I was originally going to title this post "The Importance of Gear," except that it's about more than gear. It's about mindset. It's about paying attention to things, and devoting full attention to dangerous tasks that demand full attention.
Long story short: I went down on the Harley.
Now, I'll start by saying I'm fine, and the Harley is fine. Minimal scratches, no engine or significant body damage. I managed to bruise the living hell out of my foot, but otherwise no other physical issues for me.
What happened, you ask? I got complacent.
I backed the Harley out of the garage too fast; I didn't have my hand resting on the brake like I should have, and when I reached for the brake it threw my balance off just enough that the bike fell over. It happened in super slow-motion - I knew the bike was going over, and I was utterly powerless to stop it. It's a scary, scary feeling.
Electra Glides are heavy. 750 pounds empty, and mine wasn't empty. The back crash guards took the brunt of the crash, with the left saddlebag getting a tiny bit scratched up at the very bottom. It's no worse than the right one's lid where Baby Girl G. has kicked it a few times.
The line they tell you about leveraging your body and leaning way over to right the bike? That's all well and good - until you're trapped under it. You see, the front engine guard never hit the ground. It landed on my left foot, trapping it between the guard and the ground. It was both painful and terrifying at the same time.
Managed to push the bike up enough so that I freed my foot, then took stock of the situation. The rear crash guard took the brunt of the impact (and my foot), and was scuffed - but that's what it's for. The rear saddlebag has some very minor (and barely noticeable) scuffs, but I'm not even sure they're from this incident. No leaks or other issues mechanically - I even rode it to work and back with no problems, once I got it righted.
As for that (righting it), well, I remembered from my MSF course about how you should go to the opposite side and use leverage. Um, yeah. That ... didn't work. I wound up just grabbing the passenger grab bar and the front crash bar and muscling the bike upright. My back might stop protesting next month...
What I did wrong was several-fold. First and foremost, I didn't dedicate sufficient attention to the task at hand. I was jugging backing out of the garage, holding onto a helmet, and holding the garage door opener in my hand to close the garage once I was out (I am HORRIBLY OCD about the garage door being left up). Secondly, I did NOT have my hand on the brakes to slow my egress from the car hole.
What *should* I have done differently? Helmet on, garage door opener in a pocket, and worry about everything else once the bike was out of the garage and on flat ground. Right hand on brake lever at all times.
What did I do right? Well, for starters, I had the right gear. Magnum Boots rock, y'all. Secondly, I kept my cool - first thing I did was shut off the bike to prevent things from going further south. And I listened to the little voice inside my head that said "Get your foot checked out by a doctor" - as it turns out, nothing was broken, just bruised. I'm leaving on Thursday for an NRA Outdoors long-range rifle clinic in Wyoming and I was all kinds of worried that I broke my foot.
So, to recap: Good gear is good. Paying f**king attention is better. Listening to that little voice inside your head? Priceless.
And remember: Gravity isn't just a good idea, it's the law...
That is all.
Showing posts with label EDC Gear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EDC Gear. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
When Good Things Happen To Good People.
Linoge has the skinny.
Here's the TL/DR version: Dennis is making holsters for the NCIS franchise, that much is not a secret. However, he's scored another big hit with this:
That's the brand-spankin' new Valkyrie holster, which is a first for Dennis - it's a paddle holster, which is exciting news for fans of the breed. Your humble host also happens to have received one of these lovely holsters, to be revealed later at the payin' gig (which I will link here as soon as it's up, no worries).
It's great to see Dennis' awesome holsters finally getting the air time they deserve!
That is all.
Here's the TL/DR version: Dennis is making holsters for the NCIS franchise, that much is not a secret. However, he's scored another big hit with this:
(Screencap courtesy of Linoge)
That's the brand-spankin' new Valkyrie holster, which is a first for Dennis - it's a paddle holster, which is exciting news for fans of the breed. Your humble host also happens to have received one of these lovely holsters, to be revealed later at the payin' gig (which I will link here as soon as it's up, no worries).
It's great to see Dennis' awesome holsters finally getting the air time they deserve!
That is all.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Ask And Ye Shall Receive...
So, in yesterday's review of the SIG SAUER P238, commenter Joshua asks:
Here's the back pocket:
And the front:
See what I mean about it just disappearing? The P238 is so small and light that there's just no reason to carry it anywhere but in a pocket. Although if you did have a quality inside the waistband holster for it, it's thin and light enough that it would conceal under pretty much anything short of a tube top.
And no, you're not getting a picture of that...
That is all.
You've covered the bases pretty well for everything I would ask though can we get a picture of it in pocket?Well, sure!
Here's the back pocket:
And the front:
See what I mean about it just disappearing? The P238 is so small and light that there's just no reason to carry it anywhere but in a pocket. Although if you did have a quality inside the waistband holster for it, it's thin and light enough that it would conceal under pretty much anything short of a tube top.
And no, you're not getting a picture of that...
That is all.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Holster That Heater!
Good: Getting an e-mail telling you that your holster is in the mail on its way to you.
Better: You didn't order a holster.
Best: It's one of these sweet jobs from Michael's Custom Holsters:
In Houston during the NRA convention, Michael let me try out Jennifer's rig for the M&P compact. I wore it around for a good while and was absolutely gobsmacked at how easy it made carrying the M&P IWB. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised - Michael's Executive II for the S&W J-frame is my favorite IWB holster for the small revolver.
Anyhoo, he re-upped another year's worth of ad space over on the right ----> (go click, please!), and in exchange the above holster showed up in my mailbox.
It's for the M&P:
And because Michael knows me and is just that awesome, it even accommodates the full size M&P:
Yes, that's a full sized Smith & Wesson M&P45 - with a Crimson Trace Grip Laser - in that holster.
I fully intend to put this holster through its paces. I also fully expect this holster to not only meet my expectations, but to leave them in their wake like a canoe behind a cigarette boat. Okay, I think I need more coffee to make better analogies, but you get the point. Michael does really great work, he really does. He knows his stuff, he's got the talent, and I'm proud to have his ad on my sidebar.
I realized something, too, about those ads. Mark from Rimfire Designs is the only person whose business has an ad on the sidebar that I don't personally know. I'm hoping that one of my trips out west will remedy that. Mark and I have chatted quite a bit via e-mail (and I owe him a picture or two of a set of grips - mea culpa, Mark!), so I consider him someone I know IRL, but he's the only person with an ad I haven't actually met. Caleb/Dan, Ron, Michael, Robb, Wally and Dennis are all folks I've met in meatspace... Pretty neat, actually.
Watch this space for some super secret news regarding the leathersmith behind this fine holster, too...
That is all.
Better: You didn't order a holster.
