Preps of the Pros: OFFGRID Editor Tom Marshall’s EDC Gear & Go Bag

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Tom Marshall

Current Occupation: Editor, RECOIL OFFGRID Magazine

(To read more about Tom's background, including his time as a U.S. Army Captain and independent contractor in Afghanistan, refer to our interview with him from Issue 34.)

Tom's EDC Gear

What is your general approach/philosophy for everyday-carry tools? What do you see as the most likely threats/issues you might deal with in your daily routine, and what items are necessary to address these issues?

I believe that equipment selection is a form of mission analysis. In simpler terms, it’s impossible to carry every piece of gear for every single possibility. So, select tools for EDC that fit most seamlessly into your daily wardrobe and routine, and those which will be the most helpful in the most likely problems you might face.

Please outline the gear you carry on a daily basis. Include specific brands/models, and why you chose each.

A sturdy belt is the foundation of a solid EDC gear setup. I use a Mastermind Tactics Specialist Pro belt, which features medical-grade, high-cycle hook-and-loop, a chemically dipped stiffened tail end, and an almost non-existent steel loop in lieu of a larger buckle to help reduce printing when carrying appendix inside the waistband (AIWB). In my pants pockets, I have a Zero Tolerance 0566 folding knife, a Cloud Defensive MCH flashlight, Pocket Trauma Kit from Live The Creed, and a small keychain with Glow Rhino prybar, Carbon Tactics TiSlice razor blade, and two tools from Gearward: their Ranger Bic waterproof lighter sleeve and keychain duct tape roll. I keep this on a second key ring, completely separate from my car and house keys. This way, if I lose my daily life keys, or hand them off to someone, I still have the emergency tools. My Suunto Traverse Alpha watch also wears the Gearward A-K band, which conceals some escape tools. If the situation dictates, I’ll add my custom Glock 48 MOS pistol and a spare mag in my LAS Concealment Ronin-L holster, and/or the JB Knife Ditch Pik fixed-blade defensive knife.

What is one underrated piece of EDC gear that more people should strongly consider carrying, if they don’t already?

I always go by the rule of “The Big 4:” Defend, Move, Communicate, Medicate. Your EDC gear should include tools that enable you to defend yourself, navigate your daily world (urban or rural), call or signal for help, and treat likely medical issues (boo-boo level or trauma).

What was the most recent change you made to your EDC kit?

I recently swapped my smartphone into a Juggernaut IMPCT case. In addition to offering military-grade bump and drop protection, the IMPCT is compatible with Juggernaut’s line of mounts and brackets. Now I can pop my phone off my belt and directly onto my plate carrier, hiking pack, or dashboard vehicle bracket.

Tom's Go Bag Gear

Which make/model of bag did you choose, and why?

I use a 5.11 AMP12. This bag is large enough to hold not only my daily work supplies (laptop, chargers, cords, snacks, paperwork, etc.) but is also augmented by a Grey Man Tactical Rigid Insert Panel, sized specifically for this bag.

Where is this bag staged (or carried) and what specific purpose does it fulfill in your daily preparedness plan?

I carry this bag almost every single day — to the coffee shop or cigar lounge while working on articles, to business luncheons, and on road trips. If I need to fly, I can remove the Grey Man panel with weapons and pyro on it, without having to disassemble each individual pouch and tool, and still have all my administrative gear in a carry-on bag that fits under an airline seat.

Above: The Greyman Tactical Rigid Insert Panel can be removed from the bag to make it TSA friendly without having to fully reconfigure placement of pouches or holsters every time.

Please outline some of the most important items you have in this bag, to include brands/models where possible. Discuss why you chose these items and how they complement and expand upon your EDC gear.

I augment the main compartment of this bag with a Rigid Insert Panel from Grey Man Tactical. This is a single polymer panel that I can permanently mount gear on, that can be removed as a single piece without having to dismantle all the individual pouches. The RIP holds a customized Glock 17 in a QVO Tactical holster on a G-Code RTI mount, one spare magazine, a multi-tool, smoke signal, 5.11 compact Operator Axe, and North American Rescue IFAK with full trauma kit and hard tourniquet. This supplements my EDC by providing medical and self-defense redundancy with the addition of a hard tourniquet (which I don’t carry on-body) and a larger, more capable handgun. The ax can be used for everything from cutting brush or small trees for shelter or fire-starting to emergency egress from a building or vehicle (smashing a window or breaching residential-grade doors).

The rest of the bag holds general-use first aid supplies (Band-Aids, pain relievers, cold/flu meds, etc.) as well as a compass, NATO issue TCCC reference cards, pens/pencils, business cards, etc.

What is one extra item you’ve considered including in this bag? Briefly explain why you haven’t added it yet (space, weight, cost, likelihood it’ll be needed, etc.).

Above: The AMP's zip-pouches hold important paperwork, pens and pencils, and some basic travel meds like cough drops, analgesics, and gastrointestinal remedies. 

I’ve gone back and forth about adding some food to this bag — even something quick like meal bars or dried fruit or granola. Whether it’s for snacking during a day full of meetings, getting stuck on the side of the road, or on an airport layover, extra calories become a priority quickly as stress levels rise. I haven’t really stuck with it due to a combination of not having much physical space left in this bag, and that sometimes finding food that’s edible on the go but holds stable in the desert heat can be a difficult task, especially if the bag is left in my truck or sits at my feet outdoors for any length of time.

Victor Lopez Interview: Founder of Sierra Element Tactical Training

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You might think that anyone who served as a combat sniper in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming a cop in the second-most populated city in the United States might be a grizzled old man with a chip on his shoulder. With a father who earned three purple hearts in Vietnam prior to entering policework on the infamously tough streets of Gary, Indiana, it might be in Victor Lopez’s DNA to serve others and stay humble doing it. “He’d tell me, ‘Treat everyone with respect regardless of what status you think they have,’” Lopez says. That same focus on patiently solving problems hasn’t only helped Vic earn respect in his careers, but also motivated him to teach others to avoid getting bogged down by ego and pride. Instead, he reminds students to keep their sights set on elevating their knowledge.

As the owner of Sierra Element, Vic has taken it upon himself to create a curriculum that can only come from hard-earned experience in some of the worst conditions imaginable. As crime continues to rise amidst an atmosphere of anti-police rhetoric, both average civilians and officers are understandably seeking ways to up their performance behind the trigger to stay safe. Vic has lived his lyrics and is a hidden gem of tactical training that RECOIL OFFGRID felt needed to be brought to light. We spoke to him to see how he’s combining military and law enforcement work into practical skills available to anyone.

Photos by Patrick McCarthy and John Schwartze

Our Interview with Victor Lopez of Sierra Element Training

RECOIL OFFGRID: Where did you grow up?

Victor Lopez: I grew up in Gary and Merrillville, Indiana. Joining the Marine Corps in 1994 brought me out to California.

What made you want to join?

VL: My dad was a Marine in Vietnam and then became a police officer in Gary, Indiana.

Did you go into the Marines wanting to become a sniper? What was sniper qualification like?

VL: That kind of just happened. I just wanted to be a rifleman initially, but I liked the craft of being stealthy and the long-range precision aspect of it as well. When I tried out for the platoon in 1998, they called it the sniper indoctrination. It was heavy on physical fitness, a lot of observations, and KIMS games — KIMS stands for “keep in memory sniper.” Those are basic memorization drills. There were a lot of ruck marches with a 40-pound pack, some sleep deprivation that lasted a few days, and then I was eventually able to go to sniper school, which is 10-and-a-half weeks.

Above: Vic and Corvus Survival’s Jerry Saunders, who we interviewed in RECOIL OFFGRID Issue 47.

What are the core skills that any sniper must master?

VL: Marksmanship is number one overall. Physical fitness as well as communication skills, in either electronic or verbal articulation, because we have to explain the mission in detail to a commanding officer. If you’re not articulating it well enough, you’re not going on that mission. Definitely teamwork and good social skills, because you’re working with other individuals in confined spaces for up to a week, so you need to be able to get along and communicate well.

What deployments and missions do you feel were the most challenging?

VL: Initially was with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. Then, after I got out of active duty I went into 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines where I was able to go to Iraq twice and then Southeast Asia. When I went to Afghanistan, I was with 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force. I was in Iraq in 2003 as a sniper operator, and in 2009 as well. It was challenging during my time as a precision marksman advisor to the Afghan National Army. There were language and cultural barriers. They lacked a lot of the basic skills a regular soldier would have, so it’d take longer to correct issues.

This might sound strange, but externally the easiest portion was dealing with war and dealing with other services. It’s hard to convey a sniper’s mission to someone who has never been a sniper. That’s the most challenging part — to have others understand what it takes as far as selection of personnel, equipment you need to be successful, and the continuous education you need to stay proficient and advance.

Above: Serving in the Middle East while in the Marines.

I enjoyed training the Southeast Asian snipers in Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea, and learning the jungle environment. A lot of their weaponry wasn’t as good as ours, but they still had some of the basic skills, which made it a lot easier for us to build on those.

What do you think we got wrong as far as U.S. involvement in Afghanistan?

VL: I think we gave them a little too much, in my opinion. We didn’t allow them to think for themselves as much as we pushed our ideals on them. Instead of allowing them to try and build their nation on their own, we gave them a little too much information and equipment. We were trying to train them, but they were training to kill us. You teach them the skills you use and then they’d turn the gun on you. Advisors all over the country were getting killed. They didn’t want to be told what to do, but they certainly wanted the free money and gear.

How long were in you in the military?

VL: Twenty years.

Did you then go directly into policing?

VL: Approximately six months after I finished my active service, I got into a police department. That’s something I wanted to do since childhood. I really enjoyed my dad’s stories of pursuits and helping people — stories of being able to arrest someone that hurt or shot someone else. Also helping retrieve property for someone who’d been burglarized. I really enjoyed those stories he told me growing up.

What divisions have you worked in?

VL: Patrol, gang enforcement, and patrol as a field training officer, and then I worked counter-terrorism bureau. Now, I’m currently assigned to training division where I work patrol rifle and tactical shotgun unit.

How do you think being a sniper better prepared you for law enforcement?

VL: As far as counterterrorism, as a surveillance officer, while working as a sniper you have to do a lot of observation and study body language. Studying behavior helped me become a better surveillance officer because I can infer how someone’s talking to and interacting with someone else based on their body language and gestures.

Above: Training Pinal County Sheriff’s Office deputies in Arizona.

What have been your toughest experiences in law enforcement?

VL: The most difficult thing in recent years is the wave of defund-the-police efforts and reduced sentences for violent offenders.

What do gangs’ efforts tend to be focused on and how sophisticated are they?

VL: Primarily drugs as well as basic violence and intimidation. A lot of extortion with local businesses, too. They have people working at all different levels. There are people who commit crime, people who help facilitate it, businesses that are involved because they’ll benefit from it, and associates who want to be a part of something. It’s not just this image some people have of a few guys hanging out on a street corner.

How has policing changed since you first started?

VL: A lot of the paperwork and computer systems have changed quite a bit. Technology has changed with GPS in the vehicles, and body cam and dash cam recording. Some of it was handwritten before. Some of the less-lethal tools — we didn’t have the 40mm before, we only had beanbag shotguns. Initially, not everyone had a taser either. Learning different tools, techniques, and procedures of how to take someone into custody, whether it’s the way we talk to them, how we approach, or the number of officers there to assist. While changing certain aspects of policing, they haven’t put any officers’ lives in danger.

Over the last few years, has there been a lot of attrition in your department?

VL: There has, but there’s always been. I haven’t seen a mass exodus, but it’s a little more than what I’ve seen in the past. People are realizing they can have a comfortable life in another state. A lot of people traveled outside of California during COVID so they could get some freedom, see other states, and consider what they had to offer.

What training would you recommend the public pursue to better protect themselves, besides getting their concealed carry if possible?

VL: Take some type of martial arts training so you have a better awareness of your capabilities. If your local department has a civilian police academy, attend that so you can see the things that officers are going to be confronted with. Group tours and ride-alongs will give people a chance to see for themselves how officers interact with people and how criminals interact with officers. Don’t just believe what you see on TV. People should avoid areas they think will be dangerous. You can do a Google search of crimes in the area you plan to visit. Apps such as Crimewatch are also good resources to be informed about localized crime.

