Showing posts with label kilt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kilt. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Update: 5.11 Tactical - TDU Kilt re-release

The good folks over at Soldier Systems have reminded me (and now from me, to you) that 5.11 Tactical have re-released their Tactical Kilt.

I love mine, in fact, I'm wearing one right now. I brave both weather and the harassment of the ignorant (and actual Scots) to be comfortable and bad-ass. Pants are tyranny and I love freedom. Don't you?

Check them out at:
http://www.511tactical.com/kiltoff
http://www.511tactical.com/tactical-duty-kilt-134360.html
and hopefully on http://www.511tactical.com.au/ soon

Available with the following colors: Khaki (a greenish brown), Coyote (a tan brown), TDU Green, Tundra (a deep green), Charcoal, Dark Navy, Black, original MultiCam, and Realtree Xtra and in sizes 28-54.

If that wasn't cool enough, 5.11 are also donating $10 from every kilt sold to FBINAA and We Salute You Veterans.


Saturday, November 2, 2013

Review: 5.11 Tactical Kilts


I love it when I get my wish-lusts fulfilled,  but I am so glad when its not just me, but the hordes of fans who get theirs too ... From what was originally a "April's Fools" joke, back in 2011,  with a VERY limited run (less than 100, if accounts are to be believed), the uproar from fans led CEO of 5.11 Tactical, Mr Tom Davin to take the cries to heart, and a full production run was initiated.

These are the 5.11 Tacical TDU Kilts  in Tan, OD, Black and Multicam and managed to secure in a pre-order, from 5.11 Tactical Australia.

I've really enjoyed adding more kilts to my collection over the last few years, along with my collection of UtiliKilts and my formal tartan kilt, as well as others, they are an important part of my identity.

The question is just how apt are they for a survival situation? It all comes down to the "form and function" ratio.  I'll go into that in a bit, first, here's what makes up the 5.11 TDU kilt.

 Firstly, they are made to mirror the TDU pants as closely as possible, with pocket placement, (including the cargo pockets) for "consistency of training". I have several sets of 5.11 pants, the Stryke and the TacLite Pro pants and I can say that I like the consistency, even between different designs and cuts. 

The TDU kilt is made of the same 65% Polyester, 35% Teflon treated ripstop cotton as the TacLite Pro pants, with four snap-closures on each side of the front panel. Double and triple stitching throughout ensures rugged and reliable wear.

Brass D-loops for sporran attachment are awesome, and I have worn my CAOS Admin pouch as one, for full Tacti-cool Effect.

Always a welcome addition to a kilt, the front slant pockets featured reinforced edges to protect against knife, pen or light clip abrasion.

The front belt loop includes additional badge holder loops, the loops themselves are wide enough to accommodate up to a 1 3/4" belt. Ive had no trouble with any of my belts; but tend to go with either the made-to-match 5.11 TDU belts, my shiny PM Leather hobble belts, or the always dependable 215 Gear Ultimate Rigger belt.

The side cargo pockets are also press-snapped on, and removable, and swappable, with hook-and-loop closures. Inside each pocket, are either two or three internal pockets, to fit two 30 round AR magazines or three pistol magazines, the pockets can be switched from one side to the other to fit your need.  A gap has been left in the lid-flap to accommodate feeling items through, in this case, I have used my Benchmade SOCP CQB dagger-trainer to demonstrate .


An internal press-snap gives an additional modesty protector, as well and ensuing you get more cover for your activities. There has been a long military history of the kilt, formally ending during WW2, and the recent revival in "tactical-wear" is only a reflection of that, however, I have worn mine in some pretty arduous conditions, and can attest that they offer considerable freedom of movement, are not all that cold in inclement weather, and cooling in hot weather.

I have climbed, run, crawled and jumped in mine, as well as wearing them to work on a regular basis. Much like my collection of "cargo pants" these offer me a means to carry my EDC, some rugged daily-wear and have some individuality to boot. Thanks Mr Davin!

Monday, September 9, 2013

Review: United Cutlery - M48 Walking Axe

Here's something I've been sitting on for a little while, and wanted to bring into the light, now that we are on the cusp of spring.

Much like Gimli The Dwarf I do enjoy the heft of a good axe in the hand. I've been chopping wood since I was 8 or 9 I think, off and on (our current house doesn't even have a fireplace), but I do have a brazier and the Pot Belly Stove project. I've previously reported on my other axes, including my outstanding FISKARS log splitter and my little United Cutlery M48 Ranger Hawk. In addition, I have at least one other traditional wood-hafted chopping axe, and two hatchets. Lots of axe-action. So when I saw that Global Gear was stocking the big sister of the Ranger Hawk, the "Tactical Axe" I thought I just had to get my hands on it.

