Author: Jack Bogart

By Larry Rodriguez Posted in #Skills Editor’s Note: This article is not intended as training advice, but is merely the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of The Armory Life. Please seek qualified training and ensure proper safety protocols are followed when conducting any drills.  On a bright sunny day, you decide to go to the range to shoot your pistol. You grab 300 rounds of FMJ, hollow points, and other assorted ammunition that you had lying around in your garage. As you drive to the range, eager with anticipation, you mentally plan…

Modern hiking gear is trending lighter, faster, and more breathable, and the latest generation of women’s hiking shoes is leading the charge. Whether you’re tackling high-alpine ridges or local weekend loops, today’s low-cut trail shoes offer a level of energy return and comfort that traditional heavy footwear simply can’t match. By choosing a more agile shoe, you make 15-mile days feel significantly less taxing on your feet and joints without sacrificing the traction and support needed for technical terrain. For this guide, expert testers Micah Ling and Chris Kassar drew on decades of trail experience—from fast-packing rugged peaks to slow,…

In a recent Sources Sought Notice, Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), Program Manager Combat Support Systems (PM CSS), Product Manager Combat Service Support Equipment (PdM CSSE) reached out to industry to identify potential vendors capable of developing a Multispectral Camouflage Overgarment (MCO). This photo of the Noble booth was taken during last year’s AUSA Annual Meeting and depicts multispectral cloaks from Amaterine, FibroTex, Ghosthood, and Stealth Products Group. According to the notice, “The MCO is intended to provide individual signature management for Marines by mitigating detection across the visual (VIS), near infrared (NIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectrums as well…

The best running shorts for women can be the difference between a smooth run and a workout spent tugging and adjusting. From daily road miles to steep technical climbs, our team puts in the weekly mileage to find the pairs that truly deliver when the pace picks up and the temperatures rise. To make our list, the best women’s running shorts must stay put, resist chafing, dry quickly, and offer smart storage for essentials without feeling bulky. We also look closely at durability, price, sustainability, and style, because the shorts you reach for most should perform as well on mile 20…

“The US Army Contracting Command – New Jersey (ACC-NJ), on behalf of Project Manager Soldier Lethality (PM SL), located at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, is conducting a market survey for direct view optics and aiming lasers for use on shoulder fired weapon systems (i.e. rifles, carbines and automatic rifles) within the Close Combat Force.” That’s how the recent US Army RFI to industry for commercial off the shelf weapon enablers starts out. I’m going to dissect it a little bit. It’s for “rifles, carbines and automatic rifles within the Close Combat Force.” Considering the Army is currently replacing the M4 Carbines…

Looking for a backpack loaded with tactical features but without the tactical look? That’s exactly what 5.11’s LVC12 offers.We’ve all seen the gray man memes online. Maybe you even know someone who dresses that way in real life. They think they’re blending in, but in reality, they’re sticking out. Wraparound sunglasses, tactical pants and cop boots are the fashion equivalent of putting a Glock bumper sticker on your truck. You’re just announcing to the world that you have a gun. There are better ways to add functional capability to your wardrobe without the tactical aesthetic, and as far as backpacks…

More than 200 airmen training with the Air Force’s 368th Training Squadron spent Feb. 27 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, learning about unmanned aerial systems during an exercise designed to cultivate Air Force airmindedness and the warrior ethos. The training squadron, based at Fort Leonard Wood, provides initial skills and advanced level training in the areas of ground transportation, engineering, emergency management and pavements and construction equipment. According to Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christopher Moss, a specialty code instructor assigned to the training squadron, airmen at various specialty schools on base usually train separately, but this day was unique because…

Blue UAS Recognized Assessor to deliver supply chain and cybersecurity evaluations for participating UAS vendors RESTON, VA, March 3, 2026 – SpiderOak, a leader in zero-trust cybersecurity solutions and services for space, aerospace, and defense, announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the Program Office for U.S. Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems (PMO UAS) to perform supply chain analysis and cybersecurity assessments for multiple vendors participating in the U.S. Army’s Drone Dominance Program (DDP). SpiderOak, a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Blue UAS Recognized Assessor, will apply its Advanced Cyber Threat & Resilience Assessments (ACTRA) methodology to evaluate participating…

There’s never been any doubt that the Appalachian Trail is popular. But now it’s clear that this trail sees more visitors than the most popular national parks in the U.S. Thanks to creative data gathering by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and National Park Service (NPS), we now know that the trail had 16.9 million visits in 2025. That’s more than any single site within the national park system last year. It’s more than the Blue Ridge Parkway (16.5 million), the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (15.7 million), and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (11.5 million). To be fair,…

There’s a childlike joy in seeing something up close, at a distance. I felt that way when I saw a great blue heron stalking in the shallows of a lake and dialed a spotting scope into focus just in time to see it spear a fish. Spotting scopes are great for long-distance observations of waterfowl that hang out in the middle of lakes, skittish shorebirds, and eagles nesting in distant treetops. Those are all species I watched through the rich 85mm optics of the Nocs Provisions Long View Spotting Scope. In short: The Long View Spotting Scope ($600) offers great…