tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72611338115400735752024-03-08T07:24:45.521-08:00Equipment Police ReviewsTactical Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06713075089924638352noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-81234998091036561342013-07-01T08:10:00.002-07:002013-07-01T08:11:40.447-07:00Turtle Skin GlovesThere are two main brands in the needle resistant glove market, <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/turtleskin-gloves.html">Turtle Skin</a> and Hexarmor. Turtle Skin use a different technology to <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/hex-armor-gloves.html">Hex Armor</a>, Turtle Skin base there products on a unique material made of a patented blend of coated Aramid knit where Hex Amror use their "Superfabric". Due to different technologies used TurtleSkin Gloves come in slightly cheaper than Hex Armor gloves and offer comparable levels of protection.<br />
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The specialised Aramid technology that TurtleSkin use makes their products 40 more abrasion resistant than a standard <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramid">Aramid </a>knit of the same thickness.<br />
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The specialist material used in TurtleSkin gloves is manufactured in <a href="http://www.warwickmills.com/">Warwick Mills</a> in the USA who have been producing specialist fabrics since the 1870s including products used by NASA for the Mars landing and high performance tyres and yacht sails where durability and light weight are essential.<br />
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Turtle Skin not only do a wide range of gloves but also a selection of slash resistant under garments for protecting the body and legs and a range of "Snake Bite Resistant" trousers, gaiters and chaps (not so relevant to the UK market).<br />
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The main Turtle Skin gloves for the UK tactical Market are the Alpha, Bravo and the Turtle Skin Duty Glove normally retailing between about £45 and £60. The Alpha and the Bravo glove are slightly lighter weight than the Duty glove and offer a marginally lower level of protection.<br />
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Turtle Skin undertakes their own proprietary <a href="http://www.turtleskin.co.uk/Article-ASAFETYGLOVE_TESTING/">testing </a>of their gloves. Normal EN tests use a 4.5mm metal probe that has a relativly blunt tip compared to the 1.27guage hypodermic needle that is used in Turtle Skins own test. Turtle Skin do however ensure their gloves conform to EN standards for cut, tear and abrasion resistance as well as their unique puncture protection tests.<br />
<br />Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-57680502448803043832013-06-10T04:04:00.001-07:002013-06-10T04:04:44.110-07:00Bates Boots<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/bates-boots.html">Bates Boots</a> are probably the biggest rival to Magnum boots (probably even more so in the USA than in the UK) offering a wide range of lightweight urban police boots at reasonable prices. The major difference between bates boots and Magnum boots is the fact that Bates do not certify their boots for the European Market. Now whilst this is probably not an issue for most individual users/purchasers, anyone from a corporate or public sector organisation who is issuing footwear will want to issue a certified product.....as much as to cover themselves against lawsuits should someone claim the footwear was to blame as to ensure the boots are fit for purpose. (I am in no way implying that Bates boots are not fit for purpose!)<br />
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The recent surge in the popularity of Bates boots is in part due to their high profile use of the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Bates-Boot---Falcon-p-11474.html">Bates Falcon</a> by the highly elite and secretive British Special Boat Service. The unique tread pattern on the sole of the Bates Falcon boot meant that the boot offered exceptional grip on wet metal surfaces, like the decks of ships or airplane wings etc. They are often also used by the Royal Marines Visibility Team and RM PTIs as they are lightweight and flexible as well as offering good grip. However the popularity of this Bates boot with elite forces has lead to its adoption by regular police officers, PCSOs and security patrol officers when it perhaps is not the most suitable choice. The very characteristics that make the Bates Falcon a fantastic specific response boot means it offers very little cushioning or protection.<br />
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There are other Bates boots which are much more suitable for standard police foot patrol like the Tactical Sport Side Zip, the Gore-Tex Lined waterproof GX8 and the Delta-8 Side zip.<br />
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The Bates Tactical Sport Side Zip can be found online for about £60 and offers a mix of full grain and action leather with nylon panels in the upper and a shock absorbent EVA footbed and rubber outsole. The boot is from the "Ultra-light" series and as the name suggest is is a lightweight unit which has proved to be exceptionally comfortable and hard wearing.<br />
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The Bates GX8 boot is an enhanced version of the Tactical Sport boasting a more aggressive design, an EVA midsole (rather than just footbed), 1680 ballistic nylon panels and full grain leather upper complete with a <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/gore-tex-tactical-footwear.html">Gore-Tex</a> waterproof, breathable membrane. As you can imagine the Bates GX8 comes in at around £90 rather than £60.<br />
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The<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Bates-Boots-Delta-8-Side-Zip.html"> Delta 8 Bates Boot</a> is similar to the GX8 however it is not a waterproof boot, but it does have a unique adjustable comfort system which allows the wearer to adjust the angle and sponginess of the footbed. Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-68949716392516805682013-05-24T09:31:00.001-07:002013-05-24T09:31:29.677-07:00Lowa Boots ReviewMy <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/lowa-boots.html">Lowa boots</a> (pronounced LOW-VA) have been the first and last <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/army_boots.html">army boot</a> purchase of my career....that is not to say my military career has been spectacularly short, just that I have been so impressed with the comfort, fit, style and longevity of my <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/lowa-boots-mountain-gtx-p-594.html">Lowa Mountain</a> GTX boots that I have not had any need to even look elsewhere for new boots since that original purchase!<br />
