. It cuts so well… very, very well.

The handle shows just as much attention to what the knife users want as the blade. The canvas micarta they have sourced for these knives is great – attractive and almost velvety to the touch (in a grippy way). A peek underneath those micarta slabs reveals fully nested, skeletonized steel liners. The matching micarta backspacer is another surprising and welcome touch for a knife at this price. This handle has very little flex while keeping the weight of the knife to right at 3 ounces.

The details and commitment to simplicity continue with the hardware. The clips is reversible and nested into the handle with flush screws. The Raccoon comes with a clip plate for the non-clip side. The pivot has machined flourishes and there is just a single body screw to make disassembly easy.

The handle feels very warm and comfortable in the hands thanks to heavily rounded edges. In fact, every touch point is comfortable on the Raccoon – even the thumb studs which are grippy (but not sharp) and very easy to access…

And you will want to access those thumb studs because Vosteed did some real magic with the action of this knife. It flicks very well and makes satisfying chunky noises while doing it. If you have tried to flick open some cross-bar lock knives, you know the action can be mushy since the lock itself provides the detent action. The Raccoon flicks up and swings shut very well in spite of this which is a testament to how Vosteed tuned the tang of the blade to interact with the lock.

My impressions of this knife are overwhelmingly positive but I think it could be even better. Admittedly, the following items are my own personal preferences but there are changes (or maybe just a different version) I would like to see, nonetheless. If I had my druthers, this knife would be available with bronze washers instead of ball bearings in the pivot since I tend to use my knives in dirty, dusty jobs around hour property. This design lends itself to that kind of work and it would be nice to seal more of that grit out of the pivot. Additionally, the current shape of the grip allows the user to choke up behind the edge but it would be nice if the transition from grip to choil was more flush to make this even more usable.

Wrap Up

If you get a chance to handle a Vosteed Raccoon in person, don’t miss it. It makes a great first impression. I almost can’t believe what this knife offers for the price and I don’t mean the blingy things other companies try to pass off as value. The Raccoon doesn’t try to justify its price with flashy colors or the veneer of luxury. It just gives you exactly what you want as a knife user – good steel, good geometry, comfortable touch points, rugged materials, and some style at a very attractive price.

You can learn more at Vosteed.com

Or check out the Raccoon Cross-Bar Lock (on sale for 10% off at the time of this writing) at Amazon.com.

OC Tactical 2023 Christmas Stocking

Every year, I wax on and on about why the OC Tactical Christmas Stocking isn’t like other bloated “tactical” stockings. This year is no different.

Their stocking eschews the PALS webbing, drag handles, zippers, and D-rings found on many so-called “tactical stockings”. Instead, it offers a simple design made from a rare or historically significant (or both) camo material – often selecting materials we mere mortals couldn’t even dream of getting our hands on. These have become a Christmas tradition for my family.

This year’s stocking is a certified banger. Here’s what OC Tactical had to say:

Feliz Navidad! The 2023 run of custom Christmas Stocking is ready. This year we headed south and sourced some extremely rare Mexican Marine woodland camo fabric. Adopted in 2008 and replaced in 2015 this pattern was tightly controlled and never released for civilian use or reproduction. The inside is fully lined with Litelok fabric and there is loop on both sides for attaching a name tapes or patches.

https://stores.octactical.com/mexican-marine-camo-christmas-stocking/

PS – Some past stockings are still available if you want to start your collection.

Lightning Review: Hewlett Two-Side Diamond Sharpener Medium/Fine

There are many, many overdone field knife sharpeners on the market but very few that I would consider carrying regularly. That is why I love my USA-made, easy-to-carry Hewlett Two-Sided Diamond Sharpeners with medium (600) and fine (1800) grits. I have had a couple of these knocking around for years now. It might be the most versatile, easiest-to-carry, field sharpener I own.

These diamond plates are the right size – small enough to carry in their included sleeve and large enough to actually work. They are just under 4″ long, 1.25″ wide, and just about 1/16″ thick. They weigh just over 1 ounce.

I rarely use the medium side but it is coarse enough to get some mild reprofiling done in the field should you take some chips out of an edge. The fine side is all I usually need to touch up an edge before finishing with a quick strop.

I have even used mine to strike a ferro rod and scrape tinder like fat wood thanks to the crisp edges on the plate. It isn’t meant for that and I am sure it isn’t good for it… but it works.

I bought mine on Amazon: Hewlett Diamond Sharpener Medium/Fine

The EDC Tool Roll: Klein Tools 65200 Ratchet Set

The EDC Tool Roll is a feature on Jerking the Trigger in which we profile various everyday-carry-worthy tools. The tools shown aren’t multi-tools but rather real tools, that by virtue of their compact size, light weight, usefulness, or unique functionality, can find a place in any range kit, emergency kit, or everyday carry bag.

Feel free to comment on the tools that you carry so we can all learn! The discussion on these posts has been very valuable so far.


I have covered a lot of ratchet/driver tools on The EDC Tool Roll and the Klein Tools 65200 has become a favorite. I have carried this one but I also reach for it quite a bit for projects at home and it all comes down to few key features.

The most obvious feature that sets the 65200 apart from every other ratchet I have reviewed is the inclusion of a large ring. The ring allows you to turn the ratchet with just a finger which acts somewhat like an extension giving you some additional reach and leverage. It could also be used to clip or dummy-cord the 65200 to yourself or your gear. I find myself using it a lot.

Klein Tools also designed an excellent finger-turning ring for this tool. If you have ever tried to start a screw with one of these ratchets, you know that it can take a few turns before there is enough friction on the fastener for the ratcheting mechanism to work well. The finger ring is useful for hand-turning fasteners to start them and this one works well thanks to its easy-to-grip texture and large diameter.

I also like the included bit holder. It is more compact than most, holding just 5 bits. I guess some people may wish they could carry more bits but I like how small this holder is and find myself using it with other tools!

Finally, Klein Tools includes a 1/4″ socket adapter with this kit. It seems odd to point this out but it is actually somewhat unusual. I appreciate that this is included because I am often having to buy one separately for other similar ratchets.

As I said, this is among my favorite ratchets but I should point out that the 65200 is chunkier than many similar offerings. Also, as handy as I find the ring, it might make it more difficult to store in some kits. If you need the most compact option, this likely isn’t it.

Where to Buy:

You may actually be able to find these if you have a local source of Klein Tools. Home Depot carries it in some stores as part of a larger tool kit which may be useful to some. Otherwise, these are extremely affordable on Amazon which is where I bought mine: Klein Tools 65200 on Amazon

Previously Reviewed Alternatives:

  1. Alltrade/Powerbuilt Ratchet & Driver
  2. Chapman MFG Midget Ratchet and Accessories
  3. GearWrench MicroDriver Set
  4. Prestacyle T-Handle Ratchet
  5. Topeak Ratchet Rocket Lite DX
  6. VIM Tools HBR3 Bit Ratchet
  7. VIM Tools HBR4/Prestaratchet Mini Ratchet
  8. VIM Tools HBR5 Bit Ratchet

See all the reviews for previous tools: The EDC Tool Roll

Do you have a tool recommendation that fits The EDC Tool Roll? Tell us about it in the comments below or drop us a line on the Contact page.

The above URLs may be affiliate links.

Powered by WordPress. Designed by Woo Themes