Dialed actually started as a watch company in 2017. Their two watches - the Thirty-Six and Forty-Six - are an homage to the classic styling found in the gauges of iconic BMWs. The watches are available in either a stainless steel or black PVD case and start at $179. However, let's get back to the bands ...
In response to their customer's demands, they released a line of race inspired watch bands. This lineup includes options for traditional watches, Apple Watches, and other smartwatches as well. The Apple Watch bands - which is what caught our attention in the first place - come in eight different iconic color patterns.
Anyone who has been following off-road racing for more than a minute will instantly recognize the "Ivan" pattern. Or what about the "Heritage" pattern? All of the Apple Watch bands are available for 38/40MM or 42/44MM cases, and your choice of Space Grey or Stainless hardware. The bands retail for $20.
For more information, or to see the complete lineup of watch bands, visit the Dialed website.
]]>Flashback a bit more than a year ago my wife (fiancée at the time) and I were camping out at the American Adventurist SoCal Mountain Rendezvous. American Adventurist hosts a number of local Rendezvous events that are group camp outs in support of a local cause, often in a remote location with dispersed camping.
While we were at this event, I attended a Recovery Gear clinic put on by Adam Wood of Step 22 Gear. Adam went through details on load ratings, different materials and more. Afterward I looked through my recovery gear with this new information in mind and realized what I thought was good was mostly crap. A few weeks later I had upgraded most of my kit, not surprisingly with Step 22 Gear and a few other of Adam’s recommendations like the green pin hard shackles.
This correct recovery gear was substantially bulkier than its weak predecessors and required dedicated storage. I had been using a Wingman Patrol Bag to hold all of this gear, it worked OK and kept nearly everything in one place, but wasn’t ideal. A “Patrol Bag” is ubiquitous in Public Safety circles and is used by officers to carry their shift gear, especially when using random vehicles from a shared motorpool.
Then this fall, 5.11 released the new Range Master bag series, prior to their official release we had them out on a few action photoshoots and the duffel became a favorite gear hauler, not just for range gear but also for camera equipment and more. It was only natural to see how well it would do to replace the patrol bag as a dedicated recovery gear bag.
What’s in the bag now?
Dynamic recovery strap, static recovery strap, tree saver, two soft shackles, three hard “Green Pin” d-shackles, snatchblock, folding shovel, flashlight and gloves.
Load it Up
Step 22 straps loaded into the bottom of the bag.
Second Tier
Bubba Rope and pouches with shovel, snatchblock and shackles on top.
All loaded up. With luck it won’t be needed.
Snug as a bedbug, the bag sits on top of a small hard case that contains components of a hi-lift jack. The bag and hard case are lashed (individually) to a Goose Gear platform in the back of the Land Cruiser.
Sidenote: I always get asked about the "RECOVERY" or "SHACKLES" tags. The pouches and bag itself have loop-sided holders for nametapes, 5.11 has these handy “WriteBar” pieces that have a hook-back. With a silver or white enamel marker you can easily add your name or the bag’s contents.
Until next time ...
Matt Frederick
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Editor's Note: You can follow Matt's adventures and artwork on IG: @FrederickAfield and @OverlandArt, or check out his in-depth blog at ethernectar.com and photos at themirrorpool.com.
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All "Three O Five" Editions will come with Sport LED lighting and a unique Miami-themes graphics package. Dealers will have the option to add a host of Mopar accessories to recreate the versions being displayed at the Miami International Auto Show.
Here is a more in-depth breakdown of the package offered:
Jeep Wrangler "Three O Five" Edition
Jeep Gladiator "Three O Five" Edition
For more information, contact a Miami area Jeep dealership, or Jeep.
]]>While you might not be familiar with Venomrex, if you’ve been around the car scene a minute, you’ll probably know their parent company – Vorsteiner. Vorsteiner has been making high-end forged wheels for sports and premium luxury cars for years. Now, they’re branching out into the off-road market under the Venomrex name. Their goal is to bring unique wheels to the off-road community through the use of European styling, coupled with cutting edge wheel engineering and manufacturing technologies.
