The Hill People Gear Tarahumara is a unique pack in that it is very compact (about 900 cui) but has a harness system that can support loads far heavier than you can typically stuff into that small of a pack. This makes it something of a blank canvas for users and makers to develop ways to expands its capacity.
Mel Terkla of PocketUp recently showed how their pockets can be used to expand and organize the Tarahumara pack while still providing access to all compartments. Two Handy Pockets are hung from the upper tabs and compressed by the Tarahumara’s compression straps. These are PocketUp’s 1000D Handy Pockets but any of their large Handy Pockets would fit with the same proportions. There are plenty of hardware choices that can be used to hang the pouches in this manner like ITW GrimLocs or Slick Clips.
Additionally, he has attached a Mini Pod to the bottom of the pack. The Mini Pod would attach easily to the Tarahumara’s existing lower tabs, instantly adding compressible storage for items like light insulation or shell layers. We have previously discussed the Mini Pod here: Mini Pod on JTT
You can check out the full line of PocketUp pouches and packs at PocketUp.net.
The Blue Force Gear Hammock is more than just an April Fools joke. Sure, they put a banana in it and the jokes wrote themselves but now they are rolling it out as a real product with real utility.
The Hammock is used to carry a tourniquet or similarly shaped object while taking up minimal space and providing solid coverage on the tourniquet. It works with the gear you already have thanks to its unique hanger that has laser cut slots. These slots allow the Hammock to be woven into the MOLLE mounting elements on the back of the pouch. There are instructions for how to attach the Hammock on the Blue Force Gear website.
“Range Finding When the Lights Go Out: Creating Information Superiority in Volatile Situations.”
Wndsn XPD, maker of low-tech, high-utility tools and instruments
introduces the updated version of our Mil/Moa Calculator for 2019. A
scale redesign increased the precision by a factor of 10, also, this
version has the capability to calculate yard distances from target sizes
given in inches.
Further improvements went into materials and production; this version
is laser-engraved in 1/8” acrylic, and hence more robust than the
former, printed model.
The instrument is accompanied by a 28 pages digital manual, typeset as a high quality PDF.
Designed for professional and recreational use, the MIL/MOA Distance
Calculator (MMC) allows the user to input the MIL or MOA from their
reticle and return the distance to the target of known dimension,
thereby taking out the guesswork of gauging distance, enabling accurate
range estimation and eliminating mental calculation errors while under
stress.
“How far is my 3.5 mil, 12 inch target again?”
The MMC scales are unitless, which means that the user can input MIL
or MOA on the left side, and for the object size, if the value is in
meters, input meters on the S-scale, and read the resulting distance
meters on the D-scale. If the object size is in feet, feet is input and
read as feet; to convert the result from feet to yards, the value is
divided by 3. If the target size is in inches, the inner, left hand
S-scale is used, which is graduated as 3 feet divided in 12 inches each.
Inputting inches this way, the resulting value on the D-scale is in
feet.
For sub-degree angular sizes (1° = 60 minutes or MOA), the MMC
provides increased precision by allowing to directly input and calculate
in MIL (milliradian) or MOA and thus can be used as a high
distance/high precision companion to Wndsn Telemeters — it uses the same
principles of calculating distance from angular size, only that with
the MMC, the sighting and measurement isn’t done with the naked eye on
the instrument but instead, the input values come from range finding
reticles or similar devices.
Wndsn’s Applied Science Lab, based in Berlin, develops and manufactures that which can’t be improvised; measurement, navigation, and surveying instruments informed by the motto “Ex Mensura, Scientia” — knowledge from measurement.
Wndsn produces archival quality products that are designed with intent by combining techniques proven over centuries; arcane science meets cutting edge contemporary methods, resulting in iconic, timeless, high-utility designs.
In addition to custom-built instruments and tools, metrology & illumination solutions, Wndsn creates expedition mementos and morale patches to celebrate cross-disciplinary exploration in the spirit of the Renaissance. Wndsn morale patches are acutely designed — no line is left to randomness, no element is mere filler. They serve as infographics, how-tos for the Wndsn tools, magic sigils, as well as functional markers.
The Tracer Pack is now available in some new colors including Blue and Coyote Brown. You can check out our review the Tracer here: BFG Tracer Pack Review.
The Jones Brothers make great knives but some of their best known designs are their “Party Favors”. These items are often innocuous looking self defense tools. The Low-Key is one such item.
It looks very much like a car key at first glance but a closer inspection reveals that it is a functional thumb dagger! The black micarta handle gives the user a solid grip. The blade is sharpened at the end for piercing. It is sharp enough to be pressed into soft targets but not so sharp as to cut up your pockets.
As with many of the items that the Jones Brothers create, these are sold on a first come, first serve basis. If you want a chance at one, I suggest following them on their social media and/or the Jones Brothers sub-forum on the Usual Suspects Network.