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Now before we get started, Lowa, like Meindl and Haix, are a company of two halves, operating a commercial arm aimed at the outdoors industry and a specialist tactical arm aimed at police, military and specialist security. The tactical range from Lowa is know as the Task Force Collection and comprises of around 21 styles and varieties of police and <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/army-boots-military-boots.html">military boots</a>.<br />
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The core Lowa Boots from the task force range are the Patrol, Mountain and Combat boot all hugely popular with army and military personnel. The 3 profiles are quite similar for the Lowa Patrol, Mountain and Combat boots, the Mountain being a Gore-Tex lined version of the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Lowa-Boots-Patrol-p-613.html">Patrol boot</a> and the Combat being a higher leg version of the Mountain (still Gore-Tex lined).<br />
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Additional the the 3 main Lowa boots are a selection of desert boots including the Lowa Zephyr mid and high leg (with the mid being available without Gore-Tex) and the Elite Jungle Desert Boot (the Elite Jungle Lowa Boot is also available in black).<br />
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There are a couple of varieties of the Lowa Patrol Boot, the higher leg Mega Camp and the leather lined Super Camp.<br />
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There are also Lowa boots aimed more at the police market, offering lighter weight, more flexible models like the Urban Military and Para Recon boots, both of which are available in G<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/gore-tex-tactical-footwear.html">ore-Tex</a> and non Gore-Tex models.<br />
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More recently Lowa have introduced the limited edition Sepia green Mountain GTX boot and are soon to release a range of boots in the new MOD brown which is replacing both the traditional black and desert boots for the UK military.Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-2148424463365857782013-05-17T08:55:00.002-07:002013-05-17T08:55:46.501-07:00Police VestsThere are only a limited number of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/police-vests.html">police vest</a> manufacturers on the UK market and the standard vest design doesn't seem to vary that much. There are 3 main vest configurations, the "Standard <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Op-Zulu-Advanced-Tactical-Duty-Vest.html">Police Duty Vest</a>", the "Mini Vest" and the "Molle Vest".<div>
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The standard duty police vest forms a zip up "waistcoat" with a variety of pockets and pouches on the front, most commonly:</div>
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<ol>
<li>Cross draw baton pouch</li>
<li>Spray Holder (with or without lanyard)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/handcuff-holders.html">Cuff Holder</a></li>
<li>2 x Radio Docs</li>
<li>2 x Large internal pockets</li>
<li>.....a variety of smaller miscellaneous pouches or loops</li>
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The obvious advantage of this police vest is also it's disadvantage, it comes as a quick and complete set up unit, but is limited in how you can modify it. Take a look at the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Op-Zulu-Advanced-Tactical-Duty-Vest.html">Op. Zulu Advanced Tactical Duty vest</a> for the best police vest on the market. Clever features like the rear stash pocket and the elasticated belt attachment points make it a stand out above the rest and has clearly been designed by those who know the job.</div>
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Mini Vests, carriage systems or harnesses are hacked down versions of the full police vests, normally comprised of straps or a small amount of mesh across the back they offer much more limited carriage capacity and are often only designed to hold specific pieces of equipment, often for use under a coat or jacket in undercover situations.</div>
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Molle vests are a relatively new entrant to the market but allow for a much more customised end product. Once you have the police vest you can add as many pouches as the vest can hold for any number of different pieces of kit. As Molle is an international standard you can get pouches from a huge number of manufacturers including Blackhawk, <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/5-11-tactical-vests.html">5.11</a>, <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/arktis-vests.html">Arktis</a>, etc etc. which are all compatible with a standard MOLLE vest.</div>
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The three major vest manufacturers in the UK market are Arktis, Op. Zulu and MLA.</div>
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Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-61877677760424330662013-03-27T04:05:00.000-07:002013-03-27T04:05:36.640-07:00Police EarpiecesThere are a wide variety of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/communications-radios-c-127_128.html">Police Earpieces</a> on the market, whether you need an Overt or <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/covert-earpieces1.html">Covert Earpiece</a>, listen only or with Push To Talk (PTT) and Microphone, whether you want in ear or headset, D Shape, G Shape or Acoustic and choice is to be honest 100% personal preference! What I will do today is run over the basic pro's and con's of each type of police earpiece and their normal uses but ultimately you have to try a few different types and find what works for you.<br />
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With covert ear pieces you have a couple of options a wireless in ear receiver and hidden mic that runs to a minimum of £200 and probably more like £500 or the more common acoustic earpiece with clear coiled tube which will set you back anywhere between £12 and £20. The clear tube runs out of the back of the wearers shirt collar and loops over the top of the ear and into the ear canal. There are two options then for fitting the tube into the ear canal, either the standard "<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Op-Zulu-Police-Earpiece-Tips-4-Pack.html">Mushroom Tip</a>" which blocks the whole ear canal of the "<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Op-Zulu-Police-Earpiece-Gel-Insert---Left.html">Gel Earpiece Insert</a>" that fits into the ear well to hold it in place and then a smaller tube runs into the ear canal allowing both clear transmission of comms without the earpiece completely cutting off ambient local sounds. Acoustic Covert earpieces can have a 3 wire PTT and Mic allowing the mic to be lapel mounted or hidden in a sleeve or listen only.<br />