Venomrex’s latest addition is 17-inch VR-602 wheel. It was designed to fit ’09 to ’19 Ford F-150, ’10 to ’19 Ford Raptor, ’02 to ’19 Toyota 4Runner, ’07 to ’14 Toyota FJ Cruiser, and ’16 and newer Toyota Tacomas. The 17×9-inch wheels feature tailored offsets for a direct fitment on these models with zero modifications. Derek Boler, Marketing Coordinator for Venomrex, states, “At Venomrex our goal is to bring some of the most advanced and forward-thinking wheel technology available to the off-road market. With the VR-602 we are expanding our offerings to include fitments for some of the most common off-road vehicles, with more launches coming this year.”
According to Venomrex, the wheels are made using an innovative “Flow-Fordged” construction process. Flow Forging uses excessive heat and pressure to “better align the molecular compound of the aluminum” in the manufacturing process. This essentially creates wheels with substantially higher impact tolerances than traditional cast wheels. The wheels also weigh up to 30% less than similar styles on the market. Coming in at just 24.4 pounds per wheel, the VR-602s reduce unsprung mass and allow for more acceleration and braking performance (when compared to heavier wheels).
The new VR-602 will run you $1,150 per set. The wheels are available in three different finishes: Coal Black, Highland Bronze, and Tungsten Graphite. They are available online and through select retailers worldwide. Venomrex offers a lifetime warranty against structural and manufacturer defects as well as a two-year cosmetic warranty on the finishing. Venomrex also makes other wheels for: Jeep JL, Jeep JK, Ram 1500, Toyota Tundra, Toyota FJ Cruiser, and Toyota 4Runner. For more information on the new VR-602, or to see their other wheel options, please visit their website.
]]>The RLS is made from a proprietary chafe-resistant 1 ¼” nylon mesh webbing. Magpul uses a tubular construction that can reduce harsh edges making it less prone to rub or snag. It also provides a double layer of cushioned comfort for the end-user when the rifle is shouldered. When using the rifle, the strap’s smooth texture remains comfortable against the user’s skin even when heavy pressure is applied. The colored webbing is NIR treated to reduce infrared signature – just like all of Magpul’s other slings.
The hardware used on the RLS is both lightweight, yet extremely durable. Magpul went with reinforced, high-strength injection-molded polymer hardware for years of trouble-free use. They also added a proprietary sling keeper that leaves no tails or loose straps, which helps eliminate snag hazards and potential distractions. The sling weighs a mere 4.4 ounces, but don’t think the RLS isn’t heavy-duty. According to Mappul, ” … the RLS has been extensively tested to its limit to ensure reliability and performance in wet, dry, and sandy conditions, to include load and drop testing. It’s been hiked with, biked with, swam, climbed, hunted and shot (a lot) with in a variety of field conditions.” The highly-configurable RLS also accepts all Magpul 1 ¼” sling accessories as well as most third-party 1 ¼” sling attachments.
The Magpul RLS Sling works both as a standard weapon sling as well as a stabilized shooting aid. In the retention role, the RLS works unobtrusively securely keeping your rifle tucked behind the shoulder comfortably. When needed, the RLS can be rapidly deployed with the adjustable forward loop gripping the Rifleman’s support am, locking in a steady shooting position, and firmly planting the rifle butt against the shoulder.
The RLS Sling retails for $19.95 and is available in Black or Coyote. To learn more about the RLS Sling, or to find your nearest authorized retailer, please visit the Magpul website.
]]>WARN AXON: A Revolution in Powersports Recovery
The AXON winch lineup merges cutting-edge technology and unmatched reliability into a product that’ll revolutionize powersports winches. At the heart of this innovation is what Warn calls the Motactor™—a combination of a powerful motor and a first-of-its-kind digital contactor in one unit. By combining the motor and contactor, Warn is able to increase performance and efficiency. And since the motor and contactor are in one unit, installation time is drastically reduced, making for a quick and easy setup—whether an AXON is being installed at a dealer by a professional, or in a garage by a do-it-yourselfer. AXON offers a first-of-its-kind digital control that provides never-before-seen levels of feedback to users including load information and motor temperature data, letting users be more informed during the winching process than ever before and giving them more control. Add to this fast line speed, exceptional efficiency, and low amp draw, and you’ve got the most advanced, high-performance powersports winch ever.
