tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19927202200291893232024-03-07T18:57:58.808-08:00Police Equipment Reviews!Equipment and Kit reviews for the tactical professional! Boots, Bags, Clothing and everything more for the Police, Military, Security or EMS operator. Based in the UK but reviewing the best from across the globe, from 5.11 Tactical, Blackhawk, Crye Precision, Arcteryx LEAF and more. Welcome to "The boothouse!"BootAPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15475271278116004362noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-21460956365713832842013-07-01T04:41:00.000-07:002013-07-01T04:41:21.172-07:00Hexarmor Needle GlovesProbably one of the best known needle resistant glove brands is <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/hex-armor-gloves.html">HexArmor</a>, competing with <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/turtleskin-gloves.html">Turtle Skin</a> for dominance in the marketplace for tactical, safety and industrial uses.<br />
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Hex Armour use their own proprietary "Superfabric" technology to provide the needle and cut resistance within their products, layering it several times to increase the protection levels in their most protective gloves and only using perhaps two layers in the gloves designed to give the maximum tactile feedback. The Hercules NSR Hex Armor Glove for example offers the highest levels of protection and is ideal for sifting through waste or handling potentially hazardous materials, while the Hex Armor 4042 <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/HexArmor-4042-NSR-Needle-Resistant-Leather-Glove.html">Needle Gloves</a> offer lower levels of protection but a much more responsive glove for fingertip sensitivity.<br />
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The Hex Armor <a href="http://superfabric.com/technology">Superfabric </a>is developed by sticking small hard "Armor" plates over a base fabric. The small hard plates fit close together to allow a flexible "Skin" whilst maintaining cut and puncture resistance. Traditionally the hard plates were in hexagonal shape for multi-directional flexibility which is where Hex Armor gets its name. To maximise protection and avoid any small protrusion between the hard plates the SuperFabric is layered normally a minimum of twice, often more times to increase the force the gloves can resist cut or needle pressure from.<br />
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Although a lot of the focus for HexArmor is for industrial and safety gloves they do offer a good selection of tactical gloves, mainly designed for the police and security market. In price ascending order these are:<br />
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Hex Armor Point Guard Glove: - Designed to be worn under a surgical glove this is ideal for pat downs as it has a good mix of protection and sensitivity on the face of the hand but none on the back.<br />
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Hex-Armor-4041-NSR-Needle-Stick-Gloves.html">Hex Armor 4041</a> (superseding the 4042): An ideal General Duty glove it has a smart professional appearance with high levels of cut and puncture resistance on the palm and backs of the fingertips and offers some cut resistance on the back of the hand without being overly restrictive.<br />
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HexArmor Hercules: This glove offers the maximum all round protection but sacrifices dexterity and tactile feedback. It is mainly used for high risk searches of people or hazardous waste.<br />
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<br />Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-66918954376204760172013-05-24T08:02:00.001-07:002013-05-24T08:02:57.209-07:00Handcuff KeysPolice <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/police-security-equipt-cuffs-keys-c-86_138.html">Handcuff keys</a> are pretty homogenous in design and function as they must conform to the basic standard of being able to open issue <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/police-handcuffs.html">handcuffs</a>. There are few fancy handcuff keys out there that come with an LED light, a built in window punch or additional novelty features but the primary function of any handcuff keys remains the same, be able to lock, unlock, and double lock standard cuffs (double locking is the process of locking the handcuffs in such a fashion as they will not close any further onto the detainee to prevent injury).<br />
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Most forces issue a tiny little silver handcuff key to new recruits when they first join up, however it rapidly becomes apparent that it is next to useless for any practical application being too fiddly to manipulate if the suspect is struggling or you are wearing gloves (winter or slash resistant!) so most officers upgrade their handcuff key pretty sharpish!<br />
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There are a few gucci handcuff key brands out there, like <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/asp-equipment.html">ASP</a> who do theirs embossed with the company logo in gold etc. but the standard for the UK market is the Zak Tool (or ZT colloquially) range of handcuff keys. The most popular model is the shortened round swivel handcuff key which at 6.5cm long is the ideal size for most police officers being large enough to handle easily whilst still compact enough not to be a cumbersome inconvenience. ZT also offer a number of other handcuff keys, the standard slightly longer key, a light weight (but slightly fragile) carbon fibre key, the covert pocket clip key, the extra easy to use flat knurled swivel key and a key with spring loaded window punch. The handcuff key with the spring loaded <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Window-Punch-and-Handcuff-Key-p-7609.html">window punch</a> is very handy in what it allows you to do - break a car window, quickly, easily and with relative safety however this feature means the key cannot double lock handcuffs.<br />
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/streamlight-cuffmate-handcuff-key.html">Streamlight</a> do a small cuff key with an LED light built in which allows you to illuminate the handcuff key hole whilst trying to get your key in. There are two variants one with a right light and one with a red light. The key with the white light provides brighter, clearer illumination of the handcuffs, but it will also diminish your night vision and be much more visible to others if you are trying to maintain a low profile or covert status. The red light version does not provide such a bright or clear illumination but doesn't not have such a negative effect on your night vision and is less eye catching than white light at night.<br />
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<br />Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-90545845457418394852013-05-17T09:34:00.001-07:002013-05-17T09:34:54.112-07:00Law Enforcement Equipment<br />
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There are many important factors that people in law
enforcement need to consider when joining, one of the most important factors is
what equipment you need and how much you want to spend on the products that
could make a big difference to your performance. The most important aspect when
purchasing <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/law-enforcement-equipment.html">law enforcement equipment</a> is the quality of the product, realistically the amount
you spend reflects on the specifications of the law enforcement equipment you buy. </div>
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One very important piece of gear is the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/army-boots-military-boots.html">footwear</a>; boots are
an incredibly vital element to working in Law enforcement as they are worn
every hour of every shift. Footwear needs to be comfortable, sturdy and very
light for law enforcement personnel as they need to be easy to run in and last
under pressure and for long periods of time. Boots such as the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/yds-boots.html">YDS</a> goliath are
a great example for a hard wearing, waterproof, lightweight boot that will last
for years even after everyday usage. Other good boots for law enforcement are
lowa recon paras, magnum cobras, bates gx-8 and op systems climate 6. </div>
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/bags-packs-bags-c-77_79.html">Kit bags</a> are also very important to carry around all your other law enforcement equipment and tactical clothes. Bags such as the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/5-11-bags.html">5.11 Police Bag</a> or
the op zulu duty kit police bag are perfect for carrying large amounts and
keeping different items in. There are also brands that design backpacks with
water hydration packs included; this is very useful for soldiers who have been
stationed in a tough, hot and unforgiving environment. </div>
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/clothing-c-81.html">Clothing</a> such as trousers and shirts are priority equipment for law
enforcement groups. Most will want you to wear smart clothing such as navy,
black or white shirts with black smart but tactical and long lasting trousers.