Best: It's one of these sweet jobs from Michael's Custom Holsters:
In Houston during the NRA convention, Michael let me try out Jennifer's rig for the M&P compact. I wore it around for a good while and was absolutely gobsmacked at how easy it made carrying the M&P IWB. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised - Michael's Executive II for the S&W J-frame is my favorite IWB holster for the small revolver.
Anyhoo, he re-upped another year's worth of ad space over on the right ----> (go click, please!), and in exchange the above holster showed up in my mailbox.
It's for the M&P:
Front
Rear
And because Michael knows me and is just that awesome, it even accommodates the full size M&P:
.45 ACP goodness!
Yes, that's a full sized Smith & Wesson M&P45 - with a Crimson Trace Grip Laser - in that holster.
I fully intend to put this holster through its paces. I also fully expect this holster to not only meet my expectations, but to leave them in their wake like a canoe behind a cigarette boat. Okay, I think I need more coffee to make better analogies, but you get the point. Michael does really great work, he really does. He knows his stuff, he's got the talent, and I'm proud to have his ad on my sidebar.
I realized something, too, about those ads. Mark from Rimfire Designs is the only person whose business has an ad on the sidebar that I don't personally know. I'm hoping that one of my trips out west will remedy that. Mark and I have chatted quite a bit via e-mail (and I owe him a picture or two of a set of grips - mea culpa, Mark!), so I consider him someone I know IRL, but he's the only person with an ad I haven't actually met. Caleb/Dan, Ron, Michael, Robb, Wally and Dennis are all folks I've met in meatspace... Pretty neat, actually.
Watch this space for some super secret news regarding the leathersmith behind this fine holster, too...
That is all.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Gear Bleg...
So, Dave H. e-mailed me with an interesting question:
The 5.11 RUSH72 pack I reviewed last year would be great for a long haul (especially if the bike has a backrest, because a full RUSH72 will become your own backrest as a solo rider), but it's perhaps a bit too large for a daily commuter. 5.11 offers a RUSH12 backpack that might be a better fit for a daily commute; if it wears as well as the RUSH72 it should work just fine.
Since the Harley has two cavernous hard saddlebags, I haven't had to worry about small item storage for 10 years now. Before that, I had leather bags on my Honda; going back to my very first motorcycle - a Yamaha XS850 Midnight Special - I was a struggling graduate student and simply threw my school bag over my shoulder for the bike commute in.
Anyone who commutes via motorcycle have any other gear recommendations for Dave?
That is all.
Last year you reviewed the Maxpedition Gearslinger Malaga. You seemed pretty pleased with it. How well do you think it would carry on a motorcycle? I need something to carry stuff to work - lunch, phone, iPod, a couple file folders, and maybe a laptop sometimes.
I had to take the bags off of my Triumph (that's the last time I put nylon on a bike) and I like the simpler look now.I responded that while I really liked the Gearslinger for walking around the NRA Convention or humping around the range at Media Day, I really had no idea how it would hold up to 70+ MPH speeds off the back of a motorcycle. Personally, I prefer a traditional backpack on the bike, ideally something with both chest and waist buckles just for extra piece of mind (if for no other reason than you know the bag is still there).
The 5.11 RUSH72 pack I reviewed last year would be great for a long haul (especially if the bike has a backrest, because a full RUSH72 will become your own backrest as a solo rider), but it's perhaps a bit too large for a daily commuter. 5.11 offers a RUSH12 backpack that might be a better fit for a daily commute; if it wears as well as the RUSH72 it should work just fine.
Since the Harley has two cavernous hard saddlebags, I haven't had to worry about small item storage for 10 years now. Before that, I had leather bags on my Honda; going back to my very first motorcycle - a Yamaha XS850 Midnight Special - I was a struggling graduate student and simply threw my school bag over my shoulder for the bike commute in.
Anyone who commutes via motorcycle have any other gear recommendations for Dave?
That is all.
Friday Gun Pr0n #325
Today's gun has been in the G. armory for a while, but is sporting a new look:
Yes, that's the Kel-Tec P3AT sporting a snazzy new coat on the slide. Shipped it out to Speer, he of the newly minted gunsmithery, he cleaned it up and coated it with what was originally going to be nickel-coating but was wisely changed to Duracoat later. I like the way it came out, a lot - and it's going to be a lot better for pocket carry in the hot summer months than the "finish" that came from the factory. The finish that was mostly worn off, mind you.
I'll have some more posts later about the slide (and if I can get in touch with Speer for some more particulars (f'rinstance, I don't know if it was actually Duracoat or a similar product used). It's first-rate work, and I have close-ups of the slide to show it off. I'm also going to pick up some orange paint for the front sight and some white for the rear for contrast - the standard "sights" are laughable dents.
Thanks for breathing new life into an old companion, Speer!
That is all.
Yes, that's the Kel-Tec P3AT sporting a snazzy new coat on the slide. Shipped it out to Speer, he of the newly minted gunsmithery, he cleaned it up and coated it with what was originally going to be nickel-coating but was wisely changed to Duracoat later. I like the way it came out, a lot - and it's going to be a lot better for pocket carry in the hot summer months than the "finish" that came from the factory. The finish that was mostly worn off, mind you.
I'll have some more posts later about the slide (and if I can get in touch with Speer for some more particulars (f'rinstance, I don't know if it was actually Duracoat or a similar product used). It's first-rate work, and I have close-ups of the slide to show it off. I'm also going to pick up some orange paint for the front sight and some white for the rear for contrast - the standard "sights" are laughable dents.
Thanks for breathing new life into an old companion, Speer!
That is all.
Monday, June 10, 2013
DEFINITELY Mightier Than Some Silly Ol' Sword...
Robb reviews the Tuff-Writer Tactical pen.
Robb got a chance to take the Tuff-Writer tactical pen out for a spin and put it through it's paces. Say what you want about the man with no pants, he writes one excellent review. Just factual enough to count as a review, humorous enough that you don't want to claw your eyeballs out over "My G-D HE'S TALKING ABOUT A WRITING IMPLEMENT". Seriously, go and take a read. Robb is one of those people that is just disgustingly talented - programming, graphic design, guitar playing... If he wasn't a Marine armed with a tactical pen you'd want to pinch him for taking up so much damn talent...
And, should the folks at Tuff-Writer decide they want a second opinion, well... AHEM...
That is all.
Robb got a chance to take the Tuff-Writer tactical pen out for a spin and put it through it's paces. Say what you want about the man with no pants, he writes one excellent review. Just factual enough to count as a review, humorous enough that you don't want to claw your eyeballs out over "My G-D HE'S TALKING ABOUT A WRITING IMPLEMENT". Seriously, go and take a read. Robb is one of those people that is just disgustingly talented - programming, graphic design, guitar playing... If he wasn't a Marine armed with a tactical pen you'd want to pinch him for taking up so much damn talent...
And, should the folks at Tuff-Writer decide they want a second opinion, well... AHEM...
That is all.
Monday, May 20, 2013
New Gear!