AXON offers a host of premium amenities such as full IP68 waterproof construction to keep water and the elements out. There’s a new clutch system based on the legendary WARN hublock, allowing for easy transitions between freespool and engaged winch modes. There’s also a high-performance integrated brake that’ll hold the full-rated winch load, and a smooth, reliable, all-metal three-stage planetary geartrain. AXON’s all-metal construction uses a one-piece tie plate (vs. tie bars) for increased structural rigidity for increased durability. AXON employs stainless-steel fasteners and wears a black powder-coated finish to resist corrosion. AXON winches are covered by a limited lifetime warranty on mechanical components, and a three-year warranty on electrical parts (North America). Capacities range from 3,500 lbs.(1588 kg) to a new 5,500 lb. (2495 kg) rating—ideal for Side x Sides.
AXON allows extreme riders to push the limits and ride on the edge knowing their vehicles will be equipped with exceptional recovery options, no matter what the situation. This is the state-of-the-art, no-compromise winch choice for the powersports industry. AXON winches are available in these configurations:
WARN VRX: High Performance, High Value
The all-new WARN VRX lineup takes performance and value to new levels never before seen in a powersports winch. With VRX, buyers will get a premium product without a premium price.
VRX showcases full IP68 waterproofing to keep water and the elements out for years of reliable performance. VRX’s all-new styling and stout all-metal construction wears a gloss-black powdercoated finish for excellent corrosion resistance. Other features include a smooth and reliable all-metal three-stage planetary geartrain; a powerful motor with fast linespeeds; an integrated load-holding brake for class-leading control; and an easy-to-turn clutch dial designed based on the legendary WARN 4WD hub lock for easy transitions between freespool and engaged winch modes.
VRX capacities range from 2,500 lbs. (1134 kg) to 4,500 lbs. (2041 kg) making them ideal for both ATVs and Side x Sides. All VRX models include a limited lifetime mechanical warranty and a three-year electrical component warranty (North America).
Whether on the job or on the trail, the VRX lineup will work or play as hard as its riders do, and is ideal for powersports vehicles big and small.
VRX is available in three capacities and six configurations:
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For more information on the brand new Warn Industries AXON and VRX powersports winches, please visit the Warn website.
]]>As part of their 10th anniversary celebration, they have been highlighting some of the many US companies the work with in order to produce part of their core lineup of knives. In this story, we’ll take a look at the HEST Original, HEST/F Urban, and Heat Hiker and the makers that DPx has partnered with to produce them.
DPx Gear’s HEST, or Hostile Environment Survival Tool, is the knife that started it all for them. It is their original, “brutal-use” everyday carry fixed blade survival knife. According to the company, “The DPx HEST Original changed the way professionals think of a survival blade. It had to be to be useful and it couldn’t fail when deployed. The HEST concept was created by adventurer and DPx Gear founder Robert Young Pelton who applied his time in three dozen conflicts and adventures through more than 120 countries to come up with the perfect balance of concealability, utility and fail-safe operation in an innovative blade. The HEST features a 0.19 inch blade crafted from high carbon 1095 spring steel with the famous Rowen heat treatment that results in a 57-58 Rockwell hardness. You will find every aspect of the HEST Original thought out: the balance, lashing points, thumb control, wire breaker and even the ability to remove the hollow, Micarta¨ handles for use as a neck knife or field expedient tool.”
The HEST Original is made by Shon Rowen Manufacturing in Idaho Falls, ID. Rowen Manufacturing is a family company built upon old-fashioned, made in the U.S.A., quality craftsmanship. Shon has been a machinist and metal worker since childhood, having learned the craft from his father, also a machinist by trade. Rowen’s exclusive heat treatment to the 1095 Spring Steel used for the DPx HEST Original results in a Rockwell Hardness of 57-58.
The DPx HEST Original is currently available in three finishes: Black, Desert Tan, and OD Green. The knife retails for $120 and can be found here.
The DPx HEST/F Urban is a small, light and feature-packed folder that is just as at home in your pant’s pocket as it is in your EDC pack. The HEST/F Urban knives are made by Zac Brown’s Southern Grind in Peachtree City, GA. Southern Grind, Zac Brown’s Georgia-based knife company, offers unrivaled knife lines and unique metal works made by American hands using extremely high quality materials and an unparalleled attention to detail. According to DPx, “As a true knife enthusiast, Zac has always been interested in blade design and production. He created Southern Grind to be representative of what he believes knives should be – ruggedly dependable and highly functional, born from state of the art technology and quality that is second to none.”
