When disaster strikes having your bug out bag ready at a moments notice will ensure your safety and security in the hard days ahead – right?
The answer to this is not as simple as we think. Bug Out Bags are just one type of Go Bag and may not be ideal in all situations. It’s not just about having a good bag with reliable gear. It is about having the right bag and gear for the situation you are about to face!
A great wilderness bag may have little application in an urban setting. A fully stocked bug out bag may slow our movement when seconds matter. Choosing the appropriate bag and gear for the unique emergency you are facing is essential to improving your survival odds.
We know it can be difficult to plan for the unknown – that is why RECOIL OFFGRID has partnered with ARC to give you the tools and knowledge you need to get your kit dialed in.
Combining ARC’s expertise with the latest technological innovations has led to the creation of a powerful tool that will help you build the ideal Bug Out Bag, WUSH Bag, INCH Bag, or Get Home Bag for the emergency situations you are likely to face in the area you are living in or operating in.
This tool goes beyond providing a generic packing list – it takes emergency type, expected duration, climate, threat level, speed of egress, and much more into account while putting together your ideal kit packing list.
Your Custom Go Bag List is Just the Beginning
Having an ideal Go Bag for your unique needs is valuable, but having the knowledge and skill to use the tools in your Go Bag in a real emergency will give you the edge you need to not just survive but thrive!
RECOIL OFFGRID has curated topic specific content to provide you with recommendations on gear, teach you vital survival skills, provide advice to enhance your mindset, and offer guidance to keep in you in peak physical condition.
Expert Advice to Trust Your Life With
Every aspect of this program has been created by industry experts with the intention of removing gimmicks and fluff to provide sound recommendations based on real world experience.
American Reconstruction Concepts was founded by Michael Caughran a U.S. Air Force SERE Instructor that has survived in the world’s harshest environments and hostile locations. Today American Reconstruction Concepts trains civilians, law enforcement organizations, and military professionals the art and science survival, evasion, resistance, and evasion.
The RECOIL OFFGRID team has a diverse range of skills deriving from military experience, wilderness and urban survival expertise, firearms instruction, and more. OFFGRID’s rigorous standards for gear testing and article content ensure the readers are getting the best in equipment recommendations and up-to-date survival knowledge in each article.
Grab Your Bag, It’s Go Time!
Are you ready to take the first step to becoming more prepared to handle the uncertainty of a chaotic world? Click the links below to learn more about different types of Go Bags utilize ARC’s free tool to build your ideal Go Bag. Remember, one bag can’t handle every situation. Use ARC’s Go Bag building tool to help you put together Go Bag kits for different situations!
Familiarize yourself with different bag types, learn more on how to properly utilize your go bag resources and see our recommendations for bags and the gear that goes into them!
CANCON East is coming to South Carolina May 8th and 9th and OFFGRID BASECAMP is back and bigger than ever! CANCON attendees have the opportunity to get their hands on some of the latest and greatest in modern suppressor innovations and BASECAMP provides attendees the opportunity to enhance their emergency and survival skills – and to level up their essential survival gear!
OFFGRID BASECAMP Presented By Brushbeater
OFFGRID BASECAMP 2026 is presented by Brushbeater -it is a dedicated section of CANCON that features top tier experts in survival and tactical fields and vendors showing off survival gear to compliment your skills!
The OFFGRID BASECAMP trainers that share their knowledge through dedicated classes and demonstrations throughout CANCON and our vendors will be their to help answer questions and get you the right gear for your unique needs!
This intense, no-nonsense course delivers a rapid introduction to first aid for gunshot wounds. You’ll master life-saving techniques like bleeding control, proper tourniquet use, and chest wound management. Gain the critical skills needed to take decisive action, keep yourself or others alive, and stabilize the situation until professional help arrives.
INSTRUCTOR: Kristopher Hasenauer
Kris is a board-certified physician assistant and graduated from the Army’s Interservice Physician Assistant Program in 2014. He is a former Special Forces A-Team Member Medical Specialist (18D) and held multiple operational and medical advisory positions within the U.S. Special Operations Command since 2005.
Prime Combat Training will be teaching the essential close quarters comabt techniques around doorways and corners. These valuable skills may be a standard in military training, but the lessons learned are valuable to anyone who may find themselves in a dangerous situation.
INSTRUCTOR: Imri Morgenstern
Imri Morgenstern grew up playing American football and wrestling, but it was during his service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that he learned how to fight when the stakes are highest. During his military service, Master Sgt. (Res) Imri Morgenstern was an operator with an elite Special Operations unit, specializing in counter-terrorism warfare, demolition, breaching and hostage rescue. He executed countless missions with his, as well as other Special Operations units.
Surviving off grid is not just about knowing how to obtain food, you also need know how to process and safely handle your catch! Mountain Readiness will teach you how to efficiently and safely process game birds to maximize your protein yield and survival capability.
INSTRUCTOR: Robert “T” Toombs
T is a lifelong self-sufficient living and survival enthusiast and the founder of Mountain Readiness – a nationwide movement dedicated to restoring practical self-reliance through hands-on education. From the mountains of North Carolina to the wilds of Montana and beyond, our events bring together expert instructors, families, and communities to learn essential skills in preparedness, homesteading, and survival. Explore our upcoming events below and join the growing community of doers who are learning, teaching, and living readiness.
One handed firearm manipulation is an essential skill for any serious self defense enthusiast and for some it is the only option. Adam Watson will be teaching the basic of one hand shooting techniques to give participants a solid baseline for future training. After the range closes there will be a working dog demonstration showing off the prowess of a well trained working animal.
INSTRUCTOR: Adam Watson
Vendor and Trainer Booths
Check out the links below for more information on the equipment vendors and educational booths that will be set up in the OFFGRID BASECAMP section of CANCON East!
On a brisk February morning in Mesa, Arizona, Americans from across the country gathered for what might be described as the Super Bowl of self-defense education. The AOR Association Conference, hosted by The Attorneys On Retainer Association — packed an ambitious agenda into one and a half days: several sessions covering everything from the psychological mechanics of de-escalating a bar fight, to the constitutional litigation that could reshape gun laws for generations.
AOR Association Director Lauren Snyder kicks off the event by welcoming the attending members, sponsors, and participants.
