HERE ARE SOME MOST ESSENTIAL MED POUCHES AND BLADES FOR YOUR KITCHEN AND CARRY:

5.11 Med Pouches

5.11 Med Pouches 5.11 Med Pouch 5.11 Med Pouch 5.11 Med Pouch

In these crazy, sometimes chaotic days of natural disasters and civil unrest, it pays to be prepared. Having access to a good med kit is one of those necessities, and it can come in handy even when things aren’t completely sideways. 5.11 has a couple of newer options available including the Flex Med Pouch and the Flex TacMed Pouch.

Both are designed to give you quick access to medical gear and can mount on a belt, pack, or armor with the 5.11’s Flex-HT Mounting System.

The pouches come in a variety of colors including Ranger Green, Black, Storm (gray), Kangaroo (tan), and Dark Navy. They’re made of tough 500D nylon, and the primary difference is the size. The Flex Med is fairly compact and can hold bandages, shears, tourniquet, and a wound dressing.

The Flex TacMed is a little larger and can carry more trauma gear. It also has a spot behind the primary pouch that can carry two automatic rifle mags or other gear.

Specs:

Flex Med Pouch

  • Dimensions: 7.0 x 2.5 x 2.5 inches
  • Total Capacity: 44 cubic inches
  • Versatile med pouch w/ Flex-HT Mounting System
  • Pull tab for quick opening, and dual zipper webbing for quick closure
  • 500D nylon right panel w/ external shear storage
  • Stretch woven left panel for compactness with elastic band for optional external tourniquet storage
  • One Flex Hook Adapter included
  • Pull-out hook/loop flap for plate carrier attachment
  • MSRP: $42

Flex TacMed Pouch

  • Dimensions: 7.8 x 7 x 2 inches
  • FLEX-HT Mounting System
  • Front laser-cut platform for accessories or patches
  • Quick pull drop front opening for access
  • Bungee compression lashing system
  • Elastic bands and org slip pockets
  • Magazine compartment with compression strap
  • Elastic band and drain holes on bottom panel
  • 500D Nylon
  • MSRP: $48

511Tactical.com

SOL Stoke Shovel

SOL Stoke Shovel SOL Stoke Shovel SOL Stoke Shovel

When I was younger I wasn’t nearly as concerned about my pack weight when I hit the woods. As I get older I can appreciate that lighter packs make for an easier time on the trail. Multi-function tools become more appealing when they help reduce space and weight.

Survive Outdoors Longer’s Stoke Shovel is one such tool that packs a lot of punch in a small space. A trowel-sized shovel is handy for digging cat holes, drainage trenches around your tent, or fire pits. The Stoke does that, but also includes a serrated edge, a ruler, a tent peg puller, a cord-cutter, a bottle opener, and multiple hex wrenches.

The hollow handle holds a flint striker and four pieces of Tinder Quik (both included). It also has room for other items such as the SOL-suggested toilet paper. The handle is wrapped with tinder cord to give you yet another fire-starting option.

The Stoke is made from rust resistant 420 stainless steel and comes with a nylon sheath for carry on your belt or for safe stowage in your pack.

SPECS: 

SOL Stoke Shovel

  • Material: 420 stainless steel
  • Includes: Trowel, serrated edge, ruler, tent peg puller, cord-cutter, bottle opener, flint striker, tinder, hex wrenches
  • MSRP: $31.49

SurviveOutdoorsLonger.com

Ontario Camp Plus Knives

Ontario Camp Plus Knives Ontario Camp Plus Knives Ontario Camp Plus Knives

When you’re in the field you certainly can use your belt knife for cooking chores, but it’s not always the best choice. Lord knows what else you’ve used that blade for, and if you actually like to cook, chances are your hunting and bushcraft knives aren’t what you want in the kitchen—even the camp kitchen.

Ontario Knife Company has you covered with its new line of Camp Plus knives. OKC has a trio of folding kitchen knives designed to save space and function in your camp kitchen like the knives back home.

The series consists of a chef’s knife, a santoku, and a bread knife. They have glass-filled nylon handles and stainless steel blades with a respectable 52-56 Rockwell hardness. The knives are compact, lightweight, and easy to clean. They’re also very affordable, with an MSRP of only $12.95 per knife.

So save your belt knife for the grubby work and add some dedicated kitchen blades to your cook set for your next trip into the woods.

Specs:  

OKC Camp Plus Santoku

  • Blade Finish: Satin
  • Blade Hardness: 52-56HRC
  • Blade Length: 4.25 inches
  • Lock Type: Back lock
  • Blade Material:
    Stainless steel
  • Handle Material:
    Glass-filled nylon
  • Overall Length: 9.51 inches

MSRP: $12.95

OntarioKnife.com

CRKT Spear Point Minimalist

CRKT Spear Point Minimalist

For the most bang for the buck, it’s really hard to beat the Alan Folts-designed Minimalist series from CRKT. The latest entry is a nifty spear-point model with a thicker 0.15-inch-thick blade.

The spear point is an extremely practical, do-all design and works really well on the Minimalist platform. Even with the thicker stock, it’s still a feathery 2.1 ounces of fixed-blade EDC workmanship. At a $36 MSRP and street prices a touch under $30, this is a must-have for neck-knife and compact-fixed-blade enthusiasts.

Specs: >  

CRKT Spear Point Minimalist

  • Blade Length: 2.15 inches
  • Blade Edge: Plain
  • Blade Steel:
    8Cr13MoV stainless steel
  • Blade Finish: Stonewashed
  • Blade Thickness: 0.15 inch
  • Overall Length: 5.19 inches
  • Weight: 2.10 ounces
  • Handle: Resin-infused fiber
  • Style: Fixed-blade knife w/sheath
  • Sheath Material: Thermoplastic
  • Sheath Weight: 1.10 ounces

MSRP: $36
CRKT.com

“Knife Bible”

Knife Bible Knife Bible Knife Bible Knife Bible

Calling yourself the bible of any subject is a pretty lofty statement. It suggests a be-all, end-all source of knowledge. If you’re claiming to be a bible, you better be able to back it up and the “Knife Bible” does that and then some.

Author A.J. Cardenal is a military veteran and a former contractor for the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, as well as an outdoorsman. He’s taken his passion and knowledge of the knife world, along with his expertise in research, to present the story of the knife in a way that’s easy for his audience to understand and enjoy.  He really has created a tome that’s worthy of the bible description.

The “Knife Bible” traces the design and usage of knives through the ages, provides a contemporary tour of current knifemakers and manufacturers, and serves as an educational resource.

The author covers metallurgy and grinds, general knife design, and techniques for using knives. It also contains a lot of material that isn’t available online, particularly the interviews with makers and the history and profiles of knife companies.

Specs: 

“Knife Bible”

  • Genre: History
  • Language: English
  • Pages: 444
  • Format: Hardcover
  • Hardcover ISBN: 9780578829456
  • MSRP: $139.99

KnifeBible.com

Editor’s Note:

A version of this article first appeared in the December 2022 print issue of Knives Illustrated.