A top brand for this is 5.11 as they fit nicely to suit a professional look and
they are durable as well as breathable. </div>
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/torches-lights-torches-c-73_74.html">Torches</a> are an important bit of law enforcement kit for any officer, they
are used for much different reasons and an officer should have one or two with
him at all times. The uses of torches vary, you can use them for signalling,
seeing in dark areas and at night. Special light torches can also discover
evidence not seen by just the human eye. If you are an officer of the law and
you do not have a torch you might want to get on as soon as possible. </div>
Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-79632231329857576832013-05-02T01:36:00.002-07:002013-05-02T01:36:53.642-07:00Army Boots<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are various types of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/army_boots.html">Army boots</a> available on today’s
market, whether it’s a certain type of military footwear you are after or a
particular brand, there is enough choice of military shoes to suit all needs
regardless of budget. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/lowa-boots.html">Lowa</a> offer a great range of military boots, mainly in
black and sturdy good quality materials they are a perfect choice for anyone
after military shoes. They all are lace up military boots as is the case with
most <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/army-boots-military-boots.html">military footwear</a>, with the exception of 5.11, who have also steered clear
of the common black military boots and currently have a desert colour boot, which
in comparison to the Ops system desert colour boot, is a cheaper option of
military footwear. Another strong contender for army boots are YDS, providing waterproof
boots for the military and non waterproof military boots, all at various price
ranges the army footwear offered are varied. Adidas have also ventured in to
the military footwear market with a smaller variety of military shoes to some
of the lead contenders in the market at medium price. One of the more expensive
army boots on the market today is from Danner – with a more classic look which
is almost stereotypical of boots for the military compared to the previous military
boots mentioned. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Army footwear on the whole has improved dramatically in
appearance and perhaps have a more casual look to some of them previously, a
fine example of this is <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/meindl-boots.html">Meindl’s army boots</a>, they have a rugged chunky look,
but still obvious they are military shoes. Of course all of the army boots
mentioned above are not the only military footwear on the market today, GS have
also taken part in the contest of producing military boots with a fairly hefty
price tag and a very casual appearance of the military shoes mentioned. Last
but not least of the boots for the army is <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/under-armour-tactical.html">UnderArmour’s</a> entry, again at a
fairly hefty price, and a casual appearance they offer a lightweight trainer in
comparison to the other army shoes mentioned, but with plenty of features they
lead the way on the style front for army boots. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-16558144476995199072013-03-27T02:22:00.000-07:002013-03-27T02:22:08.146-07:00Tactical SocksGiven how much is spent on police and military boots it is surprising to find how common it is to neglect making a proper investment in some quality socks. Personally I think a lot of people blame the poor comfort levels of their boots on the fact they haven't bothered to select some proper socks and in fact I think a lot of people end up spending too much on uber Gucci boots when they could get away with spending a lot less on the boots and bit more on some quality socks.<br />
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Personally I have experienced quite a few different brands and styles of socks over the years as a civilian and going through Royal Marine Recruit training. As a civilian I had the luxury of a pair of nicely broken in <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/lowa-boots-mountain-gtx-p-594.html">Lowa Mountain Boots</a> (in limited edition Sepia) as an RMR Nod it was pussers issue CAB boots (some of the other recruits replaced their insole with a more Gucci footbed but I did my training with the standard footbed.)<br />
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If I start with the best and work my way down to the worst.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/1000-mile-socks.html">1000 Mile </a>Fusion Service Socks</b><br />
These were the socks that saved me when my feet were already wrecked from an earlier poor choice and once they had carried me home I quickly bought 3 more pairs of 1000 mile socks and never looked back! 1000 mile socks are slightly unique in their 2 layer system, the inner being a 100% Tactel super comfortable, high wicking base layer and the outer being a 40% Merino Wool, 29% Nylon, 23% Polyester, 6% Cotton and 2% Lycra blend. The two tier system is not unlike the sock and sock liner combinations that are on offer from other brands like <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/bridgedale-socks.html">Bridgedale</a>, but with 1000 mile it is just in a handy single unit and it works incredibly well, being super comfortable and both warm when its cold and cool when it is hot!<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/The-Magnum-MX-3-Patrol-Sock---FREE-with-Selected-Magnum-Boots-6609.html">Magnum MX3- Patrol Socks</a></b><br />
These were a surprise high performer! The socks are a fairly basic "mid thickness" single layer sock made from 70% Mag-Dry, 27% Nylon and 3% Spandex. Given their "weight" they are actually quite warm (too warm for the summer), but the material blend is incredibly comfortable and highly wicking, keeping your feet fresh.<br />
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<b>Lion Workwear Ultimate CoolMax Tactical Patrol Socks</b><br />
I am not sure of the exact blend of these socks but the description mentions CoolMax, Elastane and Polyamide. These socks are toasty warm, which is why I pulled them on during a particularly cold exercise however that backfired after a we embarked on a hefty yomp and my feet soon started to suffer. Whether it was the heat induced sweating or the construction of the sock itself I don't know by the soles of my feet soon started to blister up nicely...They might be ok in colder climbs!<br />
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At the bottom of the list - <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Mil-Com-Patrol-Sock---Black-p-948.html"><b>Milcom Patrol Socks</b> </a>very basic in every way, made from 63% acrylic, 28% wool and 10% polyester they offer only minimal improvement over pussers (standard) issue socks...if any really. I found them to be kind of itchy and offered minimal blister or pinch prevention and were not especially warm. On the flip side they do come with a years guarantee, but as they lived a the bottom of my sock draw there was minimal chance of them being worn out within that time frame with me.<br />
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<br />Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-25895128493714925912013-03-15T05:41:00.000-07:002013-03-15T05:41:16.559-07:00Belt PouchesThere are a variety of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/belt-pouches.html">belt pouches</a> available on the police market in any number of different sizes, shapes, colours (mainly black) and materials and all at different price points. Today I will talk about different belt pouch materials first and then move onto some of the different belt pouch brands and also look at some of the product specific pouches for batons, handcuffs, torches etc. in later articles.<br />
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The 4 main types of materials used for the majority of belt pouches are:<br />
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<li>Polyester</li>
<li>Nylon</li>
<li>Cordura</li>
<li>Leather</li>
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Polyester is probably the most commonly used material for most belt pouches, however even within the polyester category there are a number of different "Deniers" or "weights" of fabric. For belt pouches anything between 600 and 1500 is used with most manufacturers opting for something around the 900-1200 mark. Lower than 900 seems to be the cheaper end of the market an the products are generally accepted to be less durable though of course lighter in weight, over 1200 is generally overkill for a pouch as it is not usually going to hold that much weight, heavier Deniers are more commonly used in <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/bags-packs-bags-c-77_79.html">kit bags</a> rather than pouches. Polyester is probably the cheapest material available, but that does not mean it is not fit for purpose, though some more picky users complain that the "black" you get with polyester belt pouches is not true enough.</div>