Picked up a couple of items that I'll be testing in the coming weeks and months at the NRA convention. The first item you might notice from the rotating ads in the right sidebar:
That's a VersaCarry for a 3.5" barrel semi-automatic handgun - just perfect for the Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm compact or the Ruger SR9 compact. I had the presence of mind to grab a quick video from the helpful folks at VersaCarry; this is Justin explaining the system:
Now, when I saw the concept of the VersaCarry, I was a bit skeptical. I'm really not a fan of the trigger being exposed, and I'm not sure how I feel about the gun being supported by the barrel. It should be fine; the trigger is exposed on the inside near the body, so as long as care is taken during holstering, it should be fine.
And another item announced later in the week!
That is all.
That's a VersaCarry for a 3.5" barrel semi-automatic handgun - just perfect for the Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm compact or the Ruger SR9 compact. I had the presence of mind to grab a quick video from the helpful folks at VersaCarry; this is Justin explaining the system:
Now, when I saw the concept of the VersaCarry, I was a bit skeptical. I'm really not a fan of the trigger being exposed, and I'm not sure how I feel about the gun being supported by the barrel. It should be fine; the trigger is exposed on the inside near the body, so as long as care is taken during holstering, it should be fine.
And another item announced later in the week!
That is all.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
New Gear On The Block...
So, one of the pressers I got recently was for a new gear company, TacProGear. They've got a line of packs and bags out, and this presser was for their new Covert Go-Bag. It intrigued me because it's in between the Maxpedition Gearslinger I bought in late 2011 and the 5.11 RUSH72 pack I reviewed last year. There's also bug-out bags, rifle bags, and even rolling tactical carry bags. I kinda like it.The Covert Go-bag caught my attention, so I dropped a note to the good folks at Laura Burgess Marketing and expressed interest in reviewing it.
A few e-mails later and I was told to watch my mail; a short while later, this showed up:
They even threw in a hat!
It's a little bit larger than the Gearslinger but quite a bit smaller than the RUSH72 pack, so it fills a much needed niche for me. There are all kinds of attachment points for various and sundry accessories; plenty of room inside, and even an interior compartment with multiple points of access where one could stash a sidearm if needed. From what I've seen so far, it seems pretty useful and usable.
I'm going to run it through its paces at one of the most demanding venues I can think of: the NRA's Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas. It's going to undergo TSA testing and X-raying; it will be swabbed, probed, and otherwise investigated; then it will be stuffed under a crowded airline seat for the flight. After that it'll get humped through the airport, stuffed in the trunk of a rental car, and then brought into the hotel where it will be re-packed with some non-TSA approved items and then carried all over the convention floor for three days.
Should be a pretty convenient torture test. I'll tell you all about it when I get back. It seems pretty easy to pack and carry; I'll have it fully stuffed early next week for the trip down so I'll have an idea how it carries under a full load; how it holds up to all-day use will be explored. It's nice to see a new manufacturer on the scene; while there are certainly some excellent gear bags out there, it's always good to have more options, right?
Full report to follow!
That is all.
A few e-mails later and I was told to watch my mail; a short while later, this showed up:
They even threw in a hat!
It's a little bit larger than the Gearslinger but quite a bit smaller than the RUSH72 pack, so it fills a much needed niche for me. There are all kinds of attachment points for various and sundry accessories; plenty of room inside, and even an interior compartment with multiple points of access where one could stash a sidearm if needed. From what I've seen so far, it seems pretty useful and usable.
I'm going to run it through its paces at one of the most demanding venues I can think of: the NRA's Annual Meeting in Houston, Texas. It's going to undergo TSA testing and X-raying; it will be swabbed, probed, and otherwise investigated; then it will be stuffed under a crowded airline seat for the flight. After that it'll get humped through the airport, stuffed in the trunk of a rental car, and then brought into the hotel where it will be re-packed with some non-TSA approved items and then carried all over the convention floor for three days.
Should be a pretty convenient torture test. I'll tell you all about it when I get back. It seems pretty easy to pack and carry; I'll have it fully stuffed early next week for the trip down so I'll have an idea how it carries under a full load; how it holds up to all-day use will be explored. It's nice to see a new manufacturer on the scene; while there are certainly some excellent gear bags out there, it's always good to have more options, right?
Full report to follow!
That is all.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
MArooned Product Review Follow-up: Dragon Leatherworks Belt
Okay, we're rapidly coming up on a third of a year with the kick-ass belt I got from Dragon Leatherworks. I have been wearing the crap out of this thing, and I'll tell you, it just keeps looking as good as when I first got it. It's been around my waist for ~ 10 - 12 hours a day 7 days a week for a while now - I think I'd already broken my first 5.11 belt by this point. My initial review was two months ago, only a month or so after getting the belt, and I've had a lot more time to wear it and see how it held up.
Oh, yeah, there's also the fact that I wore this belt to the Fundamentals of Combat Focus Shooting class I took courtesy of Down Range Firearms Training last month. I strapped on the Dragon Leatherworks belt at 7 in the morning with all this gear:
and didn't take it off for over 12 hours. I weighed it - over three and a half pounds of gear there. Doesn't seem like much until you strap it to your waist and run all over hell and creation for the better part of an entire day.
When they say that the right belt makes all the difference, that's not hyperbole. The Dragon Leatherworks belt held all that gear (well, minus the coffee mug, but I did have at least double that amount of coffee in me) all day long. Not only that, it actually made it comfortable. A Kydex OWB holster with a Smith & Wesson M&P and three Comp-Tac mag holsters, each with a fully loaded magazine - all day, all over the place. The belt made it easy, and that's no small feat.
I can't imagine taking a course like this with any other belt - thanks, Dennis!
That is all.
Oh, yeah, there's also the fact that I wore this belt to the Fundamentals of Combat Focus Shooting class I took courtesy of Down Range Firearms Training last month. I strapped on the Dragon Leatherworks belt at 7 in the morning with all this gear:
and didn't take it off for over 12 hours. I weighed it - over three and a half pounds of gear there. Doesn't seem like much until you strap it to your waist and run all over hell and creation for the better part of an entire day.
When they say that the right belt makes all the difference, that's not hyperbole. The Dragon Leatherworks belt held all that gear (well, minus the coffee mug, but I did have at least double that amount of coffee in me) all day long. Not only that, it actually made it comfortable. A Kydex OWB holster with a Smith & Wesson M&P and three Comp-Tac mag holsters, each with a fully loaded magazine - all day, all over the place. The belt made it easy, and that's no small feat.
I can't imagine taking a course like this with any other belt - thanks, Dennis!
That is all.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Carry (Enough/A) Gun...