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G Shape police ear pieces fit like an inverted G made of black plastic or rubber, hooked over the top of the ear with the earpiece speaker coming down to the opening of the ear canal (some ear pieces have it swivel mounted others don't). General consensus is that the G shape earpiece is the most comfortable for the most users.<br />
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D Shape Police Earpieces (surprisingly enough) are black plastic or rubber D Shapes with the curve hooking round the back of the ear and the straight part running down the centre of the ear with the speaker mounted in the middle to align with the ear opening. These do not fit as close to the ear as a G Shape earpiece and people with bigger ears may tend to find they flap about like Dumbo when running!!<br />
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Both D and G Shape earpieces are available in PTT and Mic or listen only and will normally set you back anywhere between £10 and £20.<br />
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The most common police radio earpieces are for <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/airwaves-g-shape-police-earpiece-motorola-p-12188.html">Motorola</a> MTH800 and CP040 Series, Sepura SRP 2000 series and a few models of Kenwood.<br />
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<br />Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-41008276791482336012013-03-15T06:33:00.001-07:002013-03-15T06:33:49.898-07:00Maglite torches<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/maglite-torches.html">Maglite Torches </a>are the iconic <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/torches-lights-torches-c-73_74.html">police torch</a>, renowned for their "bomb proof" durability and made famous by hanging from the belt of every US police officer (or Cop) in countless TV shows and films over the last 20 or so years. The fact that they are still so commonly used today is testement to their build quality, and in fact my 3D cell is over 20 years old and still going strong (though I did fit an LED upgrade recently, doing away with the old filament bulb for a brighter output and longer battery life).<br />
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Maglites are available in a range of different sizes from the key ring size <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Maglite-Solitaire-Torch-p-561.html">Maglite Solitaire</a> to the baseball bat size 6D cell and everything in between! The basic models have not changed that much over the years, more recently the filament bulbs have been improved to the Xenon bulbs as standard but you still only get the same basic functionality "On" or "Off".<br />
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A little bit later than a lot of other brands the the party, Maglite released a range of LED Maglites and an LED upgrade module for each of their traditional torch sizes, however they recently pulled the official Maglite brand LED upgrade module from the market (though there are still a range of third party suppliers out there). The LED Maglite torches cost a good 20% more than there Xenon counter parts but you soon recover that in a reduced spend on batteries, not only do the LED Maglites offer a better run time as standard, the substantially better light output means you are likely to spend a lot less time looking for whatever you are after in the dark than trying to use a filament version!!!<br />
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Even more recently Maglite have expanded their range to offer a lot more of the functionality that brands like <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/fenix-torches.html">Fenix</a> were starting to offer to the police market like, half strength, strobe, SOS and "turbo" modes as well as integrated rechargeable products which could be wall or vehicle mounted and charged from mains or cigarette lighter. The Maglite <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Maglite-Mag-Charger-Rechargeable-Flashlight-System.html">Magcharger</a> system is quite an expensive outlay at first, but for a regular user like a night patrolman the money is soon recovered in savings on batteries not to mention the convenience factor.<br />
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What's great about the new Maglites is that they have caught up with the technical innovations that other companies had beaten them to the post with, but maintained the traditions of rugged durability and reliability at a reasonable price point.Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-29890811245908899182013-03-01T04:48:00.003-08:002013-03-01T04:48:31.609-08:00Law Enforcement EquipmentUK <a href="http://patrolstore.com/Law-Enforcement-Equipment.html">Law Enforcement equipment</a> is a bit different to what is commonly used by our cousins across the pond but most law re-enforcement equipment is developed in the US for the US market and then adapted for UK law enforcement.<br />
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The most common difference between American and UK Law Enforcement Equipment is the adaptation for firearms. Very few British law enforcement officers carry a fire arm, or even a Taser currently (though Taser use is being ramped up) and as such the need for pistol holsters or magazine holders is dramatically diminished. Most manufacturers of law enforcement equipment however if not actually american themselves, have aimed their products at the much larger American market, so the likes of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/511-tactical-equipment.html">5.11</a>, <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/blackhawk-clothing.html">Blackhawk</a>, Vertex, Arcteryx etc have all designed their pants or police vests to accommodate hand guns and ammunition. Two notable exceptions would be UK based Arktis and Op. Zulu who have a more geo-targeted with their equipment design and manufacture, producing vests specifically to hold UK Law enforcement equipment like PAVA or CAPTA defence spray, extendible batons, cuffs Airwaves Radio system with <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/peter-jones-klickfast-equipment.html">KlickFast Dock</a> and then another couple of pockets for your pocket note book, sandwiches, etc.<br />
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Another key difference in law enforcement equipment needs is the design of tactical trousers (pants) . Yet again the US market is saturated with trousers built for <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/holsters.html">holsters</a> and to hold spare magazines and pocket knives, but no UK law enforcement personnel carry pocket knives as standard and only a very small percentage carry pistol magazines and even those that do are issued with specific magazine pouches rather than cutting their own detail as if an accident were to occur whilst the magazine is stuffed in a pocket rather than in an officially issued pouch with secure retention etc.<br />