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Nylon for all intents and purposes looks and feels much like polyester, and again you can get nylon belt pouches in a variety of different Deniers. A lot of users report nylon to have a much better "black" than polyester. Nylon is slightly more expensive than polyester</div>
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Cordura is in fact a special type of Nylon which has been trademarked by DuPont. Famed for its durability and widely used in rucksacks, commercial luggage, motorcycle clothing and military belt pouches. Cordura has become synonymous with quality products and is often specified in military or police tender documents when purchasing belt pouches or other fabric equipment.</div>
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Police-Security-Equipt-Leather-Products-c-86_88.html">Leather</a> is more popular for police belt pouches than military due to the shiny black finish providing a neat and professional uniform appearance but not being suitable for "cam and concealment" in military roles. In terms of durability leather is generally the most durable material for belt pouch construction but it is heavier than polyester, nylon or Cordura.</div>
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There is a new material just hitting the market for belt pouches which promises to have all the durability and shape retention of leather but with the weight advantages of Cordura called Sentinex. Now as you can imagine a product that make such promises comes at a price, however initial feedback from sentinex belt pouch users is very positive.</div>
Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-31968949325062289672013-02-28T09:35:00.000-08:002013-02-28T09:37:55.709-08:00511 Tactical PantThe 511 tactical pant has long been the flagship product of the 5.11 tactical range and despite many other pant evolutions and a hugely diversified range of products since that original concept pant nothing else has ever sold as well as that original 5.11 tactical pant.<br />
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If the stories are to believed the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/5-11-Tactical-Pants.html">5.11 Tactical Pant</a> was borne when Royal Robins and his wife Liz were climbing in California and came to the conclusion the make shift cut off jeans and T shirts they were wearing were not fit for purpose and they set about designing and creating their own range. Originally just called the 5.11 pant, the 5.11 represented an aspirational level of climbing difficulty, the normal scale running between 5.0 (easy) and 5.10 (the hardest). Later on when the 5.11 pant was adopted by the FBI at their training centre in Quantico Virginia (a shared resource with the Marine Corps) and for a long time Royal Robins (the company producing the 5.11 pant) restricted the sale of the 5.11 Tactical Pant to the FBI despite overwhelming demand from potential tactical customers across the globe. The decision to limit the distribution on the 5.11 pant to exclusively FBI agents was systemic of a lack of business acumen as the company struggled to become a financial success. In the end Dan Costas, local entrepreneur, chef and restaurant owner took over the 5.11 side of the business creating 5.11 tactical, releasing the 5.11 tactical pant into the commercial market.</div>
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As expected the 5.11 tactical pant was a storming success and 5.11 burgeoned as a company spinning off not just a wide variety of tactical pants but also <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/511-tactical-equipment.html">5.11 jackets</a>, bags, pouches, vests, shirts, sock boots, even sunglasses, knives and multitools. Along side the original 5.11 tactical pant 5.11 now offer the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/5.11-Tac-Lite-Pro-Pant-Black.html">Taclite Pant</a>, the TDU (Tactical Dress Uniform) pant - in polycotton, twill, ripstop, taclite and nylon, covert cargo pants, Stryke pants with 2 way stretch Flex-Tac, Traverse pants with 4 way stretch material and even a Jean Cut tactical pant. So far none of these, apart from the Stryke pant have come close to the sales volumes that the orginal 5.11 tactical pant have managed to maintain.</div>
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The 5.11 Tactical Pant has not changed in design very much over the years and maintains a lot of the original features that made it such a popular outdoor pant...with the exception perhaps of the magaize pocket on the front left thigh and internal knee pad pockets. You still get the rear strap across the top of the right buttock, the gusseted crotch and re enforced panels and stitching to ensure maximum durability. </div>
Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-17444043901079253992013-02-12T09:06:00.001-08:002013-02-12T09:06:30.049-08:00Knee pads and Elbow protectors<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/BlackHawk-Advanced-Tactical-Knee-Pads-V2-Black.html">Blackhawk knee pads</a> have proved to be the most popular knee pads in recent years with their V2 Advanced Tactical Knee pad being their latest incarnation. Apart from all the standard features you would expect the Blackhawk knee pads contoured interior ledge prevents the knee pads from slipping down your leg, and when you combine it with the padded side extensions which not only improve positioning and comfort themselves but also allow the straps to be pulled even tighter without causing discomfort then the Blackhawk knee pads really offer one of the most securely positioned pads on the market.<br />
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There are also two other kinds of Blackhawk knee pads on the market, the Neoprene knee pads and the Neoprene slip in insert pads specifically designed to complement their Blackhawk performance pant but which are also compatible with the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/511-Tactical-Pants.html">5.11 Tactical Pants</a>. The Neoprene Blackhawk knee pads are a fantastic option when you don't need or want the bulk of the Advanced Tactical Knee pads. Whilst they may not offer the same level of impact protection as the V2s the Neoprene version gives more than enough padding for comfort when in the kneeling position. One of the major advantages of the Blackhawk neoprene knee pads is they can be worn under a pair of jeans and still be very covert.<br />
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For the Ultra stealthy the Slip in Blackhawk Knee inserts are a low profile sheet of neoprene cut to fit the specially designed pockets in the front of the tactical trousers. The neoprene will make the knee slightly more rigid than a normal trouser but other than that will not bulge or distort the line of your trousers to give away the presence of the knee pad below. Obviously these offer the lease protection.<br />
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Similar to the range of Blackhawk knee pads they also offer a range of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/elbow-and-knee-pads.html">elbow pads</a> based around the same principals. The V2 Advanced Elbow Pad is like the V2 Knee pad with the rigid outer polymer for maximum protection and the neoprene lower profile version for mid level protection and concealment with the extra element of mobility. Blackhawk even do a neoprene elbow insert, though I am not sure how popular this is as even most tactical shirts do not support elbow inserts!Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-54647286888428453972013-02-04T07:55:00.001-08:002013-02-04T07:55:18.511-08:00Overt V Covert EarpiecesA lot of people user the acoustic style <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/covert-earpieces1.html">covert earpieces</a> all the time simply because they look a bit more Ally, but are they really as comfortable and do they offer the same level of audio performance as there non covert alternatives?<div>
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Covert earpieces are normally a clear acoustic tube which loops over the ear and runs down the back of the neck to a hidden transducer. You can also get the wireless covert ear pieces which are a lot more expensive and consist of a small wireless receiver and speaker in a bud about the size of a baked bean which can we inserted into the ear canal. Wireless earpieces are more covert but will set you back at least £100, normally more like £250 inc a PTT switch and mic etc. The acoustic tube style is only going to set you back less than £20.</div>