The conference reflected a community grappling with serious questions. In a nation where an estimated 1.67 million defensive gun uses occur annually (according to a 2021 study published in the Journal of Criminal Justice), understanding both the legal and practical dimensions of self-defense has never felt more urgent. Yet what emerged from the day’s proceedings wasn’t the stereotypical gun rally narrative. Instead, speakers consistently emphasized restraint, legal responsibility, and the sobering reality that pulling a trigger — even in legitimate self-defense — can fundamentally alter a person’s life.
Fictitious video scenarios were presented and discussed to highlight the complexity of scenarios initially considered simplistic.
The Legal Landscape
Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, opened the legal discussions by tracing the half-century journey to establish firearm ownership as an individual constitutional right. For non-lawyers in the audience, this required some translation. The Second Amendment — those 27 words about a “well-regulated Militia” and the “right to keep and bear Arms” — has been debated in courtrooms since the nation’s founding.
Gottlieb explained that when his organization began its work in 1974, the legal landscape was barren. Courts had historically interpreted the amendment as protecting only collective militia rights, not individual ownership. His foundation’s strategy was methodical: First, commission law school professors to write scholarly articles supporting individual rights interpretation. Then, bring strategic lawsuits to build favorable case law, brick by brick.
The payoff came in 2008 with District of Columbia v. Heller, when the Supreme Court finally ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess firearms independent of militia service. Two years later, McDonald v. Chicago extended that protection against state and local governments. Most recently, the 2022 Bruen decision established that gun regulations must be consistent with historical tradition — a ruling that has spawned dozens of new legal challenges nationwide.
A panel of trial experts talk about myths and misconceptions of how certain forms of evidence affect trial outcomes.
When Self-Defense Meets the Courtroom
A panel discussion featuring attorney Marc J. Victor and several expert witnesses offered a sobering reality check. Television courtroom dramas, the panelists agreed, have created dangerous misconceptions about how evidence actually works. “Video does not speak for itself,” emphasized Dr. John Black, a forensic video and use-of-force expert. He explained that smartphone footage — which jurors often treat as objective truth — is actually subject to numerous distortions. Camera angles, frame rates, lens warping, and the two-dimensional nature of video can make actions appear faster or slower, closer or farther, than they actually were. A punch that looks unprovoked on camera may have been a response to a threat occurring just outside the frame.
The panel stressed that successful self-defense cases require immediate, comprehensive investigation. Ring doorbell cameras — those home security devices now common on American porches — automatically delete footage after a certain period. Witnesses’ memories fade and become contaminated by media coverage. The defense team who waits for police to share evidence, panelists warned, has already lost critical opportunities.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Ed Monk of Last Resort Training and Consulting walks attendees through the dark statistics of active shooter cases, and how one might best defeat such a threat.
Active Shooter Response
Perhaps the most intense session came from Ed Monk, a veteran with military and law enforcement experience who has spent nearly two decades studying mass shootings. His presentation challenged attendees to confront scenarios most would rather not imagine.
The statistics Monk presented were stark. In an active shooter scenario, a new victim may be wounded or killed every 3 to 5 seconds during the first minute of attack. Police response, even in the best circumstances, typically takes 4 to 12 minutes. The grim arithmetic suggests that armed civilians who are present when shooting begins may be the only ones positioned to intervene in time.
But Monk’s guidance was far more nuanced than simply “shoot back.” He emphasized that responders must be able to guarantee every bullet hits its intended target — a standard he called “100 percent hit.” In crowded public spaces, he noted, interior walls offer no protection, and every missed shot or bullet that passes through an attacker could strike an innocent person. The legal and moral responsibility for each round, he stressed, rests entirely on the person who fires it.
John Riley, founder and CEO of Gentle Response, now uses his extensive law enforcement experience to help people diffuse a situation before it turns lethal.
The Power of Not Fighting
In stark contrast to the active shooter training, John Riley — a former police officer turned crisis intervention specialist — delivered what might have been the day’s most universally applicable session: How to defuse conflicts before they turn violent. Reily introduced what he calls the “ACE” framework: Appearance, Communication, and Engagement. Research suggests that only 7 percent of human communication comes from actual words; the rest is tone of voice and body language. An angry person’s brain, Riley explained, is essentially in threat-detection mode, hyperaware of any signal — a dismissive eye roll, a condescending tone, an aggressive stance — that might indicate danger.
His practical advice was refreshingly simple. Let angry people vent without interruption. Never say “calm down” (universally inflammatory). Maintain a “reactionary gap” — staying just beyond arm’s reach to buy thinking time. And perhaps most importantly: Be willing to walk away. “Ninety-nine percent of those viral videos showing escalated conflicts,” Riley observed, “could have been avoided if one person had simply left.”
Pro 2A vendors augmented the conference by offering knowledge and gear to those seeking to level up their self-defense know-how.
Building the Infrastructure of Defense
The conference also served as a business meeting for the AOR organization itself. Leadership announced several developments aimed at expanding member services, including the addition of civil defense capabilities and a new “Hero Pro Bono Clause.” This clause addresses a gap in traditional self-defense insurance coverage. Consider a scenario: A school maintenance worker with a concealed carry permit encounters armed intruders on campus and successfully defends students. The act of self-defense itself might be legally justified — but carrying a firearm in a school zone violates regulations in most states. Under traditional coverage, the worker would face regulatory charges without legal support. The new clause commits the organization to providing pro bono legal defense in such cases.
The organization also announced plans to develop a mobile app and expand its training conferences to multiple locations nationwide, reflecting growth in a membership increasingly concerned about self-defense rights and responsibilities.
Being able to ask a defense attorney questions directly is one of many perks members can take advantage of during the conference.
Final Thoughts
What emerged from the 2026 The AOR Association Conference was not a gathering of people eager for confrontation, but rather a community wrestling with uncomfortable questions. How do you prepare for violence you hope never occurs? What are the legal consequences of split-second decisions made under mortal threat? How do you balance the right to self-defense against the responsibility to avoid unnecessary conflict?
The speakers, despite their varied backgrounds, converged on similar themes: Knowledge is essential, but judgment matters more. The right to defend oneself carries weighty responsibilities. And in most situations, the best outcome is one where no weapon is ever drawn.
As attendees filed out into the February afternoon, many carried notebooks filled with legal precedents, training protocols, and de-escalation techniques. But the day’s most lasting lesson might have been simpler: The goal of self-defense education isn’t to prepare people to fight. It’s to help them understand when fighting is truly necessary — and when walking away is the braver choice.