Todd G. - who I will readily admit more than likely has forgotten more about shooting that I will ever learn, makes a pretty good argument for carrying a larger firearm. His point, and there's a lot of truth to it, is that the time it takes to toss an LCP in a back pocket is only a minute or so less than the time it takes to toss a G19 or similarly sized arm in an inside-the-waistband holster. His points are that the larger guns are easier to shoot, carry more ammunition, have real sights, and are easier to reload than a smaller gun (he uses the J-frame as the standard "small" gun).
Well, Imma speak up for the smaller gun.
Smith & Wesson J-frame/Ruger LCR and a S&W Bodyguard 380/SIG SAUER P238. 5 rounds of .38 Special +P; 6+1 rounds of .380 ACP. Yes, a G19 with 15 rounds of 9mm +P and two 17 round backup magazines is a heckuva lot more firepower in a gun that's easier to aim and shoot. I can't - won't - argue that. What I will argue, though, is that for a good number of us, that blocky, heavy G19 might get carried in the fall and winter months, but as soon as it's T-shirt weather, the pocket gun makes a comeback in a big way.
The secret is for the gun to always be there.
The harder it is to use a tool, the less likely you're going to be to use it at all. Yes, with the right holster (and there are a lot of folks out there making great holsters these days) and the right wardrobe you can conceal a mid-sized gun with little effort. Or you can be constantly tugging at the shirt tail because it's not sitting right and it keeps getting caught up in the grip and why the heck didn't I wear my vest oh, yeah, that's right it's 80º today. If it's a pain in the behind, you won't do it.
And it won't matter what gun you have if you leave it at home.
I've had my permit to carry for nearly 20 years. I've carried everything from a Government model 1911 to a 4" Smith & Wesson K-frame revolver and everything in between. I have found that I am most likely to slip that S&W Bodyguard into my back pocket than anything else. Yes, .380 ACP is a pretty anemic round. Yes, there are other much higher capacity options. But when all is said and done, that 380 is there. It's frickin' good neighbor State Farm, baby. It's not sitting in the safe at home because the last time I carried it it just wouldn't sit right and wound up poking my right kidney 750 times.
Todd is absolutely right - you can carry a larger gun. I don't mean to sound like I'm arguing that point - I've done it; heck, I've carried a 6" barrel revolver in a shoulder rig. With the right gear (and don't get me started on how many different holsters I've tried in my quest to find "the right one"), most compact pistols will carry with minimal effort. But that's the point, isn't it? If you've got to stop and think, okay, I'm running out to gas up the car and swing in and grab a pizza before the babysitter gets here, and yeah, stop at the ATM to get some money for the movie, and when was the last time we had the furnace cleaned out ... Oh, yeah, gotta grab the G19 out of the safe and grab the Crossbreed and darn it, change the belt, and ...
I know, I'm exaggerating. But it sure feels like that sometimes, doesn't it? If you're busy and being pulled in 20 different directions, it's a lot easier to toss a J-frame in your pocket and go than to gear up. And while, yes, no one ever got in a gunfight thinking "boy, I wish my gun held less ammo", I'll bet the same could be said that no one ever said, "boy, I really like lugging this heavy, blocky gun around all day". Let's face it, we're human. We like the path of least resistance. Todd writes it off as lazy. Guilty as charged. I'll bet there's a lot more of us lazy folk out there, though.
Now, Todd was forthcoming and upright with his biases - he is a pistol trainer living in a permissive state (VA, IIRC). I'll do the same. I'm a sales weasel who lives in one of the worst states for 2A rights in the country. The outcomes couldn't be more different if Todd got "made" while carrying vs. someone in my situation - so it is quite possible that I am overly sensitive to printing/accidental exposure. I do know, though, that even in pro-gun states like Florida and Texas it's a big no-no to expose your carry piece. Little chance of doing that in a front pocket.
I don't mean to downplay Todd's excellent essay. He makes some great points, both about the shortcomings of the micro-380s and J-frames as well as the easier operation of the larger pistols. The fundamental difference as I see it is that Todd is telling us to overcome our laziness, whereas I've long come to accept that, yes, I am a lazy bastard and I will embrace it. Chemical reactions need to reach their activation energy to happen, and they are far more likely to happen if the energy of activation (EA) is low. J-frames are low EA. G19s are high(er) EA.
The real trick, though, is to know yourself. If you are one of the smart, non-lazy people that can take the time to gear up with a mid-size handgun, power to you, that's fantastic. You will have a firearm with you that's easier to shoot, carries more ammunition, and is easier to reload than the lazy person with the J-frame. If you're like me, and don't always have the time to assemble and don the right gear, consider a pocket gun so that you obey the first rule of gunfighting - have a gun.
And the one thing that Todd and I have in common is that we will both have a gun if - G-d forbid - we ever need it.
That is all.
Well, Imma speak up for the smaller gun.
Smith & Wesson J-frame/Ruger LCR and a S&W Bodyguard 380/SIG SAUER P238. 5 rounds of .38 Special +P; 6+1 rounds of .380 ACP. Yes, a G19 with 15 rounds of 9mm +P and two 17 round backup magazines is a heckuva lot more firepower in a gun that's easier to aim and shoot. I can't - won't - argue that. What I will argue, though, is that for a good number of us, that blocky, heavy G19 might get carried in the fall and winter months, but as soon as it's T-shirt weather, the pocket gun makes a comeback in a big way.
The secret is for the gun to always be there.
The harder it is to use a tool, the less likely you're going to be to use it at all. Yes, with the right holster (and there are a lot of folks out there making great holsters these days) and the right wardrobe you can conceal a mid-sized gun with little effort. Or you can be constantly tugging at the shirt tail because it's not sitting right and it keeps getting caught up in the grip and why the heck didn't I wear my vest oh, yeah, that's right it's 80º today. If it's a pain in the behind, you won't do it.
And it won't matter what gun you have if you leave it at home.
I've had my permit to carry for nearly 20 years. I've carried everything from a Government model 1911 to a 4" Smith & Wesson K-frame revolver and everything in between. I have found that I am most likely to slip that S&W Bodyguard into my back pocket than anything else. Yes, .380 ACP is a pretty anemic round. Yes, there are other much higher capacity options. But when all is said and done, that 380 is there. It's frickin' good neighbor State Farm, baby. It's not sitting in the safe at home because the last time I carried it it just wouldn't sit right and wound up poking my right kidney 750 times.
Todd is absolutely right - you can carry a larger gun. I don't mean to sound like I'm arguing that point - I've done it; heck, I've carried a 6" barrel revolver in a shoulder rig. With the right gear (and don't get me started on how many different holsters I've tried in my quest to find "the right one"), most compact pistols will carry with minimal effort. But that's the point, isn't it? If you've got to stop and think, okay, I'm running out to gas up the car and swing in and grab a pizza before the babysitter gets here, and yeah, stop at the ATM to get some money for the movie, and when was the last time we had the furnace cleaned out ... Oh, yeah, gotta grab the G19 out of the safe and grab the Crossbreed and darn it, change the belt, and ...