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Other than the fire arms issue a lot of law enforcement equipment has to serve many of the same specifications, needing to be hard wearing, abrasion resistant, stain resistant, water resistant and /or fast drying, if not water proof, re enforced in the major wear points, suitably cut to allow minimise restriction of movement when running, or climbing, or transitioning from any number of positions and reliable enough to function for years in a variety of conditions.Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-32428207645911016662013-02-20T03:39:00.000-08:002013-02-20T03:41:01.405-08:005.11 Clothing and Equipment<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/5-11-clothing.html">5.11</a> have got to be one of, if not my favourite tactical brand. The 5.11 range offers apparel including the legendary <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/5-11-Tactical-Pants.html">511 tactical pant</a>, <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/511-tactical-equipment.html">jackets</a> and even <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/511-pouches.html">5.11 belts,</a> as well as a full range of bags and backpacks.<br />
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The 5.11 Tactical Pant is the product that started it all, way back in 1967 when at the top of Half Dome in California USA Royal Robins and his wife Liz noticed that that gear they were wearing for climbing was far from fit for purpose and they set about designing a pair of trousers that were stylish, functional and rugged enough for the rigours of climbing and outdoor pursuits. The name 5.11 comes from a virtually impossible difficulty level of a climb, the normal scoring system being 5.0 as the easiest and 5.10 being the hardest, 5.11 was therefore presumed to be impossible.<br />
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Over the years the 5.11 tactical pant evolved and was adopted by the FBI training centre as their uniform pant, and for a long time the pant was in fact restricted to FBI personnel. Commercially though the Royal Robins parent company was not doing so well and the 5.11 branch was spun off to develop the 5.11 Tactical Range and Royal Robins focused on the out doors industry. 5.11 Tactical is now one of the worlds largest suppliers of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/law-enforcement-equipment.html">Law Enforcement Equipment</a>.<br />
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5.11 now offer a bigger range of tactical pants with specific EMS pants, Security Trousers, light weight trousers, TDU and unform trousers as well as covert and casual pants and trousers in nylon, twill, various different weights of rip stop polyester and cotton canvas. 5.11 also now even offer two varieties of pants which contain a "stretch" material the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/511-stryke-pant.html">Stryke</a> and Traverse Pants.<br />
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For me though some of the best 5.11 products are the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/5-11-bags.html">bags</a>, more specifically the Rush series of Backpacks which offer some incredibly well thought out features and design elements along with the build quality and durability you would expect from anything 5.11 produce. The Rush bags are available in 3 sizes each named after the hours of deployment they were designed to serve, 12,24, and 72 respectively. For me the 24 is the ideal size for almost any situation, the compression straps mean it packs down as hand-luggage or a normal day sack just fine, yet there is actually tons of carrying capacity in there....easily enough for 48 hours.<br />
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5.11 Belts are a popular companion purchase to the tactical pants with the non metallic TDU belt coming in almost all the available colours that the pants do, and even offering their "Double Duty Belt" which is Coyote brown on one side and black on the other. For those looking for something a bit more rugged, the trainer and operator tactical belts offer 1&3/4" and 2" belts with steel buckles which can support a huge strain. These belts are also more rigid than the TDU belts and are therefore more suited to loading pouches as they are less likely to twist.Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-49263219973422609512013-02-08T06:07:00.001-08:002013-02-08T06:07:20.677-08:00Military BootsThere are a wide variety of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/army-boots-military-boots.html">military boots</a> available in the UK from a broad range of international manufacturers all the slightly different boot needs of the various military branches in each of their specific roles.<br />
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One of the easiest ways to break down the military boot market is by manufacturer. I will look first at the two economically priced mass produced brands before I look in more detail at the hand made top end boots which are more popular with the military than the police. <br />
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Size-9-Magnum-Boots.html">Magnum</a> make a small range of military boots, these days narrowed mainly to the Scorpion light weight patrol boots which have been the UK MOD issue tender boot for several years running. In the past Magnum have experimented with a broader range of military footwear, including the first (and I think only) full multicam boot in existence! This included a sole constructed from multicoloured rubber, not just a painted on finish, so the multicam would not wear off even as the sole wears down. However Magnums alternative styles did not prove popular with military users and they have narrowed their focus back to the police and security boot market.<br />
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/bates-boots.html">Bates Military boots</a> have crossed over between police and military more successfully than Magnum, mainly due to the popularity of the Bates Falcon Boot with the highly elite and well regarded UK Special Boat Service (SBS). The Bates Falcon has a very unique tread pattern that has proved to have exceptional grip qualities on wet metal surfaces, eg. the hull or deck or a ship or boat. Other than the specific needs of the SBS when doing ship assaults the Bates range are not specifically military boots, they are much more a police boot, aimed at the urban patrol/pursuit user.<br />