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The covert tube style earpieces normally come in two styles, with or without PTT mic. Without the PTT & Mic (which should only cost about a tenner) you can plug it into a chest mic, now although this kind of defeats the "Covert" element of the earpiece I have seen a lot of operators do it based on the fact they prefer the light weight comfort and fit of the acoustic tube and in ear bud (or gel insert) over the overt G and <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/airwaves-police-d-shaped-earpiece-ptt-mic-sepura-p-12199.html">D shape earpieces</a>. The downside can be a loss of sound quality over the D and <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/airwaves-g-shape-police-earpiece-motorola-p-12188.html">G Shape Earpieces</a>, esp with the use of the in ear bud which fully blocks the ear canal, however I have found that by investing in a good quality product there is no loss of volume or clarity with a covert acoustic tube and a definite increase in comfort.</div>
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The third type of covert earpiece is an alternative approach, rather than trying to hide the earpiece, try and disguise it! These earpieces are designed to look like commercial headphones for MP3 players or Ipods. They might come in white, or another funky colour allowing the wearer to "hide in plain site".</div>
Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-85333080373367647172013-01-25T09:23:00.000-08:002013-02-12T01:17:54.676-08:00Military Boots When it comes to <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/army-boots-military-boots.html">military boots</a> I have already reviewed Lowa, Danner and <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/bates-boots.html">Bates Military boots</a> but there are a raft of army and military boot companies out there that have yet to get a mention and the different styles of military footwear they offer, and more excitingly the boots they are about to offer!<br />
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The biggest brands in traditional military boots are probably; Lowa, Altbergy, Danner, <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/meindl-boots.html">Meindl</a>, Hanwag and Haix. As you can see it is a landscape predominately dominated German made boots! Not really a surprise there, the Alpine manufacturing heritage and a traditional German eye for quality has established the brands in the hearts and minds of military personnel the world over. The one notable exception exception is Danner which is a US brand (though only their upper tier models are actually hand made in the US).<br />
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Currently most military boots come in the traditional black leather, or black leather and nylon, or desert suede/desert suede and nylon combinations. Some manufacturers have experimented with different camouflage patterns, including Hi Tec Magnum who went all out with their full Crye Multicam boot which even had a multicam sole! The sole was made with different colour rubber blocks fused together, rather than just being panted on, meaning that the pattern would never wear off even as the sole wore down. Whilst this innovation was pretty neat this boot sadly proved ultimately unpopular with the military due to its high price and a few durability issues. The latest colour innovation in military boots is a new brown colour, designed to complement the Multi-Terrain Pattern used by the British military. The advantage of the brown boot over the old school black military boot is that it doesn't have the stark contrast line where the boot meets the trousers, and also the brown itself blends much more effectively with a wider range of backgrounds and terrains than black, desert or even Multicam making it much more versatile boot for military personnel. This new brown boot is going to be the official MOD issue boot going forward.<br />
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One of the up and coming players in the military boot markets is <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/yds-boots.html">YDS</a> a Turkish based company which has enjoyed a lot of success in the international tender business and is looking to make headway in the UK. A lesser known brand in the retail side of the military boot industry YDS are looking to grow their presence through a select number of retailers as they continue their approaches to the UK MOD boot tenders. Having spoken to YDS and inspected their products I am really quite impressed with what they are offering, direct injection sole units, full genuine Gore-Tex breathable waterproof bootie, high quality leather uppers and a price that compares more with a Magnum Police boot than a Lowa military boot.<br />
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<br />Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-80454835560556303012013-01-17T03:09:00.001-08:002013-01-17T03:09:15.322-08:00Gerber Multiplier Reviews<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/gerber-multitools.html">Gerber</a> seemed like the next logical progression in my blog since we looked at Leatherman last week. The full title of the company is "Gerber Legendary Blades Inc." but to most people they are just "Gerber" (weirdly pronounced "Jerber" by some!!)<br />
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Gerber have been around a lot longer than Leatherman, the company being established in 1939 when Joseph Gerber made sets of hand crafted kitchen knives for some of the customers of the then advertising business and the range was picked up by Abbercrombie and Fitch for distribution. The Gerber brand was purchased by Swedish company Friskars (who also produce the Friskars range of gardening tools; sheers, loppers, pruning blades etc.) in 1987 and Gerber is now the second biggest multiplier brand in the world. Recently Gerber have teamed up with former chief scout, SAS reservist and legendary outdoors-man Bear Grylls as a marketing tactic including launching a range of specialist <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/bear-grills.html">Bear Grylls Knives</a> designed for the outdoors, camping and survival enthusiast.<br />
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Currently Gerber hold the MOD contract for the issued mulitool to UK soldiers and marines with the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Gerber-Black-Crucial-With-Strap-Cutter.html">Black Gerber Crucial</a> with strap cutter being the chosen model. This is a particularly fantasitc bit of kit and if I didn't already own a Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Multitool and a Gerber Strap cutter with window break I would certainly invest in one of these! This model is based on the standard Gerber Crucial, but is finished in "Tactical Black" and they have replaced the carabiner/bottle opener with a strap cutter. Now I know a lot of people probably mourn the loss of the bottle opener more than they value the addition of the strap cutter...after all what's the point in living through a car accident if you can't enjoy a beer after right! But seriously, the strap cutter is a great addition and is indispensable for police, military, fire and rescue or ambulance and paramedics (and there are still plenty of tools on the crucial that you can use to pop a beer bottle top ;) )<br />
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Gerber also do the Diesel multitool in black which has more tools than the Crucial but doesn't have the "crucial" strap cutter if you will excuse the pun!<br />
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Along side the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/knives-multitools-multitools-c-101_103.html">multpliers</a> there is also a wide selection of knives, including the hinderer rescue series, available in red and yellow for the emergency services and as ever a matt black finish for the military.<br />
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<br />Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-91603464847150512672013-01-07T01:41:00.000-08:002013-01-07T01:41:19.463-08:00Leatherman MultitoolsThe term <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/leatherman-multitools.html">Leatherman</a> has become synonymous with all multitools, whether made by leatherman or not, much like the words Biro or Hoover are used to describe all ball point pens or vacuum cleaners.<br />
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Leatherman were the first company to pioneer what was originally termed the "Boy Scout Knife with Pliers" back in 1983 with the launch of what was marketed as the PST or Pocket Survival Tool by the Leatherman Tool Group. The novel idea surged in popularity selling tens of thousands of units in the first few years alone.<br />
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Today Leatherman offer a wide selection of hunting and survival knives alongside their traditional multitools but maintain a specialist range of police and military tools which enjoy an outstanding reputation.<br />