Tritium has been used in watches since the 1960’s, but the first watch to use Tritium gas tubes was Traser’s P6500 military watch originally released in 1989. Since then, Tritium tubes have become the cold standard for long lasting illumination in the tactical watch market. The advantages of using Tritium are obvious, long-lasting illumination that does not require any battery or light-based charging that is easy to see in dark environments. Since the release of P6500, Traser and numerous other watch companies have adopted the use of Tritium in both tactical, outdoor and luxury watches.
The Original P65 Returns
Traser has brought back the P6500 back to production under with the newly released P65 Tactical Mission. The P65 is now available to the public in both a black polycarbonate case or titanium case. Both versions are available with rubber or NATO textile strap, and the Titanium version has an optional titanium bracelet.
P65 Build Features
The Traser P65 features precision Swiss quartz movement ensuring reliability and accuracy while running on a standard watch battery. The watch face on both versions is made from anti-reflective sapphire providing scratch resistance and excellent visibility.
Both models have excellent water resistance – The polycarbonate model is rated 10 ATM ( up to 330 feet) water depth) and the Titanium model is rated at 20 ATM (up 660 Feet water depth). Simply said, both versions will withstand rain and snow, both models will be safe to swim or snorkel with – but the Titanium version will be required for light scuba diving.
The watch hands feature tritium tube illumination and there is tritium illumination above each number on the watch face. All the Tritium tubes are standard green except for the tube that sits above the 12 which is orange. The watch face also has a simple date window located at 3.
The rotating bezel is easy to use and is textured to ensure it can be used with or without gloves. The side of the case has a single dial used to set the time.
Real World Use
I tested the carbon reinforced polymer version of the P65 in both normal daily activities and while out in the field. The opinions expressed are based on my personal experiences with this model.
In a market dominated by large watches with complicated buttons, dials, and sometimes bright screens and smartphone connections the P65’s 43mm size and light weight make it an absolute joy to wear in day-to-day activities or while navigating harsh wilderness terrain.
The P65 was easy to read in bright sunlight – and the tritium tubes make it easy to read the time at night without producing bright light that can disturb others around you, mess with your natural night vision, or give away your position.
The P65 held up well in light and heavy rain for prolonged periods with no signs of water damage and the case and face handled a day of rock scrambling and my day-to-day woods activities well with no signs of damage. Accumulated dust and dirt washed away under running water at home or in a stream while out in the field.
As someone who typically doesn’t like rubber straps, I found the rubber P65 rubber strap comfortable as the design allows a bit more breathability when compared to other rubber straps. The NATO style strap is also well made – not feeling incredibly stiff or rough.
Overall Impressions of the Traser P65
If I had to sum up my impressions in a single statement, I would say the Traser P65 is a refreshingly simple watch for those who want a rugged time piece. It isn’t fancy, it doesn’t have a bunch of dials, and it doesn’t offer a million functions like a smart watch – it tells time and it does it well!
The P65 is not designed for the boardroom, it is built for those who live, work, or play in harsh conditions and unforgiving climates. It’s built for people who need a simple timepiece that is visible day or night. The P65 is a reliable tool that doesn’t get in the way and does exactly what you need it to do.
Five years ago Reiff Knives hit the outdoor knife scene with their F4 model – a full sized American Made premium fixed blade that was designed for rigorous outdoor use in both survival and bushcraft tasks. The original F4 was and its larger cousin the F6 were a success that helped establish Reiff Knives as respected name among discerning outdoor enthusiasts and professionals.
Since the initial launch of the F4 and F6 Reiff has released numerous outdoor style knives, and few EDC sized knives, and most recently their first foray into tactical knives with the thoughtfully designed and incredibly well built Vicon.
Always Improving
While the original F4 has seen some variants over the years including a scandi grind and Magnacut steel variants, the knife remained largely unchanged from its original form factor. As someone who was fortunate enough to receive one of the pre-release production prototypes and has relied on it ever since then I can honestly say the original F4 is an exceptional knife.
Why did Reiff make changes to the F4?
If you spend any time talking to Stu Shank one of the founders of Reiff Knives you will quickly learn that “good enough” is not a phrase that exists in his vocabulary. Stu is one of the most discerning and detail-oriented knife enthusiasts I have ever encountered – and that mentality definitely came with him when he launched Reiff Knives.
Every model Reiff releases has gone through extensive prototyping until everything about the model is up to Reiff’s high standards and even after Stu spends a great deal of time speaking with industry professionals who use their knives to help make changes in future iterations that could make an already amazing tool even better!
What’s New in the Reiff F4 Gen2
The most obvious change in the F4 Gen2 is the higher saber grind, but what you won’t see with the naked eye is also tweaks in the edge geometry. The thinner edge and higher saber grind can significantly improve slicing tasks. The choice to use CPM-3V helps ensure the thinner edge and reduces the chance of chipping and as a bonus CPM-3V is far easier to sharpen in the field compared to Magnacut.
Reiff also made some minor changes to the blade profile and handle profile that improve overall comfort and usability. The handle scales are changeable and feature and new texture pattern that significant enhances positive grip during hard use tasks.
The sheath has been updated to a custom modular ambidextrous sheath very similar to the to what is found on Reiff’s Vicon Tactical Knife. The custom clip is excellent for belt carry, but any number of mounting options can be used with the sheath.
Customization Options
The Reiff Knives F4 Gen2 is launching in three available finishes – classic stone wash, black DLC, and flat dark earth PVD. For handle materials you have the option of black or OD green G10 and black or green canvas micarta.
Reiff F4 Gen 2 Specs
Overall Length: 9″
Blade Length: 4″
Cutting Edge: 3.8″
Blade Width: 1.11″
Blade Thickness: 5/32″ or .156″
Blade Material: CPM 3V
Hardness: 59-61 HRC, Cryo Treated
Blade Style: Drop Point
Edge Type: Plain
Blade Grind: Flat Saber Grind
Finish: Stonewash
Handle Length: 5″
Handle Width: 1.1″
Handle Thickness: .95″
Weight: 6.9 oz
Country of Origin: USA
When Will the Reiff F4 Gen2 be available?
The Reiff F4 Gen2 will be released on May 1st 2026 and can be purchased directly from Reiff’s official website www.reiffknives.com
When the Constitution becomes a casualty and martial law sweeps the nation, survival means more than staying alive. The Hanging Creek Chronicles: Shadows of Martial Law by Russ Sawyer plunges readers into a fractured America, where political upheaval has transformed ordinary communities into battlegrounds.