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The more popular military boots are from the German hand made manufacturers mainly <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/lowa-boots.html">Lowa</a>, Altberg, Meindl, Haix and Hanwag, but not forgetting the relative new comer to the scene Turkish company YDS. Between these brands there is actually not that much to choose from, it is really just personal preference. All of these brands of military boots boast outstanding reputations for quality and durability as well as comfort.Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-1728729592392336422013-01-30T02:34:00.002-08:002013-01-30T02:36:18.259-08:00Review of Handcuffs for Sale in the UKThere are 4 main types of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/police-handcuffs.html">Handcuffs for Sale</a> in the UK, the more traditional rigid, semi-rigid and chain link style metal handcuffs and then the fourth type, plasticuffs. <br />
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When it comes to preference most police or security officers prefer the rigid type of handcuffs, though these are harder to find on sale in the UK as the original manufacturer and patent holder of this design (Hiatts) went out of business whilst still in possession of the license and no one was quite sure if they could legally manufacture rigid cuffs. Rigid handcuffs have long been the most popular as they offer the maximum amount of control over a detainee with the minimum amount of force (and risk). Users however do have to be trained on this type of cuff to avoid legal repercussions if the detainee suffers an injury whilst cuffed. Rigid cuffs are now available for sale in the UK from the manufacturer THC.<br />
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During the void left by Hiats liquidation ASP (most famous for it's batons) released their semi rigid, or hinged cuffs. These were a half way house between rigid and chain link handcuffs offering some degree of lateral control if gripped in the centre. Whilst these were much more effective than chain link they were still not any were near as good or popular as the rigid handcuffs. ASP do these hinged cuff style in steel, available in black, blue, yellow and pink and a light weight rust resistant powdered aluminium.<br />
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Chain link handcuffs are the most widely available cuffs on sale and have been produced by a wide range of manufacturers from the tactical, to the novelty. The leading manufacturer is probably ASP again for the tactical market, and probably <a href="http://www.annsummers.com/c/bondage/handcuffs-restraints-ties">Ann-Summers</a> for the non tactical market. Chain link handcuffs offer the least control over a suspect and do not allow for "stacking" whilst cuffing. <br />
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/ASP-Tri-Fold-Restraints-Black-(6-Pack)-p-8430.html">Plasticuffs</a> are designed for mass detention, offering a cheap, disposable solution to restraining detainees as they have to be cut off to be released. Plasticuffs are a quick and easy option and due to the tight nature of the binding on the wrists offer excellent control over anyone bound in the them. Plasticuffs are mainly sold by ASP, <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Monadnock-Safety-Tip-Window-Breaker.html">Monadnock</a> and Deenside.Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-44776459835219502482013-01-17T02:05:00.001-08:002013-01-17T02:05:44.314-08:00Police BagsThere are a wide variety of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/bags-packs-bags-c-77_79.html">police bags</a> on the market from a huge number of manufacturers and at vastly different price points. At the top end of the market brands like Arcteryx or Blackhawk can set you back hundreds of pounds for a gucci rucksack or medium sized holdall, in the middle <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/511-tactical-equipment.html">5.11</a> offers quality at an acceptable price and at the bottom end a plain black sports bag from Sports Direct might cost you less than a tenner and you can probably stuff most of your kit in there just as easily (but getting the right piece out again in a hurry might be the problem!!!).<br />
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A suitable police bag has to offer a certain range of basic features for most officers:<br />
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<ol>
<li>A decent size main compartment for most kit; folders, fleece, custodian etc</li>
<li>A decent selection of pockets for organizing smaller kit; PNB, Phone, Cuffs, etc</li>
<li>Shoulder strap and carrying handles (it is not until you don't have one or the other of these that you miss them!!)</li>
<li>Hard-wearing, heavy duty construction. (Police bags get slung around on a daily basis, often over loaded with kit)</li>
<li>Sensible weight (Lugging your police bag around all day can be a massive chore if it weights a tonne even before you have loaded it)</li>
<li>Water resistance (probably not necessary to be totally water proof but the bag should be able to withstand being caught in a shower without all your kit getting soaked.</li>
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When choosing a police bag there are 3 main types, rucksack, holdall and load out. A rucksack is ideal if you are going to be on the move for a prolonged period, it is by far the most comfortable method of transporting a load and also leaves you with both hands free (ideal for cyclists). The disadvantage of this kind of police bag is it is hard to access items at the bottom of the bag.</div>
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The Holdall or kit bag is probably the most common kind of police bag, a semi rigid rectangular shaped bag often with a divider in the middle and a selection of pockets on the outside and often inside the lid on some of the better designed models. These kinds of bags allow for easy division of kit and the best access without having to unload everything each time.</div>
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<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/load-out-bags.html">Load out</a> police bags are more for PSU roles when you need to get a helmet, boots, coveralls etc all in the bag along side all your normal duty kit. The best designed bags can be worn as both a rucksack and also used like a kit bag (some also have wheels and an extending handle but I have never found this a particularly essential feature on a police bag.)</div>
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As mentioned earlier, when choosing a police bag price is going to be a major factor, but not at the expense of quality! I have seen one range of products that seems to differentiate itself on price but the quality of their bags and the weight of their kit bags especially is a major let down. Multiple reports of their day sack failing within a few months of light use for example was common place. My favourite brand, which you will pay a bit more for, but it is worth it for quality is 5.11, though I have seen a lot of good stuff at a very reasonable price point from the up and coming <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/op-zulu-police-bags.html">Op. Zulu</a> brand.</div>