What sort of training do you recommend police get to supplement the normal training they get?

VL: Any marksmanship training from a reputable source outside your department will help. It’s good to go out and see what the training world has to offer. A lot of officers just learn what they learn from their department — you’re not going to actually grow from that. Don’t just rely on the training you receive in the academy. In my opinion, jiujitsu and Muay Thai are some of the better martial arts. Granted, I’ve taken them for quite some time, but I think they give you a balance of the stand up and controlling of a suspect to take them into custody and prevent their escape. I’ve practiced Brazilian jiujitsu for seven years and have done Muay Thai for 17 years. I’m a blue belt in BJJ and I’m an instructor in Muay Thai.

Tell us about what motivated you to start your company, Sierra Element?

VL: During my time in the Marine Corps, I was part of a competition the Corps has every year called Super Squad. It’s comprised of Marine infantry, and you have a series of events: machine gun shoots, hiking, military operations in urban terrain, land navigation, defensive perimeter work, and some marksmanship events. We got a lot of training just for the 13 guys we had. In the three weeks we trained, I received the most one-on-one training I’d ever had. A warrant officer asked me while we were training to design a pistol course with movement and everything. I did it and really enjoyed the freedom to design things and help people evolve and learn new skills.

That’s why I created Sierra Element in 2012. It’s something I’d been wanting to do forever. I just didn’t have the opportunity before and, at that time, I felt I didn’t have the skills that were necessary to be an instructor like the kind of instructors I looked up to. I didn’t think I had enough skill, so I kind of just worked at it and went to several instructor schools and built up my résumé with training.

Where did the name come from?

VL: Sierra is the S in the phonetic alphabet in the military. S is for sniper. Element is team, so Sierra Element essentially means sniper team.

What is your focus and what do you bring to the table that other training companies don’t?

VL: We definitely have the pedigree, background, and experience from my being a police officer and a sniper who actually deployed, saw the world, and learned how other countries train. I merged a lot of components from sniping and brought it into carbine and regular rifle work. When I created the rough-terrain carbine stuff, I took elements from Marine Corps mountain sniper courses and merged it with patrol designated marksman curriculum and made it a little different. All our instructors have 20-plus years of experience as a police officer as well as some background in the military or working special assignments as a police officer. With a lot of companies out there, it’s just the one guy that you’re getting. My company isn’t just about one individual and their experience. It’s a team effort on every course, and we teach with input from all different parts of law enforcement and military.

I’ve been heavily involved since 2017, either training law enforcement in the patrol designated marksman program or training myself to gather more info. I wrote a book on the patrol designated marksman concept. It should be out shortly. I helped create Palm Springs PD’s designated marksman program. The program is intended for law enforcement officers who have the knowledge of an AR-15 equipped with a variable powered optic to bridge the gap between the patrol rifle and the SWAT sniper.

We’re also doing UTV operations for law enforcement. We teach how to patrol a crowd with your vehicle, how to respond, how to set up your equipment inside a vehicle, how to exit the vehicle and employ it, how to use it for cover, and how to use it as a shooting platform. We offer both courses to the public as well, but under a different name for the civilian version of the designated marksman course.

Above: Vic and his parents, circa late ’70s.

What are the biggest misconceptions you see most students entering your courses with that you have to help them purge?

VL: We get people who are convinced that, if they purchase an expensive gun, it will make them an amazing shooter and they’ll never miss. I have to break it down to them that we’re all going to miss, no matter how good of a shooter you are. When missing occurs, the goal is to recognize what you’re doing wrong and how you can fix it quickly, so you can get back on target faster. Sometimes we’ll get guys who miss, and they start shouting, lose their bearings, and the issues just multiply. Then, they miss again and start shooting faster. In every class I remind the students to keep their composure when they miss a target and to not hesitate to ask for additional assistance.

What types of training do you offer?

VL: All the standard rifle, pistol, and shotgun courses. Our biggest courses that do the best are our rough terrain series — rough terrain scoped carbine, urban scoped carbine, rough terrain pistol, and urban close precision engagement, tactical tracking and patrol designated marksman course, sniper operator, CQB, and competition pistol courses.

Do you offer sniper training?

VL: We do. We have several sniper operator courses, meaning you must already be a school-trained sniper. We have urban sniper, rough terrain sniper, and a target acquisition course where we focus on techniques of camouflage and sniper movement.

If you could take a magic wand and change police training, what would you do?

VL: I would allow officers to attend outside training a lot more and have certain funds every year for them to train at outside locations.

Above: Vic’s book, “The Initiative: Delivering Order to Chaos” will be available soon on Amazon.

Are they not allowed to attend outside training?

VL: They are, but the compensation isn’t there. They have to pay for it out of their own pockets. Some officers have families and don’t have extra money so I can understand.

What would you recommend to those looking to enter policework as a career?

VL: I’d do several ride-alongs so you can see how the world is outside your normal activities and neighborhood, and how officers deal with criminal activity.

What do you think people tend to misunderstand the most about criminality?

VL: Criminal activity is everywhere, regardless of the neighborhood you live in. Crime is more prevalent than you would think.

Above: Sierra Element pistol class at Burro Canyon Shooting Park in California.

What types of crime have you seen rise the most over the last few years?

VL: I’ve seen a rise over the last few years in drug activity, retail thefts, assaults on police officers, and assaults with a deadly weapon.

Have you felt a tangible decline in public support for police?

VL: Not personally. People continue to come up to me in public and thank me for my service and express how they appreciate law enforcement.

What do you think is driving many media outlets’ narrative that the police aren’t being supported by the public and should be defunded?

VL: Things are driven off emotions and with emotions come ratings. With ratings come advertising and with advertising comes money. When they focus on the few negative things they hear about police officers, they don’t see how officers across the country go above and beyond to assist people they’ve never even met. The first time they’re meeting someone might be the time when they stepped into the line of fire to protect them.

About Victor Lopez

Age: 47

Childhood idol: Dad

Favorite gun: Staccato P Duo

Most realistic police movie: Colors

Least realistic police movie: End of Watch or any of the Lethal Weapon movies

Crown Vic or Dodge Charger? Crown Vic — much more room!

Recommended reading list:

  • How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
  • The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
  • With Winning in Mind by Lanny Bassham

What do you want on your tombstone? Relentless Savage

URL: sierraelement.com

Vic's EDC Gear

  • Staccato C pistol
  • Marine Scout Sniper Challenge Coin
  • Ice Breakers Duo
  • Centurion holster (custom)
  • One Shot Industries inner belt
  • Hog’s tooth
  • Keys with Lead Devil keychain
  • Pro-Tech Strider knife

What If You’re in the Path of a Wildfire?

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Whether you live in a rural area year-round or just travel to one on occasion, wildfires can be a major source of concern. These fast-moving natural disasters can crop up with little warning and sweep across the landscape obliterating everything in their path. Wildfires often cause devastation that affects the surroundings far beyond the point of origin. If you only had a short time to prepare to evacuate or possibly stay to battle an inferno, do you have a battle plan in mind?

Are irreplaceable belongings stored in such a way that they can be quickly loaded into a car? Have you thought about how to defend your home proactively by preparing items such as a pool pump, fire extinguishers, or sprinkler system? Have you taken the time to create a defensible space and clear dry brush surrounding your house that could exacerbate an approaching fire? Do you know what (if anything) your insurance will cover if a fire destroys your home and belongings? Whether you’ve begun planning for such an event or not, we hope this topic will spark your interest in better preparation to deal with a fire.

The Wildfire Scenario

Situation Type: Wildfire

Your Crew: You and your family

Location: Northern California

Season: Summer

Weather: Warm; high 97 degrees F, low 63 degrees

The Setup

Illustrations by Robert Bruner

Every year we hear of the increasing incidence of wildfires. From the Caldor Fire to the El Dorado Fire to the Dixie Fire, these events can devastate thousands of acres within hours. Whether it begins with a lightning strike, car fire, arson, or just plain irresponsible behavior, they can often be impossible to predict. Even those who believe they’re far enough from rural areas to avoid problems — such as the recent fires in Boulder, Colorado, or the Glass Fire in Napa and Sonoma, California — can often be taken by surprise at a fire’s ability to spread in a short amount of time. You and your family live in a rural area of Plumas County, California, known for its thick forests and sparsely populated surroundings.

The state’s continuing drought has been an ongoing concern, not only because of falling trees, but also because the deadfall creates more fuel for potential fires. To make matters worse, the season in which fires are most dangerous only seems to grow longer each year. The local fire station is about 15 minutes from where you live, with others in the general area, as well as several state agencies within your county. One thing is for sure though, the amount of vegetation in the area and long, isolated escape routes means that the odds are stacked against you if a fire were to start in the worst possible part of the year — summer.

The Complication

You wake up early on what starts out as a seemingly typical Monday to go to your job at an auto shop in nearby Quincy, California, when you smell smoke in the air. A feeling of dread washes over you. You walk outside as the sun is coming up and see a plume of smoke to the north. It appears to be about 30 miles away. The winds feel moderate at the moment, but you know they may change and take the fire in your direction. As you ponder for a second on the situation and what to do, you begin to hear emergency vehicle sirens that only seem to get more frequent with each passing minute. You wake your wife and young son to let them know what’s going on. You decide to start packing things into your car in case you need to evacuate.

After about 20 minutes, you begin to hear deep booms in the distance. You assume those are propane tanks exploding, which will only exacerbate the fire. You look outside at the direction of the fire, and by this time it seems to have grown exponentially. The sky is turning dark orange, and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. A short time later, a police car begins cruising down your street announcing over the loudspeaker to the residents that a mandatory evacuation is now in effect. Do you send your wife and young child away and stay behind to pack more of your possessions, or to attempt to safeguard your home against the fire? Do you all leave together immediately and hope your home and belongings aren’t wiped out? What should you do? We’ve asked retired game warden Lt. John Nores and firefighter Scott Finazzo for their recommendations.

Game Warden John Nores’ Approach

With California suffering through two peak droughts over the last decade, the Golden State has experienced unprecedented loss of life and property through several large-scale wildfire campaigns. As a recently retired California game warden, I reflect on moments when I did one of the most dangerous, frightening, and rewarding jobs of my three-decade career — assisting firefighting and allied law enforcement agencies during wildland fire incidents. When wildfires get out of control and hit the public safety disaster level due to hot temperatures, bone-dry conditions, abundant fuel, and high winds, it’s a top priority for all first responder agencies in the area.

During several massive fire campaigns throughout my active-duty years, I found myself coordinating and assisting on residential evacuations for people, domestic pets, and livestock, coordinating and manning public safety roadblocks, and providing medical assistance from fire, smoke, and heat exposure impacts. I also assisted with perimeter security for firefighting crews in rural communities, as well as deep in the backcountry where only four-wheel-drive and tracked vehicles could operate.

A recent and personally impactful California wildfire I witnessed the aftermath of firsthand was the 2020 SCU Lightning Complex fire that burned 55,000 of the 87,000 acres within Henry Coe State Park. This pristine and remote backcountry was where I learned outdoor survival and backpacking skills firsthand as a teenager.

When I checked on several friend’s private land ranches throughout Coe Park, I saw that remote and pristine Silicon Valley backcountry ravaged by the largest wildfire in that region’s history. It was eye opening. The devastation was extensive, and I found carcasses and bones from deer and other mammals overrun by the fire in areas I grew up exploring. This was humbling, and a reminder of just how fast and devastating wildfires can be.

For purposes of this scenario, I wouldn’t send my wife and child away so I could stay behind and pack more possessions or attempt to safeguard our home against the fire. We would all leave together when the time came to go.

Preparation
As my friend and Florida firefighter Marcos Orozco points out, wildland fire and hurricane preparedness are remarkably similar, since general preparation tips apply to most disaster scenarios. His input on this article was invaluable.