The story centers on Cole, a 20-year Air Force veteran who has built a quiet life on a rural South Carolina farm. When the President is impeached and the Speaker of the House seizes power, declaring martial law, Cole’s world transforms overnight. The interstate becomes a no-man’s-land of military checkpoints and lurking threats. A sniper’s bullet that nearly claims his life drives home the brutal reality: The old rules no longer apply.
This debut novel draws heavily from author Russ Sawyer’s own experience as a retired Air Force Security Forces veteran and firearms instructor. The authenticity permeates every tactical decision and every moment of hard-won survival wisdom.
The Breakdown
At its heart, this is a story about family and community under siege. Cole must protect his wife, Nora, his son, Colby, and a tight-knit network of neighbors bound together by grit and defiance. The rural South Carolina setting becomes both sanctuary and trap, offering cover while limiting escape routes.
The novel excels in its portrayal of uncertain allegiances. Shadowy figures like Dobbins and Joe-Dee materialize from the pines, their motives tied to deeper conspiracies. Trust becomes currency more valuable than ammunition, and Sawyer masterfully ratchets up tension as readers question every new character’s true intention.
What sets this book apart is its emotional grounding. Cole’s fight transcends mere survival — it becomes a stand for freedom against treachery. The psychological weight of each decision resonates: When do you help a stranger? How do you maintain humanity when protective systems have collapsed?
The Verdict
The Hanging Creek Chronicles delivers a compelling entry into the political collapse subgenre. Its blend of military authenticity, rural resilience, and family centered drama will resonate with fans of preparedness fiction and dystopian thrillers alike. As the first book in a planned series, it establishes a rich world and compelling characters while delivering a satisfying arc. For those who appreciate survival fiction that asks hard questions about loyalty and sacrifice, this one belongs on your shelf. When martial law falls, what would you fight for?
About The Book
Book: The Hanging Creek Chronicles: Shadows of Martial Law Author: Russ Sawyer Publisher: Independently Published MSRP: $15 Paperback Pages: 371 Rating: Thrive | Survive| Die
I had a dinner reservation at 6:45 p.m. I showed up 15 minutes early, because that’s what you do when you’re meeting someone at a nice restaurant on the row between the Palazzo and the Venetian. I was standing outside Milos, minding my own business, when I heard the shouting.
Two guys, shoving each other. One of them threw a wild hook. My first thought was that they were just being idiots — maybe playing around, maybe a little drunk. Someone on the sidelines yelled that they were brothers, which only reinforced the impression. Knuckleheads. No big deal.
I decided to break it up before somebody did something stupid and ended up spending the night in a holding cell. I’ve spent thousands of hours on the mat — judo, taekwondo, jiujitsu, kickboxing, a little wrestling thrown in for good measure. I started around age 19 and training seriously until about 25. The gym I came up in had several pro fighters. When you spar with people like that, separating two untrained guys on the sidewalk doesn’t feel like a tall order. I figured I’d get between them, use some control if I had to, and everyone would walk away annoyed but intact.
Then, everything changed.
The victim of the stabbing is being treated on sight to control the flow of blood loss.
Silver Flash
As soon as I got my hands on them, both guys tangled on the ground, I saw it: a silver blade. Not a threat. Not a brandish. A stab. I watched it go into the other man’s forearm. I was close enough to feel the movement.
People ask me what changed mentally in that instant. The honest answer is not much. I didn’t freeze. I didn’t panic. I just knew I needed the knife. I remember a single thought passing through my head — I hope I don’t get cut — and then I was already on the wrist.
I used a C-grip, a jiujitsu hold that’s extremely strong and very hard to break and got two hands on his one. Two-on-one. All things being equal, I win that exchange. But the key is that none of this was a conscious decision. That’s the whole point of training: You want technique to become instinct, because in a moment like that, you don’t have time to think. You need to have already prepared for what needs to be done. It’s kind of a remarkable thing, honestly — all those hours on the mat, finally applied in a real situation.
I smashed his wrist and hand against the concrete and kept repeating it: Drop the knife. Drop the knife.
The Bystander Who Changed Everything
About 10 seconds in, the attacker tried to close the folding blade — I still don’t know why. I adjusted the angle, bearing down harder on his wrist. Eventually, he let go. That’s when a man, older, maybe late 50s, stepped in and put his foot on the knife. Simple as that. Foot on the blade. It sounds small, but it changed the entire calculus. With the weapon pinned under someone else’s shoe, I didn’t have to worry about it being picked up again by either party.
I’m very grateful for that guy. If he hadn’t stepped in, I would’ve had to transition to a full pin on the attacker — rolling him onto his back, controlling his arm — which would have left me exposed to the victim, whose mindset I couldn’t read either. That bystander quietly removed the most dangerous variable from the equation.
Once the knife was neutralized, the attacker’s whole demeanor shifted. He wasn’t fighting anymore. He was trying to flee. I let him go. I didn’t know what his other hand was doing, didn’t know if he had a second weapon, and I didn’t see the benefit of trying to hold him when the guy beside me was bleeding badly. The priority had changed.
Caleb didn’t realize how much he was exposed to the victim’s blood until after he had a chance to calm down.
A Garden Hose Pointed Upward
The victim stood up, and his arm started spurting blood. Not dripping. Spurting. It was a pumping spray — like a garden hose on low, arcing upward, splashing on the concrete. He kept insisting he was fine. He was not fine.
I told him to take his shirt off and press it against the wound. I’ll be transparent about something that sounds ridiculous in hindsight: I didn’t want to take off my own shirt because I still had that dinner reservation in the back of my mind. That was genuinely what I was thinking. The brain is a strange machine under stress.
He pressed his shirt to the wound, and a few seconds later, a group of guys showed up who clearly had more medical training than I did. They elevated his arm and started real first aid. I found out the next day, through a Facebook post, that they were from a company called NOVOX Research. I stepped back and let them work. Then, I looked down. My hands and wrists were covered in blood. My left pant leg was soaked. I hadn’t even noticed.
I went and washed my hands about three or four minutes later. Looking back, I wish I’d washed them 10 times longer.
The Part Nobody Warns You About
Fast-forward to the next day. For cops and paramedics, getting someone else’s blood on you is probably routine. For me, once the adrenaline wore off, a new kind of anxiety crept in — the slow, grinding kind. Bloodborne diseases. HIV. Hepatitis. The words started cycling through my head on repeat.
I reached out to law enforcement, asking if they could tell me anything about the victim’s bloodwork. The answer was immediate and final: HIPAA. They can’t release medical information. Period. So even though I stopped a stabbing, there’s no mechanism for me to find out if the man whose blood soaked through my clothes was carrying anything transmissible.