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Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-62796800019406134402013-01-07T03:21:00.001-08:002013-01-07T03:21:53.758-08:00LOWA BootsIf you are looking for quality military boots look no further than <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/lowa-boots.html">Lowa</a>! These German made hand-crafted boots have set the standard for years in reliable, comfortable, durable footwear and are a long standing favourite of military service personnel the world over.<br />
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Lowa do offer a "commercial" range of boots to the outdoors market but these are not to be confused with the "Task Force Collection" of tactical boots. There are 3 main core Lowa boots in the Task Force Collection (in descending price order) the Combat, Mountain and Patrol.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Lowa-Boots-Combat-GTX-p-575.html">Lowa Combat Boots</a> is the highest ankle boot at 9 1/2 inches offering fantastic ankle support and combined with its Gore-Tex lining offers fantastic waterproof protection from wading through shallow water or walking through long grass. You can normally find these online for about £155.00.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/lowa-boots-mountain-gtx-p-594.html">Lowa Mountain Boot</a> is the same basic concept as the Combat but with a slightly lower ankle height of 8 inches this boot is preferred by those who want a bit more freedom and flexibility in the calf. (I have a pair of these myself and love them). You can normally find these for about £150.00.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Lowa-Boots-Patrol-p-613.html">Lowa Patrol Boot</a> is the same height as the Mountain GTX boot but does not have the Gore-Tex lining. Now whilst this boot won't offer the same level of water resistance a lot of users find a non Gore-Tex boot more versatile. When properly looked after with polish and wax these lowa boots will be highly water resistant against brief submersion or patrolling moderate rain and have the added benefit that if completely submerged they will dry out a lot faster than any of the Gore-Tex lined Lowa Boots. These normally retail for about £140.00.<br />
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There are also Desert Lowa Boots like the Zephry Mid, which is a low cut light weight highly breathable suede boot in a coyote tan colour. (This boot is on a slightly narrower last than normal which some users like, but I wouldn't recommend these lowa boots for load carrying). The Para Recon's are also a very popular style, though mostly used for a "casual" on base boot they are renowned for their comfort and light weight and are often used for PT.<br />
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Now you may be looking at the price of these boots and thinking they are not for you, but whilst I certainly wouldn't recommend these as <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/cadet-boots.html">Cadet Boots</a>, if you are a serious user the boots will pay for themselves over their long lifetime. Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-16832854613704353442012-12-11T09:03:00.000-08:002012-12-11T09:03:11.179-08:00Fenix TorchesI have grown to like <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/fenix-torches.html">Fenix</a> Torches more and more over the last few years, having initially been wary of them as a new pretender to the thrown compared to the longer established brands like Led Lenser, Surefire and even Maglite who have dominated the police market for the last decade. (Surefire torches much more so dominant in the military than police and un armed security). However as the years have passed those early adopters of Fenix have yet to turn against them and I continue to hear almost exclusively positive feedback from end users suggesting that the products are built to a quality that lasts and that their product claims hold water.<div>
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I was initially a little suspicious of Fenix being just another cheap Chinese made torch company, cramming in a lot of functions and claiming powerful outputs and long run times at a very (almost "Too") reasonable price. On a like for like price comparison you will normally find that Fenix boasts IPX8 water resistance where a competitor might claim their torch is simply weatherproof for example. (Now IPX8 is an ambigious term as it simply means better than IPX7 - Submersible to 1m for 30 mins, but even so it is the highest IP standard available for rating.) Even their lowest priced ~£11.95 Fenix E01 Torch offers IPX-8!</div>
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At the top end of the price range is the Fenix <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/fenix-tk40-cree-mce-p-13683.html">TK40 </a>which offers a blistering 630 lumen output on its brightest setting and a heroic 1200 min run time on it's most economical settings. Unlike a lot of torches at the top end of the market the TK40 can also run on standard AA batteries as well as the high performance Ni-MH batteries it is really designed to run on, although you will not get the same performance on the AA as you will with the Ni-MH.</div>
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There is also a wide range of tactical accessories for Fenix torches from remote trigger switches and red filters to <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Maglite-C-and-D-Cell-Yellow-Traffic-Wand-Cone-6871.html">traffic cones</a> and white light diffusers which make the torches highly versatile and suitable for everyone from recreational and professional shooters, to traffic officers and even photographers. </div>
Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-90889231418832956212012-12-05T09:29:00.000-08:002012-12-05T09:29:33.190-08:00Bates Boots<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/bates-boots.html">Bates Boots</a> are a popular police boot brand, a big rival to Magnum in the USA, though not such a big competitor in the UK market currently.<br />
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Magnum have dominated Bates due to their longer standing tradition of providing boots in the UK, although they have making boots since Andrew Jackson Bates founded the company in in 1885! It was not until 1960 however that Bates focused their efforts on making specialist shoes for the US navy and shortly after that that they became a specialist tactical footwear manufacturer exclusively. Since the 60's Bates have expanded internationally and their boots can now be found on up to 70 elite military units around the world!<br />
