Welcome to Be Heard! Be Heard is your chance to tell us what you think about a variety of topics. We want to hear from you so leave a comment below.
The topic for this installment of Be Heard has to do with knives. When you are choosing a knife to carry everyday or on your gear, do you look for something that has features that make it a good tool first or a good weapon first? Why?
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Details on the new Mystery Ranch Spadelock system are now available. The system offers users a quick and easy way to customize the interior of their pack. The system is unique in its use of an HDPE stiffener that not only allows the pouches to to be installed easily but also promotes better weight bearing. Check out MysteryRanch.com.
Spadelock Overview from Mystery Ranch on Vimeo.
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.
I am sure many of you share my concern for Mark Basa’s health. He is the owner of TAREINCO and apparently he never sleeps. We recently told you about the Tape Switch Holder (TSH) that he created and now another creation is rolling off his busy workbench – the LoPro Wallet.
Compared to the LoPro Wallet, most wallets are kind of like those old wool bathing suits that covered a person from neck to knee. The LoPro wallet is more like a Speedo. This is one tiny wallet and yet, in true TAREINCO style, it is packing some interesting features.
The LoPro wallet utilized elastic to be compact, but allow enough expansion to carry several credit cards, IDs, and cash. It features a hook and loop flap closure that keeps everything intact. It also has a small loop field for adding a morale patch. If you are without pockets, the LoPro wallet can be secured to a small belt. So, yeah, the LoPro is tiny in size but it is big on features.
Check out the LoPro Wallet at TAREINCO.com.
I am pretty excited about the upcoming NavELite. It will really fill a void in the market for quality wrist compasses.
If you want a preview of how the NavELite will look and work, you can check out their new iPhone/iPad App. The app replicates the look the face and needle on the NavELite. It also has a backlight function and you can rotate the “bezel” to set an azimuth. The NavE-Compass app is free and well worth a look if you own an Apple device.
There are a lot of other interesting things happening around NavELite HQ other than the new app. They are currently experimenting with a very promising method of waterproofing the NavELite.It remains to be seen whether this waterproofing concept will find its way into the standard NavELite or if it will be available in a second, more water-resistant model. Additionaly, the backlight button has been redesigned to improve performance.
It is cool to see a company that not only shares their fascinating development process but also constantly tweaks their design to make sure it is perfect. Check out the NavELite website and Facebook Page.
