M10 Gas Mask Filter Installation

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RZ Mask

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RZ Mask

Drifire T-shirt

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Revision Hellfly Glasses

 

 

 

Available frame/lens combos:

-Black/Polorized

-Black/Smoke

-Black/Photochromic

-Black/Flame Mirror

-Black/Clear

-Taupe/Smoke

-Steel Blue/Smoke

-Silver/Ocean Mirror

-Khaki/Flame Mirror

MSRP:  $79.99

Revision Military

Drifire shirt & balacalava

Here are a couple more items from DriFire. A long sleeve shirt and cold weather Balacalava. Great items and very comfy. The balacalava is super warm and comfy and offers the DriFire protection.... check out the vid...

Blackhawk Advanced Tactical Knee pad (ver.2)

One thing I did with these "Advanced Tactical knee pads" to make them more comfortable was to remove the extra padding at the inner top of the pad. This padding is there to prevent the knee pad from slipping down on the leg. I found, however, that it tends to rub on the top of my knee cap and make a raw spot. Which takes any comfort out of the equation. Other than that these knee pads have worked well for me. They provide comfort (once this mod os done) and protection and have held up well to some serious use and abuse.

Colors: Black, Coyote tan, Foliage, OD

MSRP: $24.99

Blackhawk

Night Crawler Knee/Elbow Pads

I was sent these Night Crawler Knee/Elbow pads for review last year by RAP4, a paintball supply company. Unfortunately, I had to have knee surgery so my review was put on hold. In a way though, it was good that I had the surgery, because I now use the knee pads on a more regular basis!

The knee pads come in several different colors, some of which are unique to RAP4. I like this as many manufacturers only sell products in a few colors.

Here are the features of the pads themselves...

Elbow pads:

- Thick foam padding

- Hard elbow cap for greater protection

- Neoprene sleeve styling with elastic adjustment bands. This is a nice strong fit, however, the pads seem a bit too bulky for standard tactical use. For hard use they are probably great, but seem a bit too much for just everyday use. For this type of use you may want to go with RAP4s regular elbow pads. Great pads though!!!

- Durable materials.

Knee Pads:

- Thick foam padding

- Hard knee cap for extra protection. I found that the cap is not quite centered on the foam padding like it should have been. A little quality control issue, but never became an issue with protection or use of the pads.

- Combination of neoprene straps and nylon/elastic straps make these pads comfy!!! I like this styling of knee pad!

- Durable materials

These pads have been excellent in protecting my knees and elbows. Especially after having knee surgery! Durability seems great and the materials used seem to be able to take the abuse. Having many color options to match your uniformity needs is a big plus with RAP4.

Colors:

UCP, black, DPM, CADPAT, digital woodland, 3-color desert, flecktarn, OD, 8-color desert (imitation of Multicam), woodland, tigerstripe, Realtree

MSRP:

Knee pad - $34

Elbow pad - $29

DriFire Boxer Briefs

DriFire makes fire resistant clothing systems for use by military, Law Enforcement, or anyone going in harms way. Their products are used in place of other clothing items that may be harmful when fire may be present. Most moisture wicking clothing is primarily made of polyester, which not only burns well, but will melt to the skin. Cotton clothing will burn and not self extinguish. DriFire has eliminated this concern. The material used in their products doesn't catch fire easily, and when a fire is hot enough to catch the material, it self extinguishes in only a second or two. Their material is also moisture wicking and uses freshguard odor resistant technology. The flame resistant and odor resistant properties are permanent and will not wash out.

One of DriFire's products that I've recently tried are the boxer briefs. The material is typical DriFire material, soft and comfortable. The waist is comfortable as well.

I had a slight sizing issue as they tend to run slightly larger than normal boxer briefs... so keep this in mind when ordering. So wearing the T&E pair has been more like wearing regular boxers. Comfort is still good even with them being loose.

When it comes to layering and being protected, these boxer briefs add another layer to your protection and comfort.

