CRKT Xan

Sometimes tactical folding knives are a one-trick pony when it comes to everyday carry. Some tend to be more like pure self-defense weapons rather than a useful tool that you can also use to get through your daily tasks with ease. Overly-aggressive blade shapes aren’t the best when you’re mostly going to use your knife for utility tasks, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want good tactical features for when the situation calls for it. That’s why the smart balanced design of the CRKT Xan, made in collaboration with special ops veteran Darrin Sirois, deserves your attention. It features quality materials and an ergonomic design that gives you the utmost of control whether you’re opening boxes or getting yourself out of a scrape in an emergency.

The Xan’s blade shape is quite versatile, with a downward angle when locked open that makes it great for chopping work. The placement of the point at the same level as the pommel of the knife makes it easy to pierce through hard material in a pinch as well. The corrosion-resistant 1.4116 high carbon stainless steel blade is 3.6" long and it has a slight recurve that helps it slice like a larger knife. Opening the blade is easily done with a single hand, because the Xan features CRKT’s signature Outburst assisted technology that springs the blade out after you start things off with the thumbstud on either side. A secure frame lock keeps everything in place even during hard use, and the aggressive G10 scaling on the other side of the handle ensures that you can keep your hands on the knife even when things get wet.

In Greek, Xan translates to “protector,” and that designation is fitting for such a capable knife. And the best part is you won’t have to pay a pretty penny to get this tactical EDC folder in your pockets. With its solid construction and quality materials married with its smart ergonomics, the CRKT Xan is a great choice for your everyday carry. Check it out and buy one for yourself today at the link below.

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Trending: Suunto Core

Timepiece Thursday brings to the spotlight a watch that does more than just keep the time. The Suunto Core is a robust wearable packed with a plethora of features sure to please any outdoorsman. Besides the standard digital watch functions of alarm, timer, and stopwatch, the large 49 mm face displays data from its altimeter, barometer, compass, and temperature sensors. It even has a storm alarm that alerts you of a significant drop in barometric pressure, and is one of the few altimeters waterproofed up to 30 meters. Whatever adventure you’re on, the Suunto Core will be sure to keep up. Check it out at the link below.

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Olight Warrior X Pro

While many tactical or duty-oriented flashlights don’t come in sizes that comfortably fit in your pocket, there’s plenty of reasons why one is worth a spot in your EDC. A larger profile often comes with a bigger reflector (for more throw), or a larger battery that gives exponentially longer runtimes. And since they’re built for duty or other life-threatening scenarios, reliability is a priority when it comes to build quality, meaning you have a light you can rely on especially during emergencies. With a tactical focus in mind while also taking the best features of their everyday lights, Olight gives their Warrior X the Pro upgrade, adding more output, runtime, and even better usability as an everyday light.

The Warrior X Pro runs on a new and propriety power source, a customized 21700 battery with a 5000mAh capacity. This allows the light to achieve a maximum of 2,250 lumens and 600-meter beam distance from its neutral white Cree XHP35 HI LED, while having a slightly bigger profile than a large permanent marker. The battery charges inside the light through the use of Olight’s new MCC3 magnetic USB charging cable, which provides faster charging than previous generations at a 2A charge rate, and is backward compatible with older Olight models.

The Pro retains the original Warrior X’s dual-output interface, and on a full charge, gives  a runtime of up to 8 hours on its 300-lumen Low mode. On High, it can hold 2,250 lumens for two minutes, after which the light’s temperature and battery-based stepdown dials it down to 1,000 lumens for 1 hour and 40 minutes, then drops to Low for a final 23 minutes of runtime before complete battery depletion. An innovative feature of the Warrior X line is the vibration function that acts as a power indicator: the light vibrates every 5 minutes when the battery is under 30% capacity, every minute when below 10%, and every 10 seconds when under 5%. This provides a discreet and tactile reminder to charge the light during heavy use.

The raised electronic tail switch is more glove-friendly and comfortable to use than previous designs, and actuates with a firm press, helping to prevent any accidental activation of the light. This conserves battery and prevents it from burning a hole in your pack or pocket. Like the vibration function, it keeps the Warrior X Pro’s operation discreet with near-silent actuation. The switch gives you easy access to the two output levels, as well as momentary activation with a half-press. Olight also keeps the Warrior X Pro’s interface simple and efficient for its intended purpose by not adding unnecessary modes like Strobe or SOS.

In hand, the 5.87" long IPX-8 waterproof aluminum body design offers a firm grip with or without gloves. The large 1.54" head diameter slims down to 1.03" for the body, which, combined with the grooves designed into the shaft and the cooling fins on the light’s business end, provides a solid grip even in wet conditions.

