Author: news

Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More One of climbing’s most iconic walls witnessed a tragic accident this week, after a young climber died in an accident on El Capitan in Yosemite this week. Balin Miller, 23, a promising athlete in the climbing world who just this summer claimed the first solo ascent of Denali’s Slovak Direct, died Wednesday, his father, David Miller, confirmed in an Instagram post. Balin Miller Dies on El Cap According to a Facebook post from local photographer, Tom Evans, Miller was finishing his solo aid climb…

The old axiom to never bring a knife to a gun fight is generally a good one, as we’ve chronicled before. Now, two groups with deep ties to firearms are getting involved in the battle over California’s switchblade ban. On September 26, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) filed an amicus brief with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Knife Rights, Inc. v. Bonta, the challenge to California’s ban on switchblades. According to a report at nraila.org, California effectively bans the possession, carry and transfer of switchblade knives that have 2-inch or longer blades.…

Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More REI: Garmin inReach Messenger Plus: 20% Off A satellite communicator is a necessary, albeit pricey, piece of outdoor gear. At REI, you can save $100 on Garmin’s most sophisticated device, the inReach Messenger Plus. It can send photos, 1,600-character messages, and voice memos from anywhere, all with an extremely long battery life. Our hunting and fishing editor was thoroughly impressed with how well it worked in the backcountry. Shop Garmin inReach Patagonia: Down Sweater Jacket: 30% Off One of Patagonia’s most popular winter jackets…

Reptilia Corp, best known for its high-end, single-piece, tactical-riflescope mounts, has recently released a modern and sleek AR-15 pattern handguard. Simply called the Reptilia Handguard, Reptilia manufactures these M-Lok-based handguards and offers them in black or flat dark earth anodizing from 6061 extruded aluminum, built in four different lengths to suit a wide range of AR-15 carbine, large-format pistol and SBR configurations. These lengths include 9.4 inches, 10.5 inches, 13 inches and 15 inches. Like most contemporary tactical M-Lok based handguards, the Reptilia Handguard is full of M-Lok slots and includes the customary full-length span of Picatinny rail on top…

By Matthew McClellan Posted in #Guns During my years in law enforcement, I spent much time in cramped and narrow areas and urban settings, along with narrow hallways where handling full-length rifles proved to be more obstacle than a benefit. So, the question arises — what type of firearm fits the role well where you might find yourself in cramped quarters, but needing capable defensive firepower? The Victor 5.5” 9mm design purpose focuses on thriving in tight spaces. When we talk about compact firearms, we often highlight their concealability and comfort during carry. But what’s even more…

There are some fresh new prototypes cropping up over at chez We Knife, with one such being today’s object of discussion, the Cavelle – a  lean and mean (but not small) folder from the hypermodern school of design. The narrow, swedge-sporting, fuller-flaunting drop point blade on the Cavelle measures 3.78 inches long. That’s a sizable piece, reminiscent of We’s early days, when they laid a heavy emphasis on hefty blades. Their catalog is much more diverse these days, but We’s in-house team still finds space for the big blades – and even at this size, the Cavelle could certainly be…

NSA’s 12th Annual Codebreaker Challenge is Underway for 2025 The National Security Agency (NSA) is launching their annual series of critical real-world scenarios for U.S.-based academic institutions titled Codebreaker Challenge. In its 12th iteration for 2025, the Codebreaker Challenge gives students the opportunity to analyze high-risk situations closely resembling the Intelligence Community’s classified tasks, equipping them for national security challenges. Participants will go head-to-head with other schools to accomplish mission-driven tasks aimed at enhancing their skills in reverse engineering, vulnerability research, cryptography, programming/scripting, and beyond. This year’s challenge is to assist the Air Force’s Cyber Operations Squadron in maintaining the…

I stood at the top of the untracked couloir, waiting for a couple of riding partners to drop first. With the snowpack this season, I couldn’t tell how deep and soft or shallow and variable the snow inside the narrow gully would be. As I waited in the high alpine, slightly hazy clouds moved across the sun, but I felt comfortable in my layers, including the Patagonia PowSlayer women’s ski and snowboard jacket. A few minutes later, it was my turn to drop. At the top of the steep line, I made a couple of sharp, narrow hop turns on…

By Larry Rodriguez Posted in #Skills Editor’s Note: This article is for informational purposes only. Please seek qualified training, and also ensure any training you do follows the safety rules of the range you are attending. If you carry a firearm for self-defense, training in its proper use is not simply an option — it’s a necessity. However, that training does not necessarily have to been cumbersome in both time and money. Here we have two quick shooting drills that can be done with two paper targets, one steel plate, and two plastic drums for simulating cover. These…

This year has been a huge one for Benchmade. The brand has launched at least a dozen different knives across the everyday carry and outdoor industries, each one more spectacular than the last. Despite such a rich slate of drops, the Portland-based knifemaker still had (at least) one more surprise up its sleeve. Even industry insiders weren’t privy to the upcoming launch of the Benchmade Successor, a magnificent blend of traditional elements and forward-thinking styling. It is a good looking knife. I like the blue colorway better than the copper. No lock is a bold choice, but should help the…