I know, I'm exaggerating. But it sure feels like that sometimes, doesn't it? If you're busy and being pulled in 20 different directions, it's a lot easier to toss a J-frame in your pocket and go than to gear up. And while, yes, no one ever got in a gunfight thinking "boy, I wish my gun held less ammo", I'll bet the same could be said that no one ever said, "boy, I really like lugging this heavy, blocky gun around all day". Let's face it, we're human. We like the path of least resistance. Todd writes it off as lazy. Guilty as charged. I'll bet there's a lot more of us lazy folk out there, though.
Now, Todd was forthcoming and upright with his biases - he is a pistol trainer living in a permissive state (VA, IIRC). I'll do the same. I'm a sales weasel who lives in one of the worst states for 2A rights in the country. The outcomes couldn't be more different if Todd got "made" while carrying vs. someone in my situation - so it is quite possible that I am overly sensitive to printing/accidental exposure. I do know, though, that even in pro-gun states like Florida and Texas it's a big no-no to expose your carry piece. Little chance of doing that in a front pocket.
I don't mean to downplay Todd's excellent essay. He makes some great points, both about the shortcomings of the micro-380s and J-frames as well as the easier operation of the larger pistols. The fundamental difference as I see it is that Todd is telling us to overcome our laziness, whereas I've long come to accept that, yes, I am a lazy bastard and I will embrace it. Chemical reactions need to reach their activation energy to happen, and they are far more likely to happen if the energy of activation (EA) is low. J-frames are low EA. G19s are high(er) EA.
The real trick, though, is to know yourself. If you are one of the smart, non-lazy people that can take the time to gear up with a mid-size handgun, power to you, that's fantastic. You will have a firearm with you that's easier to shoot, carries more ammunition, and is easier to reload than the lazy person with the J-frame. If you're like me, and don't always have the time to assemble and don the right gear, consider a pocket gun so that you obey the first rule of gunfighting - have a gun.
And the one thing that Todd and I have in common is that we will both have a gun if - G-d forbid - we ever need it.
That is all.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
When Is A Hat Not A Hat?
When it comes from the crazy (and I mean that in the best way) and innovative folks at FAB Defense:
Looks like a regular hat, right?
Closer look.
What is this?
Turn it over.
Separated.
Defensive weapon.
In hand.
It's a pretty ingenious device, and billed as non-lethal. While you might be able to gouge out an eyeball with the pointed ends, they're deliberately left dull. The gentleman at the FAB Defense booth was putting on a demonstration of how it works - the two prongs work together to trap an attacker's arm - and for someone who trained with it, it makes a decent defensive weapon. Considering that it fits inside a standard-looking baseball hat, and can be worn pretty much anywhere, you're likely to have this in situations where conventional tools would be discouraged.
It does get the ol' creative juices flowing, though. Imagine if instead of blunted plastic tips there were a pair of blades. Or spikes. Even if the existing plastic tips were, say, honed to more of a slashy edge, you'd have something capable of not only deflecting an attack, but allowing you to go on the offense once the threat has been parried. FAB was quick to advise against such action - they insist that this is a purely defensive object - but were equally quick to agree that the device could certainly function in that manner...
In any case, it beats harsh language, and it's something you can have with you pretty much anywhere.
That is all.
Looks like a regular hat, right?
Closer look.
What is this?
Turn it over.
Separated.
Defensive weapon.
In hand.
It's a pretty ingenious device, and billed as non-lethal. While you might be able to gouge out an eyeball with the pointed ends, they're deliberately left dull. The gentleman at the FAB Defense booth was putting on a demonstration of how it works - the two prongs work together to trap an attacker's arm - and for someone who trained with it, it makes a decent defensive weapon. Considering that it fits inside a standard-looking baseball hat, and can be worn pretty much anywhere, you're likely to have this in situations where conventional tools would be discouraged.
It does get the ol' creative juices flowing, though. Imagine if instead of blunted plastic tips there were a pair of blades. Or spikes. Even if the existing plastic tips were, say, honed to more of a slashy edge, you'd have something capable of not only deflecting an attack, but allowing you to go on the offense once the threat has been parried. FAB was quick to advise against such action - they insist that this is a purely defensive object - but were equally quick to agree that the device could certainly function in that manner...
In any case, it beats harsh language, and it's something you can have with you pretty much anywhere.
That is all.
Monday, February 18, 2013
MArooned Product Review: Dragon Leatherworks Belt
Last month I received a leather belt from Dennis at Dragon Leatherworks. He's expanding his line of quality leather products to gunbelts, and sent out a handful of pre-production models to certain gunbloggers for review. Naturally, being a shameless gear whore wanting to help my friend out, I begged asked to help out.
After having worn this belt for literally every day for the past month, I think it's time for a more in-depth review.
Here's a shot right when I got it:
And here it is after a month of solid wear:
Yeah, not much difference, is there?
After a month of daily use, the notch that I use has a little bit of wear on it. NO cracking, nothing like that, just evidence that this belt has been used in one position over the rest. The entire rest of the belt looks brand new. As a daily wear belt, it's perhaps a bit of overkill - ridiculously overbuilt for merely holding one's pants up - but it does give a good indication of how it will wear over time.
How does it work as a gunbelt, you ask?
Pretty damn good.
That's a two pound, three ounce Smith & Wesson K-frame model 13. With the Dragon Leatherworks gun belt, I can carry it around all day long like it was a 12 ounce Snubbie from Hell™. With a decent cover garment (one advantage to New England winters!) I can carry this around all day long and not even notice the weight. The belt distributes the weight of even a steel-framed revolver very well; I've carried the S&W M&P9 compact as well and it's like nothing's there at all.
I wracked my brain trying to come up with a downside to this belt, and really, the best I could come up with was that it's thick. Yeah, I know. That's not a bug, it's a feature. You have to be deliberate when getting it through belt loops and holster loops. Which, again, is really not a bad thing at all, just that if you're used to traditional belts it takes some getting used to. The belt has held up remarkably over the first month, and I'll revisit how it's holding up sometime late summer/early fall to see if there's any noticeable difference.
Right now, though, two thumbs WAY up for the Dragon Leatherworks gunbelt!
That is all.
After having worn this belt for literally every day for the past month, I think it's time for a more in-depth review.
Here's a shot right when I got it:
And here it is after a month of solid wear:
Yeah, not much difference, is there?
After a month of daily use, the notch that I use has a little bit of wear on it. NO cracking, nothing like that, just evidence that this belt has been used in one position over the rest. The entire rest of the belt looks brand new. As a daily wear belt, it's perhaps a bit of overkill - ridiculously overbuilt for merely holding one's pants up - but it does give a good indication of how it will wear over time.
How does it work as a gunbelt, you ask?
Pretty damn good.