The blade material on the HEST/F Urban is the classic American blade steel developed by American steel manufacturer Crucible called CPM S35VN. The stainless steel formulation is from a gentle formula tweak in 2009 of the already outstanding quality of the S30VN blade steel. DPx also states, “The frame material choice for this new American classic is our U.S.-made alpha beta titanium alloy used in medical implants and aerospace applications. The Ti-6Al-4V material is light, strong, heat-resistant and corrosion-free. A lifetime of use will polish the edges of bead blast finished frames to a beautiful patina.”
The DPx Gear HEST/F Urban is currently available in seven different configurations. Pricing starts at $205 and the full lineup of HEST/F Urban knives can be found here.
The DPx Heat Hiker, which is DPX’s lightweight but tough carabiner clipped minimalist knife, is made by White River Knife and Tool Company in Coopersville, MI. According to DPx Gear, “White River Knives is a family operated and owned company whose name is inspired by the White River that runs through the family property in the Manistee National Forest in Michigan. They are passionate about making premium American made knives, with a focus on those used for hunting and fishing. White River offers decades of manufacturing experience with a keen eye for fit and finish.” The DPx Heat Hiker weighs just 2.1 ounces and comes with a lightweight Kydex sheath. The knives are manufactured in Michigan from CPM S30V martensitic stainless steel in order to keep a sharp edge. The steel was developed by Cornell-educated Dick Barber at New York’s Crucible Industries in collaboration with knife-making legend Chris Reeve.
The DPx Heat Hiker is currently available in three finishes: Stonewashed, Sandblasted, and Black. Pricing starts at $125 and more information can be found here.
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For more information on DPx Gear, and to learn more about their story, visit their website.
]]>AEV expects sales to be brisk as they close out production. The Brute Double Cab conversion, which starts at $41,665 plus your donor Wrangler, can be ordered directly from AEV’s website. You can also contact one of the AEV Certified Vehicle Dealerships nationwide or give them a call at (248) 926-0256.
]]>That first Land Op was a Mini-Op held in an off-road park called Hungry Valley located in Southern CA, an hour into the event I was hooked. Since then I’ve been on a few more Ops and have learned a lot at each one. This trip report is from a recent extended day/night op in the California Eastern Sierra Nevada’s in a place known as the Alabama Hills.
What exactly is a “Land Op”? Perhaps a bit hard to describe but it involves GPS mapping, HAM radio based communication and wayfinding in a 4×4 vehicle.
From Land Ops’ founder Chris Doering, “We are a group of high tech seekers with a taste for adventure. We drive, we navigate, and we communicate in expedition style teamwork fashion. Land Ops can be a series of progressive instruction caches that lead to a historical aircraft crash site, a meteorite site, or a search and rescue support drill.”
For me, Land Ops is an excuse to get outdoors, explore, use (and learn to use) your GPS/mapping/etc and practice proper radio etiquette. Add in the camaraderie and team based nature of an event and you have the ingredients for a great time.
Land Ops participants are grouped into teams, and each team is given unique instructions and tasks, often needing to rely on the other team for additional information along the way to complete your task. Teams stay in touch with “Net Control” (aka base camp) throughout the op.
Given a pair of GPS coordinates, our team set out, following our GPS maps and wayfinding trails, occasionally discovering ones that were no longer passable, or never were passable, for four-wheeled vehicles.
Once you arrive at the coordinates, its time to find the cache. Typically a small brown container hidden in large brown expanse. If you’ve done any GeoCaching, this part will be very familar. Once the cache is discovered, it includes complete – or partial – instructions for your next task and you are on your way.
Land Ops uses HAM radios for primary communication, including setting its own repeater op for the operation. Naturally a number of the Land Ops participants are pretty serious HAM radio operators. (I’m enough of a novice that I keep my radio quick guides pretty handy.) One of the interesting things that Land Ops HAM operators use is a mesh network. Basically setting up an IP based phone system off the grid.
