Kikkerland Mini Keychain Pliers
Dimensions
2.75 by 0.79 by 0.5 inches
MSRP
$13
Notes
One way of ensuring there’s a future for our community is to educate our youth, and that starts with our own loved ones. Teach them life-saving skills, explain the dangers they could face, and show them how to be prepared. So if you’re looking for gifts this holiday season, the Kikkerland Mini Keychain Pliers is a good first multitool for a young son or daughter. It has a blade, a pair of pliers, a bottle opener, and a flathead screwdriver — all of which can help teach your child about safety, the responsibility of owning tools, and preparedness in general. It also comes with a chain and ring, so you could even EDC it as a keychain; you know, for popping bottle caps, opening packages, or other light-duty tasks that don’t require a Leatherman.
Black Diamond Nitron Straight Gate Carabiner
Weight
1.6 ounces
MSRP
$12
URL
www.blackdiamondequipment.com
Notes
You don’t have to be a mountain climber to appreciate a carabiner. These handy devices have a multitude of survival uses, from helping secure an emergency shelter to serving as an improvised weapon. (See the “Pocket Preps” column in Issue 25 for our carabiners buyer’s guide.) The Nitron Straight Gate Carabiner is all sorts of awesome. It has that ideal Goldilocks size — not too small, but also not too long at 4 inches. Its 0.86-inch gate opening and snag-free keylock nose makes it easy to clip to a wire, pack, or rope, and the gate snaps back immediately for a secured closure. The Nitron is also lightweight, affordable, and beautifully constructed.
Ruffwear Approach Pack
Sizes
Extra Small through Large/Extra Large
MSRP
$80
URL
www.ruffwear.com
Notes
If you’re serious about prepping, you should also prepare for your four-legged family members just as you would for two-legged relatives. The Approach Pack makes this much easier, because it’s a bag Fido can wear himself, leaving you free to carry your own go-bag. Naturally, it works great on fun treks, too. The pack was designed for everything from day-hikes and overnight adventures to trips to the pet store and dog park. It features radial-cut saddlebags that are formfitting and better for distributing load weight. The Approach has two leash connection points, reflective trim for low-light visibility, and an integrated harness that increases stability and provides a comfortable yet secure fit.
Streamlight Stylus Pro COB Penlight
Length
6.64 inches
MSRP
$65
Notes
Don’t let the retail price on this penlight scare you off. Like most Streamlight gear, the Stylus Pro COB is available online or in stores for much cheaper than the listed price. Perhaps the best part of this tool is its versatility as a hands-free work light, emitting diffused LED light from the side of its body. On the other end is a magnet so you can stick it to an open car hood or a steel work surface. If you need to be more mobile, you can use its pocket clip to attach it to your shirt pocket. The Stylus Pro COB puts out up to 160 lumens for three hours, has three modes (high, low, and flash), and comes with a USB rechargeable battery. Moreover, it’s water and impact resistant.
DMT EDC-Sharp
Dimensions
5.5 by 1.25 by 0.188 inches
MSRP
$22
Notes
As its name implies, the EDC-Sharp is an everyday-carry sharpener for maintaining a razor’s edge on all of your tools. But it’s also a pretty nifty multitool — it includes wrenches, rulers, a bottle opener, and two flathead screwdrivers. And since it’s not longer than a pen, the EDC-Sharp is a good addition to toss into your go-bag, vehicle kit, or camping gear. The EDC-Sharp is made from 5CR, while the sharpener portion has fine diamond abrasives on it for putting an edge on tools that have just started to dull. It’s ideal for knives, shears, and scissors.
Safari Medic Alpaca
Weight
Approximately 2 pounds
MSRP
$325
Notes
Whether it’s for a serious injury suffered during a natural disaster or a booboo that occurred on a trail run, you’ll need an individual first-aid kit that not only has all the vital supplies but is also portable and convenient to use. As a med pack on steroids, the Alpaca from Safari Medic/Mountain Medic checks all those boxes. Weighing almost 2 pounds, it’s packed with life-saving gear, from a RATS Tourniquet and CELOX hemostatic blood-clotting crystals to a CPR face shield and a box of blister plasters. If that weren’t enough, the kit contains a pocketbook on wilderness medicine. The whole shebang is contained in a durable tactical pouch with Kryptek camo and webbing to attach it to larger bags or securing inside your vehicle.