Color: OD, Black, coyote brown, desert tan, foliage green, navy blue

MSRP: $23.99

Revision Desert Locust & Extreme Weather Goggles

Desert Locust

The Revision Desert Locust is the standard goggle from Revision. Revision made this goggle for the war fighter and is not just a modified snow goggle. This goggle is designed to give the user excellent field of view and designed to be more streamlined to be worn with a helmet, along with excellent ballistic protection.

These goggles, since made for combat, meet ANSI and military specifications for ballistic protection. The polycarbonate lenses also provide 100% protection from UV-A, UV-B and UV-C rays.

Field of view really is excellent and the clarity of the lens is great. The top and lateral vents along with OcuMax® coating help to reduce fogging and provide fresh air to the eyes. The vents don't allow particles in, however, by the use of a filtration media in the vents. I have only seen very slight, temporary fogging around the edges of these goggles during high activity. The fogging isn't noticeable unless you're really looking for it and is more condensation than fogging.

The fit of these goggles is like no other that I've worn. They almost form to your face and are extremely comfortable. The first time I wore them I was really amazed that they didn't feel like goggles on the face, they felt more like a nice pair of glasses. The frame is like a smooth rubber type material that is pliable and forms to the face.

The strap system can be removed in order to add or remove the lens cover. The strap is also designed so that the goggles can be worn over helmets.

With the military kit that I got there is the tinted lenses provided as well as a carrying case, both nice additions to the goggles. Changing lenses was quick and easy.

Several options are available for these goggles:

- Prescription insert

- Clear, smoke, and yellow lenses

- Colors: Black, Foliage, Tan

Overall comfort and the comfort of knowing these goggles have been proven in combat and tested in the lab makes them a great investment if you are in a hazardous environment where your eyes may be in danger.

Desert Locust Extreme Weather Goggles

Revision sent this pair of goggles to me to test out since I live in NY and we get some pretty bad weather in the winter, as well as hot weather in the summer.

These goggles are based on the basic design of the Desert Locust, but have improvements for those who will be using them in more extreme environments.

First I'll cover the upgrades/differences in these goggles compared to the original Desert Locust goggles:

- One main difference is the lens. The Extreme Locust has a dual-pane lens. This along with the OcuMax coating greatly reduce instances of fogging.

- Instead of the smooth rubber face piece, the Extreme Locust has a fleece lined foam face piece. This provides better comfort in extreme cold and heat and is more pliable in extreme cold environments than the original face piece.

Other than these 2 changes they're the same design as the original Desert Locust. These 2 changes do, however, make a difference in extreme environments. I've experience no fogging while wearing these goggles in either environment. I did get some slight condensation from sweating while wearing these, but it was only slight (a couple beads) and toward the edge of the lens. I only noticed it once I took the goggles off.

Overall, if you're going to be in extreme environments, these goggles are a step up from the Desert Locust in dealing with these extremes.

Revision Video

Cold Avenger Face Mask

This past winter I tested out the Cold Avenger, produced by Talus Outdoor Technologies. This is, by far, one of the best face masks I have used. It's not just your ordinary gaiter or face mask. This mask has been tested by the manufacturer in extreme weather and I tried to simulate that the best I could in a very cold winter here in NY and the mask performed great! First off, this mask isn't a full balaclava, but I actually like that in this mask because it gives you the option of wearing a winter hat and the mask, and if you start to overheat, you can remove the winter hat for ventilation. This allows you to cool down and not overheat while still protecting your lungs and the areas of the face/head that are prone to frost bite. The main attraction with this face mask is it's ventilating face piece. This face piece, which is made of medical grade plastic, has adjustable vents in the front. By turning the smaller plastic insert you can allow more or less ventilation into to face piece. This ventilation does 2 things:

1. The mixture of cold air breathed into the mask, with the exhaled air breathed out into the mask is 40-60 degrees warmer than the outside air. This helps to protect the lungs and windpipe from frostbite and other cold injuries. The warmer air and moisture in the air inside the face piece help to prevent the airway from becoming dried out as well. If you've ever spent time outside in the cold, especially exerting yourself, you know how the cold air can really wreak havoc on your airway and lungs.
2. The ventilation also helps to prevent fogging of goggles and glasses worn with the mask. I really like this. Normal face masks or balaclavas tend to vent the hot humid air you breath out through the top or eye hole. This fogs up your eye wear. With this mask the ventilation prevents this. Additional vents are placed on the bottom side of the face piece to help reduce upward ventilation as well.
   