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There are a wide range of cheap imitation Leatherman multitools available on the market retailing at a fraction of the costs, often found near the checkout of outdoors shops or petrol stations. The old adadge of "You get what you pay for" however has never been truer though and you will probably be quite quickly disappointed with the build quality and longevity of the economy alternative. In fact you will most likely find it a false economy as the blade blunts and distorts and the screwdriver heads twist and shred. The extra investment in a high quality brand like <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/gerber-multitools.html">Gerber</a> or Leatherman is really worth it in the long run, especially if you use it a lot, or need to entrust your life, or the lives of others too your <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/knives-multitools-multitools-c-101_103.html">multi tool</a>.<br />
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Leatherman do offer a range of tools to accommodate most budgets and needs, from key ring sized "Gift" type multi pliers to the everything you could need "Charge TTI" featuring 19 unique tools in one and the specialist MUT, MUT EOD and OHT military products...and they have even introduced their womens specific "Pink" range of light weight<br />
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<br />Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-57765511931213555812012-12-11T08:11:00.002-08:002012-12-11T08:11:35.256-08:00HandcuffsPolice issue <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/police-handcuffs.html">handcuffs</a> vary dramatically from force to force and even by each new recruit intake. It was originally the company Hiatt that made the vast majority of the "Rigid" handcuffs that most police officers love, also known as the "Speedcuff". The old style Hiatt cuffs were designed with a solid central piece of ergonomically designed plastic between the two end "bracelets" which is designed to be gripped in one hand by the responsible officer for maximum control of the detainee.<br />
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<a href="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/gtmedia/gtmedia0712/gtmedia071200010/2273546-standard-issue-rigid-bar-handcuffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/gtmedia/gtmedia0712/gtmedia071200010/2273546-standard-issue-rigid-bar-handcuffs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As you can see from the image the central "grip" is curved to fit comfortably and securely in the hand. <br />
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This model of handcuff is hard to come by as Hiatt & Co have now gone out of business, and when they closed down they still held the patent on the specific style. For a long time there was nothing quite like it on the market, although the company TCH now make a very similar handcuff for which they must have found a solution to the original patent problem to produce.<br />
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In the interim it fell to US company <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/asp-police-equipment.html">ASP</a> Inc. (Armament Systems and Procedures) to produce its range of semi-rigid handcuffs. Asp cuffs were hinged to fold in the middle which made them compact and convenient to wear on a belt and due to the bi-lateral only movement in the hinge allowed a fair degree of control of the detainee when gripping the centre of the handcuff. The hinge of course did reduce the control compared the the Hiatt Speedcuff design.<br />
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ASP also produce a range of chain link cuffs as well as plastic restraints or as they are more colloquially known - <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/ASP-Tri-Fold-Restraints-Black-(6-Pack)-p-8430.html">plasticuffs</a> . Both the rigid and chain link handcuffs as well as the plasticuffs are available in tactical black as well as what seems like an odd choice - bright yellow! The bright yellow colouring however serves a purpose and these are know in the trade as "identifier cuffs" as it makes a detainee more visible. There are also in fact bright pink handcuffs which have been adopted by some prison services in an effort to reduce the "tough guy" image of a prisoner being detained in cuffs and make them embarrassed to be seen in the bright pink bracelets.<br />
Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-47740158606602260382012-12-05T07:53:00.001-08:002012-12-05T07:53:15.770-08:00Cadet BootsWhen it comes to buying <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/cadet-boots.html">Cadet boots </a>price has got to be a major consideration. Between the ages of 12 and 18 most peoples feet continue growing rapidly so investing a lot in a pair of boots that will only last 6-8 months before the cadet out grows them is really not necessary. Chances are the cadet will need larger pair of boots before the boots start to fail them in the field, especially if they are only parading once a or twice a week with the odd camp once or twice a year.<br />
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For most cadets, black "<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/police-uniform.html">uniform</a>" looking boots will be sufficient. A leather or "action leather" toe that can get a nice shine for parade and mainly leather side construction, at least below the line of bloused combats any way will be all that is needed. Sole wise something with a fairly chunky tread pattern for grip on mud, grass or gravel when on exercise is going to cover most needs. A highly slip resistant compound with SRA, B or C rating wont really be necessary for a cadets needs whether they are police or army, or any other branch (ACF, RAF, Marines etc.)<br />
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With that in mind a passable pair of light weight cadet boots would be something from the Grafters Range which are all under £50 and should last as long as the cadet still fits into them (but possibly not that much longer). For a few quid more you can splash out on a pair of Magnums or Bates boots, which are much more popular with the serving uniformed services and have a good reputation as cadet boots for their durability and suitability. <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/magnum-boots.html">Magnum</a> and Bates tend to use more whole grain leather, or higher quality action leathers which do tend to polish up a lot better for parade and you can get a decent bull on the toe then as well.<br />
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Once cadets reach the age of 16 or a bit older their feet may have stopped growing and investing in a pair of Lowas might not seem so silly if a future career in the forces beckons or even if they for see an active outdoor lifestyle with hiking etc. being a regular activity in the future. Or if their parents are particularly minted a pair of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Danner-Acadia-8-Black-Boot.html">Danner Acadia Boots</a> would probably do down a treat with any cadet lucky enough to find them under the tree on Christmas morning.Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-90762833487250872342012-11-19T03:03:00.001-08:002012-11-19T03:03:33.278-08:00TurtleSkin GlovesOne of the most respected brands, <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/turtleskin-gloves.html">TurtleSkin</a> is renowned for its range of needle, puncture and cut resistant gloves specifically designed for police, military and law enforcement personnel. TurtleSkin gloves use their range of protective fabrics manufactures at Warwick Mills factory in the USA since 1870.<br />
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Turtle Skin offer a specific range of police products, designed to provide not only optimal protection from sharps as well as allowing for maximum tactile feedback whilst maintaining a smart professional appearance which is a suitable match for uniform whilst on duty. <br />
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One of the most popular models is the TurtleSkin Alpha glove, offering needle and cut resistance on the palm and fingertips and cut resistance on the back of the hand. The knit on the back of the hand is also a high stretch design so as not to restrict movement when opening and closing the hand.<br />
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Similar to the Alpha Glove, the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/TurtleSkin-Bravo-Police-Glove.html">TurtleSkin Bravo</a> glove offers the same hypodermic needle and cut resistance on the palms and fingertips but they have replaced the back of the hand with a breathable mesh fabric. Ideal for warmer weather, the Bravo glove offers the highest levels of breathability available.<br />
