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Advanced Outfitters Dopp Kit 2.0

By on May 31, 2012 in EDC, Survival, Tactical Gear

The original Dopp Kit from Advanced Outfitters was a lightweight organizer that could be used for anything from a toiletry kit, to a first aid kit, to a gear organizer. The new Dopp Kit 2.0 has the same basic pocket layout as the original (2 large pockets and a front sleeve pocket) but it now weighs even less.

Dopp Kit 2.0 (top) and the original Dopp Kit (bottom)

The bag-in-bag method of organizing your gear can be very convenient. However, the weight of all of those small organizer bags can really start to add up. The Dopp Kit 2.0 is made from rip-stop sil-nylon. This allows it to be slightly larger than the original but a bit lighter and, more importantly, keeps the total weight of your gear down.

If you are looking for a convenient and versatile way to organize gear that won’t weigh you down, check out the Dopp Kit 2.o from Advanced Outfitters. You can contact Advanced Outfitters through their website, on Twitter, or on the Usual Suspect Network.

Review: Bogota Titan-Flats Entry Toolset

By on May 25, 2012 in EDC, Reviews, Survival

People have been requesting a full size Bogota Rake for years. SEREPICK heard their pleas and created the Bogota Titan-Flats Entry Toolsets.

Top to Bottom: Bogota single, Bogota triple, a shallow hook, and a basic tensioner

Overview

The Bogota Titan-Flats Entry Toolsets are made from titanium which makes them very light weight, corrosion resistant, and non-magnetic. The kit contains a Bogota triple, a Bogota single, a shallow hook, and a basic tensioner.

Rather than the familiar compact, quarter bend format of the typical Bogota Entry Toolsets, the Titan Flats are more like traditional picks in form. They are larger overall than the other Bogota Entry Toolsets but they are flatter. This makes them ideal for use as a very flat stand-alone kit or as an addition to a full kit.

A little heat shrink tubing keeps the tools together in one compact kit.

In Use

I have already covered why Bogota Rakes are so effective in some depth in previous reviews. They work and they work well. I know of no other pick that gives even the first time user such a good chance of success.

I thought that I would find these Bogota Titan-Flats had better “feel” and were even more effective than their smaller counterparts due to their larger handles, but that wasn’t really the case. That isn’t a knock on the Titan Flats but rather a compliment to the smaller Bogota Entry Toolsets because these Titan Flats are still quite good.

They do have excellent feel. If you are used to picking, you would likely prefer this set. The shallow hook is quite good as is the Bogota single. In fact, the Bogota single is quite versatile. It can be used to rake or as a pick when inverted. Both provide very good feel and feedback when picking.

The Bogota triple works very well but I found myself actually preferring the form factor of the compact Bogota rakes. It may be that I would feel differently if my first experience with Bogota Rakes was with the Titan Flats, but I have become so used to the hooked handles of the Entry Toolsets for raking. This is purely preference.

The tensioner is very basic but it works. I prefer a tensioner that has a little more flex than this but that is only because I lack skill and the flex makes up a bit for my heavy handedness. Skilled users will likely find this tensioner to be completely sufficient.

Titan-Flats shown with Titan-Minis and a quarter for scale

Conclusion

I think the biggest upside to this kit is its versatility. It is just as comfortable as a stand-alone kit as it is as an addition to someone’s full pick set. Until now, it has been somewhat difficult to find a Bogota triple with a full handle. It will also serve as a great gateway to raking for those who are used to bypassing locks with full sized tools. Every tool in this kit works and offers performance that will satisfy everyone from beginners to pros.

Check out the “Titan-Flats” on SEREPICK.com.

Fight and Flight Tactical Defilade

By on May 18, 2012 in EDC, Survival, Tactical Gear

There are tons of backpacks on the market that are designed to conceal handguns. There aren’t many that can conceal and handgun and protect you from ballistic threats. The Defilade from Fight and Flight Tactical can do both.

The Defilade is a compact backpack that can be used to organize and carry all sort of standard everyday items. However, it can also carry a ballistic plate (and/or a soft armor plate backer) and a handgun. The plate and soft armor are carried in a slip pocket that is inside the main compartment of the bag. The handgun is carried in a pouch that is accessible from three different locations (right, left, and top) so that the bag is completely ambidextrous. The back of the bag has two loops that allow you to slip the bag on like a centurion’s shield. With practice, transferring the pack from your back to your arm and drawing your handgun can be relatively quickly. I suspect that the pack could also be worn on your front using the backpack straps if you needed to free up use of your support hand.

There are two version of the Defilade available – Tactical and EDC. The Tactical model features external MOLLE webbing for adding additional pouches and a detachable “tail gate” which is like a beaver tail storage area that can be used to secure a rifle or other bulky items. The EDC model has no external MOLLE or tail gate which gives it a more innocuous appearance.

Both models have airmesh on the harness for comfort, hydration ports, external sleeves for clipping items like knives and flashlights, and internal Velcro for adding organization. The exterior dimensions of the bag at 17x12x5″ so there is a fair amount of space for gear even with a handgun and rifle plate on board.

Check out the Defilade at Fight and Flight Tactical.

Review: ZAGG invisibleSHIELD

By on May 16, 2012 in EDC, Reviews, Tactical Gear

I have used a ton of different clear screen protectors in an effort to get more mileage out of my electronics, especially the ones that I use outdoors. For the most part, they were all found lacking. They would either peel, shrink, or discolor. Then I found the ZAGG invisibleSHIELD. They aren’t the cheapest screen protector on the market, but they are the first one that I have found that actually works well enough to be worth any amount of money.

I have one on my cell phone which has been in my pocket for more than a year with no signs of distress. The previous screen protector that I used started peeling in days and quickly had pocket lint stuck to all the edges. It was a mess.

I put them on all of my GPS units as well. I really enjoy orienteering and these units can really take a beating. The plastic screens that GPS manufacturers use scratch and scuff easily. It only takes a couple of days of use before the scuffs can start to make the screen less readable.  The invisibleSHIELD shrugs off scuffs and scratches easily that would otherwise damage a GPS.

They are extremely clear and do not seem to change the readability of the screen that they are protecting. In fact, they can enhance readability in some cases. It seems to fill in shallow scuffs. I have a GPS with some scuffing on the screen that can’t be seen through the invisibleSHIELD.

Installation is easy and, unlike most screen protectors, the invisibleSHIELD comes with everything you need to install it yourself (a spray bottle of lubricating solution, a lint free cloth, and a small rubber squeegee). I even keep the lint free cloths so I can tuck them into my gear. They are great for wiping down binoculars and rifle scopes in the field.

Electronics from GPS units to smart phones to tablet computers are becoming more and more common in the field. These items aren’t cheap so it is prudent to protect them. Check out the ZAGG invisbileSHIELD screen protectors.

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