Comfort with this mask is excellent, even with the plastic face piece. The face piece is flexible and has an included foam nose piece that you can insert via double-sided tape. The back of the mask is adjustable for the size of your head and has a wide range of adjustment. The only thing I would change in the design of this mask would be the option of completely sealing the ventilation holes if preferred. Also, for smaller faces the top of the mask has the tendency to ride up into the way of your eyes. It only comes up to the lower eyelid and isn't a huge deal, but possibly making this area a little more ergonomic to the shape of the eyes may help for smaller faces. The Neoprene material of the mask is lined with fleece for comfort and wind resistance. Through my experiences this past winter, this mask is an excellent mask and performs as advertised. I never got cold while wearing this mask and never felt a burn in my chest or throat area from breathing in cold air. If you live in an area where it gets cold this is definitely a great investment.

Colors: White, Black, Hunter Camo
Prices Vary depending on model

DriFire flame resistant Shirt & leggings

In todays theater of war the warfighter has chosen new, advanced clothing technologies to stay comfortable and protected. For several years it was hard to be able to choose an undergarment that would provide both comfort and protection. The issue shirts when I was in the Marine Corps were Cotton or Polycotton shirts. The cotton shirts become wet with sweat and can become uncomfortable. In cold environments cottom absorbs the sweat and retains it in the fibers and will bring core body temperature down. Dry time on cotton shirts is very long.

In recent years certain brands of clothing have come out with undergarments that are specifically designed for use in hot and cold environments. These garments wick moisture away from the body and that moisture evaporates quickly. This keeps you cool and comfortable in the summer and warm in the winter. The main problem with there clothes is that it's main material is polyester. When you're in a combat environment where there could be flash fires or you could be in a vehicle that has been hit with an IED polyester material is not your friend. It melts, drips, and shrinks to your body and is very difficult and painful to get off once in surgical care.

One company that has stepped up to the plate is DriFire Performance Wear. They make some good undergarments for those that require flame resistance and moisture managament in one piece of clothing.

The Drirelease (comprised of lyocell) material that DriFire uses wicks moisture away from the skin and spreads it throughout the garment to speed up evaporation.

For flame resistance drifire uses modacrylic fabric. This fabric is flame resistant on it's own, without having to add a flame resistant treatment to it. Flame resistant treatments will wear and wash out, but the modacrylic material will never lose it's flame resistance and this material is also moisture wicking. The garments made with this material have no-drip and no-melt properties and have no after-flame. Meaning they won't just sit and burn like other materials.

I conducted some tests for flame resistance on some test samples. First I just tried to burn it with a lighter. The material wouldn't burn and took several seconds to show any damage. The damage was just some black charing. I then took a flamable propellant to spray a nice flame on the material and the propellant burned but once it burnt up the DriFire material had some small charing but for the most part wasn't damaged at all. The same tests with 100% cotton and underarmour heat-gear material were very different. The cotton burned and did not self-extinguish. The underarmor went up in flames and also melted. I am very impressed with the flame resistant properties of the DriFir.

I have been wearing the DriFire Silk Weight T-shirts while on duty and I can say that they are some of the best moisture wicking shirts I've used. One thing I noticed too is that the material is very durable. It's a very tough material that's not likely to wear out quick or rip easily. Comfort is great, especially the flat seams. I don't get any "hot spots" under my duty gear due to thick seams rubbing and digging in. Also, these shirts do not retain body odor as much as other shirts I've tried.

I've also been wearing the silk weight long pants in the winter months. They've proven to be some quality gear as well. They add warmth without too much extra bulk, yet, when inside I wasn't overheating.

Overall I highly recommend wearing a flame resistant undergarment while on duty, be it law enforcement, military, or security. DriFire products have so far proven their worth to me.