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The best levels of cut and needle resistance in the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/police-uniform.html">Police uniform</a> range of gloves (TurtleSkin do also offer gloves for use in the refuse industry or even for handling poisonous snakes!!) is the Search Glove, offering 11 times more protection from 28 Guage needles than normal police gloves and include full protection all around the index finger able to withstand 1.1lbf of force applied through a 28 guage need.Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-65323870870341212462012-10-24T01:06:00.000-07:002012-10-24T01:06:03.816-07:00Strap CuttersA good <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/rescue-knives-strap-cutters.html">strap cutter</a> is actually an invaluable bit of kit that is normally overlooked by a lot of people when they are putting together their kit list but is really an invaluable addition to your load out. A standard "decent" strap cutter from a reputable company like Gerber, specifically designed for cutting seat belt straps, is going to set you back around £35 and will normally come with a window breaker or punch facility. This will be a good investment for many years of reliable service and provide a product that is truly fit for purpose.<br />
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As a budget alternative you can use "industrial" strap cutters designed for cutting box strapping but surprisingly effective at cutting through seat belt webbing! These are going to cost you a lot less than £35, more like £5-£10, but will probably not last that long so by the time you have had to replace it 3 or 4 times you would have been better off investing in something a bit more suitable.<br />
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As an alternative to a single purpose strap cutter Gerber have also released a version of their standard <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Gerber-Black-Crucial-With-Strap-Cutter.html">Crucial Multi-Tool </a>that comes with a strap cutter instead of the bottle-opener/carabiner. Specifically designed for the tactical market, this version of the crucial also comes in <a href="http://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Gucci">Gucci</a> black! For just under forty notes the Crucial Multitool has a fully functioning strap cutter that is fit for purpose and also packs the usual knife, screw drivers (flat and philips head), can opener and pliers. Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-86085537565231285602012-10-17T06:45:00.001-07:002012-10-17T06:45:39.419-07:00Traffic Wands and Hazard lights<br />
Now <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Maglite-C-and-D-Cell-Yellow-Traffic-Wand-Cone-6871.html">traffic wands</a> and <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/RAC-HazardLight-Blue.html">hazard lights</a> are not really anything I thought I would be blogging about in my tactical careerer, they are hardly the most fascinating of topic subjects, but I recently saw quite a cool set of hazard lights in action and thought they warranted a mention.<br />
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The set in question was a kit of 6 "Hockey Puck" sized discs that were a clear plastic inner coated by toughened rubber ribs that sat in a plastic carry case that you plugged into your car cigarette lighter. Within each puck was a rechargeable battery cell and the 16 LED heads, and on the centre of each puck was a magnetic contact to allow you to stick it to a vehicle or the hull of a ship, or any metal surface really and the two contact points for re charging when put in the carry case.<br />
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Each hazard light had 9 different options that you could cycle through:<br />
Solid-On High - 8 hours<br />
Rotate - 15 hours<br />
Alternate - 10 hours<br />
Quad-Blink - 15 hours<br />
Double-Blink - 30 hours<br />
FastBlink - 12 hours<br />
Slow-Blink - 100 hours<br />
Solid-On Low - 60 hours<br />
S-O-S - 24 hours<br />
Flashlight - 15 hours<br />
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The cool thing about the lights is each one was virtually indistructable! You can run them over with a 4*4, submerge them for prolonged periods (though they float naturally) and they will work at temps from -40C to +100C.<br />
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Traffic Wands are not so cool but seemed like quite a handy little gadget. Basically a big red plastic ice cream cone that you put upside down on your torch to convert the white beam into a glowing red beacon which you can use for directing traffic, pedestrians or just making yourself visible without blinding anyone you catch in the eye with a 100lumen white beam! If you are working Roads Policing then it is definitely worth investing a couple of quid in a traffic wand to keep in the back of your car....the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/hazard-warning-and-safety-lights-1.html">Hazard light system</a> runs to about £120 quid so I would push for stores to kit you out with one of these!!!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-6770837406173219152012-10-10T08:33:00.001-07:002012-10-10T08:33:28.459-07:00Bivvy Poles - WTFJust a very quick post to rant about the state of basic issue kit.....Why are Royal Marines Reserves (not sure about Regs) expected to buy their own <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Web-Tex-Extending-Bivi-Pole-p-981.html">Bivvy Poles</a>? Ludicrous, you get issued a bivvy but no poles! This is pretty standard issue and given that maybe 10% of recruits make it to getting a green lid for 90% of new recruits forking out ~£15 for two bivvy poles seems a bit steep!<br /><br />
Polish, trouser twists, razors, folding toothbrush, shaving soap etc. I can accept, they are personal use items and you would have to buy a civvie equivalent anyway even if you weren't in... but the bivvy pole seemed a bit cheeky!<br />
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Anyway rant over.Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-21731826387523496922012-09-25T02:10:00.000-07:002012-09-25T02:10:13.969-07:00Ballistic EywearThere are a few major brands of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/eyewear-vision-protective-eyewear-c-111_112.html">ballistic eyewear</a> available; at the top end of the market (in terms of price at least) is the Oakley Standard Issue range, lower down the price (and cool kudos) spectrum is the Swiss One Safety range and somewhere in the middle are the likes of Wiley X and ESS.<br />
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/oakley-standard-issue.html">Oakley Standard Issue</a> Ballistic Eyewear closely resembles the high street fashion brand in terms of design but with suppressed (or in some cases removed) logos. So where the regualar Oakley design might have a silver "O" on the elbow and the text across the nose piece the Standard Issue version would have a black "O" in the elbow and no text whatsoever across the nose. All the Standard Issue range are ballistic rated, only some of the high street versions are ballistic rated.<br />
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/wiley-x-tactical.html">Wiley X</a> are similar to Oakley in that they have a "fashion" and extreme sports background as well as their tactical range of ballistic eyewear (they also have a less trendy Fishing focus due to the excellent visuals and protections levels offered with their polarised lenses when operating in and around water.) Also similar to Oakley they offer "array" packs with 2 or 3 lenses, normally clear and smoke, or clear, smoke and rust/rose which give the user a range of ballistic lens options for use in different lighting environments.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/swiss-one-safety.html">Swiss One</a> range of ballistic eyewear comes from a more safety focused background, designed for the needs of industrial users, but with a bit more fashion sense and comfort in mind than the tradional safety goggles you might get issued. Don't be fooled though, Swiss One Eyewear offers high levels of UVA and UVB protection - comparable to any other sun-glass brand out there - as well as industrial standard EN Safety standards.<br />
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/ess-eyewear.html">ESS</a> are a more recent entrant to the market that surged into prominence when they won the UK MOD contract for supplying the British Army with ballistic eyewear for the current deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. The general consensus was the product was acceptable, nothing to write home about, but did the job well enough, suffering from the usual complaint of easy scratching but generally robust.Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-51944743365271826882012-08-21T03:00:00.000-07:002013-02-08T08:16:49.791-08:00Police Shop ReviewsPeople often ask me to recommend a <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/">police shop</a> for their kit and equipment needs and I almost always recommend they shop at PatrolStore.com for any of their equipment or uniform supplies. <br />