Adapting to both EDC and tactical use, the Warrior X Pro comes with different accessories to customize your grip and carry.  You can use it with a conventional aluminum tactical ring paired with the sturdy, non-reversible clip, or you can opt for the included silicon rubber TGR (Tactical Grip Ring) as a grippier option. Olight also includes a nylon hardshell holster with magnetic closure for on-the-belt carry or attaching to MOLLE-compatible straps. Last but not least, a magnetic tailcap also allows you to hang the light vertically from any metallic surface.

With improvements in power and charging and refinements in ergonomics and design, the Olight Warrior X Pro deserves some heavy consideration as your next flashlight, whether for tactical use or as a solid everyday performer. Check it out at the link below.

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Trending: Hamilton Khaki Field Automatic

The field watch design is as timeless as it is useful, with the pairing of a clean, military-inspired dial and a leather strap allowing the watch to easily transition between the workplace and the weekend. For Watch Wednesday, we're taking a look at one Switzerland's finest field watchmakers--Hamilton--with their Khaki Field Automatic offering a bold, 42mm GMT for some serious wrist presence. Under the sapphire glass is an H-10 automatic self-winding movement with a date display at the 3 o'clock position, 12H, 24H, and GMT dials that make the dial design, and an impressive 80 hours of power reserve. The Khaki Field comes with brown leather strap with contrast stitching that handsomely offsets its stainless steel case and crown, with a 100-meter water resistance completing its features. Check out this bold field watch at the link below.

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GORUCK x Huckberry GR1 Slick

Whenever the topic of toughest EDC bags gets brought up, or talking about bags that make an ideal “one bag” for travel, it’s hard to leave out the GORUCK GR1 out of the discussion. Its simple, efficient design has stood the test of time, with an unchanged design and heavy-duty construction philosophy since blazing a trail for tactical bags a decade ago. But while the bag’s utility is universal, the tactical aesthetic isn’t for everyone. That’s why for the GR1’s 10th anniversary, GORUCK have partnered with Huckberry to produce the GR1 Slick, a modified version of the bag with a sleeker outer design while retaining all the best features of the original’s overbuilt construction. If you’ve ever wanted to check out the GR1 but looking for something with a more everyday, urban design, then this is the collaboration to check out.

If you’ve never seen or handled the GORUCK GR1 before, its design may come as a surprise in a market flooded with more modern backpack designs. It takes a less-is-more approach when it comes to how you should carry your gear. It opens flat, giving you full organizational control thanks to three rows of MOLLE-compatible webbing on the interior for adding your own pouches and modular gear. Just below that you have access to a wide drop pocket for securing flat, fragile items like notebooks, tablets, and documents. The inner side of the front of the pack provides more storage with a horizontal zippered pocket as well as a zippered mesh pocket under that. 

There’s also a suspended laptop compartment on the back of the bag, reinforced with a rigid frame sheet that keeps your computer off the ground and protected when you set your bag down. Last but not least, another zippered pocket for storing smaller, more frequently accessed gear on the front exterior of the GR1 Slick sits tucked away under a flap of fabric that helps keep out rain while maintaining a discreet outer appearance.

On the Huckberry GR1 Slick, that front pocket is the sole detail on the backpack’s front exterior. While the interior retains the webbing for expansion and customization, the rows on the bottom front and sides of the original GR1 design have been removed, as has the loop field above the zippered pocket. This gives the GR1 Slick a completely sterile, sleek profile, letting it fit right at home in an office as much as on a weekend rough-and-tumble rucking session. 

More details that nod to the collaboration are on the inner zip pockets, where a special commemorative leather patch embossed with Huckberry and GORUCK collaborative branding replaces GORUCK’s usual logo patch on the right side, and a “Built in the USA” patch proudly takes a spot on the lower mesh pocket’s left.

Other than aesthetics, the GR1 Slick’s complete 21-liter backpack (with a 26L option as well) functionality remains intact. This includes the durable, rainproof 1000D Cordura nylon construction that can stand up to wherever you take it without being too heavy or uncomfortably rigid in structure. The shoulder straps also feature extra padding to maintain comfort even through the longest treks through the city or the woods. Frequent flyers can haul the GR1 Slick as their “one bag” and comply with TSA requirements too. With just a few packing cubes and pouches, the GR1 Slick can pull double duty as your go-to travel bag for shorter trips.

No matter how you use it, the GORUCK x Huckberry GR1 Slick is built to last, with a decade-long legacy of construction and versatility that few bags have been able to live up to. Be sure to grab one of the limited stocks from Huckberry at the link below.

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