It’s an excellent chance to explore, meet some great people, camp out in the wild and best yet learn. If you’re in California and interested there is an introduction (mini-op) coming up in mid January. Sign up on Meetup
Photos and article by Matt Frederick. Check out more of Matt’s work here Mirror Pool / Ethernectar / Lego Expeditions
]]>An opportunity arose where I would be thrusted into learning how to travel by horse while carrying a rifle and my gear. While doing this, we would also learn the basics of tracking. I never rode a horse, and I should say, I’m not to fond of horses. However, I am interested in tracking and to learn it from legendary tracker Jim Grasky (Retired Border Patrol Agent, Vietnam SOF Veteran and founder of BORTAC) I quickly jumped at the chance.
Grasky is pushing 80 years of age but you can’t tell by the way he handles a horse. He’s also a great teacher who continues to teach Border patrol agents as well as DoD SOF units in the art of tracking and traveling by horse. Grasky started out the class by teaching us that what we learned and know about tracking started with the Apache Scouts. This brief history lesson centered around Chiricahua Apache Chief, Cochise. The class took place in the Dragoon Mountains in Arizona, right next to the Stronghold of Cochise. Similarities were drawn between the Apache warrior and todays fighting soldier giving us insight into the history. Grasky’s approach brought us back to those simpler times and added more value to what we would be learning later. At times he would talk about the men of Task Force Dagger and ask us to imagine ourselves in that position and the challenges a modern fighting unit would face.
After the brief history lesson, we began to talk about the basics of tracking and how the environment, especially the light, plays a huge role in telling a story. It’s not just about following footprints but it’s taking the entire scene in and forming a narrative that can help in solving a crime, tracking an individual wanted for questioning or chasing down an enemy unit. Grasky had set up four areas and challenged us to figure out what had transpired in each of the scenarios and pull what information we could from the signs.
The scenarios ranged from ambush to a struggle. We had to figure out as much as we could from the signs. This included, height, size, how many, were they left-handed and more. The students were divided into groups and we then had to take notes as best we could. When we shared our findings with the entire group and Grasky, it was amazing to hear what we all pulled from what little we had. I never thought of tracking beyond just chasing some body through an environment, this way of thinking opened my mind and pushed me to think in terms of a narrative. Grasky then shared stories and cases from his Border Patrol days that were solved or at least generated leads based on this understanding of the environment and thinking in terms of the narrative.
Towards the end of the day Grasky challenged us to track him and his partner. We had Freddy Osuana from Greenside Tracking to help provide guidance for our newly learned basic skill set. It was a great learning experience because we worked as a team in deciphering the signs we found out in the wild. When we finally caught up to Grasky, he asked us to tell him what we saw and what we learned from the tracks we found. We were able to figure out how he traveled and how fast he traveled through the brush. We also were able to tell when he had walked the horse and took breaks before proceeding.
The following day we mounted horses with all our gear and headed out into the wild. Now, I’m not going to make up some shit where I tell you I mounted the horse with my pack and boom stick and rode across the Arizona terrain like a true cowboy. Instead I’m going to tell you how my horse hated me and wanted nothing to do with me. After a few sketchy moments I made the decision not to ride the horse and opted to ride in the ATV instead. ATV’s are like horses, right? Unfortunately due to me not riding the horse I missed out on some of the training. I was disappointed I couldn’t follow through but glad I didn’t get thrown from the horse or get kicked in the chest by the horse.
The biggest take away from the event was how important it is to vary up your training and build off of your skill sets. Learning about tracking in this basic class caused me to now look at environments differently. Even though my horse experience was lack luster I could see the importance for military units to learn how to travel by horse and develop tracking skills that can be of benefit especially with regard to the new type of enemy they are facing.
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Remote Medical International (RMI), one of the leading service providers of remote medical training and support services, has just announced a new Remote Medicine Awareness Training (RMAT) class. The RMAT course is designed with corporate travelers in mind, but has applications for individuals looking to travel abroad.
RMAT is a hands-on and scenario-based class that allows employers to fulfill their “duty of care” obligations when sending staff overseas. It provides clear instruction on how to act and care for ill or injured patients in a high-risk environment. According to Wayne Wager, CEO of Remote Medical International, “The world is getting smaller, but unfortunately, not safer. Our new RMAT course enables companies to prepare their employees, keeping them safe and healthy when traveling and meet their duty of care obligations, whether they are five minutes or five hundred miles away from a hospital.”
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