Author: Jack Bogart

FORT DRUM, N.Y. — As unmanned aircraft systems reshape modern warfare, the 10th Mountain Division is positioning itself at the forefront of the Army’s effort to train Soldiers to fight, survive and adapt on a drone?saturated battlefield. The division’s Mountain Innovation Systems Lab is producing drone components on post, reducing reliance on external suppliers and accelerating experimentation. Using those systems, the newly established Counter?Unmanned Aerial Systems (C?UAS) Academy trained Soldiers at Fort Drum from May 11–15, 2026, marking a major step in preparing units for emerging threats. To meet challenges posed by near?peer adversaries, the Army is expanding training programs…

Take it from me: The Lone Star State is in desperate need of more parks. As a native Texan and lover of the outdoors, I’ve explored most of the state’s public lands. To be honest, we didn’t have many parks to start with, and the existing ones have only become more crowded with the state’s rapid population growth in recent years. So it’s a big deal that a state with deeply conservative politics is currently on a spending spree to buy up private property for public use. Most notably, Texas Parks & Wildlife just announced the acquisition of Silver Lake Ranch,…

Here’s a look at just some of the fun that was had at CANCON Carolinas 2026. If you missed it, we hope to see you there next year! If you want to buy a car, you can test-drive it at a dealership. If you need new clothes, you can try them on at a store. But if you want a suppressor, you usually can’t go hands-on with the model you’re considering until after you’ve already bought it. CANCON, the world’s largest fully suppressed range day, changes that. With two CANCONs per year, one in the West and one in the…

There’s a very simple argument for having a car camping setup separate from your usual backpacking kit: Comfort. REI has a full selection of gear that provides cushier sleeping arrangements and home-like accessories such as cookware and camp games to let you relax outdoors. As you’ll see, REI Co-op also makes gear that ranks highly (or atop) several of our Best Of roundups. Read on for some of our favorite car camping options on the market. Shop REI Co-op Hike & Camping Gear Camp Lodging Backpacking tents and sleeping bags make design choices that prioritize packability and a lighter weight.…

LONDON – 1 June 2026 – NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) has launched six new challenges aimed at finding game-changing solutions that help build a safer future for the Alliance. Innovators can submit their proposals for DIANA’s challenges until 12:00 UTC +1/BST on Friday 3 July 2026. Selected innovators will become part of DIANA’s 2027 cohort of innovators, participating in a six-month accelerator programme that will begin in January 2027. These innovators will help identify and adopt solutions that can deliver cutting-edge technologies to Allied armed forces faster – strengthening NATO’s operational edge Innovators can submit proposals for…

Colorado has a lot of two things: outdoor recreation and black bears. That combination has led to an increasing number of human–bear conflicts in recent years. As a result, the state’s lawmakers have increased legal penalties for the humans who are making the problem worse. If you’re camping and leave out food that attracts a bear, you could now receive a $1,000 ticket — even for your first offense. If you get to a third offense, the fine rises to $5,000. The new law applies to both out-of-state campers and Colorado residents, Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) spokesperson Bridget O’Rourke told…

Rampart Range Day 26 – Pulsar Pulsar’s Symbion multi-spectral binoculars are a great value. In addition to EO (day and low light) and thermal cameras, the Symbion incorporates a laser range finder and video camera. Sensor Thermal 1280×1024/12µm | Digital 3840×2160 Objective lens Thermal F50/1.0 | Digital F50/1.8 Magnification, x Thermal 2 – 24x | Digital 6.5 – 26x FOV (HxV), degrees Thermal 17.5° | Digital 5.8° FOV (HxV), m@100m Thermal 30.7 m | Digital 10.2 m Diopter Adjustment, D -5 / +5 Detection range Thermal 2300 m This and other products shown at Rampart Range Day are available for…

When there are new Kershaw models in the offing (like those we talked about yesterday), a new Zero Tolerance knife can’t be far behind. This year, ZT is celebrating its 20th birthday with a limited edition model called the 0020. Damascus is a classic choice for a limited edition model – and if it’s stainless damascus, well, that’s even better for many enthusiasts out there. ZT tapped Vegas Forge for this particular stainless damascus, and they delivered their Lytic pattern with water ripple-like patterns moving across the surface of the blade. The main cutting steel in this stainless formula is…

Rampart Range Day 26 – Sordin Sordin exhibited their T2 comms headset built in their SordinFLEX Modular Design Platform. Additionally, you can choose between four audio profiles to adapt your sound image to the actual tactical situation. Switching is as simple as toggling between profiles using an ergonomic keypad. Profiles include: Tactical is the normal audio profile for general purposes. Gain and frequency are set to normal levels in order to mimic natural ambient sound and to balance situational awareness and comfort in the field. Comfort is a profile with reduced gain and a reduced frequency spectrum. Ideal in noisy…

Rampart Range Day 26 – Ice Warrior Tactical Ice Warrior Tactical was founded in Canada to help Law Enforcement Officers and Military personnel who are tired of losing dexterity due to prolonged cold. The Mammoth-X V2 McMeekin is made up of a glove inside of a mitt. Thanks to the 3M Thinsulate 240G insulation it is rated down to in -40 C/-40 F temperatures. Additionally, there’s a pocket in the mitt for two hand warmer packets. This and other products shown at Rampart Range Day are available for unit and agency orders in Canada and the US through Rampart. This…