I wasn’t too worried the night of the incident. I didn’t have any open cuts. I don’t think blood got into my mouth, eyes, or ears. But I was wrestling on the ground with a man holding a knife and inches from an arterial bleed. I wasn’t exactly tracking every droplet.
One officer told me that without open wounds or mucous membrane exposure, the chances of transmission were extremely low. I get that. I understand the math. But I was about to fly home to my wife, and I couldn’t bring myself to kiss her — because even if the chance was small, it was still a chance.
Thirty Days to Three Months
As soon as I got home, I went to the hospital to get my blood drawn. That’s when I learned the cruelest detail: even if I had been exposed, nothing would show up in bloodwork for 30 days to 3 months. The only immediate option was PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis. I’m skeptical of hospital drugs under the best of circumstances, so I declined. Now I have a medical bill and no answers.
I’ve been trying to figure out how to test the dried blood on my clothes. I still don’t know the victim’s name. I’m trying to find out so I can reach out to him directly. Not for thanks, not for closure, but for a simple yes-or-no answer that the system apparently can’t provide.
What I Want You to Know Before You Jump In
I’m writing all of this so that anyone reading it understands the full picture. Not just the heroic 30 seconds, but the frustrating weeks that follow. When I ran toward that fight, I had no idea a knife was involved. I wasn’t scared of getting stabbed. I wasn’t scared of getting cut. Anyone who’s even looked at knife-fighting training knows how easy it is to get sliced. I found out afterward that the inside of my left dress-shirt sleeve had a small cut in it. I never felt it happen.
What I wasn’t prepared for, what no amount of mat time prepares you for, is the aftermath. The blood on your hands that won’t wash off in any meaningful sense. The phone calls that go nowhere. The HIPAA wall. The look on your wife’s face when the story shifts from exciting to uncertain.
My wife doesn’t want me to do something like this again. I understand that. She is the most important person in my life and making her worry about something that affects her too is not something I take lightly. But I also know there are worse things than danger. Becoming a man who watches bad things happen and does nothing may be worse than any risk I took that night.
I keep thinking about that video that went viral last September, the one where a man stabbed a young woman on a train while bystanders stood by. We don’t want to become a society of spectators. Every truly awful thing that has scaled in human history has done so because of the bystander mindset. Edmund Burke said it best: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” I’m not calling myself a good man. I’m far from it. But I know that doing nothing, all the time, when bad things are happening, is absolutely bad.
If It Were You Tomorrow
Even though the situation was an extreme pain in the ass — and caused real stress for my wife and I — I’d go back and make the same choices. There’s a quote often attributed to Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
I believe that. When we see bad things happening, we have a responsibility to step in and do what we can. I’m not saying you should risk your life recklessly or wade into something you have no training for. But if you have the skills, the ability, or even just the opportunity to help, doing nothing is a choice too. And it’s one that lets evil win. Sometimes doing the right thing means taking a risk. It means stepping off the easy path. Because if enough people choose comfort and safety over action, the consequences eventually catch up with all of us.
History is full of examples: Mao’s China, Stalin’s Russia, and Hitler’s Germany. There were many good people living in those countries. At certain moments, if enough of them had stood together, they might have stopped the evil before it grew beyond anyone’s control.
But in the moment, it’s always safer to stay quiet, stay in line, and don’t stick your neck out. The problem is that silence feeds the thing it’s trying to avoid. Evil doesn’t stay the same size. It grows. And, eventually, it comes back with a fury far worse than the risk it would have taken to stand up early.
We never want those kinds of atrocities to happen here at home. But they can — if good people choose to do nothing.
Forty-four veterans die every day by suicide or drug overdose.
Not in combat. Not downrange. At home, after the war is supposedly over. That number comes from researchers at Duke University Medical School and the National Association of American Veterans, and it is almost certainly low. When you account for homeless veterans who die off the radar and overdose deaths that never get coded as veteran suicides, the actual toll is worse. The “22 veterans a day” statistic that gets cited everywhere? Outdated. The real number has been climbing.
Four men decided they were done sitting with that fact. They built a team, found a boat, named it Overwatch, and they are going to row it across the Pacific Ocean.
What Is Team Foar the Brave?
Team Foar the Brave is a four-man crew competing in the World’s Toughest Row 2026, a 2,800-mile unsupported ocean race from Monterey, California to Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii. The race starts June 6. No motors. No sails. No outside help. Two men row at a time in two-hour shifts while the others rest in a pair of small cabin compartments barely big enough to lie flat. They do that around the clock for somewhere between 45 and 65 days, depending on conditions.
They are doing it to raise money and awareness for veteran suicide prevention. One hundred percent of proceeds above operational costs goes to vetted, results-driven charities that are doing real work on veteran mental health.
Who Is on the Team?
Every man on this boat served. This is not a celebrity stunt.
LTC Joe Leach
LTC Joe Leach put in 26 years with the 75th Ranger Regiment and Special Forces. He rowed the Atlantic in 2023 in the same competition series. He knows what it costs and he signed up again.
LTC Ian Pienik
LTC Ian Pienik is a Green Beret. Twenty-four years in the 20th Special Forces Group, with deployments to Iraq, Africa, the Sinai, and Jordan. He is currently stationed at US Special Operations Command and retires in May 2026. Four weeks after he hands in his equipment, he pushes off from Monterey.
John Pallasch
John Pallasch brings 25 years of public and government service. He runs outreach and fundraising for the team. He understands systems that help people and he understands what it means to stand beside the people who served.
Steve Robinson
Steve Robinson spent 25 years as a Federal Aviation Administration controller. He handles boat mechanics and systems. The work nobody sees that keeps everyone alive.
What Is the World’s Toughest Row?
The World’s Toughest Row is an ocean rowing race series run by Atlantic Campaigns. The 2026 Pacific edition is 2,800 miles of open water between Monterey and Kauai. Competitors row race-class ocean boats with no outside assistance, no resupply, and no rescue unless conditions become life-threatening.
For context: a previous team in this competition series had their boat, the Woobie, hit by a 30-foot swell in the Atlantic. It sank. The crew spent 22 hours on a punctured life raft before a cargo ship pulled them out of the water. The boat washed ashore in France weeks later.
These men know the water they are getting into.
Why Veteran Suicide? Why Now?