Since we live in wildland fire terrain, it’s critical that we have “go bags” already packed and ready to go for each family member. These bags contain all necessary provisions needed to be self-sufficient for at least three days and up to seven days, depending on how prepared we may need to be. Our “go bags” also include enough food for any pets on the move with us for that three- to seven-day window, as well as enough water for all family members, including the furry ones.

If cell coverage is limited or down completely, we have a satellite phone that can activate most anywhere when the cell grid drops. Having used Iridium satellite phones extensively when racing in Baja, Mexico, and on hundreds of remote backcountry missions throughout California’s backcountry, I’ve experienced the effectiveness of the Iridium platform first-hand. They have the best overall global coverage and have stronger satellite link signals, especially when in wooded or densely covered terrain.

Our family also has $500 to $1,000 cash in small bills ready to go in the safe for any disaster-sparked evacuation. With the power grid down and surrounding towns and businesses also in chaos, credit card purchases of essential survival supplies while on the move may not be possible, making this cash a survival necessity.

Since we have a fireproof safe at home, we can protect any of the family documents, jewelry, family heirlooms, and firearms and ammunition that we’re unable to bring with us. I have also made sure our family members are taking only essential survival items (already packed for a rapid exit in our bug-out bags) upon evacuation from our property.

These essential items include firearms for self and family protection from looting, vandalism, or any other physical threat placed upon us. And in the unfortunate event the fire campaign becomes a long and drawn-out crisis where the grid is down and survival supplies are limited or impossible to acquire, we have firearms systems that are also suitable for wild game hunting.

Living in wildfire country engenders the need for immediate mobility in the event of an emergency, so all of our vehicles slated to be used for evacuation are stocked with trauma/first-aid kits, extra clothes, water, blankets, and nonperishable snacks. Once an evacuation order has been declared, under no circumstances would we stay and try and protect our property. Material items, including our home, can always be replaced.

Given this vulnerability, we carry a comprehensive homeowner’s insurance policy that includes added coverage for natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and in this case, wildfires. It includes replacement cost for all belongings inside the house such as furniture, clothes, electronics, jewelry, and so on. Our policy also covers costs to demolish and completely rebuild our home — another need if a wildfire sweeps through your property.

In addition to our preparation for evacuation, our family has had several discussions and rehearsal runs on what to do and where to go to ensure everyone’s safety. Everyone is familiar with all escape routes on and around our property and which route to take based on the direction the fire is moving from. We also know where to meet if any of us become separated. All of us have long-range walkie-talkie/two-way radio systems in our go bags to communicate and coordinate our action plan in case cell phone service is down.

Because we live in a wooded, rural community that’s rich in fire fuel sources, we have done as much as possible to minimize damage to our home and any other structures on the property before any fire event has begun. A large defensible space around the house has been cleared out and maintained with all trees, bushes, and any other wildfire fuel sources removed.

The house was built to be fire resistant and constructed with an all-metal roof and fire-resistant siding. It has high-pressure hose and sprinkler systems installed that are capable of thoroughly soaking our home and all cleared-out spaces around the house. Again, we’d only implement this plan if it was safe to do so, and we had a safe window of time before a mandatory evacuation order is announced. If we do have to evacuate, the sprinkler system will be left on when we leave for any added fire protection the additional soaking may provide.

If time permits and wind direction and other environmental factors allow, we may consider a backfire to significantly extend our defensible space. Realizing this is a risky and last resort option to protect the home and property, we will only implement this method with firefighting personnel advisement and/or monitoring.

On Site
Knowing exactly where and how close the fire is to our property is a key factor to defending our property. Wind and burn direction of the fire drives that decision as well. Our 4WD vehicle(s) are located in evacuation positions, and we all have our trauma kits handy since EMS will be unavailable.

In the event our evacuation route is blocked or engulfed in flames, we’ll move immediately to a contingency plan previously discussed and either hike out on foot (if safe to do so) or take another available off-road evacuation route that is 4WD accessible.

Crisis
If the house is lost to the fire, our first priorities are to ensure everyone in the family (including our pets) is safe and accounted for, and to contact my insurance company as soon as possible to get a home loss claim filed. This will get the lengthy rebuilding process underway so we can focus on the next priority: securing temporary housing.

If we’re unable to stay with relatives or friends in the area, I’ll reach out to Red Cross, FEMA and/or other local, state, and federal organizations that can help with temporary housing. Our go-bags with two-way radios and satellite phones may be the only way to contact loved ones, find emergency housing, and initiate the insurance process of rebuilding our home.

Firefighter Scott Finazzo’s Approach

A wildfire, like a tidal wave, is a force of nature that consumes everything in its path. The heat is punishing, the speed at which they move is mind boggling, and their predictability depends heavily on terrain and weather. In this scenario, a decision must be made to stay, evacuate, or send my family away and return to protect or evacuate more possessions from my home. The decision may seem like an obvious one to many, but it’s not that simple for everyone. Health issues and medical equipment are factors for some. Others have large animals or an inventory of goods that sustain their livelihood to consider. Timely and difficult decisions must be made. Here’s the way I see it …

Preparation
As a career firefighter, I always stress the importance of preparation. The day of the emergency shouldn’t be the first time you think about or plan for it. Bad things will happen. Preparing for a wildfire can be vastly different than preparing your house and family for a fire in the home. The keys to residential fire readiness lie in early detection, suppression, and evacuation. For the most part, once you’re outside of the home, you’re safe. Wildfires are a different animal altogether. The same residential rules apply, but the area of concern grows immensely, as does the in-home preparation. My main areas of focus in wildfire preparation would be early notification, home protection, and evacuation planning, allowing me to better organize my disaster readiness and evacuation strategy.

I consider wildfire home readiness from the outside in. Initially, I’d employ one of the least costly and best ways to protect my home from a wildfire by creating a defensible space. Establishing a buffer around my home that’s free from (or has limited) fire fuels such as grasses, trees, and shrubs is a simple way to slow an approaching wildfire and buy my home and my family vital time. The “industry standard” is to create a 30-foot space around a house, so that’s the minimum area that would be free of fire fuels around my home.

Long before my home is threatened by an actual wildfire, I’d document my home, yard, and possessions by taking lots of pictures and uploading them to a secure place. Then, I’d confirm with my insurance agent that my homeowner’s policy provides the financial protection I need. Insurance coverage should begin with the replacement value of my home but also include other structures. “Other structures” encompass detached garages and outbuildings; their coverages are often set at a percentage of the dwelling coverage. Finally, my family and I are going to need living arrangement coverage that includes food, clothing, hotel costs, and pet boarding. By confirming the insurance coverages are where I need them to be, I can purchase an appropriate policy inclusive of peace of mind.

When a home is engulfed by a wildfire, nothing but a foundation and ashes are left in its wake. Because it would take a small fleet of U-Hauls to load up all of the things in our home that are important to us during an evacuation, preparations and priorities must be established. I digitally back up my photographs and important documentation to cloud storage. In 2022, “vital” paperwork such as birth certificates, wills, passports, and social security cards are replaceable, but to avoid the hassle and protect my documents, I still keep them in a small, fireproof safe that I can easily grab in the event of an evacuation. Also, we have pre-identified family heirlooms, firearms, and items of importance that reside (or can fit) in a larger, fireproof safe that remains on-site.

Anyone who has been involved with or has seen news footage of disaster evacuations knows the bumper-to-bumper, snail-paced mayhem that they are. Even coming out of smaller towns, the traffic can be treacherous. The importance of planning multiple evacuation routes cannot be overstated. Prior to a wildfire, my wife and I would have a multilayered evacuation plan that includes the details of how we’d leave as a family, a meeting place if we were forced to leave separately, and finally a scenario where we have to separately get to safety and regroup once we are out of harm’s way. These plans would be discussed and driven together in advance to identify potential hazards and benefits of any given route. John F. Kennedy is quoted as saying, “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” The same thought applies to disaster preparation.

Finally, many who live in areas prone to wildfires often have a bug-out bag ready to go, the contents of which will vary from person to person. My “bug-out bag” comes in the form of three plastic totes, with locking lids, that can be thrown in the bed of my truck. The totes are divided by contents: emergency clothing and toiletries, camping and survival gear, and miscellaneous, which contains two emergency fire shelters, food, first aid supplies, respirators, extra phone charging cords, a solar charger, playing cards, and a few books to cure boredom if we end up in a hotel room or shelter. Also, in my garage ready to load up are two Cold Fire Tactical fire extinguishers, which are small, lightweight, and can be effective at putting out small fires. One final extra is my mountain bike, which will go in the truck as well to serve as a one-person alternative means of transportation.

On Site
There are several websites and apps that can help keep people informed and provide early warnings of the threat of wildfires. Airnow.gov is a good source of current air quality for whichever area you select. Monitoring air quality is a smart way to get early warnings of deteriorating conditions. The Watch Duty app provides up-to-date information regarding wildfires, which is one of several app options that offer varying degrees of current wildfire intel. Additionally, Weather Underground is a highly rated weather app that’s crowdsourced, meaning users can provide updates in real time. All three are beneficial when monitoring wildfire conditions.

There are common recommendations for protecting your house before evacuating, which can be good tips if, and only if, you have the time to spare. Suggestions such as turning on your lawn sprinkler system, turning on all of your home lights to make it easier for firefighters to see, and placing an exterior ladder against your house to help firefighters access the roof all look good on paper, and may actually help, but are just as likely to be pointless. If a wildfire is close enough to your house to radiate heat and send wind-driven embers onto your property, your lawn sprinkler might buy you a little time, but only a little. The lights and ladders are nice, but may not make a significant difference either way. There’s also the recommendation to leave doors unlocked so firefighters can get into your home quicker. I assure you, a locked residential door is a minor speed bump at best to an experienced firefighter. At the very least, I’d seal up my house as much as possible by making sure all windows and doors are closed and block any openings to provide as much of an ember barrier as possible.

My wife and I each have a Garmin inReach Mini, that has a variety of GPS, safety, and communication features, that we’d grab as the three of us set out to evacuate. Unless there’s an immediate critical medical need, the fact that there’s a local fire station nearby doesn’t mean much. The members are going to be gone trying to mitigate the incident or have evacuated to provide support from a more tactical location. The best they’d be able to offer you, if anyone were present, is a reminder that you need to leave.

As our evacuation is underway, I’m going to continually check our traffic maps on Google or Waze and compare them with wildfire updates issued on our apps or by local jurisdictions — obviously this is far safer with a copilot. This offers me the ability to ensure I’ll have the time to get out of the danger zone safely. Wildfire mitigation leadership have preplanned the main evacuation routes and will prioritize protecting them, so our best course of action would be to leave as early as possible and travel a main evacuation route, knowing our detour options along the way. Paying close attention to conditions en route will serve as my internal barometer for if and when we need to turn back and go the other way. If conditions are deteriorating, I’d quickly obtain as much information as I could via the web and apps about the location and direction of the wildfire. Turning around could be a worse decision than pushing forward. The environment, current information, and instinct will be our best guides.

Crisis
Losing everything in a fire is overwhelming. Simply knowing where to start can be the most difficult step. The shock that literally everything — except what you brought with you — is gone can be paralyzing. My first step would be to notify loved ones that we’re safe, which is the most important thing. The second phone call would be to my insurance agent. Most reputable insurance companies spring into action to get you immediate assistance. Once the requisite communications have been made, my priority would be my wife and son. Their needs, both tangible and psychological, are going to be great.

If there are additional needs that we have outside of our own preparations and insurance, the Red Cross works closely, 365 days per year, with victims of disasters. They’re quick to respond with food, shelter, and other needs. By going to disasterassistance.gov, which operates under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), I can find out if federal assistance is available to me through the federal government. I’d also keep handy the Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990) if I, or my family, need any mental health assistance.

Because I prepared my family by ensuring we had the equipment, goods, and evacuation planning that we’d need, we made it out with our lives. We set ourselves up for success by readying ourselves for a worst-case scenario. Once long-term shelter and immediate needs are met, such as medications, food, clothing, and toiletries, mental health becomes the biggest concern and should be given as much attention as physical health. The needs may be substantial for both.