Wazoo Survival Gear Tracking Field Kit Bandanna
Dimensions
22 by 22 inches
MSRP
$14
Notes
A bandanna has countless field uses: cordage, signaling, and impromptu tourniquet, just to name a few. Oh, and animal identification. Wazoo’s Tracking Field Kit isn’t the first tracking bandana, but it might be the most practical, thanks to input from three tracking experts. It has accurate illustrations of more than 20 animals abundantly found in the North American wild. The 100-percent cotton cloth also has a set of false eyes that can be worn on the back of your head. The idea is to ward off predators that prefer to attack from behind, a defense mechanism borrowed from various insects, birds, and fish, as well as some human cultures. When not in use, it can be packed tight using the included silicone slap bracelet, which doubles as a ruler when straightened out.
Tract Optics Toric 8×42 Schott HT
Weight
1 pounds, 10 ounces
MSRP
$684
Notes
The ability to see at long distances can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. Imagine a search party looking for a lost hiker. Or a hunter zeroing in on the perfect kill. Unfortunately, humans aren’t born with hawk-like vision. Enter binoculars like the Tract Optics Toric 8×42 Schott HT. The name means it’s a fullsize bino that provides eight times the magnification, while “Schott HT” refers to the high light-transmission glass, which provides brilliant colors and image resolution — even in dim or dark conditions. It’s packed with other features, including a locking diopter to prevent accidental movement, enhanced ocular design for a wider field of view and longer eye relief, and an IPX7 rating (meaning its waterproof up to 1 meter for 30 minutes and fogproof thanks to O-ring seals and argon gas).
5.11 Tactical AMP72 Backpack
Capacity
40 liters (2,440 ci)
MSRP
$250
Notes
Conventional wisdom says you should pack your get-out-of-dodge bag with three days’ worth of food and supplies. But have you practiced carrying that load along your predetermined evacuation route? If so, you know that it can be a grueling exercise in stamina and strength, considering your pack will only feel heavier the longer you go. That’s why the AMP72 has an aluminum frame, load lifters, and a thermoformed back panel to help with the haul. It’s also smartly designed with various partitions, including a fleece-lined eyewear pocket, dual side stretch pockets, a secondary section for storing a rifle up to 24 inches long, and a main compartment that opens like a clamshell for easy access to all your stuff. The pack also features 5.11’s innovative HEXGRID, a new load-bearing modular platform that lets you attach compatible packs (such as the Admin Gear Set or the 2 Banger Gear Set, sold separately) at various angles.
Terrain 365 Element Alpha-HD
OAL
8 inches
MSRP
$265
Notes
Terrain 365 is a new knife company that was founded by Patrick Ma and Michael Vagnino. Ma is the head of Prometheus Design Werx, which produces hard-use yet attractive apparel and gear. Vagnino is a custom knife maker with a mastersmith rating from the American Bladesmith Society. Together they’re creating edged tools worthy of their pedigree. The Element Alpha-HD is their firstborn, a versatile utility knife that features a proprietary alloy called Terravantium. They say it’s guaranteed for life to be rustproof. The handle is wrapped with comfortable 500 Paracord, which can be repurposed for emergency uses. Plus, the fixed blade comes with a slim Kydex sheath and low-profile belt clip. Made in the USA.
Real Avid Accu-Punch Hammer & Punches
Number of Tools
13
MSRP
$40
URL
www.realavid.com
Notes
Any prepper knows that this lifestyle can get expensive. So, if you’re like us, you’ll often improvise when it comes to the tools needed to build a project or repair a gun. Real Avid is making things more convenient and affordable by producing firearm tool kits that aren’t just financially feasible but also durable and easy to use. This Accu-Punch set has an ergonomic hammer that comes with four interchangeable heads: brass, steel, nylon, and rubber. Meanwhile, the Pin Alignment Tool is a sort of tweezer that holds the smallest pins in place so you don’t smash your fingers. The kit also comes with one nylon punch and 10 hardened steel punches, all conveniently labeled and ringed with rubber to increase grip.
TOPS Knives El Chappo
OAL
11 inches
MSRP
$145
Notes
If the Element Alpha-HD is a little too small for you, perhaps a field cleaver is more to your liking? The El Chappo is 11 inches long with a 6-inch blade that’s 3/16-inch thick and made of 1095 high carbon steel. This type of steel is easy to sharpen, holds its edge, and has good wear resistance — all great attributes when chopping meat in the kitchen or hacking firewood in the field. Unfortunately, it also rusts easily, so TOPS has coated El Chappo with its new Acid Rain finish to help fit off corrosion. The comfortable handle scales are made of canvas Micarta. Plus, it comes with a Kydex edge cover that’s kept in place with an elastic shock cord.
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Written by Patrick Vuong
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