Colors:
Black
Coyote Brown
Desert sand
Foliage
Marine Corps OD
Natural White
Navy Blue
Gray

Silk Weight Short Sleeve T-Shirt - $46.00
Silk Weight Long Pants - $56.00

Update (June 2010):

I am still wearing these shirts while on duty, and the only improvement I can see that should be made is that the shirts should be longer to keep them tucked in better. Other than that, still going strong and performing well!

Arena Flakjak Goggles

With a name similar to that of the military flak jacket the Arena Flakjak goggles are pretty decent in both quality and function when compared to other brands that are more common in the military and tactical arenas. I received these goggles from HSS Gear/Stryke Airsoft & Paintball (at $65) and have worn these goggles on several occasions My brother has also been wearing them quite a bit too.

These goggles exceed ANSI safety standard Z87.1 2003 and Mil-Std-662E (as it relates to .22 cal., .17 grain, Type 2 fragmentation standards). They also provide UVA and UVB protection per ANSI Z80.3 standards.

My experience with these has been quite good. The one main concern when it comes to goggles being worn while performing activities where body heat increases is fogging. I used these in the cold NY winter and figured if fogging were going to occur it’d definitely happen in this environment. I did experience some condensation on the inside of the lenses, but no fogging. These goggles feature what Arena calls the Razorback anti-fog technology. Essentially they’re vents on the top and bottom of the goggles. The material of the vents attract dust to help prevent the dust from entering the goggles in dusty sandy environments. The lenses also have anti-fog properties to them and are very clear and do not get in your peripheral vision.

The strap on these goggles has some unique features. First, the attachment points rotate. This helps when the strap isn’t going straight back from the lens. At an angle the attachment points rotate appropriately. They are also designed so that you can rotate the strap in a manner that brings the lens out slightly from the frame to help when worn when wearing them with a helmet. I found it hard to get the straps to stay this way. The attachment point just kept rotating back to it’s normal position when I tried this. They worked just fine with a low profile helmet when worn in the normal manner though.

A protective cover is provided with the goggles that can be worn on the belt and has a seperate sleeve for an extra lens.

Comfort with these goggles is good. Strap adjustability and an ergonomic shaped foam face seal make them comfortable to wear even at extended periods.

There are additional lenses available for these goggles also. Standard anti-fog lens, Gray anti-fog lens, Anti-reflective lens, and a laser lens (provides 2 band laser protection when you may be in the vicinity where laser range finders and other lasers may be directed at you).

These goggles are a great alternative to the more expensive models available. I really think Arena is a brand sometimes overlooked, but is a decent company from what I’ve experienced from this product.

Colors Available:
Tan
OD
Black
Brown

MSRP: $80.00

Hatch Kevlar Patrolman Glove

I've used the Hatch Kevlar Patrolman gloves for the past 4 years for doing tactical drills and daily on duty use. I haven't had to replace the gloves yet and they have held up well to regular use. These gloves are designed to protect your hands from general wear and tear and from dangers like flashbangs, etc etc. The Kevlar material used in these gloves is durable, cut resistant and flame resistant.

The name is slightly misleading as the kevlar is only on the back of the hand/fingers. This isn't a search & seizure glove. It can be used for that purpose as there is pretty good tactility, but there is no added cut/puncture protection on the palms or gripping surfaces of the fingers. Speaking of tactility, these gloves are very nice to wear when using firearms as well as long as they're fitted properly.

The palms and gripping surfaces are made of a synthetic suede type material. I saw an individual fall on cement and this palm area tore wide open, but his hand was unharmed. So, this material will protect your hands. The web portion of your grip has Hatch's extreme-grip non-slip material which helps in firearms control.

The wrist closure is Velcro. I haven't had any issues with this Velcro getting worn. It's lasted the life of the gloves just fine.

The gloves are washable and don't tend to shrink. They will loose a little of their color when you wash them and will look more of a dark gray.

Again, I've used these gloves quite a bit and they're excellent gloves. They're nice and form fitting and though you're not going to be picking a dime up off a table too easy with these gloves, I feel that they don't hinder your use of a firearm or other tactical gear due to their good fit and thin materials.

Sizes: s-xxl
AFMO Price: $27.40
Buy HERE.