Author: news

The latest Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR) is live. The Lost Coast BDR-X is the 20-second published route. It is a 500-mile figure-eight loop through northern California’s Lost Coast, a mostly undeveloped stretch of rugged coastline. The route is designed for adventure and dual-sport motorcycle travel, but can also be done with a high-clearance 4×4. The route is designed to start and end in Fort Bragg. It’s a mix of pavement, gravel, dirt, rocks, and even sand. Yes, you can ride out on the beach at Usal Beach and Shelter Cove Beach on this route. The route also has lots of…

Howell—in Monmouth County, New Jersey—joined 11 other Garden State municipalities in late November when it announced it would also be refunding a significant portion of the fee paid by residents for a permit to carry. In 2022 New Jersey increased the cost of its permits to $200, with $150 going to the municipality/borough in which the applicant lives. The remaining $50 goes to the state police.  Englishtown Borough, NJ, was the first to join the refund movement, which is being spearheaded by NRA, the New Jersey Firearm Owners Syndicate and other defenders of the Second Amendment. “In my capacity as…

Shield Sights, the company best known for pioneering the smallest open-emitter slide-mounted red-dot sights on the market, released a number of new products at SHOT Show 2025, and the OMSsc red-dot sight is one of those items. I recall it wasn’t too long ago that it made a splash when it was launched in conjunction with Springfield Armory’s new Hellcat OSP chambered for .380 ACP. At first glance the OMSsc (Open Mini Sight subcompact) stands out for two reasons: First, it has a translucent clear acrylic top, a feature that Shield Sights is quite proud of. Second, the OMSsc is…

70 years of Savotta 70 years of Savotta and a 100 years since founder Allan Halme was born. This Swedish pack manufacturer created a limited run of 70 year history booklets for their staff, but now this magnificent opus is also available in digital form for all the world to enjoy. It covers the full history of Savotta, from 1955 to 2025, so there’s quite a lot for you to take in. This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 14:00 and is filed under Catalog, International, Packs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the…

Italian firearms furniture company WOOX has just released stocks and handguards compatible with Kalashnikov pattern rifles and carbines. This new product line is known as the WOOX Forty-Seven series. The lineup includes two different rifle stock options, a pistol grip and two separate handguards. One of WOOX’s signature moves is including hardwoods in its products, and the WOOX Forty-Seven line is no exception. The stock set includes a walnut stock and a modern low-profile stock. Both have the ability to fold to the side, like the classic AKS-74 and AK-100 series stocks.  WOOX’s AK-47 handguards also incorporate walnut in addition…

Arktis – Anniversary 42 Pattern Chest Rig Back in the late 80s I acquired a 42 Pattern Chest rig from Arktis. As it was in DPM I didn’t wear it once I left Germany but it solidified by love for chest rigs under certain conditions. Eventually I sold it off while at Ft Bragg and replaced it with an OD US made rig but I’ve often missed it. Fortunately, Arktis has introduced a limited run of this classic chest rig. They’ve added a Velcro loop panel on the admin flap to attach the included 40th Anniversary patch. The only other…

GiantMouse has added a new high-end folder to their GM line, the No. 14 “Valleta.” Inspired by tales of heroic adventure, the GM14 smoothly blends a flamboyant blade shape with a roomy, ergonomic handle – all finished off with premium, high-performance materials. According to the GiantMouse press release, the GM14 comes from the mind of Jesper Voxnaes, one of the company founders and key creative forces behind the brand. While many GiantMouse pieces draw inspiration from the world outside of knives, the GM14’s look is informed by the Maltese fortress city Valletta. Valletta is famous for many things, not least…

FORT BRAGG, N.C.—The U.S. Army’s Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Regiment demonstrated its rapidly expanding role in the modern information warfare environment during a recent Innovation Day, where Soldiers from across the Regiment showcased solutions designed to fill operational gaps, outpace near-peer adversaries and increase lethality in competition and conflict. The day highlighted how PSYOP Soldiers are leading bottom-up modernization, creating innovative, low-cost solutions that fill critical capability gaps, increase unit readiness and ensure the force is advancing quickly in the information domain. Col. Clinton Meade, the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Deputy Commander, delivered opening remarks, focusing on…

Full disclosure — this is a love letter to my truck. It has been a constant, reliable friend for many, many overland adventures. Clocking in at over 115K miles, my Ram truck is still going strong. My truck has brought me paddling, skiing, fishing, backpacking, camping, climbing, and to countless post-hike vittles. Most importantly, the Ram 1500 in my driveway is my hunting buddy. When I say this, you must understand — my truck and I learned to hunt together. We learned to tow an RV to hunt camp together. I bought my truck and then a small travel trailer,…

Suunto, the Finnish pioneer in precision instruments and dive technology, proudly unveils its new dive computer series: Suunto Nautic and Suunto Nautic S. These next-generation devices mark a leap forward in Suunto’s dive legacy, blending rugged reliability with modern innovation to meet the needs of divers at every level. Suunto announces the launch of two new dive computers, Suunto Nautic and Suunto Nautic S. These products mark the beginning of a new dive series designed to meet the evolving needs of both recreational and technical divers. With this launch, Suunto continues to build on its legacy of underwater exploration, offering…