Ian Pienik has buried soldiers. He is not rowing the Pacific because it sounds meaningful. He is rowing because he has watched men he served with lose the fight after they came home, and he is not willing to accept that as inevitable.
The numbers behind this mission:
2.1 million US veterans live with one or more mental health challenges as of 2023
15.3 percent of veterans experience PTSD, depression, or substance abuse
44 per day die by suicide or overdose, a rate 52.3 percent higher than non-veterans
The team’s core message is not complicated: get people through the moment. Not a policy framework, or an awareness campaign that asks nothing of anyone. It’s the intervention, the phone call, the person who shows up before the crisis becomes permanent.
If you can get someone through the acute moment, the odds of survival climb sharply. That is what the money funds. That is the mission.
What Charities Does Foar the Brave Support?
All proceeds above race operational costs go directly to organizations the team has vetted:
The team is also finalizing a partnership with a Cleveland, Ohio-based organization that works specifically with homeless veterans. A population that accounts for a significant portion of the undercounted suicide toll.
The Race Timeline
The 2026 World’s Toughest Row Pacific puts the crew at sea during some of the most significant dates on the American calendar.
June 6 — Race start, Monterey, CA
June 14 — Flag Day
June 21 — Father’s Day. Four men who are fathers, mid-ocean.
July 2 — Halfway point
July 4 — Independence Day, 250th anniversary of the United States
July 12 — Final stretch
July 17-22 — Estimated arrival window, Hanalei Bay, Kauai
Track the boat live during the race using the YB Races app. Real-time position, stroke by stroke.
How to Support Team Foar the Brave
The team needs partners. That word is deliberate. This is not a tip jar. There are structured sponsorship tiers with real deliverables, because every business that backs this mission should get something back beyond a good feeling.
Major Sponsorship Tiers
Level
Amount
Key Benefits
Elite Title
$100,000
Full-length boat logo, lifetime website placement, elite social media coverage, Fourth of July event video, signed race-used oar
Gold
$50,000
Half-length boat logo, Father’s Day video, signed oar, social media package
Silver
$25,000
Quarter-length boat logo, team video, social media features, signed oar
Commodore
$10,000
Prominent boat logo, speaking opportunity at fundraising events, team photo
Captain
$5,000
Prominent boat logo, social media features, merchandise package
Navigator
$3,000
Boat logo, event acknowledgment, live race social shoutouts
Bosun
$1,500
Logo placement, social media post, live race shoutouts, merch
Ambassador
$500-$1,000
Live race shoutouts, merchandise package
In-Kind Equipment Needs
The team has specific gear requirements with dollar values assigned. If you make or distribute any of the following, this is your opening:
Rowing seats: $15,000
Racing gear: $12,000
Food for the crossing: $10,000
Oars: $8,000
Comms and GPS: $5,000
Solar power: $3,000
For food specifically, the team needs 65 days of provisions at 6,000 calories per man per day. If you are a nutrition or outdoor food brand and want your product featured in editorial coverage of this event, this is the conversation to start.
The Boat: Why “Overwatch”?
In military doctrine, overwatch means someone is holding the flank. They are positioned, alert, and ready to intervene when the threat comes from a direction no one else is watching.
The veterans dying every day are not failing. They are fighting without backup. Nobody is on overwatch. The team named the boat to make that point explicit. The mission is not observation. It is intervention.
In August of 2024 Naugatuck Valley in Connecticut was hit with an unexpected storm that dumped over 16 inches of rain into the region over an 8-hour period. The rivers and streams in the region were unable to handle the massive increase in water and quickly overwhelmed drainage infrastructure that ultimately destroyed roads, bridges, buildings, and utility infrastructure. I was fortunate enough to live in a high point that was not impacted by flooding, but the rising water had cut off my access to resources for several days until the water receded – fortunately my family was prepared with a home emergency kit to provide the supplies we needed!
Why you Need a Home Emergency Kit
This storm is just one example of weather-related disasters that are becoming more common around the world, wreaking havoc on communities and slowing down the flow of supplies globally. Beyond natural disasters – war civil unrest, and economic uncertainty have also impacted our fragile supply chain.
Depending on where you live the likelihood of certain types of emergencies may be increased. Urban areas have a higher incidence of civil unrest and rural areas are often hit harder by supply disruptions. Certain regions have been plagued by wildfires while others experience hurricanes and tornados.
Understanding the threats in your area will clearly demonstrate the need to create a home emergency kit – but even if you live in an area that has a lower risk freak occurrences can happen just like they din in Connecticut in 2024.
Home Emergency Kit vs Bug Out Bag
Both a home emergency kit and a bug out bag are designed to provide 72 hours’ worth of supplies in an emergency – but they are not one in the same!
Bug Out Bag: Minimalist emergency supplies while you are evacuating.
Home Emergency Kit: Comprehensive supplies for sheltering in place.
Your home emergency kit should do more than just provide the basics – it should be a kit that allows you to continue life in as comfortable way as possible for a short time.
Your Home emergency kit and your bug out bag are two pieces to your survival puzzle. Having your home emergency kit will give you the items you need to continue to live in your home and your bug out bag should be ready to go at a moments notice should evacuation be required
How to Build the Perfect Home Emergency Kit
The first step in building your home emergency kit is evaluating your household, ensuring you have enough supplies for all the members of your home and ensure any special needs are accounted for.
Common specialty needs include:
Baby Supplies: Food, diapers, etc.
Specific Medication and Equipment: Prescriptions, common over the counter medicines for specific medical issues, durable medical equipment.
Pet Supplies: Pet food, litter, medicine, etc.
Child Entertainment: Non-electronic games, books, coloring supplies, playing cards etc.
The second step is storage planning. Many emergency supplies should be kept in an easily accessible location that is protected from the elements. Watertight containers are a good option for home emergency kits that are being stored in a shed or garage.
Once your plan is in place it is time to obtain your supplies the following section contains a basic supply list, this should be combined with whatever specialty supplies your family needs to create your 72 hour home emergency kit.
Essential Items for Your Home Emergency Kit
Water & Food (72-Hour Minimum)
Water: 1 gallon per person per day
Non-perishable food, manual can opener
Infant formula, pet food (if applicable)
First Aid & Health
Comprehensive first aid kit
Prescription medications (extra supply)
Over-the-counter medicines, sanitation items
Tools & Lighting
Flashlights, extra batteries, hand-crank radio
Multi-tool, duct tape, plastic sheeting
Power bank, solar charger
Communication & Documents
Emergency contact list
Copies of important documents (IDs, insurance, medical records) in waterproof bag
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
Warmth & Shelter
Blankets, sleeping bags, emergency mylar blankets
Extra clothing and sturdy shoes
Hygiene & Sanitation
Toilet paper, moist towelettes, garbage bags
Hand sanitizer, soap, feminine products
Cash & Miscellaneous
Small bills and coins
Local maps, whistles, dust masks
Home Emergency Kit Maintenance & Storage Tips
Ideally most of the items in your home emergency kit should be durable and long lasting, however you will still need to actively maintain your kit to ensure functionality should disaster strike.
