The Most Overlooked Piece of Equipment for a Winter Range Day How many times have you looked forward to a day at the range only to have your dreams dashed by painfully low temperatures? Like so many people, when the mercury plummets so does your desire to stand outside in freezing the cold. So, how…
Almost every cop I know carries the same type of multi-tool. They use it for prying, hammering, lock picking, as a screw driver, and to pierce and cut things. The multi-tool that I am talking about is a folding knife. A police officer, especially a SWAT officer is going to use the tool that is…
Whether you are on a SWAT call out or standing on the range, a good pair of boots can make or break your day. When your feet start to hurt because of bad footwear, it is not too long before you can become distracted and fatigued from discomfort. Ordinarily, this type of distraction is just…
Spending the day in the elements can be rough. Unless you dress properly. A few years ago, I attended a land warfare training course. The class was held outside, the temperatures were in the 30’s, it rained, I got wet, and had nowhere to go and dry off. I wore an Ice Breaker top for my…
Any range day is a good one. Except for this particular day. You are having a hard time concentrating because of the bone chilling low temperatures. The frigid temperatures are only made worse by a brutally cold, sharp wind that has frozen your body to its core. You are in a world of hurt, and…
Today I am talking about two important items that are often over looked, eye protection and helmet lights. This is the final post in a four-part series on helmets and helmet mounted equipment for SWAT teams. In the previous posts, I covered, helmets, hearing protection, and night vision devices. Eye Protection I have seen…
In previous posts of this series I covered helmets and hearing protection. Next up is night vision. Night Vision If your team has the opportunity to purchase night vision optics for the entire team or just some of your unit, go for it. Night vision is a windfall for SWAT teams. The ability to work…
When you start looking at helmets, which I covered in part 1 of this series, you should to start looking at hearing protection. Even if your SWAT team already has hearing protection, it is a good idea to at least consider your future hearing protection/communication needs so that you do not buy a helmet that…
This is going to be a series of posts about head mounted equipment for SWAT teams. I am going to talk a little more about concepts and less about specific brands. I am also going to answer some of the questions you may have if you are making a purchase for your team or yourself….
I have been through a lot of personal gear, most of it expensive (on a cop’s salary anyway). All of it I have paid for. I have definitely wasted my hard earned money on some quality equipment that has not lived up to its advertising. What follows is a guide to use when selecting equipment…
