The new TGF (Trigger Guard, Foward Designs) is now available from Forward Controls Designs. It shows the same utilitarian design and attention to small details like angles and dimensions that you are used to from FCD.
From Foward Controls Design:
TGF (Trigger Guard, Forward Controls) is available in standard (straight) and winter versions. Both are machined from 7075 aluminum, they do not have spring loaded detent for the front, but use a set screw like Magpul’s, and a standard trigger guard roll pin in the rear.
Both versions feature a canted front edge to make rocking the magazine into the mag well easier. The winter version has as much constant/unchanged space from the trigger bow forward as possible (instead of of the space inside tapering and decreasing as the trigger guard nears the receiver’s front trigger guard holes). The space to the rear of the trigger bow is inaccessible for the user’s finger, so it’s kept small and low. Available in anodized black, desert tan, and OD green (desert tan and OD green for standard/straight TGF in 2020).
TGF is designed for use with in spec forged lower receivers, and fills the gap forward of the pistol grip, between the trigger guard “ears” (note that TGF will not swing down like TDP spec trigger guards). All the sharp edges and corners have been removed. Due to the variations and tolerances of receivers, fitting might be required for receivers too far from TDP dimensions and tolerances.
Black Sheep Warrior is a long-time favorite blog of mine. M81 Woodland is a long-time favorite camo pattern of mine. Therefore, the new Black Sheep Warrior Woodland Cap is right up my alley.
The cap is an official FlexFit brand fitted cap with unstructured, 6-panel construction, and a weathered M81 pattern. The classic Black Sheep Warrior logo is embroidered on the front of the cap and the smaller sheep face logo on the back.
Dark Hour Defense’s Safety Selector gives the user a lot of options for not a lot of cash. They have both short throw (57 degrees) and standard 90 degree throw selectors in either standard right hand or ambidextrous models.
The Safety Selectors feature a 416 stainless steel core with a Melonite finish. The levers are machined from 7075 T6 aluminum and have a hard anodized finish. The levers are also removable so that the long and short levers provided with the ambidextrous models are swappable based on the user’s preference.
PHLster and Sentinel Concepts are co-developing a new product, the Rail Buddy, designed to keep spare batteries for weapon mounted lights close at hand. The rail buddy will work with several battery types including the 18650s and 18350s that are driving many of today’s modern lights.
The Rail Buddy will attach via a Velcro One-Wrap strap so that it can be mounted in a variety of locations on the handguard or elsewhere. It can also be used to help with cable management for tape switches.
The battery storage compartment is currently in the prototype stage (3D printed prototype shown).
When it comes to backcountry light sources, I like redundancy but when it comes to hiking or bagging peaks, I dislike weight. Two lights are heavier than one. You can see my dilemma. Maybe you have wrestled with it too. Fortunately, I have found an ultralight, extremely useful combination of lights that keep weight to a minimum has built-in redundancy, recharges via the USB power bank I am already carrying, and won’t break the bank. In fact, this combo weighs less than most tactical flashlights.
The combo consists of two very compact and lightweight lights: the Streamlight Microstream USB which we have already reviewed and the utterly incredible Nitecore NU25. Both of these lights together weigh in at 3 ounces and the pair will set you back only about $65.
Before I get into why these lights work so well together, I’ll share a few thoughts on the Nitecore NU25 – a lightning review of sorts. This headlamp is a darling of the ultralight community and it is easy to see why. It has well balanced beam shape and plenty of output along with long-running low modes. The separate high-CRI flood beam is great for reading maps in true color and the red output is actually well-executed enough to be useful for tasks like finding your beanie in a cold tent without overwhelming your dark adjusted vision. It even has an easy to deal with lock-out function which is great for a light that will spend most of its time bumping around in your pack. It’s an incredibly functional headlamp that weighs in at just 1 ounce and costs only $35. That is, frankly, incredible.
Nitecore NU25 shown with a legacy headlamp. We’ve come a long way.
The Streamlight Microstream and Nitecore NU25 are even better together. I use them in two situations that cover 80% of my backcountry use case. They are my go-to lights when I am NOT PLANNING on being out past dark but want to carry lights just in case and they are ideal for warm weather overnighters/multinight trips. They could be pressed into cold weather but I would prefer lights than can take lithium primary batteries for this (see this article). I have found several reasons why they work so well together:
Common Rechargeable Functionality – They are both rechargeable via micro USB. I always carry an Anker Power Bank (see the previous review) so it is easy to keep both lights up and running. When one is charging, I can use the other. No muss, no fuss.
Extreme Redundancy – These aren’t just redundant because they are both potential light sources. They take redundancy to another level due to the fact that the Microstream can stand in as a headlamp thanks to its two-way clip that allows it to be clipped to a hat brim. They can also leverage the same power source.
Extra Functionality – The NU25 is especially useful for backcountry use. It has red output for use in dark conditions where you don’t want to wreck dark adjusted vision. It has a high color rendition output for use in reading maps after dark. It can even be powered directly from your power bank which is great if you want to use it as a tent light!
Lightweight and Compact – Both lights are also extremely lightweight and compact. Lightweight is obviously nice when your pack is already full of 40 pounds of other lightweight gear. However, compactness is an often overlooked but desirable attribute in electronics. I can fit both of these lights AND the power bank in the same pocket of my shell to keep them warm in case conditions get cold above tree line. Emergency lights aren’t useful if the cold has drained their batteries.
It would be hard to find two lights that cover more bases, provide more redundancy, are more affordable, and better quality than these. They are a worthy addition to any kit.
Where to Buy
I have never been able to find either of these lights in a brick and mortar store. However, some of you may be able to find the Streamlight without much trouble. I just purchased mine on Amazon:
Do you have a gear or concept recommendation that fits the On Foot, Off Grid series? Do you have strategies for dealing with cold weather? Tell us about it in the comments below or drop us a line on the Contact page.