Conclusion

The deadly and destructive power of a wildfire is astounding. One doesn’t have to live in the California hills to be within its reach. Anyone living in a rural area, particularly with dense forest nearby, is at risk. Wildfirerisk.org provides an interactive map in which to determine risk, wildfire likelihood, and vulnerable populations. This information is good to know to begin your overall readiness. It cannot be stressed enough to prepare, prepare, prepare. Practice doesn’t make perfect; however, it makes improvement. The more you practice, the more you’ll be ready to react when your home or your family are threatened by a wildfire.

When summing up contingency planning for a wildfire disaster as described, we’re reminded of two mindset statements: “Stillness is death” and “prepare for the worst situation to yield the best outcome.” Having a plan and being able to implement it quickly and efficiently in a wildfire or other disaster event is essential to success and your family’s ultimate survival. A plan is only as good as its execution, and to be truly effective, it must be discussed, reviewed, rehearsed, and adapted routinely. Work through the plan with your family as many times as needed until everyone’s execution is problem-free and efficient. Heaven forbid you and your loved ones ever have to face the danger and chaos of the actual event, but if that happens you should be prepared to survive a wildfire or any other disaster on your home front.

Meet Our Panel

Scott Finazzo

Scott Finazzo has been a professional firefighter for 23 years and is currently serving as a battalion chief with the Overland Park (KS) Fire Department. He has written five books including the national bestselling The Prepper’s Workbook, which he coauthored, and the narrative of a Caribbean kayak adventure: “Why Do All the Locals Think We’re Crazy?” Finazzo has also designed a series of writing journals for first responders to help ease the effects of PTSD. He’s a frequent contributor to RECOIL OFFGRID magazine and several fire service publications. Follow Scott at www.scottfinazzo.com.

Lt. John Nores

Lt. John Nores (ret.) is a worldwide conservationist who has investigated environmental and wildlife crimes for 28 years as a California game warden and was awarded the Governor’s Medal of Valor for lifesaving and leadership efforts in 2008. Nores codeveloped and led the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife’s Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) and Delta Team (the nation’s first wilderness special ops unit and sniper element) aimed at combatting the marijuana cartel’s decimation of our nation’s wildlife, wildlands, and waterways. His latest book, Hidden War: How Special Operations Game Wardens are Reclaiming America’s Wildlands from the Drug Cartels highlights the team’s first six years of operations (2013 to 2018). Nores hosts RecoilTV’s Thin Green Line film series, cohosts the Thin Green Line and Warden’s Watch podcasts, and has been featured on several other podcasts.

Review: Stroup Knives Mini and TU-2

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A good knife is considered by many to be the foundation of a good survival plan. More than just a tool, a handcrafted knife tells a story – not just of the blade’s intended use, but of the crafter and their life experience. It was this story that brought us to Stroup Knives. Chris Stroup is a medically-retired veteran of a specialized JSOC unit, who formalized his knife-making journey with his wife in 2017. Since then, Chris has made a point of target-recruiting military and law enforcement veterans looking for both a trade and a purpose. From wounded Green Berets to retired Police Officers, the machines in Stroup’s shop are manned by folks who’ve dedicated their lives to the service of others. Their catalog is straightforward and easy-to-navigate, their blade designs simple and rugged. We got the chance to examine two of their models – the Mini and the TU-2.

Stroup Knives Mini

The Mini is ideal for daily wear, whether you are spending a day on the trail or in the shop or around town. The 3-inch, 5/32-thickness blade is well-sized for household chores and small field tasks but otherwise unassuming and not burdensome on the belt.

Above: A size comparison between the Stroup TU-2 (top) and the Mini (bottom). Both feature Kydex sheaths with Tek Lok belt clips.

Speaking of which, the Mini’s sheath features a Tek Lok belt clip oriented for horizontal carry, which is ideal for small-of-back or forward-of-hip wear. With an overall length of 6.75 inches, there isn’t a whole ton of grip space. For those with smaller hands, it will likely fill that “Goldilocks” size for a carry fixed blade. But if you’ve got catcher’s gloves for hands, chances are this will be a three-finger knife for you.

Stroup Knives TU-2

On the other end of end of the spectrum is the Tactical Use series. We also got a chance to try out the TU-2, which features a larger 4.5-inch-long, 3/16-inch-thick blade. At 8.75 inches overall, the TU-2 is probably not a daily carry blade for most of us. It does, however, make a great general purpose field knife. We used the vertically oriented Tek Lok clip to mount our TU-2 on the waist strap of our Stone Glacier Avail pack, which currently gets used once or twice per week for summer hikes or road marches. In this role its slim, unobtrusive, and easily accessible.

Above: The TU-2 mounted on the waist belt of a Stone Glacier Avail backpack.

Features and Options

All Stroup blades are 1095 carbon steel, flat ground, acid etched and rock tumbled. The dark, uneven charcoal color and roughed-up texture on the flat surfaces give these knives an artisan, hand-hewn feel. The G10 grip scales, available in a variety of colors, are also cut with a scalloped stone-like texture. The overall aesthetic of these knives seems to convey the historical relationship mankind has with edged tools, looking like they could have been dug up from the gravesite of a Viking warrior. Which is appropriate given the decades (if not centuries) of collective deployment and street time of the Stroup Knives staff.

Perhaps the best part of all is the pricing. Handmade knives with handsome styling are often priced in a range that’s stretching towards four figures. But Stroup Knives are tools, made to be used and made to be accessible for purchase. The Mini comes in at $145 with the larger TU-2 coming in a little higher at $220, both of which are very competitive, given the handcrafted construction and financial support going directly into veterans’ pockets. They also recently announced a line of axes as well as a collaboration knife with Justin Melnick of the TV series “SEAL Team”. Sales of this knife will benefit the Special Operations Wounded Warriors charity.

If any of Stroup Knives’ offerings happen to fit your knife needs, they are certainly an easy company to support – offering reasonably-priced hard use blades hand built by military and law enforcement veterans. Check out their website if you think you need a Stroup knife in your kit.

Bag Drop: Hiking the Grand Canyon with an Osprey Kestrel 48

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Hiking the Grand Canyon from the south rim to the north rim is a challenging hike that'll test you mentally and physically — perhaps even spiritually — but will compensate you with an experience steeped in unique natural beauty. At the end, it'll fill you with a feeling of accomplishment that's almost overwhelming. Most people who've hiked rim to rim will break it up over multiple days to lessen the physical burden and to take more time to enjoy the journey. That’s the wise way to do it.

Above: The Grand Canyon offers stunning views and challenging terrain for multi-day hikes. (Photo via Flickr.com/geewhypics – CC BY 2.0)

Three fellow firefighters and I decided we were going to take things a step further and hike rim to rim to rim — across the canyon and back. Not only that, but we did the initial south-rim-to-north-rim trek in one day, and then broke up the return trip over three days. This itinerary dictated we carry four days’ worth of supplies on our backs from one rim of the Grand Canyon to the other, factoring in gear that'd account for snow and ice at the rims and triple-digit heat at the bottom of the canyon, with over 24 miles and 11,000 feet of elevation change between the two points.

Osprey Kestrel 48 Hiking Pack

For this expedition I used an Osprey Kestrel 48. In my mind, a 48-liter pack is too large for an overnight hike, but too small for thru-hiking, so it seemed to fit our agenda. Osprey has a reputation of being relatively affordable and highly durable. I needed a pack that was tough and dependable. The backpack itself weighs about 3.5 pounds and has several features that were important to me. The Airscape ridged back panel that allowed my back to breathe, the multiple accessible pockets, side zipper access to the main compartment, and “stow on the go” trekking pole attachments were all key components that fit my personal backpack checklist. Additionally, the zippered waist strap pockets provided quick and easy access to smaller, commonly used items.

Make & Model
Osprey Kestrel 48

MSRP
$180

URL
osprey.com

Pack Contents

I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for, especially in the world of adventure and survival, but I also have to operate within my budget. This trip required me to balance high quality in some areas and affordability in others, all at the lightest weight possible. For certain pieces of gear, I spent more to get the quality I needed, and compromised a bit on others. In some aspects, I purposely packed items that added weight but benefitted my overall utility and/or happiness. It’s most certainly a game of give and take.

The gear I packed into the Osprey Kestrel 48:

  • Tent (MSR Carbon Reflex 1)
  • Sleeping bag (Hyke & Byke 15-degree F650)
  • Sleeping pad (ThermaRest NeoAire Xlite)
  • Trekking poles (Leki MCT 12 Vario Carbon)
  • Pillow (RikkiTikki inflatable pillow)
  • Headlamps (2) (Foxelli USB rechargeable)
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Power bank (Getihu Ultra Slim Portable Charger)
  • Jetboil stove
  • Food (Mountain House meals, nuts, Goo packs, energy gel)
  • Water (CamelBak plus 2 Nalgenes)
  • Water Filter (Sawyer Mini)
  • Coffee mug (GSI Outdoors Infinity Mug)
  • Collapsible bowl (Sea to Summit)
  • Long-handle spork (Morsel Spork XL)
  • Toiletries
  • Sunblock (Sun Bum SPF 50 and lip balm)
  • Clothes (base layer/hat/gloves, convertible pants, sweat wicking underwear, socks, shirt)
  • First aid kit (including Leukotape and climbing salve)
  • Leatherman Micra
  • Lighter
  • Flip flops
  • Garmin inReach Mini satellite communicator

As any backpacker will tell you, there's an art to loading your pack. Some items, such as the sleeping bag, are packed deep inside to reduce, as much as possible, their likelihood of getting wet. Other items are stored in the periphery for quick access. For this trip, my philosophy was based on functionality.

Main Compartment

The main compartment of my Kestrel 48 contained the bulk of the larger, essential items. My sleeping bag, which squeezes down nicely thanks to the compression straps, went to the bottom along with my sleeping pad and tent. I spent extra money on an ultra-lightweight tent, and it was worth every penny. The MSR Carbon Reflex 1 weighs in at a whopping 1 pound, 7 ounces. You barely even know it’s there.

Next was my compression sack of clothes. I didn’t pack a lot — a single change of clothing, two extra pairs of socks and underwear and base layers were the extent of my wardrobe options. Because the weather forecast was dry with a 0-percent chance of rain, I felt cautiously confident about leaving my rain gear in the car.

Next were my cooking items: a small compression sack of food and coffee packets, my lightweight coffee mug, collapsible bowl, a spork, and a Jetboil. I wasn’t sure how hungry I'd be, but I knew that burning a lot of calories meant I had to put a lot of calories in, and I didn’t want to have to empty my pack if I was going to cook a meal. That proved to be more of a chore than I anticipated. I never really got hungry on the hike so I would have to remind myself to eat. The only other item I put on the inside of my pack was a heavily stickered water bottle that has been relegated to a single purpose — it’s for when nature calls in the middle of the night and I don’t want to leave the warmth of my tent. Its stickered decor is to ensure it's not confused with the other water bottle.

Exterior Pockets

The Osprey Kestrel 48 has a zippered lid compartment where I put my Garmin inReach Mini, first aid kit, a power charger, and my backup headlamp. I also put a lighter and my small bag of toiletries in this compartment. The zippered waist strap pockets were used to store items that could be accessed on the go without dropping the pack: my cell phone, a headlamp, sunblock, a Leatherman Micra, flavored electrolyte tablets, and energy snacks.

Finally, a segregated compartment on the bottom of the pack is where I kept some adverse weather options: a light jacket, a skull cap, gloves, and a pair of light flip-flops for evenings around the tent. The desert can freeze you out at night and unleash relentless heat during the day. Preparation for both was critical.

Closing Thoughts

This bag, with 3 liters of water split between an exterior bottle and a CamelBak, weighed in around 36 pounds. The first time I lifted it, fully loaded, I was surprised at how heavy it felt but then comforted with how natural it felt once on my back. Osprey does a superb job of providing options to customize how the load is carried on your back and hips. Outdoor enthusiasts will agree that one almost bonds with their gear when going toe-to-toe with the terrain and the elements. This pack gives me plenty of room without tempting me to fill it by offering excess space. It will be my go-to for many adventures to come.