That's a two pound, three ounce Smith & Wesson K-frame model 13. With the Dragon Leatherworks gun belt, I can carry it around all day long like it was a 12 ounce Snubbie from Hell™. With a decent cover garment (one advantage to New England winters!) I can carry this around all day long and not even notice the weight. The belt distributes the weight of even a steel-framed revolver very well; I've carried the S&W M&P9 compact as well and it's like nothing's there at all.
I wracked my brain trying to come up with a downside to this belt, and really, the best I could come up with was that it's thick. Yeah, I know. That's not a bug, it's a feature. You have to be deliberate when getting it through belt loops and holster loops. Which, again, is really not a bad thing at all, just that if you're used to traditional belts it takes some getting used to. The belt has held up remarkably over the first month, and I'll revisit how it's holding up sometime late summer/early fall to see if there's any noticeable difference.
Right now, though, two thumbs WAY up for the Dragon Leatherworks gunbelt!
That is all.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
And There Was (A Smaller Container of) Light
So, I mentioned a while back getting one of the new TerraLUX TT-5 flashlights for T&E. At SHOT Show last month I had a chance to talk to the folks at TerraLUX, and noticed that they had a smaller, more "pocket friendly" flashlight available, the TT-1.
Yesterday, what shows up at my house but this:
Look! A TerraLUX TT-1 of my very own! I will love him and squeeze him and call him George!
You can see the difference in size between the TT-1 and the TT-5:
The TT-5 isn't a large flashlight by any means (I still have a 5 D-cell Maglight by my bed. It's more of a melee weapon than a light, but still), but the TT-1 is a great size for EDC. They have the same controls and overall feel, but the TT-1 fits in a pocket much better.
A full review with other recently acquired flashlights will be forthcoming - once I can find more CR123 batteries! - but I'm really liking the TT-1 so far!
That is all.
Yesterday, what shows up at my house but this:
Look! A TerraLUX TT-1 of my very own! I will love him and squeeze him and call him George!
You can see the difference in size between the TT-1 and the TT-5:
The TT-5 isn't a large flashlight by any means (I still have a 5 D-cell Maglight by my bed. It's more of a melee weapon than a light, but still), but the TT-1 is a great size for EDC. They have the same controls and overall feel, but the TT-1 fits in a pocket much better.
A full review with other recently acquired flashlights will be forthcoming - once I can find more CR123 batteries! - but I'm really liking the TT-1 so far!
That is all.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
An Interesting Direction...
One of the neat things at SHOT Show last month was the news that Crimson Trace will be coming out with a new line of entry-level laser grips in their Defender Series. At Media Day at the Range, they had the J-frame model available:
They're debuting this line later this year, and the MSRP is half of their traditional grip lasers ($149 for the Defender vs. $299 for the Lasergrip). It's not the instant-on of the Lasergrip, but it is Crimson Trace quality and reliability at a significantly lower entry point.They're also debuting a significant number of their new green lasers, for the 1911 (WANT), J-frame, and Glock among others.
I had limited opportunity to try the new Defender series at Range Day (they were running out of .38 Special ammo by the time we got to the Crimson Trace booth), so it was limited to dry-firing. The activation isn't as automatic as the Lasergrip, that's a given, but it's still simple to activate the laser with a two-handed grip (or by a slight modification of the grip if shooting left-handed). The Defender line of grips will allow folks to experience the benefits of adding Crimson Trace laser to a defensive handgun at a lower entry point.
Looking forward to seeing this line hitting the shelves - anything that gets good defensive products into the hands of the good guys is a win in my book!
That is all.
They're debuting this line later this year, and the MSRP is half of their traditional grip lasers ($149 for the Defender vs. $299 for the Lasergrip). It's not the instant-on of the Lasergrip, but it is Crimson Trace quality and reliability at a significantly lower entry point.They're also debuting a significant number of their new green lasers, for the 1911 (WANT), J-frame, and Glock among others.
I had limited opportunity to try the new Defender series at Range Day (they were running out of .38 Special ammo by the time we got to the Crimson Trace booth), so it was limited to dry-firing. The activation isn't as automatic as the Lasergrip, that's a given, but it's still simple to activate the laser with a two-handed grip (or by a slight modification of the grip if shooting left-handed). The Defender line of grips will allow folks to experience the benefits of adding Crimson Trace laser to a defensive handgun at a lower entry point.
Looking forward to seeing this line hitting the shelves - anything that gets good defensive products into the hands of the good guys is a win in my book!
That is all.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
I Don't Have A Problem, I Can Quit Anytime...
Heh. Last night, as I divested of the EDC gear onto the nightstand, I took a long look at what I had just on the nightstand:
No, I don't have a problem with pocketknives or flashlights...
Much like my carry piece, I have my favorites for both. For the flashlights, I'm a huge fan of the Streamlight MicroStream. It works well for even business casual, fitting comfortably in the mag pocket of 5.11 Covert Tactical Khakis or clipped to a back pocket. The Kershaw Barrage is my go-to pocketknife, because it's very thin, opens one-handedly just as fast as an assisted opener, and I think I paid $15 for it. Either piece can be lent out, lost, or even discarded if need be and replaced with little pain in the wallet.
So what are your favorites for light and stabby?
That is all.
No, I don't have a problem with pocketknives or flashlights...
Much like my carry piece, I have my favorites for both. For the flashlights, I'm a huge fan of the Streamlight MicroStream. It works well for even business casual, fitting comfortably in the mag pocket of 5.11 Covert Tactical Khakis or clipped to a back pocket. The Kershaw Barrage is my go-to pocketknife, because it's very thin, opens one-handedly just as fast as an assisted opener, and I think I paid $15 for it. Either piece can be lent out, lost, or even discarded if need be and replaced with little pain in the wallet.
So what are your favorites for light and stabby?
That is all.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Stuff That Works...
The other day, I was putting my EDC gear into the safe when I got a good look at the holster. It had wear, but was not worn, despite being used regularly. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that, for about 90% of my concealed carry needs, I had two basic "go-to" rigs:
On the top* is the Dragon Leatherworks Chimaera, shown with the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 and the SIG SAUER P238. On the bottom is the Michael's Custom Holsters Executive II, shown with the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 38 and the Ruger LCR. I normally carry the Bodyguard 380 in the Chimaera and the LCR in the Exec II; the Bodyguard 38 is shown to illustrate that the Exec II can also accommodate a S&W J-frame; the P238 because, well, it's a current T&E gun and it fits in the Chimaera.
Take a close look at both holsters. They've got some good, honest wear on them both - because I use them a lot. For all but perhaps two months out of the year, I'm carrying either a small semi-automatic or a small revolver. When the weather gets cold enough to justify heavier cover garments, I might opt for a larger, higher-capacity sidearm, but for the most part I've either got a revolver tucked in the waistband or the micro-380 in a pocket.
