Author: Jack Bogart

We sped down Cement Creek Road between 11,000-foot Cement Mountain and Red Mountain’s ridge. The sun was setting on our double-track return. For the first time on our ride, I easily rolled at a faster clip than my e-bike partner, Dane Tudor. He was on a full suspension e-MTB, while I was testing the updated Aventon Ramblas ADV hardtail e-mountain bike. Clearly, this playful, nimble hardtail design is made to transfer power to the ground. The tread pattern enables the bike to roll quickly and efficiently: Maxxis Rekon tires utilize a tightly spaced, ramped center tread. The design minimizes resistance,…

Hey all. As I sit down to write this, it is currently Monday morning, though I will almost certainly not be hitting “publish” until the afternoon. I rolled into my driveway about 7:30pm last night, having driven through pretty steady rain the whole way back. It will take c few days until I am firing on all cylinders again, but I am feeling pretty good about how the show went. Please forgive this post, as it will be very stream-of-consciousness. I plan on two more Blade Show specific posts in the next few days. The first is the always anticipated…

Hey everybody. I am back from Blade Show and we have a real treat in store for you today. I have known Andrew Demko a for several years now, and have always wanted to feature him in our 5 from the Grinder series. But I know he is a busy guy. Frankly, he is by most metrics a bigger deal than we are. So I made an exception and offered to do his via audio recording. He is the second person to be so honored, the first being Murray Carter. So please pardon any hiccups in the transcription. I have…

During OPERATOR EXPO I was glad to learn that SPARROWS Lock picks will be expanding Rock’a Lock’a BANG! BANG! for 2026 Geared towards covert entry specialists and first responders this highly immersive training convention has quickly established itself as a high caliber industry event with impressive instructors, sponsors and media attention. The main event will run Sept 17-20th in Carson city, Nevada in a Massive Maximum security prison. It will feature new material including helicopter infil/exfil training. There will also be an optional range day on September 16th. SUBJECT MATTER: Lock Picking   SERE – including resistance Vehicle extraction with TNT rescue…

The Rossignol Alltrack 130 Elite LV LT is a bold new entrant in the “downhill-first hybrid” category. After a season of test laps at several Colorado ski resorts, I found that this ski boot is designed for aggressive expert skiers who primarily ride lifts but want the freedom to step beyond the boundary rope for short tours or sidecountry adventures. With a 98mm last, 130 flex, and neon pastel colors, it’s unapologetically performance-oriented. The set targets advanced to expert skiers, and it prioritizes precision and responsiveness over gram-counting for long tours. In short: The Rossignol Alltrack 130 Elite LV LT…

By Massad Ayoob Posted in #Guns #History I recently heard someone say that handguns have no place in military combat. History shows us otherwise. For the tanker, artilleryman, radio operator or medic whose hands are too busy at designated tasks to hold a rifle, the pistol makes enormous sense. Behind the lines when unpleasant surprises come, the handgun is just as much an emergency rescue tool as an armed citizen’s carry gun in civilian society. My older daughter owns a .38 Special revolver bought from the heirs of a Navy cook who took it with him to…

Now that the Spyderco Native 5 50th Anniversary knife has been unveiled by Spyderco, I can share all of my shots from the production sample I photographed at the 2026 Amsterdam Meet earlier this year. Mind you, these photos show the production sample and Eric mentioned at the meet that some minor refinements would go into the final production model. I am still upset that my photos didn’t turn out.  Spyderco’s booth is in the corner. The lighting is terrible, and it is crowded. I couldn’t stand in a way to avoid casting a shadow across the knife, which was…

Belleville Boot Flyweight MXG Now Available to US Army and US Air Force Belleville Boot Company, America’s oldest continuously operating military boot manufacturer, proudly announces the American Made Flyweight MXG™ hot weather steel toe boot is now officially available and shipping worldwide. Engineered for maximum protection and comfort in demanding conditions, the MXG’s design is ideal for flight line operations and maintenance personnel. Leveraging Belleville’s proven military craftsmanship with modern performance materials, the MXG weighs in at one of the lightest steel toe boots available, helping to reduce fatigue while maintaining reliability and protection service members expect in the field.…

Ghost X Tactical MPLS Headlamp from Princeton Tec New for 2026 is the Ghost X Tactical MPLS Headlamp from Princeton Tec is compatible with MOLLE as well as helmets thanks to an inculded NVG and ARC rail adapter. I’m really excited about this light. It offers 300 lumens dimmable light and 320 mWr IR output, with an IP68 rating. What’s more, the Ghost Mode switch only allows activation of IR High, IR Low, or IR Strobe settings, so no accidental white light incidents. Light colors include white, red, blue, green and IR. Offered in Black, MultiCam, OD, and Tan as a…

The fight doesn’t end with the last shot. Here’s what you need to do in the moments after a defensive shooting.Most of the conversation in the concealed carry world centers on the fight itself: draw speed, shot placement, threat assessment and the mechanics of stopping a threat. That’s essential training, and none of it should be shortchanged. Nevertheless, there’s another aspect that doesn’t get nearly enough attention:What happens in the minutes after the shooting stops, before the first squad car rolls onto the scene?The gap between the last shot fired and the moment a badge walks through the door can…