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In terms of performance Bates Boots are made from high specification materials and will last for several years of serious duty use as a police or security officer. Unfortunately the Bates focus on the US market does mean they have not got some of the necessary EU certifications like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel-toe_boot">EN20347</a> which is the standard for professional occupational footwear or the SRA, B or C slip resistance. That is not to say Bates boots would fail these tests as they are built to very exacting standards, however they are built for the US market where the EU standards are simply not relevant so they have not bothered to put the products through the testing process to get the certificates!<br />
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Most front line end users however would not really worry about these certifications if buying boots for themselves, however corporate buyers who are issuing boots to staff or employees should definitely consider the implications of issuing non certified boots. <br />
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One of the most well known Bates boots is the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Bates-Boot---Falcon-p-11474.html">Falcon boot</a> which was popularised by the British SBS because of their unique sole tread pattern which maximizes grip on wet metallic surfaces....ideal for ships and boats!!! This reputation as the boot of choice by one of the most elite special forces units in the word quickly made the Bates Falcon boot and the wider Bates brand a highly respected industry name! However, the Falcon boot is a specialist piece of footwear that fulfils a niche role and I would not recommend it for standard foot patrol or duty use.<br />
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<br />Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-70019755762697610402012-11-15T01:14:00.000-08:002012-11-15T01:14:31.789-08:00Peli Versabrite V Quiqlite<a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/quiqlite.html">Quiqlite</a> are a relative new comer to the scene, but the first to mount a serious challenge to the long standing dominance of the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/peli-torch-lights.html">Peli Versabrite</a>. The versabrite is backed by Peli's life time guarantee which is probably one of the major reasons it was able to command such a lead in the market despite the efforts of cheaper rivals. You can pick up a Peli versabrite for about £18-£20, where as some budge models might only set you back £9.99, however if that breaks just once, you have already made your money back with Peli's no quibble repair or replace service, and over the course of an active careerer in uniform chances are that you will get through a few clip on lights over the years.<br />
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Quiqlite do not come with the same life time guarantee, yet despite this fact, and a price tag that is higher than the Peli but they do pack substantially more features and have the added benefit of being rechargeable. Quiqlite offer a variety of models with twin LED configurations available in white/white, white/red and white/blue (white/blue is normally restricted to serving Emergency Services Personnel like police, fire and medics.) The twin LED design of the quqlites allows for several different settings, unlike the single on/off mode of the Peli, so you can have one or the other colour on, or a strobe effect.<br />
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Both the Peli Versabrite and the Quiqlite offer the spring clip on the rear for mounting on a belt, pocket flap or shirt lapel or even the brim of a baseball cap. One very handy accessory for both clip on lights is the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Peter-Jones-KlickFast-Peli-Light-Dock.html">Peter Jones KlickFast Doc</a> which allows a police officer to mount the light on the airwaves doc on the shoulder of a stabby, tac vest or carriage harness which makes them ideal for hands free illumination whilst writing or rummaging in a kit bag!<br />
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Perhapse the main advantage of the Quiqlite over the Peli is the the much higher <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumen_(unit)">lumen</a> output, the Versabrite offering a paltry 9 lumes to the Quqlite's 25!!<br />
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Now bear in mind that a Quicklite is around £25, it makes it a tough choice considering performance, reliability, guarantees and features......Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-65645524551512405402012-11-08T02:00:00.000-08:002012-11-08T02:00:56.338-08:00Uniform DatingFor men and women in <a href="http://www.uniformdatingsite.co.uk/">uniform dating</a> can be a difficult business. awkward shift patterns and the unusual stresses and strains of the job make it difficult for relationships with civilians to work and it is therefore no surprise that most uniformed personnel tend to date other uniformed personnel. Dating your colleagues of course has it's drawbacks, working and living (or at least spending a lot of your "private" life) with the same people can lead to frictions with each other, and if other team mates perceive favouritism or preferential treatments as a result of those relationships they will start to resent those. For those reasons (and more) dating colleagues or co workers is often frowned upon by management, if not out right against company policy so dating outside of the immediate working team is highly recommended.<br /><br />The problem however as already mentioned is the awkward shifts make it difficult to meet people and thus narrowing the chances of meeting a like minded person even further. A handy solution is therefore online dating. There are plenty of sites out there for <a href="http://www.uniformdating.com/">online dating</a>, match, plenty of fish, e-harmony etc. but those sites are pretty broad ranging and you will have to filter your search results quite intensively to narrow your matches to people who will be suitable. A better option is UniformDating.com which is a site specifically for uniformed personnel, or those interested in dating someone in uniform, so therefore more likely to accept the unique requirements of a relationship with a services person.<br />
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You may have seem the ads on TV in fact for Uniform Dating, but if not you can see them on Youtube:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMJfLTOteB8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMJfLTOteB8</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdS9w-953CA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdS9w-953CA</a><br />