Food and Medicine Expiration: Both food and medicine can expire while some may be usable after the date other items will be unsafe if used beyond expiration. Making a list of expiration dates and reviewing regularly can aid in ensuring your kit is up to date.
Electronics Charging: Battery packs, loose batteries, and electronics all lose charge over time. Power banks and rechargeable electronics should be topped off every 3 months to ensure they are at full capacity. Traditional batteries have expiration dates that should be rotated out and replaced.
Storage and Security: When space allows your kit should be kept inside your home in an easily accessible area to avoid damage from the elements or increased likelihood of theft in an unsecured shed or garage.
Going Beyond The Basics
This guide provides the basics for 72-hour home emergency kit – but upgrading your kit for long term emergencies can be helpful. Adding more supplies and more advanced equipment can help prepare for long-term events. We will update the resources section of this article periodically to help those who wish to build a more comprehensive long-term home emergency kit.
FAQ
What should be in a home emergency kit for 2026?
A complete home emergency kit should cover at least 72 hours of self-sufficiency while sheltering in place. Key categories include: Water & Food: 1 gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food, and a manual can opener (plus infant formula or pet food if needed). First Aid & Health: A comprehensive first aid kit, prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines, and sanitation supplies. Tools & Lighting: Flashlights, extra batteries, hand-crank radio, multi-tool, duct tape, power bank, and solar charger. Warmth & Shelter: Blankets, sleeping bags, extra clothing, and sturdy shoes. Hygiene & Documents: Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, copies of important documents (IDs, insurance, medical records) in a waterproof bag, emergency contact list, and cash in small bills. Customize the kit based on your household’s unique needs, such as baby supplies, pet items, or medical equipment.
How do you build a home emergency kit step by step?
Building an effective home emergency kit in 2026 involves three main steps: Evaluate your household — Consider the number of people, ages, pets, and any special needs (medical conditions, infants, or disabilities). Plan storage — Choose an easily accessible location protected from the elements, using watertight containers if storing in a garage or shed. Gather supplies — Start with the basic 72-hour list (water, food, first aid, lighting, etc.) and add personalized items. The kit complements a bug out bag for evacuation scenarios and should be reviewed regularly. Focus on comfort during sheltering in place rather than minimalism.
What is the difference between a home emergency kit and a bug out bag?
A home emergency kit is designed for sheltering in place at your residence during disasters like storms, floods, or power outages. It is more comprehensive, allowing your family to live relatively comfortably for 72+ hours with bulkier items like extra blankets and full food supplies. A bug out bag, by contrast, is a minimalist, portable pack for quick evacuation when you must leave home. It focuses on mobility with lightweight essentials. The article recommends building both as complementary parts of your overall preparedness strategy.
How often should you update or maintain your home emergency kit?
Check and maintain your home emergency kit at least every 6 months, or quarterly for electronics. Key maintenance tips include: Rotate or replace expired food, water, and medications. Test and recharge power banks, flashlights, and solar chargers. Replace batteries according to expiration dates. Review and update important documents and emergency contact lists. Adjust supplies as your household changes (e.g., new baby or growing children). Regular upkeep ensures everything works when you need it most, especially amid increasing weather events and supply chain risks.
How do you customize a home emergency kit for your family?
Customization starts with assessing your specific household: Infants: Add formula, diapers, bottles, and baby wipes. Pets: Include pet food, water, medications, litter, and a carrier. Medical needs: Stock extra prescriptions, specialized equipment, and relevant over-the-counter remedies. Children: Pack non-electronic entertainment like books, games, or coloring supplies to reduce stress. Location-specific risks: Add items for local threats (e.g., dust masks for wildfires or extra warmth for winter storms). Combine the article’s basic supply list with these specialty items to create a tailored kit that fits your family’s size, health, and environment
Gahagan Customs is owned by Kyle Gahagan an ABS Journeyman Smith, US Army Veteran, and lifelong outdoorsman. Gahagan’s passion for knife making took root in his youth where he would shape various materials into functional tools and began to train with knife makers to hone his skills. Years later after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq with the US Army’s 1st Ranger Battalion Gahagan settled in North Carolina with his wife and rekindled his knife making hobby in his garage. What started as a hobby became a full-time business that is Gahagan Customs. In addition to running his own knife business, Gahagan founded Resilience Forge, an organization that helps provide community and a sense of purpose for Veterans through learning the skills to shape metal into functional tools.
Gahagan’s fixed blade designs are versatile covering compact everyday carry designs, robust outdoor knives, and functional tactical knives. Regardless of which style you are looking for Gahagan’s life experience and passion for thoughtful and functional designs is evident in every knife he makes. Gahagan design ethos is centered in making knives that fist a specific need or solves a problem the person carrying it may have – Gahagan’s Warrior Edge Series is a definitive product of his design ideals. The Warrior Edge Series currently has three models with common design elements.
Ground Branch Tactical Knife
Gahagan designed The Ground Branch Tactical Knife (GBT) in collaboration with Jospeh Teti a Special Operations Veteran with over 20 years of professional experience. One look at the GBT and it is evident that this knife was designed as a functional tactical knife for military and law enforcement use. The GBT comes in at 10 inches over all with 4.76-inch blade finding functional in-between size a compact EDC knife and a full-sized field knife. Though smaller and lighter when compared to a typical field knife the GBT packs many of the same combat and utility features found in its larger counter parts.
The GBT is made from a single piece of .16-inch 80CRV2 high carbon steel ensuring durability in hard use or high stress tasks. The blade offers plenty of functional cutting edge and the blade tip and top swedge ensure optimal piercing performance. The top of the blade offers a serrated portion that can be used to cut through fibrous materials including rope and seatbelts if needed. Behind the serrated area is a nice sized “thumb ramp” that can be used to provide control when performing more detailed tasks. The rear portion of the blade offers guards on both the top and the bottom to ensure your hand isn’t accidentally slipping onto the blade during use.