More Bag Loadouts

If you're prepping a hiking pack or bug-out bag and need some inspiration, check out some of our previous Bag Drop loadouts:

Buyer’s Guide: Perimeter Defense Tools for Home Security

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According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, every year about 3.7 million burglaries are committed in America. Roughly 28 percent of those burglaries take place while someone is present in the home and about 7 percent result in violent victimization of a resident. While those figures aren’t staggering, they aren’t particularly comforting either, especially if one of those unlucky homes happens to be yours. If you’re reading this magazine, odds are you already have some type of plan to deal with a potential home invader. Whether it’s accessing a weapon, hunkering down in a safe room, or a little of both, the key to implementing that plan is time. The longer it takes you to react and get your strategy in motion, the less likely it will be successful and the greater your chances of becoming a victim. However, when you consider the fact that 61 percent of burglaries of occupied residences occur at night and 38 percent while the residents are asleep, your visions of a perfectly choreographed split-second reaction plan start to fade pretty quickly. So how can you stack the odds in your favor by earning more reaction time? Easy. With perimeter defense tools.

Types of Perimeter Defense Tools

In simple terms, perimeter defense tools are passive devices designed to either bolster the physical security of your home or provide early warning of a security breach so you can drag your sleepy ass out of bed and get into fight mode. Technology-wise, they run the gamut from dead-simple objects like door wedges to sophisticated wireless alarms and infrared trip flares. Generally, however, they can be classified in three basic categories:

Physical barriers – These items reinforce the structural strength of doors or windows and either deny the bad guy access altogether or slow down his entry while making it a whole lot noisier. While the effectiveness of these products depends heavily on the doors they’re trying to strengthen, they offer both enhanced physical security and a form of early warning alarm.

Overt alarms – These alarms announce a perimeter breach to you, the bad guy, and everyone else in the area. In a residential context, these devices give you a head’s up to the threat and may be enough of a deterrent to cause the bad guy to cut and run. If your neighbors hear the alarm, they can also get involved by calling 9-1-1 and being good witnesses.

Covert alarms – These devices alert you to a perimeter breach without alerting your uninvited guest. As an auditory alarm that only you can hear, these devices can give you a useful edge. Visual covert alarms, however, are only useful if you are actively observing them when they are tripped.

Our Perimeter Defense Tool Buyer's Guide

The type or types of devices that are best for your needs depends upon the nature of your residence. If you live in the country on several acres of land, trip flares and trail guards could be a useful component of your perimeter defense plan. In a hotel room, vacation rental, or apartment, door wedges and stick-on alarms are much more appropriate.

No matter where you may call home, always make the physical security of all points of entry your first priority. The harder it is for a would-be intruder to get in, the more noise he’ll make in the process and the less tempted he’ll be to try in the first place. Many exterior doors — even those equipped with deadbolt locks — will not withstand a hard kick, so alarms that alert you to a breach of that perimeter still only give you a few seconds to react. As such, alarms should always be considered a supplement to physical security, never a replacement for it. Nevertheless, to be forewarned is to be forearmed, so let’s look at some of the technology that can help us achieve that goal.

Pro1Tek TAC-Wedge Plus

Above: The TAC-Wedge Plus is a doorstop on steroids that includes hardened steel spikes on the bottom to ensure it bites into the floor to hold fast.

Category: Physical Barrier

Dimensions: 5.40 by 3.50 by 2.26 inches

Weight: 6.4 ounces

Price: $29

URL: pro1tek.com

Above: To be effective, the TAC-Wedge Plus requires some space under the door. Its spikes are also not friendly to floors.

Notes:
This multi-function doorstop on steroids can be used to hold doors open, keep them shut, or make them almost impenetrable. When hammered or kicked into place under an inward-opening door, its four hardened steel spikes bite hard into the floor and make the door practically impossible to open. This makes it perfect for securing non-locking doors or reinforcing doors that do lock — provided there’s at least a small gap between the bottom of the door and the threshold. The design includes paracord loops to help remove it after use, but its instructions recommend using a baton or similar handle with the loops for added leverage. Although very effective in an emergency situation, the device’s steel spikes are not friendly to floors and will scratch them deeply if the device is used. As such, it doesn’t lend itself well to repetitive use as a regular home security feature. For interior doors that swing over carpeted floors — like a bedroom safe room — it’s more forgiving and could have some utility. It is not well suited to use on exterior doors, especially those with weatherstripping that are fit tight to the threshold. Finally, like all doorstop-style devices, the ultimate effectiveness of the TAC-Wedge Plus also depends on the structural strength of the door itself. If your bedroom has a hollow-core door that an angry 12-year-old can punch through, no doorstop will change that. For a teacher in a school active-shooter scenario, this product is awesome. As an element of a long-term home-defense plan, its potential is more limited.

Von Saint DoorJammer: Portable

Above: The DoorJammer kit includes a series of wedges to fill the gap at the top of a door and a stout screw-style doorstop that installs at the bottom.

Category: Physical Barrier

Dimensions: 4.37 by 2.36 by 2.80 inches

Weight: 8.8 ounces (with accessories)

Price: $30

URL: door-jammer.com

Above: The DoorJammer works well even on exterior doors with weather stripping at the bottom. However, it still relies on the strength of the door itself.

Notes:
Designed primarily for travelers for use in hotel rooms, this device consists of two steel pieces connected by a hinge. To use it, hook the base of the L-shaped piece under the bottom of an inward-opening door and turn the knob on the other piece to extend the threaded “foot.” When the foot reaches the floor, a few more turns wedges the DoorJammer tightly in place. Horizontal pressure on the door — like someone trying to push it in — redirects the energy downward into the floor to hold the door fast. For doors with significant space at the top or bottom, it comes complete with a set of rubber spacers and a molded extension foot to take up the slack. To remove the DoorJammer, simply rotate the knob to retract the foot or, in an emergency, just pull the whole unit upward. This device is made of sturdy metal and features rubber pads and friction tape on all its key contact surfaces so it can be installed and removed repeatedly without marring the door or floor. That quality makes it suitable for regular use in a home-security role, especially for apartments and rental properties where you may not be able to make permanent changes to the structure to bolster security. With that said, the DoorJammer is still only viable if the door it’s securing has a reasonably solid structure. If the doors in your home do, you might consider upgrading from the travel-sized version to the DoorJammer: Lockdown, which is about twice the size and designed for more strategic residential or office use. It retails for $50.

Global Security Experts OnGARD

Above: Inserting the OnGARD’s top plate into the slots in the base plate.

Category: Physical Barrier

Dimensions: Bottom Plate: 10 by 2.5 by 0.5 inches; Top Plate: 9.25 by 1.0 by 2.75 inches

Weight: 1.12 pounds

Price: $119

URL: globalsecurityexperts.com

Above: Once in place, the OnGARD provides substantial reinforcement to your door.

Notes:
If you’re serious about beefing up the physical integrity of your exterior doors, this product deserves a hard look. Its simple, two-piece construction consists of a base plate with two elongated slots in it and a top plate with two matching extended tabs. To install it, position the base plate near the knob side of an inward opening door and, using the included drill bit, driver, and screws, anchor it securely to the floor. Then, with the door closed, simply insert the tabs of the top plate into the slots of the bottom plate and you’ve got a brutishly strong barrier. Injection molded from glass-fiber-reinforced polyphenylene sulfide, the OnGARD will withstand 3,100 pounds of force.

Above: The OnGARD is an extremely strong physical barrier that consists of a base plate that must be screwed to the floor and a top plate that fits into it.

Like wedges and other door reinforcements, the ultimate effectiveness of this device depends heavily on the structural integrity of the door itself. However, it offers a significant advantage. While wedges either require some space under the door or must be positioned slightly away from the door as a second layer of defense, the OnGARD butts flush up against the closed door. This not only makes it stronger, but is an advantage in cold climates and with doors that have weatherstripping at the bottom.

Master 265DCCSEN Security Bar

Above: The Master Security Bar is an inexpensive, adjustable, and extremely versatile security device.

Category: Physical Barrier

Dimensions: Adjusts from 27.5 inches (70cm) to 42.0 inches (1.1m)

Weight: 35 ounces

Price: $35

URL: masterlock.com

Above: Wedged under the doorknob of an inward-opening door, the Master Security Bar offers serious reinforcement and, unlike wedges, directs it to the middle of the door.

Notes:
Made from tough 20-gauge steel, this versatile product offers two different functions: a security bar for inward opening doors and a “Charley Bar” for sliding patio doors. With its U-shaped head attached, it wedges between the floor and the underside of the doorknob of a door to create an extremely strong barrier. Unlike door wedges or even the sturdy OnGARD device, which absorb all the force of an attempted breach at the bottom of the door, this device effectively reinforces the area of the door near the doorknob and lockset. This is also the area most likely to bear the brunt of an attempted kick-in, so its strength is better focused than floor-mounted devices. By pulling a single spring-loaded pin, the U-shaped head can be removed to transform it into a straight “Charley Bar.” Placed between a patio door and the doorframe, it makes sliding the door open impossible.

Above: By removing the Y-shaped head and adjusting its length, the Master Security Bar can also be used to secure sliding patio doors.

The base of the Master Security Bar has a pivoting ball joint that allows it to automatically lay flat and a non-slip rubber base that will not scratch floors. A push-button plunger and a series of holes allow it to be easily adjusted to the perfect size for practically any door in your house. Although this device still relies on the strength of the door it’s supporting, its design reinforces it in a more substantial way and does not require any space between the door bottom and the threshold. It is ideal for renters who can’t make changes to the structure of their home as well as homeowners who want to amp up the strength of their perimeter doors. It’s even light and compact enough for travel in checked baggage.

General Electric Door Stop Alarm

Above: The GE Door Stop alarm combines a door stop with a pressure-sensitive audible alarm.

Category: Overt Alarm/Physical Barrier

Dimensions: 5.90 by 1.89 by 1.77 inches

Weight: 3.4 ounces

Price: $14

URL: amazon.com

Above: While the GE Door Stop Alarm definitely works as an alarm, as a physical barrier it leaves a lot to be desired. On tile floors, a hard push of the door just moved it aside.

Notes:
The concept of this product is to combine the physical barrier function of a doorstop with a pressure-sensitive switch and an ear-piercing 120dB alarm. If a would-be burglar or home invader is able to overcome or bypass the lock(s), as the door opens, it depresses a switch plate on the top of the device to trigger the alarm. If the alarm itself isn’t enough to scare off the intruder, it gives you an early warning while the doorstop supposedly buys you some time to get your defense plan into action. While this sounds great in theory, the plastic construction of this unit is not as robust as a dedicated doorstop. Unlike a standard doorstop, it also cannot be wedged under a completely closed door without setting off the alarm and must be set back from the door. Although it has a rubber base that is supposed to add to its effectiveness as a barrier, when placed on a smooth floor, the opening door simply pushed it out of the way. Yes, the alarm went off, but the doorstop did little to keep the door from opening. As soon as the pressure on the device’s switch is removed, the alarm also goes off instantly. As a backup security measure in hotels, dorm rooms, and other dwellings where it’s possible someone else might have a key to the door, this device makes sense. In those environments, there are also more people around to hear the alarm. As a perimeter defense measure for a single-family home, however, it’s of very limited use.

General Electric 4 Window/Door Alarm

Above: GE’s stick-on alarms can be used to easily alarm almost any door or window, but your reaction time to the breach had better be quick.

Category: Overt Alarm

Dimensions: 2.37 by 1.62 by 0.63 inches

Weight: 1.3 ounces

Price: $21

URL: amazon.com

Above: A GE alarm installed on a basement window. Ideal for apartments and rental homes, it leaves no permanent marks when removed.