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As Police Shops go PatrolStore has one of, if not the best, websites for browsing <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/law-enforcement-equipment.html">law enforcement equipment</a> in general they have the best quality images, normally 1000*1000 pixels with a handy zoom feature AND the option to go "Full Size" with the picture view and normally multiple product shots with different angles, or a stock image and a model image as well which really allows you to asses what you are buying before it arrives in the post. Combined with product videos which are also a common feature of the PatrolStore police shop, plenty of (what appear to be genuine) customer reviews, detailed product reviews written with the user in mind and a good "Tech Spec" sheet you really do get the best insight into your product purchase.<br />
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Being a specialist police shop there is never going to be as many reviews as you would get for consumer products on <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/">Amazon</a> for example but PatrolStore seems to have the most of any of the other police, military or security shops and compared to one police-supplies shop the reviews appear to be a lot more genuine, they have published positive and negative feedback about both the products and their own service and sometimes include a response to the customer review with some input of their own. As regular kit reviewer myself, I always look for customer reviews when shopping online.<br />
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PatrolStore also offer some of the best service available, the website shows when items are out of stock (I don't understand how any e commerce business operates without this feature but I know the vast majority of police shops are way behind the times on this) and they offer a range of delivery options including next day priority courier and even Saturday Morning Guaranteed (though this is a pretty expensive courier option) and of course a reasonably priced 2-3 day standard "economy service". One of the most innovative features of the patrolstore shop is the timed delivery window for anything that goes with their courier, <a href="http://www.interlinkexpress.com/">Interlink Express </a>. You get an email on the day it is dispatched telling you it will be with you the next working day, and on the day you get an email AND A TEXT!!! (if you supply a mobile number at checkout) telling you a 1 hour slot in which your parcel will be delivered. This is a fantastic feature and really cuts down on the wait at home all day only to have the courier come and go while you are in the bathroom for 5 mins and have to wait in the next day as well.<br />
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Of course you can shop for all the usual police brands, <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/5-11-clothing.html">5.11,</a> Magnum, Op. Zulu, Maglite, Led Lenser, Peli, Tactical Jack, Lowa, Bates, Blackhawk etc.and comparing them to their rivals they seem to be pretty consistently the cheapest (esp when you add in some of the crazy hidden shipping fees from other police-military sites). They even have a price beat promise in that they will match any other site and deliver it free so they are pretty confident in their competitiveness.<br />
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The final thing to always consider when shopping online for anything (not just your police bits and pieces) is the returns policy and when you read the T&Cs out there you will see PatrolStore offer one of the most flexible and easy to use, allowing you book your own return in online and send it back without having to phone during limited customer services hours, or send emails back and forth, another real plus.BootAPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15475271278116004362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-49812174388453177852012-08-10T06:40:00.000-07:002012-08-10T06:40:21.073-07:00Baton HoldersThere are many different <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/baton-holders.html">baton holder</a> varieties on the market from a range of different brands (most designed to fit their brand and not competitors) and styles. The most well know baton brand is ASP, so much so that that the ASP name has become synonymous with the product, much like "hoover" or "biro" but ASP is just an acronym of Armament Systems and Procedures Inc an American company founded in 1976 to develop law enforcement compliance products.<br />
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/ASP-Sidebreak-Scabbard--21-p-8417.html">Asp baton holders</a> come in two main flavours, the rigid polymer baton holder and the material nylon holder. Both are designed to be belt mounted but the polymer baton holder has a distinct advantage over it's nylon counter part in that it can be rotated ton any of 8 different angels making it universally popular with right and left handed users wherever you like to mount your baton. The nylon style baton holder only allows for the straight vertical position. The nylon holder however will accommodate most other brands of straight telescopic batons, the polymer holder will only accept ASP batons properly and some styles of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/batons-c-129_130.html">Monadnock</a>.<br />
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The altnertative to the ASP polymer holder is the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/peter-jones-klickfast-equipment.html">Peter Jones KilckFast</a> version which is designed to be more universal and still offers both the security and the rotational advantages of the Asp product. The other major advantage is price, the Peter Jones baton holder being just over £10 cheaper than the asp. <br />
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If you are looking for a leather product then the best option in <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/price-western-leather.html">Price Western Leather</a> (PWL) who offer a 3 position option (again making it acceptable for most left or right handed users). This baton holder is made from high quality black finished leather, but PWL also offer the only <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/PWL-Baton-Holder-p-757.html">side handle baton holder</a> which is made from a semi rigid nylon construction.BootAPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15475271278116004362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-90772330866325070832012-07-27T05:37:00.002-07:002012-07-27T05:39:34.410-07:00MaglitesThe Iconic <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/maglite-torches.html">Maglite</a> 3D Cell police torch hanging from the belt of a US TV cop is a bit of a Hollywood myth these days. Sadly maglite fell behind in technology and performance in the torch "arms race" over the last decade and their price tag for the brand name could no long be justified. Don't get me wrong, maglites are a classic bit of kit, solid reliable torches made to take a beating, BUT the reality is they are kind of bulky, the battery life isn't great.and the lumen out put is again short of other newer brands out there.<br />
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Maglite have tried to improve the situation with a new range of LED torches to complement their traditional xenon bulbs , which have brought them back into the game, but they still don't lead the pack in the same way they used to. For a limited time maglite also offered <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/torches-lights-accessoriesupgrades-c-73_76.html">LED upgrades</a> (which were pretty expensive - almost as much as replacing your original torch, but just slightly cheaper than buying the new LED version!!!) however Maglite have since pulled the official upgrades from their range although there are still plenty of third party companies offering their own brand parts, which although not supported by Maglite seem to work just fine. I did manage to pick up an official upgrade module when they were available for my 3D cell and it really took my sad old maglite up to a whole new level. No longer the dull orange glow and 30min battery life, instead a piercing white beam that lasts for hours and is still fully focusable (something some unofficial led upgrades loose). Of course the only downside is that you cant use LED torches with IR filters, but luckily Maglite is one of the few manufacturers to still produce their filament range so you can revert to one of those if necessary.<br />
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Another plus side of the Maglite range is the reliability issue, these torches are still pretty bomb proof, something that Maglite still very much prides it self on and has been the bedrock of its brand reputation.<br />
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A quick synopsys of the core range is:<br />
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<ul><li><a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Maglite-Solitaire-Torch-p-561.html">Solitaire</a> (keyring torch)</li>
<li>Mini Maglite AA (LED and Filament)</li>
<li>2D Cell (LED and Filament)</li>
<li>3D Cell (LED and Filament)</li>
<li>4D Cell (Filament Only)</li>