The handle is contoured and features textured micarta handles ensuring durability and grip even when wet. The rear of the hand offers a textured striking area that doubles as a retention point in some grip styles. The contoured handle feels good in the hand with or without gloves.
The kydex sheath has excellent retention but provides a smooth draw. The sheath offers a textured area that allows you to push your thumb down on making blade draw easier and serves as a reminder that that is the top of the blade, so you know exactly where your edge is when unsheathing the knife. The Sheath is configured to accept numerous attachment point options that allow versatility in carry style.
Spec Sheet
Overall Length: 10″
Blade Length: 4.76″
Blade Thickness: .16″
Overall Weight: 6.49 oz
Blade Steel: 80CRV2
Handle Material: Canvas Micarta
Sheath: Black Retention Sheath
Manufactured: Made in the USA
Combat Applications Group Knife
The Combat Applications Group Knife retains many of the features that make the GBT shine with some distinctive design changes. The CAG comes in at 10.5 inches overall and features a 5 3/8th inch Wharncliffe blade.
Wharncliffe style blades provide a straight cutting edge and a fine tip. The Wharncliffe fine tip allows for more precise cutting in detailed applications and has excellent piercing capabilities. The sloping of the Wharncliffe blade provides some tip reinforcement combined with tough 80CRV2 steel makes it durable for tactical applications. The straight edge of the Wharncliffe may not be ideal for angled slicing tasks or processing game, it does perform very well for cutting, carving, and slicing on flat surfaces. The straight edge is also easier to sharpen compared to blades with a prominent belly.
In addition to the longer Wharncliffe blade the CAG also offers a few more handle material options including a variety of micarta and G10 colors. Like the GBT, the CAB knife has serrations on the spine, blade guards, textured striking surface on the handle, and a versatile kydex sheath.
Spec Sheet
Overall Length: 10.5″
Blade Length: 5 3/8″
Blade Thickness: .165″
Overall Weight: 6.5 oz
Blade Steel: 80CRV2
Handle Material: Canvas Micarta or G10
Sheath: Black Retention Sheath
Manufactured: Made in the USA
Regimental Reconnaissance Company Knife
The Regimental Reconnaissance Company Knife (RCC) comes in at the same overall size as the GBT knife at 10 inches overall – the major difference is the RCC’s 5-inch tanto blade. The tanto provides an incredibly durable tip for piercing tasks and a strong angular blade. Tanto-style blades are almost exclusively used on tactical knives for their durability. Beyond combat applications Tanto blades can provide a host of utility functions. Tanto’s perform well in scraping and digging tasks. The reinforced tip can pierce hard or dense materials while reducing the likelihood of major blade damage this can include cans and car doors. The secondary edge is helpful in detail work and like the Wharncliffe tanto’s perform well in flat surface cutting. Best practices will tell you not to use a knife as a pry bar, but in a pinch, I’d use a tanto blade over other blade styles. The Tanto blade angles are also easy to sharpen in the field.
All the benefits to the tanto’s blade style are further enhanced by Gahagan’s use of tough 80CRV2 steel. Like the other knives in the Warriors Edge series the RCC has the blade guards, textured strike surface, textured handle scales, partially serrated spine, and versatile sheath.
Spec Sheet
Overall Length: 10″
Blade Length: 5″
Blade Thickness: .165″
Overall Weight: 6.62 oz
Blade Steel: 80CRV2
Handle Material: Canvas Micarta or G10
Sheath: Black Retention Sheath
Manufactured: Made in the USA
Final Thoughts
Gahagan’s Warriors Edge series offers the versatility of a full-sized tactical field knife in an easier to carry package. Ranging from 10 to 10.5 overall inches, none of these knives can be considered small but their slim design makes them easier to conceal if needed. The thick blade stock, durable 80CRV2 steel, and well thought feature set provides enough functionality to make any knife if the Warriors Edge series an excellent addition to your chest rig or plate carrier.
Each model in the series has its merits and choosing the right one for you truly depends on how you plan to use it. The GBT is likely the best choice for someone looking for a larger EDC fixed blade that can be used in the widest variety of situations. The CAG’s added half inch really makes the knife feel much larger and is a good option if you are looking for something that is closing in on the full-sized range. If hard use durability is what you are looking for the RCC and its strong tanto blade style will be a good option.
No matter which knife in the Warriors Edge Series you end up choosing you will have a versatile and durable tool designed by people who have seen some of the world’s harshest and most hostile environments – and these knives are built to get through it!
There is a long and storied connection between warfighters and their watches. The regimented precision of military life, and of modern combat operations, dictates that most everyone on the battlefield be aware of the time at all times. Some watch brands have become accidentally synonymous with certain men, missions, or units. Others exist specifically because of this lineage. Praesidus Watch Co, whose is derived from the Latin word for “protector” was established in 2019 with the specific goal of producing rugged, unpretentious field watches to replicate or commemorate service members throughout history.
Last year, on the 80th anniversary of the battle of Iwo Jima, they released a watch as tribute to that historic battle. This year, they have expanded on the theme with their latest release – the Pacific Front watch. Instead of focusing on a single battle, the Pacific Front pays homage to the “Island Hopping” campaign undertaken by US forces in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attacks. Dates and locations are subtly but clearly displayed on the dial, along with a map-like path of progression. The dial is also embedded with real black volcanic sand taken directly from Iwo Jima.
But this is not strictly a showpiece. Built on the proportions of the original A-11 Field Watch—itself an iconic World War II timepiece—the Pacific Front uses double-domed K1 mineral crystal glass with Sapphire and anti-reflective coating, and sports 10ATM water resistance. The movement is an Ameriquartz 6130. A 20mm rubber strap is mated to the 38mm case that’s just over 13mm thick. Overall, the Pacific Front presents as a compact, lightweight package that keeps time without being burdened by extraneous features.
Our team wore the Pacific Front on several range days and a field training excursions—including a two-day man tracking course with Greenside Training—finding it to be unobtrusive and convenient with a barely-there feel that provided a notable sense of relief from feed-stream of data coming out of our larger more tactical smart watches. Even the packaging is understated, elegant, and befitting of a wearable war memorial. The Pacific Front watch is available in several band and color configurations, including the volcanic orange (sometimes also known as Higgins orange) shown here. At $320 MSRP, this horological historical tribute is priced to fit most budgets while still presenting a thoughtfully executed narrative of not one battle, but an entire strategic campaign.
Purchase yours here, direct from Praesidus Watch Co.