The toxic green "zombie apocalypse" version of the axe is called a walking axe, referring to it being walking stick height. You can see here that this is pretty much the case, and for people shorter than me this would probably even be a comfortable option. It's just not quite long enough for me in this role. More on that later. (Check out my new 5.11 Tactical Kilt, too)


Here I've lain the two M48 axes side by side so you can get an idea of the differences between the heads.

They both share the "bearded axe" design that I am very find of, and you can see that the Walking Axe has a more pronounced curve to the head, as well as being longer edged.at around 12cm (5") of blade, and being 20cm (8") long. Wielding it brings out my Viking heritage more than I care to say ...

The other features of the head differ between the tomahawk and the walking axe, which was interesting. It wasn't simply a matter of putting the same head on a different shaft. Instead of three circular holes running backwards from the head, three triangular holed run down the length of it. These sit well past the secondary grind, and add to the liveliness of the blade considerably.

This is probably a good thing, because instead of the sharpened pick at the back of the axe, the Walking Axe features a curved hammer/handle end. With these considerable differences this really is a stand-alone piece. You can also see the differences in the shaft, which I'll cover in a moment.

The 91cm ( 36") super strong, black handle is made of a 30% fiberglass composite and is both light and quite rigid, whilst still having some flex to absorb the shock of impact.

There are two sets of ringed groves set into the haft, one down at the butt, the other about midway, which is a slightly larger set having two sets of 8 groves, the lower set just a single set of eight. As well as these there is the "knuckle" bump at about three quarters of the way up the haft, a features shared by the Ranger Hawk, as well as a set of finger grip lumps behind the beard that the Ranger Hawk does not have.

The cast 7Cr17 stainless steel blade is quite sharp and has considerable bite, good for chopping as well as whittling, if you can manage the long haft. As with the Ranger Hawk, the axe head is attached to the haft with three separate metal hex bolts.

The fittings are exactly the same between the two, and I suspect I could swap them out without any trouble at all.

You can see here the hammer/handle end is actually quite curved, and lacks a flattened striking face, more like a ball-peen hammer.

The fact that the hammer/handle end has a downwards curve lends itself to the idea of using it as a "break and rake" tool for clearing window frames, in the event you need emergency entrance (or exit). It, like the head of the blade, is quite thick, surprisingly so given the over all weight of the axe, which is only 1.4kg (3lbs) or so.

It also gives a nice, ergonomic place to rest your palm whilst hiking with the axe, in its walking-stick aspect.

The slight skeletonisation of the head drops the weight again, and adds a double line of gripping points to add to your ability to retain the tool when holding it.


The axe comes with a synthetic rubber "guard" which in theory pegs itself closed through the top of the cut-aways in the head. In my one, this didn't quite work, and I had to run a twist tie through the loop in order to snag it shut. With drain holes a-plenty, and covering the bitey tops and bottoms the of the beard, this does a good job in protecting the user, the environment and random passer-s by from feeling the bite of the axe.

This is a fun piece, and very lively in the hands. The play from gripping it, swinging it, and the slide of hands along its haft makes it a very quick and light tool, a far cry in feel from my FISKARS log splitter, and felt much more like a sword than a hammer, so to speak.

The lightness of the head will play a part in its usefulness when it comes to chopping and splitting, but for brush clearing, and the lopping of limbs, I suspect it will do just fine.

The fiberglass reinforced handle, as I say, is a tad too short for me to use as a walking stick, personally, but I have a big household, and I'm sure someone will find it useful in our upcoming camping and adventuring summer!

Til Valhall!



Thursday, April 4, 2013

Wish Lust: 5-11 Tactical - Tactical Duty Kilt


Last April Fool's Day, 5-11 Tactical issued a statement that they would be producing a Tactical Duty Kilt, to go alongside their Tactical Duty Shorts and little did they know that they would be swamped, inundated with demand for it. They actually produced a small run of them, and unfortunately I was unable to get one here in Australia, even getting in touch with Alex Kavgas in Inside Sales at 5-11 Tactical (Australia).

All for naught.

In the last few days, following on from this years April Fool's Day, Scruffy Wallace of the Drop Kick Murphys issued a challenge to the CEO of 5-11 Tactical, Tom Davin and news was out!




Today in my Facebook feed, I saw that Mr Davin not only accepted the challenge, but upped the stakes, the winnings to us the kilt wearers, and to the charities that will benefit.



As a long time kilt-wearer, I am fully looking forwards to seeing this come to fruition!



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