</ul><div>But there are also some re chargable and multimode maglite models like the XL200, ML125 and the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Maglite-Mag-Charger-Rechargeable-Flashlight-System.html">Mag Charger System</a> which round out the range as well as complimentary <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/police-security-equipt-torch-holders-c-86_133.html">Maglite Holders Pouches</a></div>BootAPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15475271278116004362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-75385161419404054242012-05-23T09:20:00.000-07:002012-05-23T09:20:09.194-07:00Clip on Tie : Essential!Now a <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/viper-clip-on-tie-p-836.html">clip on tie</a> isn't normally the kind of Gucci kit that needs a review, but a clip on tie will set you back ~£5, you will use it whenever you are in a suit and it will make your life a hell of a lot safer!<br />
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There is a mix op opinion with door supervisors as to whether a clip on tie or a "Dickie" bow tie is the way forward...... Personally I can't see any advantage of the Bow tie over the clip on variety. Bow ties tend look peculiar, unless you are James bond sporting a tux, and the one thing you don't want to do it draw attention to yourself when working the doors. Anything that invites ridicule or singles you out is simply increasing your chances of trouble. From a safety perspective, a bow tie does fasten around the neck, either the clip round variety or the proper tie up kind and so offer a ligature hand hold to any would be assailant all be it a much smaller one than a traditional tie.<br />
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The clip on tie fastens to the buttons on the front of the collar and pops off with not very much force at all so you cant be strangled or pulled about by it in any way. In fact if someone does try and grab it and it comes away in their hand you will gain yourself a couple of seconds as they react to the unexpected result (especially if they a a couple of drinks for the worse) and those couple of seconds will give you a chance to take the upper hand in the situation. Add to that the fact that a plain black clip on tie will look ok with any shirt or suit colour or style and I can't see why you would choose anything else!<br />
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/viper-clothing-gloves.html">Viper</a> are probably the most well known brand in the security industry for this kind of product and their items are usually pretty reasonably priced. If you are buying <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/">security equipment online</a> it's probably worth buying a couple to save on postage as you will get drinks etc spilled down you at some point and want to give one a wash while you wear you other tie, and one will eventually get broken as you struggle to maintain order and safety with the forces of drunken disorder!BootAPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15475271278116004362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-5251071291936034172012-05-17T01:12:00.000-07:002012-05-17T01:12:33.513-07:00Police Uniform SuppliersThese days cops are issued less and less <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/">police uniform</a>, having in general to purchase their own boots, additional pouches and even vests unless you have a medical complaint! Long gone are the days of the bobby in blue with his white pressed shirt and tie with bash hat and <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/dr-martens-police-boots.html">Dr Martens</a> Shoes. These days police uniforms are a bit more "Tacti-cool" with officers sporting combats, light weight patrol boots a moisture wicking polo shirt (worn under an anything BUT wicking stab vest) and an assortment of belt kit normally heavily customised by the individual officer to suit their uniform needs depending on their specific duties.<br />
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Basic police uniform issue will normally include a couple of pairs of pants, a few shirts, 3 types of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/communications-radios-c-127_128.html">earpieces</a>, a belt and 2-3 pouches, baton, spray, <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/police-handcuffs.html">cuffs</a> and stabby....but getting replacements for lost, stolen or broken kit is always a nightmare. Unless you are a special constable you will be expected to buy your own footwear at your own expense (specials get a uniform allowance specifically for boots but they have to hand in their dead boots and provide the new invoice and are normally allowed to claim up to £50 per year or £12 per quarter).<br />
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At the moment police uniforms are regional, certain neighbouring forces might share specific elements under certain frameworks, but there are no centralised purchasing agreements. However this is changing and in an effort to cut police uniform costs procurement is being moved to a more centralised national level tender business in an effort to benefit from economies of scale. It is worth noting however that this was the previous model and it was decided that regional force level purchasing would work out cheaper so this is a bit of a policy flip flop and given the costs of changing the model, will probably end up costing more again than it they left it well enough alone.<br />
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In general, despite the more "combative" apperance of the new style uniforms, most officers seem happier with the move to more practical, functional police uniforms than the old suit and <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/viper-clip-on-tie-p-836.html">clip on tie</a> approach, and the issue of Goretex high viz jackets, fleece tops and heavy weight winter trousers have certainly made life more comfortable than the old capes ever would.BootAPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15475271278116004362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1992720220029189323.post-13781266994776578822012-05-04T08:16:00.001-07:002012-05-04T08:17:12.957-07:00Police Vests Review<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/police-vests.html">Police vests</a> are a great way to keep the weight off your hips and reduce back fatigue. Police vests differ from combat or <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/vests-webbing-vests-c-92_93.html">assault vests</a> in that whilst they both perform the same basic function of allowing kit and equipment to be mounted conveniently on the body, the police and combat vests are required to carry completely different products and give a completely different appearance.<br />
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Police vests are normally designed to be worn over a stab vest. Some stab vests carriers also have a selection of pockets but they normally fall well short of the form and function of a proper vest for the variety and positioning of the pockets and pouches.<br />
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A typical design for a police vest would be two airwaves docs on the left and right breast to allow a radio to be mounted on either side, and on the opposite side it is not uncommon for a torch or Peli versabrite to be mounted in a specially designed adapter. There would also be a baton holder and a CS spray holder. If the vest is a cross draw the baton holder is on the opposite side the the hand denomination of the wearer, designed to be drawn across the body, and the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/cs-gas-and-spray-holders.html">CS Spray holder</a> then on the opposite side. Other common Police <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/vests-webbing-pouches-c-92_94.html">Vest pouches</a> would be a cuff holder, small torch holder and a couple of general purpose pouches which you can cram an AtoZ, some sandwiches, spare nitrile gloves, pnb, any other docs etc etc.<br />
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The most popular brands of Police Vests include Arktis, MCP. <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/5-11-tactical-vests.html">5.11 </a>and Op. Zulu. Arktis were made popular for their quality but only a few officers can afford one, let alone justify the expense!!! 5.11 are a bit US centric in their design, much more overt "combat" style looks and more focused on firearms uses so magazine pouches etc. If you are looking for a high quality, reasonably priced, very thoughtfully designed vest I would recommend the Op. Zulu Police Vest without a shadow of a doubt. Some real thought has been put into the design of this vest with the positioning of the pockets, and the extra features, including pen holders, hidden key keeper, D rings, independent nitrile glove pocket, rear "stash" pocket, light weight mesh shoulders, velcro patch holders etc etc. make Op. Zulu police vests a stand out winner!!!BootAPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15475271278116004362noreply@blogger.com0