Both holsters have replaced other options; both stand out as excelling for what they do. The Chimaera is one of the finest pocket holsters I've had the good fortune to use; it holds either the Bodyguard or the P238 firmly in place yet allows a smooth, fluid draw. The Executive II is tuckable, so for the ultimate in concealment you can tuck in your polo shirt over the holster and all anyone sees are the clips - which can be hidden behind the belt. Trust me on this one - no one sees them, as I've used this holster over two years and no one's ever commented on the clips.
It's great when you find stuff that works. It's even better when that gear is handmade by people that you've met, know, and really honestly and truly like as people. I am an unabashed fan of both Dragon Leatherworks and Michael's Custom Holsters, and I will gladly recommend both of them to anyone that asks. They both do excellent work, stand behind their products, and are true gentlemen.
Although I do have to admit, Michael does look better in a dress...
That is all.
*Good catch, Daniel. You are apparently the only one... ;)
On the top* is the Dragon Leatherworks Chimaera, shown with the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380 and the SIG SAUER P238. On the bottom is the Michael's Custom Holsters Executive II, shown with the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 38 and the Ruger LCR. I normally carry the Bodyguard 380 in the Chimaera and the LCR in the Exec II; the Bodyguard 38 is shown to illustrate that the Exec II can also accommodate a S&W J-frame; the P238 because, well, it's a current T&E gun and it fits in the Chimaera.
Take a close look at both holsters. They've got some good, honest wear on them both - because I use them a lot. For all but perhaps two months out of the year, I'm carrying either a small semi-automatic or a small revolver. When the weather gets cold enough to justify heavier cover garments, I might opt for a larger, higher-capacity sidearm, but for the most part I've either got a revolver tucked in the waistband or the micro-380 in a pocket.
Both holsters have replaced other options; both stand out as excelling for what they do. The Chimaera is one of the finest pocket holsters I've had the good fortune to use; it holds either the Bodyguard or the P238 firmly in place yet allows a smooth, fluid draw. The Executive II is tuckable, so for the ultimate in concealment you can tuck in your polo shirt over the holster and all anyone sees are the clips - which can be hidden behind the belt. Trust me on this one - no one sees them, as I've used this holster over two years and no one's ever commented on the clips.
It's great when you find stuff that works. It's even better when that gear is handmade by people that you've met, know, and really honestly and truly like as people. I am an unabashed fan of both Dragon Leatherworks and Michael's Custom Holsters, and I will gladly recommend both of them to anyone that asks. They both do excellent work, stand behind their products, and are true gentlemen.
Although I do have to admit, Michael does look better in a dress...
That is all.
*Good catch, Daniel. You are apparently the only one... ;)
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Let There Be Light...
Last month I got a presser about a new tactical flashlight on the market, the TerraLUX TT-5:
I responded to the presser with something along the lines of "SWEET BABY JESUS HOW DO I GET ONNA THOSE" (I'd like to say I was more professional than that, but I think I'm actually understating my response). Fortunately the gentleman who sent the presser is a friend of mine and responded accordingly (I believe his exact words were "Homemade blueberry muffin in the sinus cavity hurts. Thanks for helping me discover this."
Well, guess what showed up yesterday?
I'm looking forward to testing this out something fierce. As my EDC flashlight mondo comparo may have indicated, I'm somewhat of a flashlight geek. I've got dozens of flashlights, each one more powerful than the last - I've got a 5 D-cell maglight from the early 1990s; one of the first Brinkman LED flashlights that actually uses up the CR123 batteries before you put them in the flashlight; and countless $5 - $10 flashlights that happened to have caught my eye at WalMart, Home Depot, or Amazon...
This one, though, is the holy mother of them all. The Fenix P30D is - or I should say was - my most powerful flashlight, ringing in with an eye-watering 257 lumens maximum output. It is physically painful if you accidentally (okay, not really) shine it right in your eyes. The TT-5 has 650 lumens. It actually comes with a warning that it may light your hair on fire (okay, I might be exaggerating a tad). I'm really looking forward to a decent test with this one. I may even bust out the video camera and add to my long-neglected YouTube channel...
Thanks to TerraLUX for sending this for testing; full report later!
That is all.
Well, guess what showed up yesterday?
This one, though, is the holy mother of them all. The Fenix P30D is - or I should say was - my most powerful flashlight, ringing in with an eye-watering 257 lumens maximum output. It is physically painful if you accidentally (okay, not really) shine it right in your eyes. The TT-5 has 650 lumens. It actually comes with a warning that it may light your hair on fire (okay, I might be exaggerating a tad). I'm really looking forward to a decent test with this one. I may even bust out the video camera and add to my long-neglected YouTube channel...
Thanks to TerraLUX for sending this for testing; full report later!
That is all.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
For The Outdoor Enthusiast Who Has Everything...
May I present to you, this:
Yes, that is a $60, titanium hobo tool. For the outdoor enthusiast who has everything including an aversion to spending ridiculous sums of money on themselves, a titanium knife and fork combination that costs more than most cutlery sets for four! Now look, I'm all about saving weight when it comes to backpacking, but the difference in weight between the titanium version and the linked one cannot be more than an ounce or two.
Heck, you could get the infamous folding titanium spork for a quarter of the price!
That is all.
Yes, that is a $60, titanium hobo tool. For the outdoor enthusiast who has everything including an aversion to spending ridiculous sums of money on themselves, a titanium knife and fork combination that costs more than most cutlery sets for four! Now look, I'm all about saving weight when it comes to backpacking, but the difference in weight between the titanium version and the linked one cannot be more than an ounce or two.
Heck, you could get the infamous folding titanium spork for a quarter of the price!
That is all.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
EDC Flashlight Mondo Comparo!
A while back I asked for suggestions on flashlights for EDC carry. I took a handful of the suggestions, plus one I stumbled across, and figured I'd run a comparison of the four flashlights I found for s**ts and giggles science.
Here's a group shot:
From left to right:
Streamlight MicroStream
Coleman MAX
FourSevens Mini M2A
Fenix P30D
All flashlights except the Coleman MAX were purchased at Amazon (yay free shipping!); the Coleman was an impulse buy at WalMart. I'll run through the specs of each flashlight first, then a light comparison at the end.
Streamlight MicroStream:
Output: 28 lumens
Activation: Pushbutton endcap
Power source: 1 AAA battery (included)
Runtime: 2.25 hours
Price Paid: $16.50
Water resistant
Extras: Extra end cap, lanyard
Coleman MAX:
Output: 144 lumens
Activation: Pushbutton endcap
Power source: 3 AAA batteries (included)
Runtime: 6 hours
Price Paid: $24.88
Water resistant
Extras: None
FourSevens Mini M2A:
Output: 180 lumens (max)
Activation: Twist
Power source: 2 AA batteries (included)
Runtime: 88 hours (low setting), 1.7 hours (high setting)
Price Paid: $40.50
Waterproof to 3 meters
Extras: Extra O-rings, lanyard
Fenix PD30:
Output: 257 lumens (max)
Activation: Pushbutton endcap
Power source: 2 CR123 batteries (not included)
Runtime: 2.5 hours (high), 126 hours (low)
Price Paid: $47.54
Waterproof to 2 meters
Extras: Extra end cap, belt holster, lanyard
Now, a quick comparison of the light thrown by each light. I stood in the same position, holding the light in the same hand at the same height, focused on the same ~ 1' square object. The room was dark, with the picture taken at night with all house lights off, and the object was approximately 10 feet away.
