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Reggie’s Recommendations ’ Category
Buck Knives
The original Nighthawk was a great basic survival knife capable of performing virtually any task asked of it.
Not to be outdone (or fall behind in the market), Buck came out with the TOPS/BUCK Nighthawk, which addressed one of the major issues with the knife – its carry sheath – and added some bells and whistles to make it more sexy and appealing to a highly competitive market.
The original Nighthawk was a solid, durable, classically designed knife which fit multiple roles including hunting, survival and combat. Made of 420HC (high carbon) steel, it was extremely tough, easy to sharpen and very wear-resistant – all the qualities of a long term survival knife. However, the carry sheath had a lot to be desired.
The knife fit loosely, always felt unsecured and was limited in the ways it could be carried. Basically, it was a cheap belt sheath. In addition, under very hard use, the molded grip began to feel like it wanted to loosen up.
Although this “feeling” never led to catastrophic failure, it did lead to some doubts about longevity.
The new TOPS/BUCK Nighthawk has addressed these minor issues.
The sheath has been greatly improved to include an external accessory pouch and multiple methods of attachment including MOLLE (modular lightweight load-carrying equipment). Although this is obviously directed at the military, it should appeal to all of us as it gets the knife off our belt when needed (like when humping oversized packs).
In addition, the knife has a overall beefier feel and will stand up to heavy use as well as or better than the original. This is an important aspect of a long-term survival knife, because a knife which can’t take abuse is almost as bad as no knife at all.
Finally, TOPS/BUCK added some utility holes in the blade. Under normal situations, these may not have any use; however in a survival situation I can see where they would come in handy for things like twisting snare wire for traps.
Best of all, it’s made in the USA!
Overall, the Nighthawk is a robust, well-designed and appropriately priced knife which deserves Reggie’s Recommendation!
Reggie’s Recommendations are reviews of survival and rescue products personally tested by Mountain Shepherd’s own Reggie Bennett.
Reggie is not paid or compensated in any way for reviewing these products.
That means you get a real, honest, unbiased opinion on a product that might save your life one day.
February 16, 2012 Posted in
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 Photon
Micro-Light II LED Light
Price: $11.95
Many things can go wrong in a wilderness adventure, and lack of light just compounds the issue.
Having a tent blow away from its stakes and roll down a hill with you, your partner and the dog in the middle of the night is just one example of a very confusing situation!
Sometimes, you need a light right now to make a bad situation better.
Fortunately, the Micro-Light II fills the bill perfectly.
About the size and weight of a quarter, it can be worn around the neck or clipped to a belt without the wearer even knowing it’s there.
However, its small size doesn’t mean it isn’t bright. The Micro Light II has more than enough lumens to get you out of an emergency situation or to help you in find your primary light.
The Micro Light II is also very hardy. It’s virtually indestructible and is designed to work in sub-zero temperatures, making it the perfect choice for anyone as a backup light.
Among of the big advantages of the Micro Light II: the locking mechanism — which allows the light to be turned on and left on – and a simple push-and-hold like its predecessor, the original Micro-Light.
Some people have pointed out the light’s 12-hour battery life as a downside. However, in our book this is not a factor. Twelve hours of continuous use as an emergency light is more than adequate considering the size and task you’re using it for. Besides, the batteries are replaceable.
Overall, this is an outstanding piece of equipment for any type of situation you could find yourself in requiring light.
It is definitely one of Reggie’s Recommendations.
Reggie’s Recommendations are reviews of survival and rescue products personally tested by Mountain Shepherd’s own Reggie Bennett.
Reggie is not paid or compensated in any way for reviewing these products.
That means you get a real, honest, unbiased opinion on a product that might save your life one day.
February 2, 2012 Posted in
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 Ultimate Survival Technologies / Revere
Price: $9.95 – Get it here!
Emergency survival situations can occur anyplace, anytime.
From a day hike into the forest to a riot in the city, there may be a time where you or your family must make it through the night under extreme conditions.
In situations like this there is nothing that builds positive mental attitude, gives comfort and makes the situation more tolerable than a warm fire.
However, creating a fire can sometimes be a challenge.
Lighters, matches and primitive skills can all fail you in numerous ways. You might not have an ignition source on you and thus have to fall back on sticks and stones which, by the way, require a lot of things to be just right and a lot of practice.
The Sparkie Fire Starter is a solution to all of these problems and just might mean the difference between life and death.
The Sparkie is a true survival/emergency tool. It’s lightweight, works when you need it and has a lanyard hole so you can attach a dummy cord!
Because of its design, the Sparkie is a true one-handed fire starting device, which comes in handy when you’re injured or trying to protect your tinder from the elements.
Unlike its big brother, the “Blastmatch,” the Sparkie flint doesn’t rotate with each strike, so it has a tendency to wear out faster. However, its other attributes far outweigh this negative. Just the sheer fact that it weighs almost nothing makes this one-handed device a thing of beauty.
Because of the Sparkie’s ease of use, reliability and ease of carry, it has obtained a place in Reggie’s Recommendations.
Reggie’s Recommendations are reviews of survival and rescue products personally tested by Mountain Shepherd’s own Reggie Bennett.
Reggie is not paid or compensated in any way for reviewing these products.
That means you get a real, honest, unbiased opinion on a product that might save your life one day.
January 23, 2012 Posted in
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Maker: Streamlight.com
Price: $75
One of the worst-case scenarios for a stranded individual is for the situation to turn dark rapidly. Whether you’re a stranded motorist, a lost hiker or a downed pilot, night makes fulfilling life-sustaining tasks difficult.
This problem has been solved by the Streamlight Company and its Sidewinder flashlight.
The Sidewinder is a fully articulating, waterproof flashlight sporting multiple light colors and a belt clip. One of the Sidewinder’s best features is the articulating lens, which means you can use the light at any angle up to 185 degrees. Combined with the metal belt clip, it is a true hands-free device.
In addition, the multiple light colors (including infrared in the military version) give hunters and aviators something to work with without damaging their night vision. The Sidewinder also has strobe capabilities, which give the survivor a great emergency signal in a rescue situation.
However, one of the best features of the Sidewinder is its power source — AA batteries. Unlike other high-speed lights which use expensive (and sometimes hard to come by) lithium batteries, the people at Streamlight choose something convenient. Very smart!
Because of its practical features, ease of operation and overall usefulness, the Streamlight Sidewinder is one of Reggie’s Recommendations.
Reggie’s Recommendations are reviews of survival and rescue products personally tested by Mountain Shepherd’s own Reggie Bennett.
Reggie is not paid or compensated in any way for reviewing these products.
That means you get a real, honest, unbiased opinion on a product that might save your life one day.
January 9, 2012 Posted in
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