Notes:
These standalone alarms are designed to work on just about any door or window. They consist of two pieces: the body, which contains the alarm circuitry, speaker, and a reed switch, and a second piece that contains a small magnet. Both pieces mount quickly and easily with double-sided foam adhesive strips that are included with the alarm. To use, simply stick the foam tape to the back of the alarm pieces and attach the alarm and its companion magnet component side by side — one on the door or window itself and the other on the adjacent frame. The two pieces must be positioned so they are immediately beside each other when the door or window is closed. When the alarm is armed, the magnet component keeps the reed switch in the alarm body open. However, if the magnet is moved away from the alarm body by opening the door or window, the reed switch closes, completes the circuit, and triggers a 100-decibel alarm. Sold as a four pack, these inexpensive alarms can be quickly and easily installed in apartments and rental properties without any permanent effects to the structure. They are powered by four LR44 button batteries (included) and are impressively loud for their size. That’s good, since they are true stand-alone alarms and do not communicate with a central control panel. While they do give you an early warning if a door or window is breached and may be enough to scare off an intruder, if he’s thinking quickly, he can simply flip the switch and turn off the alarm once he’s inside. As such, this type of alarm must be paired with a sound and very determined quick-reaction plan.

Kitfox Outfitters Cyalume Surface Trip Flare

Above: The Cyalume Surface Trip Flare is a trip-wire-triggered device that breaks and activates a Chemlight as a visual signal of a perimeter breach.

Category: Overt Alarm

Dimensions: 7.00 by 3.6 by 0.77 inches

Weight: 10.6 ounces

Price: $25

URL: kitfoxoutfitters.com

Above: The Cyalume Trip Flare set and ready.

Notes:
This device is a non-pyrotechnic version of the old-school military trip flare. The classic versions, like the M49, consisted of a chemical flare that was initiated by a pull fuse. The flare would be anchored to a solid object along the perimeter and a trip wire strung from the fuse across a likely avenue of approach. When an intruder hit the trip wire, it triggered the flare which erupted into a spectacular flame for a few minutes and let everyone know there was someone “in the wire.” The Cyalume version works basically the same way, but rather than triggering a pyrotechnic, it features a spring-loaded striker arm that breaks and activates a high-intensity Chemlight light stick.

Above: Here's what the Cyalume Trip Flare looks like once it's activated.

While the Cyalume Trip Flare doesn’t pose the fire hazard of a pyrotechnic flare, it is also not nearly as bright, as obvious, or as easily seen from a distance. Very importantly, it’s only useful when you are actively scanning for a potential breach of your perimeter defenses, either visually or with the aid of security cameras. Also, since the flare’s trip line is of limited length, the intruder is very likely to see the Chemlight when it’s activated. Unlike a burning flare, which is difficult to snuff out, it’s not difficult to cover a Chemlight so it can’t be seen. One way to thwart that possibility would be to use an infrared Chemlight in conjunction with night-capable security cameras, but you’d still have to be looking at the cameras when the flare is tripped to get the benefit of an early warning. Although this device is well made, functions as intended, and actually has a military NSN, unless you and your family regularly walk patrols around your house at night or do guard shifts in front of your security camera monitor, it won’t do you much good.

Shomer Tec Infrared Perimeter Protector

Above: The Infrared Perimeter Protector is basically a hi-tech electronic trip flare that can only be seen by night vision devices.

Category: Covert Alarm

Dimensions: 5.0 by 1.9 inches

Weight: 10.6 ounces

Price: $79

URL: shomer-tec.com

Above: The Infrared trip flare set and ready to go. Note how the trip line runs through the eye screw and up to the device’s “pin.”

Notes:
The Infrared Perimeter Detector is an even more modern take on the classic military trip flare. It consists of a two-piece, plastic, weatherproof body that contains a small electronic circuit board and a 9-volt battery. A hole in the bottom of the body allows a 1/8-inch mini-plug — like the one at the end of your headphones — to be inserted into a receptacle on the circuit board. When the plug is removed, it triggers the device and activates an infrared strobe. To set the device, it is hung from a tree or other solid object and camouflaged with a plastic sleeve. An eye screw is inserted below it and the Kevlar trip line is threaded through the eye screw and up to the mini-plug trigger. The other end of the trip line is then strung across a likely avenue of approach. The Perimeter Protector’s 940nm signal is invisible to the naked eye but can be clearly seen with night vision scopes and low-light cameras. It is visible up to a mile away with Gen 3 night vision and produces a distinctive pulse rate that makes it easy to distinguish from other ambient light sources. Made in the USA, it comes complete with mounting hardware, an 85-foot spool of Kevlar tripline, a camouflaging sleeve, and a battery. Although it works exactly as advertised and is readily visible on the night-capable cameras of the average home security system, you still have to be looking at those cameras for the device to give you an edge as an early-warning alarm. For applications where there’s a living, breathing human staring at a security camera monitor or scanning the perimeter defenses with NVGs, this device makes sense. For civilian home security, it’s not very applicable.

FITH Ops Alarm Signaling Device

Above: The Alarm Signaling Device is a trip-wire-activated audible alarm that fires a shotgun primer.

Category: Overt Alarm

Dimensions: 3.8 by 0.54 inches

Weight: 1.3 ounces

Price: $25

URL: shomer-tec.com

Above: The Alarm Signaling Device in place and ready to do its job.

Notes:
The Alarm Signaling Device is basically an audio version of a trip flare. It consists of an aluminum body with a threaded “muzzle brake” plug, a spring-loaded striker, and a grenade-style pull pin. The threaded plug unscrews to accept a standard 209 shot shell primer and serves as an “anvil” to fire it. To set the device, cock the striker and insert the trigger pin and the back-up safety pin in their respective holes in the striker shaft and the body. Mount the device to a tree, fencepost, or similar solid object in a vertical position with the striker pointing up. Attach a trip line to the trigger pin and string it across a likely avenue of approach. Unscrew the end of the body, insert a 209 primer, and screw the end back into place. Finally, remove the safety pin to arm the device. When the trip line is pulled, the trigger pin slides out of the striker shaft and the spring drives it home to fire the primer. Nicely machined from high-quality aluminum and steel and sporting a non-reflective coating, the Alarm Signaling Device is a well-made piece of kit that is manufactured in the USA. Unlike visual trip-wire devices, the gunshot-like “crack” it produces is much more likely to get your attention and provide a true early-warning signal. It also sends a strong message to an intruder that he’s lost the element of surprise and that someone — potentially someone well-armed — is waiting for him. As such, it offers a significant deterrent effect as well. Versatile and reusable, this device cannot only be strung across paths and entry zones but can also be attached to remote gates and doors. The Alarm Signaling Device includes the device itself, an eye screw for mounting it, trigger and safety pins, and an instruction card. The primers and trip line must be purchased separately. Easy to install, this device can be used very creatively and provides both a true early-warning signal and the deterrence of an automated “warning shot.”

First Look: HRT Tactical LBAC Plate Carrier

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This week, HRT Tactical announced the launch of a new plate carrier that they’re calling the LBAC – Load Bearing Adaptive Carrier. We’ve spent the last couple of weeks with it and expect to a have full in-depth review for you later this year but, in the meantime, we wanted to share our initial impressions and review the LBAC’s feature suite. Aptly named, the LBAC is indeed both load bearing and adaptive, with some pretty unique design features in both areas.

Photos by Patrick McCarthy

HRT Tactical Load Bearing System

The vast majority of plate carriers on the market are of straightforward design: front and rear plate bags with shoulder straps, typically hard-sewn or Velcroed together, and a cummerbund of some type. Newer, more scalable carriers typically use Velcro for the arms of the cummerbund as well. This allows them to be adjusted and interchanged however the user prefers. The LBAC has all of these features, but goes a step further by using a sort of internal chassis design for the core of the carrier itself.

This chassis features two pieces that function as both back pads and shoulder straps – one left piece and one right piece. They consist of thick, spongy mesh padding reinforced with what feels like thin polymer sewn inside. These two pieces are laced together with shock cord to form a load-bearing core with a sort of “independent rear suspension” system that allows the two halves to articulate individually as your body twists and turns. (It also allows increased airflow down the middle of your back.) The front and rear plate bags are attached to this chassis, then secured around the waist with a rigid cummerbund. The rigid skeleton tucks into the front plate bag and comes with MOLLE-webbed sleeves that also feature quick-release buckles.

While the chassis system helps cushion and flex the load on your shoulders, this stiffened cummerbund disperses a portion of that load onto your hips. Where a cloth cummerbund simply wraps around your abdomen, this one actually rides on your mid-section and had enough rigidity to help hold up the loaded carrier.

Over the last couple of years, we have watched as the trend of ultra-minimalist, ultra-low-profile plate carrier setups has begun to reverse towards heavier loadouts with more ammunition, more onboard storage, and especially the integration of communications equipment. For folks who want to pack more fight for the fight, the internal load-bearing features of the LBAC make it a very attractive choice.

Adaptability & Modularity

You may already recognize some of the HRT Tactical front panels in these photos from previous articles, where they have been attached to a variety of other plate carriers. Their panel designs use standard one-inch side release buckles, with a hook-side Velcro back. This setup allows you to swap the front panels for different mission sets with a couple of clicks and tugs. Our test sample came with their 3-mag 5.56mm placard, a dedicated shotgun panel that’s chock full of elastic loops for shells, and their Maximus placard (pictured below).

The Maximus is one of our favorite products that HRT makes. It features a kangaroo pocket that can be fitted with a variety of elastic mag retainer inserts – you can configure it for two large 7.62mm magazines, three smaller 5.56mm magazines, or five 9mm PCC/subgun/PDW mags. The Maximus also features two square front pockets with internal elastic loops that are ideal for medical supplies, signaling or survival equipment, batteries for electronics, or even just a couple of meal replacement bars. Each end of the Maximus has a double-stack pistol mag pouch with removable top flap and removable polymer insert that offers additional retention, with or without the top flap.

Similarly, the rear plate bag features HRT’s dual-zip system, which uses two pairs of short zipper sections to attach a variety of back panels.

There are half- and full-panel options, and our sample carrier came with both. Full panel options include an all-MOLLE panel, as well as a small “turtle shell” backpack-style panel that offers general-purpose storage for water bladders and other supplies. Half-panel options can be plugged in to create a rear load tailored to your needs. This is especially useful for tactical teams running the LBAC as a unit-issued carrier. Half-zip panels include options for dual GP pouches, a single zippered admin pouch, and triple-mag shingle with additional admin storage. Though not included in our T&E package, HRT’s website also has half-panel variations with pull-out med kits or quad flashbang grenade pouches.

Above: A few examples of zip-on half-panels that can be mixed and matched on the rear of the LBAC plate carrier.

Closing Thoughts

The HRT Tactical LBAC is available now, starting at $430 for a complete carrier with 10 x 12 plate bags, in most of the staple colors and camo patterns. If you run an XL carrier with 11 x 14 plates, it appears that an option for you is in the works as well. While it’s not the least expensive carrier we’ve seen lately, the amount of scalability and load-bearing optimization built into this system makes it truly an investment in a multipurpose ecosystem that could make the LBAC your “one carrier” for years to come. Stay tuned for more in-depth field testing, coming soon.

 

New: Helle Nord Bushcraft Knife

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Modern-day knife designs have become increasingly elaborate, but if we look back at the traditional knives of our ancestors, they were actually quite simple. The Sami, an indigenous people from northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland, rely on knives for processing wood and meat in their bitterly cold environment. Sami knives are typically made in two sizes — the smaller blade is commonly known as a puukko, designed for delicate tasks such as skinning and shaving tinder; the larger blade is often called a leuku, and it serves to chop through hard wood and reindeer bone. Norwegian knifemaker Helle Knives has released a new fixed blade inspired by the latter tool, known as the Helle Nord.

The Helle Nord features a 5.7-inch drop point blade with sturdy full-tang construction and the classic Scandi grind popularized by knives from this region. It's constructed from field-serviceable and corrosion-resistant Sandvik 14C28N stainless steel, and clad with European curly birch handle scales (another reference to the traditional Sami design). The spine of the blade is ground to a 90-degree edge to allow easy striking of a ferro rod.

One place the Nord differs from tradition is its contoured handle shape. Helle says this is intended to give a secure grip close to the blade for precise cuts, and to reduce the risk of slippage during heavy chopping tasks.