Here are all four lights under as close to identical parameters as humanly possible:
Streamlight MicroStream:
The object was illuminated evenly, but the beam doesn't do much more than highlight the object and immediate surroundings.
Coleman MAX:
The object was well-lit, but pinpointed in the center and nearly washed out.
FourSevens Mini M2A:
Good, even lighting; quite a bit of coverage; impressive distance for beam.
Fenix PD30:
What a difference those extra 77 lumens make! Even over the quite well-lit M2A, the PD30 throws plenty of light - certainly enough to illuminate the object completely as well as a good three foot diameter around it. Even white light, and this was the only flashlight that didn't cause my digital camera to go into "low light" mode.
Thoughts on all four.
Streamlight MicroStream:
Pros:
Excellent price
Small size for ease of carrying
Single AAA battery is inexpensive to replace.
Cons:
Least powerful
End cap requires significant effort to engage.
Coleman Max:
Pros:
Reasonable price
Simple operation - on/off, button is large, easy to push, and doesn't turn on accidentally.
Common battery (AAA)
Cons:
Heavy
No clip or lanyard carry - pocket only.
FourSevens Mini M2A:
Pros:
Bright light, slim design
Clean, bright light
Two AA batteries - very common and inexpensive to replace
Settings for SOS and strobe
Cons:
Twist-to-on is difficult to use, imprecise, and leads to the flashlight turning on when not needed
Settings, while easy to cycle, require the flashlight go through low through high - time consuming.
Fenix PD30
Pros:
Very bright - blinding, good for an EDC defensive light
Solid construction
Many extras
Settings are easy to cycle - high/low; strobe/constant
Cons:
Expensive batteries - and not included.
Conclusion:
It's not fair to include the MicroStream in this grouping, in that it's not the same class of flashlight. For under $20, though, it's a great flashlight value - and it can be clipped to the brim of your hat for hands-free operation. The Coleman Max is very simple, which is good; but limited without clip or lanyard. The Mini M2A throws a great amount of light, uses very common batteries, and has useful settings, but the twist-on activation is imprecise and unsure. And, lastly, the Fenix PD30 would be absolutely perfect if it ran on AA or AAA batteries - as it is, for an EDC light that might see only intermittent use, it's not terrible, but if you're going to use it much at all, the battery cost will be significant.
Hope this was illuminating!
That is all.
Here's a group shot:
From left to right:
Streamlight MicroStream
Coleman MAX
FourSevens Mini M2A
Fenix P30D
All flashlights except the Coleman MAX were purchased at Amazon (yay free shipping!); the Coleman was an impulse buy at WalMart. I'll run through the specs of each flashlight first, then a light comparison at the end.
Streamlight MicroStream:
Output: 28 lumens
Activation: Pushbutton endcap
Power source: 1 AAA battery (included)
Runtime: 2.25 hours
Price Paid: $16.50
Water resistant
Extras: Extra end cap, lanyard
Coleman MAX:
Output: 144 lumens
Activation: Pushbutton endcap
Power source: 3 AAA batteries (included)
Runtime: 6 hours
Price Paid: $24.88
Water resistant
Extras: None
FourSevens Mini M2A:
Output: 180 lumens (max)
Activation: Twist
Power source: 2 AA batteries (included)
Runtime: 88 hours (low setting), 1.7 hours (high setting)
Price Paid: $40.50
Waterproof to 3 meters
Extras: Extra O-rings, lanyard
Fenix PD30:
Output: 257 lumens (max)
Activation: Pushbutton endcap
Power source: 2 CR123 batteries (not included)
Runtime: 2.5 hours (high), 126 hours (low)
Price Paid: $47.54
Waterproof to 2 meters
Extras: Extra end cap, belt holster, lanyard
Now, a quick comparison of the light thrown by each light. I stood in the same position, holding the light in the same hand at the same height, focused on the same ~ 1' square object. The room was dark, with the picture taken at night with all house lights off, and the object was approximately 10 feet away.
Here are all four lights under as close to identical parameters as humanly possible:
Streamlight MicroStream:
The object was illuminated evenly, but the beam doesn't do much more than highlight the object and immediate surroundings.
Coleman MAX:
The object was well-lit, but pinpointed in the center and nearly washed out.
FourSevens Mini M2A:
Good, even lighting; quite a bit of coverage; impressive distance for beam.
Fenix PD30:
What a difference those extra 77 lumens make! Even over the quite well-lit M2A, the PD30 throws plenty of light - certainly enough to illuminate the object completely as well as a good three foot diameter around it. Even white light, and this was the only flashlight that didn't cause my digital camera to go into "low light" mode.
Thoughts on all four.
Streamlight MicroStream:
Pros:
Excellent price
Small size for ease of carrying
Single AAA battery is inexpensive to replace.
Cons:
Least powerful
End cap requires significant effort to engage.
Coleman Max:
Pros:
Reasonable price
Simple operation - on/off, button is large, easy to push, and doesn't turn on accidentally.
Common battery (AAA)
Cons:
Heavy
No clip or lanyard carry - pocket only.
FourSevens Mini M2A:
Pros:
Bright light, slim design
Clean, bright light
Two AA batteries - very common and inexpensive to replace
Settings for SOS and strobe
Cons:
Twist-to-on is difficult to use, imprecise, and leads to the flashlight turning on when not needed
Settings, while easy to cycle, require the flashlight go through low through high - time consuming.
Fenix PD30
Pros:
Very bright - blinding, good for an EDC defensive light
Solid construction
Many extras
Settings are easy to cycle - high/low; strobe/constant
Cons:
Expensive batteries - and not included.
Conclusion:
It's not fair to include the MicroStream in this grouping, in that it's not the same class of flashlight. For under $20, though, it's a great flashlight value - and it can be clipped to the brim of your hat for hands-free operation. The Coleman Max is very simple, which is good; but limited without clip or lanyard. The Mini M2A throws a great amount of light, uses very common batteries, and has useful settings, but the twist-on activation is imprecise and unsure. And, lastly, the Fenix PD30 would be absolutely perfect if it ran on AA or AAA batteries - as it is, for an EDC light that might see only intermittent use, it's not terrible, but if you're going to use it much at all, the battery cost will be significant.
Hope this was illuminating!
That is all.
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