Author: news

Adding a new aesthetic or color scheme to an existing product might not seem like that much of an innovation, but one look at this week’s Emerging Gear picks will change your mind. Peak Performance turned the normally bland, utilitarian down jacket into a pastel art form. Vero revamped a popular watch with help from an iconic retro 4×4, and Kizer put a holiday spin on some of its most popular knives. Backpackers also have plenty to check out this week, with an ultralight headlamp from Petzl and a new way to get their caffeine fix in the backcountry. Check…

Howdy folks. We are just a couple of days away from Christmas, which means I am a week late getting this up on these digital pages. However, I did manage to get a full knife review and a mini-review out last week for above-the-fold content. So this got punted to Monday. As always this disclaimer – This is not the freshest of news, as it was written for the December issue, which went to press at the end of November. However, with such limited space in print, it is an archive of the items we feel are worthy of mention…

The Bundeswehr has commissioned Rheinmetall to supply Laser-Light-Modules for the German Armed Forces. Following the budget approval by the German Bundestag’s Budget Committee on 3 December 2025, the first definitive call-off has now been made under the framework agreement concluded in June 2021. This agreement entails the delivery of ‘LLM-VarioRay’ Laser-Light-Modules, scheduled for delivery over the next seven years. In addition, there is the option to procure further LLM-VR modules. These can be delivered additionally within the agreed time frame. This fixed call-off has a net order intake of several hundred million Euro for Rheinmetall. The devices are manufactured by…

Sometimes you don’t even know what you’ve been missing out on until you try out something new, as is the case in this reviewer’s experience with the FORLOH Women’s BTM Pro Pants’ knee pads. We’ll talk about a lot of the fit and function of these brush pants, but no aspect stands above the knee pad. My spouse and I took these pants (men’s and women’s versions) on our fall hunts this year, and literally walked over the river, through the woods, up mountains, through hail, in gale-force winds. The BTM Pro Pants kept us warm and dry when we…

Modular Driven Technologies, better known as MDT has recently unveiled a couple of new rifle and chassis accessories. MDT AP Throw Lever Head  The MDT AP Throw Lever Head is a bipod accessory that allows shooters to quickly mount or dismount their A.R.M.S. #17-compatible bipods in one smooth motion. This attachment accessory relies on a quick locking lever that either locks down or releases the head (along with the remainder of the bipod). This throw lever head works with both Picatinny and Swiss ARCA rail surfaces. Its included lever works in tandem with an adjustment nut in order to allow…

By Joe Kurtenbach Posted in #Guns Working in the firearms industry and reviewing shooting gear offers a front-row seat to the cutting edge of gun-related tech and trends. And while some categories, such as optics, chronographs and suppressors seem to advance in leaps and bounds, other products progress through an unassuming procession of modest refinement. New materials, enhanced ergonomics, and original combinations of pre-existing features and components denote new generations of long-trusted designs. For proof of my supposition, look no than the ubiquitous bolt-action rifle. The modern bolt action can trace its roots back nearly 200 years,…

Managing two to three casualties in the real world from a first-line aid bag is not an ultralight solution in the modern age of DCR and Blood Cold Chain. There is an argument to be made that light and fast is an advantage, which is valid, but “heavier” often equals more capable (a Role 2 is more capable than POI, etc). That’s not to say bring the kitchen sink to the POI, just that efficiencies must be incorporated into the first-line bag to adhere to the standard of care, which includes carrying LTOWB (Low-Titer O neg Whole Blood).  As protocols…

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard people say this about a stranger, “they looked so nice” or “I bet they don’t have a mean bone in their body.” When I hear things like that, I ask them, “how can you tell?” They usually answer with “they are handsome, nice smile, dressed to the “T”, have a child with them, well groomed” and the like. I simply nod and ask the same question again “but, how can you say that they mean you no harm just by looking at them (but with a bit more umph on…

GoTAK is proud to highlight a recent operational deployment delivered in partnership with Solace Communications, bringing a full TAK OS enabled C4ISR capability and mission-focused training to an allied partner force in Central Africa. This deployment demonstrates how TAK OS, when paired with resilient communications, integrated sensors, and operator-led training, transitions from a platform into a field-proven operational capability—supporting situational awareness and mission execution under real-world conditions. Fielding TAK OS in Operational Environments Over the course of recent deployments, Solace Communications successfully fielded an integrated C4ISR stack built around TAK OS, delivering a common operating picture directly to operators and commanders…

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII – The U.S. Marine Corps took a major step forward with a state-of-the-art system designed for short-range detection, tracking and engagement of aerial threats. On Dec. 12, 2025, Program Executive Office Land Systems fielded two Marine Air Defense Integrated Systems (MADIS) to 1st Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW). The fielding of these systems marks a pivotal step in enhancing expeditionary defense capabilities within the Indo-Pacific region. The MADIS consists of two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), one focused on detection and the other oriented toward offensive…