Anders Haglund, co-developer of the Nord, explained that he prefers not to apply any modern terms to the knife design. “We didn't want to label the Nord with terms like survival or bushcraft. In the wilderness, these words are meaningless; the only way to build useful knives that are comfortable in the hand is to use them in the field.” While this sentiment is understandable, it's clear that this knife falls into a category most of us would refer to as a camp knife or bushcraft knife — especially given its Scandi grind, a favorite characteristic of modern bushcraft progenitor Mors Kochanski.

Every Nord will be manufactured at the historic Helle factory in Holmedal, Norway, where the company has been making blades for over 90 years. MSRP is $249, and includes a traditional leather belt sheath. The Helle Nord is expected to hit stores in July 2022. For more information, visit Helle.com.

Hollywood Survival: The Best and Worst Survival Movies

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When Hollywood isn’t recycling and “reimagining” movies from yesteryear with unlikely cast lead actors/actresses like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as everyone, they occasionally get something right in the survival genre. Hollywood films have incredible reach, and one blockbuster has the potential to create a whole generation of new outdoorsmen from its viewers. But for all the good influence survival movies can have on inspiring the audience, there’s also plenty of bad as the collective efforts of writers, directors, and technical advisors frequently fail to hit their mark with respect to accuracy, safety, or plausibility. We’ve taken six Hollywood survival movies and broken them down for their solid survival practices as well as the scenes that make us cringe.

Survival Movies that Got it Right

The Edge (1997)

“What one man can do, another man can do!” That line has resonated with us ever since we watched Anthony Hopkins (millionaire Charles Morse) and Alec Baldwin (photographer Robert “Bob” Green) trek through the Alaskan Wilderness after their bush plane crashed in this badass movie. We have to watch it all the way through even if it comes on at 1 a.m. when we’re flipping through the channels. The Edge does it right, well mostly right, and we were terrified when the dark ominous music played as Bart the Bear showed up to eat the photography assistant character and let the audience know the two stars would be fighting off a “man killer” as Charles put it.

In the movie, Charles is a brilliant wealthy man whose knowledge is mostly theoretical. Prior to his ordeal in the wilderness, he is gifted a pocket watch, a survival manual, and folding knife by his supermodel wife played by actual supermodel Elle MacPherson. Everyone’s favorite pro-2A actor, Alec Baldwin, plays the photographer with a vision to capture the right look of the photo shoot by traveling deeper into the wilderness. As they’re traveling in the DeHavilland Beaver plane, it strikes a flock of birds and crashes into a lake. This is where the survival theme really takes over and the movie got it right.

The protagonists in the movie struggle to make a fire until Bob uses a flare to jump start their effort. They suffer from circling around and finding their campfire, which only adds to their despair. Charles uses a link from his pocket watch to attract a trout and he builds a bird cage trap to capture a squirrel. The movie places importance on the knife as a tool to create “a f*#king spear,” to emergency egress from the sinking plane, and chop evergreen boughs later in the film. We’ve never killed a bear the way the characters did in the movie, but it was by far one of the most plausible ways we could imagine.

This movie gets it mostly right. We can’t forgive the fact the only place Charles could think of to draw blood to “lure” the bear was from his finger pad. We need our hands for utility, and there are other spots on the body to get blood from that make a better sacrifice. From start to finish, this movie spotlights good practices. The characters locate a cabin, secure a rifle, apply a tourniquet to a traumatic wound, escape the area in a canoe, and signal for help by making a smoke generator with greens over a shoreline fire. To top it all off, the ending is incredible and you’re left knowing Charles will survive after calling out his wife with a badass mic-drop moment.

The Way Back (2010)

When you were in high school, you probably learned that in the Soviet Era of Russia, political prisoners were sent to the Gulag. Located in the harsh Siberian wilderness, the environment was used as a deterrent and working was considered the only way to stay warm and stay alive. In The Way Back, a handful of prisoners decided to escape the wilderness and walk to freedom. The only problem, and one that plays out over and over in the film, is the physical distance the characters have to cover to escape the grasp of the communists. Just when you think the ragtag crew of escapees get a break, they have to find the strength to keep going. All told, the walk from captivity to freedom covers 4,000 miles or roughly the distance from New York to Los Angeles to Seattle with plenty of miles to spare.

This movie captures the reality of survival in multiple climates. Immediately as the prisoners escape, they fashion winter goggles out of birch bark to deal with whiteout conditions. They later walk along Lake Baikal, which is known for its thick flies, and they’re plagued by them until they notice locals using an apparent repellent necklace made from the local vegetation. As they travel further east, they encounter desert conditions and the relentless heat of the sun. The characters find food where they can and celebrate it as the blessing it always feels like when you’re stuck in the wilderness without it. Another aspect the filmmakers got right was the importance of morale; the characters go through phases of elation, despair, and boredom in different scenes.

Something that captured our imagination was the concept of adding another member to a survival group. In a very real discussion, the characters must decide if they want to support a young girl who follows them or leave her behind. In a real-life scenario, a two-day food supply for one becomes a one-day supply for two. The moral dilemma is very real in Hollywood as well as in emergency scenarios where one neighbor must decide to welcome in the family of another neighbor.

Perhaps the best aspect of the movie in terms of survival realism is the ever-present concept of motivation. This glimpse into positive mental attitude and survival psychology is the section most people skip over in survival manuals, but it’s also the most interesting part of this movie as the actors’ expressions convey the grueling task of putting one foot in front of the other. This movie doesn’t win awards for cool gear, but it definitely is on our watch list for realism.

The Martian (2015)

When astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed and left for dead, he must fend for himself on the planet Mars in The Martian. This movie hits the survival nerve in a different way for us. You see, in most movies, the challenge is dealing with the wilderness of this planet. This one is out of this world, quite literally, and while we haven’t yet stepped foot on the red planet, we can appreciate the survival concepts that transcend the galaxy in this movie.

From the moment the rest of his crew escapes Mars, Watney needs to deal with a ruptured space suit, and more importantly, a punctured body. He returns to the base station and administers self-aid. We appreciate that the filmmakers didn’t give his character the superhuman ability to ignore pain and carry on. Survival priorities are always in flux and sometimes you need to address your first-aid and trauma needs before working toward putting food on the table.

Speaking of which, we like how the stranded astronaut took store of his supplies and quite logically determined how he needed to extend his food rations. We aren’t sure if using rehydrated human feces and Martian dirt in a makeshift greenhouse would yield potatoes, but it’s OK to suspend disbelief for a while. Later in the film, Watney is shown shirtless and physically weakened from a calorie-restricted diet. Other actors like Christian Bale are known for physical transformations but in this movie, the shock of comparing the shirtless actor at the end of the film to earlier when he sutured himself sold the idea he was truly surviving.

Hunger aside, The Martian does a great job of showing how a person can be resourceful with limited resources. Even thousands of miles away, at one point, good ol’ duct tape (or some astronaut equivalent) comes into play to seal his helmet. When a fire was needed, he shaved wood from a crucifix left behind from one of his colleagues. When a signal was needed, he recalled where a camera was and used hexadecimals to communicate with Earth. Watney embodied the spirit of improv.

Much like the psychological lesson of pressing on in The Way Back, another lesson of the mind is apparent in The Martian. Watney records a daily journal of his efforts for prosperity. Sometimes, journaling and speaking out loud help take ideas and put them somewhere physical. It’s easy to think about your problems. Writing out a plan that leads to an attainable goal is better than thoughts alone. Another aspect of this film we appreciate is the ending. Spoiler alert: When Watney gets back to earth he decides to educate the next generation in a college classroom. That hits me right in the survival instructor feels.

Survival Movies that Missed the Mark

Survival Island (2005)

Perhaps the least-known movie in this collection, Survival Island stars Billy Zane (Jack) and Kelly Brook (Jennifer) in a tale of desert survival, a wicked love triangle with a deckhand named Manuel played by Juan Pablo Di Pace, and no shortage of questionable survival actions. The plot is simple. An extremely wealthy couple takes a cruise, but the ship catches fire and forces the occupants into the ocean before the three previously mentioned characters wash up on an island. At first, only Manuel and Jennifer locate one another but a couple days later, Jack shows up unconscious. When he wakes, the deception, allegations, and violence begin.

As the predictable tension creates a ridiculous story line, there are pearls of decent survival skills shown. At one point, a sunken dinghy is pulled ashore and fixed by Jack only to be stolen by Jennifer and Manuel later. At another point in the film, goggles are used for spear fishing, and when they prove to be useful by one of the parties, a bottle is turned into a diving mask for spearfishing by another party. True to the idea of scarcity, when resources are in short supply, demand will be high. When Jennifer realizes her husband can’t provide food as easily as Manuel can, her wedded allegiance starts to fade. She moves from one terribly built survival shelter to another and plays the little spoon with another guy right in front of her husband.

If we look at this movie as a commentary on human nature, it makes us wonder if three strangers would collaborate to survive or live in conflict like the script called for. Let’s face it, guys have made very stupid decisions over women and vice versa for centuries. The concept of infidelity isn’t new but what makes this movie really awkward is the idea that it plays out on a sandy open stretch of beach for the cheated-on to witness himself. Maybe the movie wasn’t inaccurate to show the homicidal rage later in the film. What makes us scratch our head is the time line. So much happens in such a short window of time.

At the risk of sounding doggish, we take issue with the insatiable libido of the characters on the island despite the hunger, stress, and general discomfort of not showering, living in the sand, and being without simple toilet paper. Even though Jennifer is played by a British supermodel, we wonder if anyone could take their mind off the very likelihood of starvation on an island to muster up some blood flow to the brain that isn’t thinking of life and death. Maybe Jennifer’s bikini (which by the way remains perfectly stark white) serves as a smoke screen to the doubtful sex drive these characters demonstrate.

I Am Legend (2007)

When the trailer to this movie came out, we were excited at the reboot of The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price and The Omega Man with Charlton Heston. We liked the poacher’s dream of hunting down deer in the middle of Manhattan with a cherry red Mustang and an AR-15. This movie, starring Will Smith as Army Medical Doctor Robert Neville, follows the story of the lone survivor of a global killer as he methodically tests vaccines for the ailment that has turned the rest of the population into superhuman track stars. This movie had so much potential with some pretty good prepper habits. Dr. Neville does regular PT, he searches apartments for supplies, he has weapons staged throughout his home, he rotates food and grows crops in open spaces. This movie had the right survival recipe, but a few bad ingredients made us scratch our heads.

Each night, Dr. Neville poured bleach to cover his scent on his front doorsteps. He set his watch to track the remaining sunlight of the day. He took care of the basic survival need of protection. But, did he do enough? We don’t think so. In the world the movie was set in, he could’ve easily relocated to a more secure facility each night. Imagine laying claim to a bank vault, a police station or prison, or even a boat he could anchor offshore each night. Sure, he’d have to rummage through dead mens’ pockets for keys, but he could have had any vehicle he wanted to drive around in. If we were in that scenario, we’d have our own personal tank, MRAP, or even an armored truck. No disrespect to his choice of bug-out vehicle, a Ford Expedition, but there are better trucks out there. Remember, this character is supposed to be a doctor with incredible luck to be the only one immune and supposed above-average intelligence. Come on, doc, make better choices.

Spoiler alert: Skip to the next movie if you don’t want the ending revealed here. Perhaps what chaps our ass most is the way this movie ends. Throughout the movie he does what he can to maintain his sanity. He stages mannequins like “Wilsons,” but this is used against him when the dark seekers move one. He gets trapped, his dog is bitten, and he’s forced to kill it and then he seems to simply give up. After discovering he isn’t alone, he takes in a woman and a child. His house is overrun and after giving the safe room space away to his new friends he performs seppuku by hand grenade. We actually prefer the alternate ending you can find online to this self-destructing display of weakness. Come on, doc!

The Revenant (2015)

Revenge, wilderness survival, the kid from We’re the Millers with the nut sack spider bite playing Jim Bridger, what more could you ask for in a movie? Well, in the case of the “cinematic masterpiece” as it has been called, more historical accuracy was needed. Don’t take this the wrong way, the movie was entertaining, but it shouldn’t be used the night before a test on long hunters if you planned on watching a documentary instead of reading a book. This movie follows the story of Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), an actual famous American frontiersman. He was mauled by a bear and left for dead by John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Glass recovers from his injuries and seeks out the man who left him for dead. Sounds pretty awesome right? Hold your horses.

Despite the way the movie seems to convey the cold of the environment, that cold doesn’t seem to affect Glass as he evades Native Americans by swimming in an icy river. No apparent shock from icy immersion, just your average day. In fact, Glass finds warmth at one point in the movie after riding a horse off a cliff, through a tree à la John Rambo, and slicing open his trusty steed and jumping inside it like Luke did inside the tauntaun on the planet Hoth. If you’re following this ridiculousness after two movie references, you’ll probably be surprised to find out much of the exploits of the actual Glass happened in late summer.

One of the chuckle moments in this film is Glass starts a fire with traditional flint and steel that seemed to erupt into a roaring fire by skipping the stages of fire progression. Perhaps it was helped along with some flammable liquid by some technical advisor, but that isn’t how it happens in real life. We know char cloth is very prone to failure with any moisture and this miracle of fire isn’t how it would’ve played out without a little Hollywood magic.

Many of the readers of this magazine are firearm enthusiasts and The Revenant features plenty of muzzle-loading action to whet your appetite. That said, it’s amazing to us how characters in movies set in the early 19th century display marksmanship skills that the greatest shooting instructors of the present day would kill for. Even though American marksmanship and firearms technology was used with incredible guerilla tactics to defeat the British less than a century before this event took place, we want to throw a penalty flag for an almost impossible shot every time we see one, and this movie has plenty.

Conclusion

Hollywood films should be viewed more for entertainment than educational value. They offer an escape from the real world by providing 90-plus minutes of make-believe with actors pretending to be in harm’s way. We have the ability to rewind, pause, and stop this world we immerse ourselves in with the click of the remote. Let them inspire you but remember, it’s just a movie. The problem with trusting any film for survival education is getting too involved in the story line, the back plot, or the drama and believing your reality will play out like it did for the hero. Keep in mind, if a shot doesn’t work out in the film industry, the director can yell “cut” and try again. If something doesn’t work out for you in the wilderness, you won’t be as fortunate with the ability to do a retake.

About the Author

Kevin Estela is the Director of Training for Fieldcraft Survival, with over two decades of outdoor skill teaching experience. His dynamic work environment involves new survival skill education projects and tasks on a regular basis. One day, he might be scouting land for upcoming courses, the next flying to another state to teach a defensive handgun class, and the next filming content in the mountains for a 72-hour Ziploc bag survival challenge.

Tailor-Made ARs: 13.9″ Pin and Weld Build

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Editor's Note: This article is the continuation of Part 3 in our “Tailor-Made ARs” series. If you haven't already, we strongly recommend you go here to read the first half of this article — it sets the foundation and explains the logic behind the 13.9-inch pin and weld rifle seen here. Otherwise, read on as we explain the details of this build.

13.9-inch Pin and Weld Rifle

Photo by Tom Marshall

For my second rifle, I decided to achieve the legally required barrel length so I didn’t have to register it as an SBR, therefore avoiding the $200 tax stamp and interstate travel restrictions associated with SBRs. Rather than buying a 16-inch barrel and ending up with more length and weight than I wanted, I started with a Criterion CORE Series 13.9-inch barrel. This barrel came with some optional add-ons: a headspaced Bravo Company MFG (BCM) bolt carrier group, a Badger Ordnance gas block, and a gas tube. My local gunsmith — Wright Armory in Mesa, Arizona — permanently attached a SureFire Warcomp muzzle device to the barrel, extending it to meet the 16-inch minimum. This is usually referred to as a “pin and weld” setup, because that’s exactly how it’s affixed.

The barrel is installed in an American Defense Manufacturing ADM4 billet aluminum receiver set. Like the receiver I used for my 11.5 build, the ADM4 has an enlarged, ambidextrous bolt catch and release, but it also adds an ambidextrous magazine release and a forward assist. Although it has extra controls that differ from Mil-spec, the standard controls won’t feel unfamiliar to anyone who has run an AR before.

Above: The ADM4 receiver’s large bolt release paddle is impossible to miss, and it’s paired with a lever on the opposite side of the receiver that offers the same functions to the shooter’s index finger. The mag release is also ambidextrous.

A Midwest Industries Night Fighter 13.5-inch handguard is designed to reduce handguard flex, which will be useful if I add an IR laser for night vision use in the future. That rigidity is also useful for stabilizing the weight of the rifle via a bipod; I attached a Harris bipod to the handguard using a Midwest Industries M-LOK bipod adapter. Although the SureFire Warcomp can serve as an attachment point for a suppressor, there’s not enough clearance between it and the end of the handguard; if I decide to add a suppressor to this build someday, I can install a shorter Midwest Industries handguard for more clearance.

The lower receiver was completed with one last part from Midwest Industries, an Enhanced flat-face drop-in trigger. It provides a clean 3.5-pound break and well-defined reset that are suitable for precision shooting, but it’s also capable of quick shots at closer range. Like the 11.5, this build also features a Radian Talon 45-degree safety selector and a Radian Raptor charging handle.

Lights

Above: The first of two light setups I tested is based around a SureFire Scout Pro with dual-switch tail cap and remote switch. The wires are routed neatly thanks to anodized aluminum WireGuides from Arson Machine.

I experimented with two light setups on this build. The first is a SureFire Dual Fuel Scout Light Pro, which provides 1,500 lumens with a rechargeable 18650 lithium battery. It also accepts two common CR123A batteries with a reduced output of 1,200 lumens. This dual-fuel capability is a nice option for long-term emergency scenarios, since I can either recharge the main battery or swap to some spares that I already carry for other tools. The Pro body adds a swivel mount that nestles the light as close as possible to the handguard. It's set up with a DS-SR07 dual-switch tail cap and remote switch. The wires for the switch are kept neat and tidy using M-LOK WireGuides from Arson Machine.

The second light I tried is a Cloud Defensive OWL, which produces 1,200 lumens and 50,000 candela from a rechargeable 18650 battery. This all-in-one unit is built like a tank and has impressive long-range throw that fits the precision-oriented build of this rifle. It’s a bit “chunky,” but I appreciate its durability and simple integrated pressure switch design. If I’m going to a daytime class or match, I can pop the light and the bipod off in seconds to lighten the rifle. Neither requires extra tools — the OWL’s tail cap has a built-in socket wrench to loosen its rail clamp bolt.

Above: The Cloud Defensive OWL is a little “big-boned,” but it’s also nearly indestructible (a valuable trait for a survival rifle) and produces a high-candela beam that’s well-suited to long shots in low-light conditions.

Optics

As with lights, I tried two different setups, each involving a low-power variable optic (LPVO) and an offset red-dot sight. The first is a Leupold Mark 8 CQBSS 1-8×24; it offers first-focal-plane magnification and four different illuminated reticles to choose from. I picked the M-TMR model, which features 0.5-MIL hash marks and a small selection of ranging brackets to help determine distance to a target. This optic is installed in a Badger Ordnance Condition One 1.54-inch-height modular mount with a Badger Ordnance 45-degree J-Arm and Delta Point Pro adapter plate. That plate holds (you guessed it) a Leupold DeltaPoint Pro NV sight. The absolute-cowitness height of this optic setup is great for establishing a solid cheek weld while shooting from prone, and I like the DP Pro’s large window for quick target ID at close range.

Above: In this photo, you can see the Leupold Mark 8 and DeltaPoint Pro red dot mounted in a Condition One modular mount. The Harris bipod has also been removed from the Midwest Industries M-LOK bipod adapter to reduce front-end weight.

This setup paired best with the SureFire light, since the larger-diameter body of the Cloud Defensive OWL intruded into the window of the DP Pro red dot.

The second optic setup I tried is based around a Vortex Razor HD Gen III 1-10×24 scope. This optic is also a first-focal-plane design, and features the excellent EBR-9 reticle, which includes a bright illuminated dot and ring as well as MIL subtension markings. Some shooters might find the detailed “Christmas tree” reticle a little distracting at higher magnification settings; I like that it enables quick and precise holds for windage and elevation, so I can spend less time dialing the optic and more time shooting. I mounted this scope in a Scalarworks LEAP/09 1.93-inch-height mount and added the new Scalarworks KICK/02 offset red dot mount with a Trijicon RMR. As I mentioned previously, the taller optic mount has some trade-offs, but I found it to be more comfortable for my face shape and cheek weld position while standing.

Above: Here’s a comparison between the two offset red-dot setups. The RMR on the Scalarworks KICK mount (left) is positioned at a 35-degree angle for quick acquisition and snag reduction. The DeltaPoint Pro sits at a typical 45-degree angle in the Badger Ordnance mount (right), which helps it clear the Mark 8’s locking windage turret.

The KICK mount aligns the RMR at a shallower 35-degree angle and doesn’t protrude as far from the LPVO; this has pros and cons. On one hand, it’s exceptionally fast to pivot from aiming through the LPVO to the RMR, and it reduces the risk of bashing or snagging your optic on obstacles. On the other hand, the windage turret obscures a segment of the RMR’s window by design, and optics with longer turrets (e.g. the Mark 8) can cover the dot completely. Thankfully, after testing our build, we found that it’s easy enough to visually “tune out” the turret intrusion for this particular setup.

Both configurations give me redundancy — an etched reticle for primary use, and a red dot to serve as a backup sight. I typically leave the LPVO set to 4x magnification at a minimum, since I can transition to the red dot for close-range targets. However, if the red dot fails for any reason, I know I can still crank my LPVO back to 1x and click on the illumination.

Furniture

Above: I found that the wider design of the BCM SOPMOD stock helps me keep my head more stable while shooting — a must for this LPVO setup. The VBOST tab provides retention for a rubber band to keep my sling stowed neatly against the stock. 

The last bits and pieces for this build came from Bravo Company USA (BCM). There’s a Gunfighter Grip Mod 3 pistol grip, SOPMOD Stock Mod 0, Vertical Grip Mod 3, and a set of MCMR Rail Covers. I trimmed one of the covers with a Dremel, so it perfectly fills the space between the bipod mount and the vertical grip; this gives me nonslip texture all the way around the surface of the handguard. The SOPMOD stock is a bit wider than that on my 11.5 build, since cheek weld stability is far more important for a precision-oriented rifle. Finally, a BCM endplate and castle nut were used to attach a VLTOR A5 buffer system. Like my other rifle, I attached a QD sling mount to sockets on the rear of the handguard and the end plate, but this time I went with a Blue Force Gear Vickers padded sling. A rubber band secures it to the stock when it’s not in use; the BCM stock has a Vehicle Borne Operations Sling Tab (VBOST) feature that’s designed for this exact purpose.

Closing Thoughts

Talk to anyone who works with tools for a living — mechanics, plumbers, electricians, and so on — and you’ll learn some valuable lessons about quality equipment. The best tools are scratched and scuffed, well-worn, and well-loved. They’re not stowed in velvet display cases and handled with white gloves. They’re often dirty and greasy because they’re used day-in and day-out, and this constant use is a testament to their reliability. When they’re needed, they either get the job done, or they’re unceremoniously replaced.

Similarly, my rifles don’t just sit around collecting dust until an emergency arises. They’re not stashed in a wall-mounted case with a label that says, “break glass if SHTF.” Both are built from high-quality components that weren’t cheap, and while I certainly won’t deliberately abuse or damage them, I’m not going to pamper them either. Under normal circumstances, the 11.5 sits at my bedside for home-defense purposes, and the 13.9 makes an excellent game-getter. Both have been used in recreational shooting competitions on weekends, and both are frequently taken out to classes where I run them through a variety of drills. I cycle through new types of ammo in each constantly to watch for malfunctions and shot group deviation. So, although they’re survival rifles and can be employed as such, they’re also my daily drivers. If the day ever comes where I have to use either in a life-and-death situation, that’s how I know they’ll be ready.

If I had to do it all with one rifle, I’d probably split the differences between these builds, running a short-barrel configuration with a red dot sight and removable magnifier similar to Tom Marshall’s mini-recce build in Part I of this series. But my other emergency preparedness tools all have backups and overlap, so my rifle setup philosophy sticks to the same pattern — two is one.