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So whether you work in the police, military or security industry and are looking for a partner check them out today!Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-39565724582431451952012-10-23T01:54:00.000-07:002012-10-23T01:54:21.915-07:00Danner - More than the Acadia!Most people probably know the flagship <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Danner-Acadia-8-Black-Boot.html">Danner Acadia</a> Boot which is the top of the line <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/danner-boots.html">Danner</a> tactical boot hand made in the USA, but they also offer a more affordable range of mass produced boots aimed at the more every day tactical user.<br />
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The Danner Acadia boot does boast some impressive spec incorporating the classic stitchdown platform construction which improves stability and distributes pressure more effectively when the wearer is also carrying a load. This also means that any Danner boots which have the stitchdown construction can be re soled which is quite a plus if you have forked out ~£250 to start with. The sole is a Vibram (as you would expect) Kletterlift which offers fantastic grip, comfort and longevity in wet or dry conditions. The upper is a full grain leather around the toe (which polishes up well) and lower part of the foot with a 1000 denier nylon upper section around the sides and back of the ankle. The Acadia boot has a Gore-Tex membrane lining making them waterproof and breathable with a good lifespan.<br />
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The Danner Acadia is however just one boot in the Danner range. Excluding their large fashion range the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Danner-Kinetic-8-Mens-Black-PT.html">Kinetic boots</a> are a more affordable option for your average police or security officer and still pack a lot of Danner quality into their price! The Kinetic boots come in 4 styles. There is a 6inch ankle height version which is available in Gore-Tex and non Gore-Tex as well as an 8inch version which again is available in Gore-Tex and non. Other than that the Danner Kinetics are largely the same in construction offering full grain leather and rip stop nylon uppers with Ultralon footbed and a well cushioned midsole built on the multi-directional low lug "Kinetic" outsole. Complete with nylon shank, the Danner Kinetic boot is an ideal light weight response boot that will also suit most foot patrol offices. Where the Acadia ran to ~£250 the Kinetics start at much more reasonable £88.99 for a 6inch non Gore-Tex and £112 for an 8inch full Gore-Tex version.<br />
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One last thing to mention is the proper care of a pair of Danner boots. Although standard polish will do, Danner offer their own specialist "Boot Dressing" which is specifically designed to nourish an maintain the leather whist leaving the breath-ability un affected. It is a bit more expensive than a standard polish, but is also acceptable to be used on the Gore-Tex membrane where other boot polish products are not recommended.Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-62471349880832101812012-10-17T05:00:00.000-07:002012-10-17T05:00:03.362-07:00FenixThe <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/fenix-torches.html">Fenix</a> torch range is a relative new comer to the UK tactical torch market, surging to popularity with their (relativly) low cost, high performance, feature rich torches rapidly making a name for themselves within the police community.<br />
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Fenix have a range of products designed to compete with similar offerings from more established brands like <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/led-lenser-torches.html">Led Lenser</a>. At the bottom of the price range is the Fenix E01 pocket or key ring torch retailing for about £12 it runs on 1 AAA battery and provides about 20-22 hours of 10 lumen output. Made from anodized aluminium it offers a rugged finish and is in fact IPX-8 waterproof which is a nice advantage over comparable offerings.<br />
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At the top end of the range is the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/fenix-tk40-cree-mce-p-13683.html">Fenix TK40</a> CREE MCE torch which will set you back about £130 online. Whilst this is like the E01 in that it is waterproof to IPX8, that is about where the similarities end. The TK40 is designed to run on 8 1.5V Ni-MH batteries for maximum output but will also run on 4 AA batteries in an emergency and can give an impressive 630 lumen white light beam that is brighter and clearer than most car headlights!!!<br />
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At the more intermediary level Fenix have a few offerings between the £40 and £60 pound mark the LD10, the LD20 and the TK11 R5 and the TK 11 Tactical Torches.<br />
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One of the major advantages with Fenix is the selection of accessories they have available including traffic wants, remote weapons triggers/pressure switches, weapons mounts and even a light diffuser. The <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/hazard-warning-and-safety-lights-1.html">traffic wands</a>/cones are designed to fit the mid range Fenix torches for use by roads policing teams converting the white torch light to an orange glowing beacon. The remote pressure switch replaces the normal tail cap and the 23.5cm cable allows you to mount the switch at a distant location. The light diffuser is hinged to allow you to turn the focused beam into a soft light for reading or similar activities.<br />
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All in all the Fenix range sits comfortably in the middle of the market place, offering better lumen output, more features (most of the torches offer strobe, "turbo", half and low as standard) and rugged reliable performance at a price that won't break the bank. If you pick up one of these you wont be disapointed.<br />
<br />Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-85093597916222378152012-10-09T01:28:00.001-07:002012-10-09T01:28:56.938-07:00Surefire TorchesMost military operators will know and love <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/surefire-torches.html">SureFire</a> and a lot of trickle down from the steady stream of ex military into the police means most police officers will know them to. SureFire have long had a reputation for quality, reliability and durability which have made them the main stay for those looking for a torch where their life depends on the light coming on when you click the switch. As such you will find SureFire torches on weapon mounts around the world from Isrealie special forces teams to British Infantry.<br />
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SureFire torches are not quite so prolific in the police as they are in the military (apart from Firearms Teams) as most police officers do not have quite such a life and death need for light at the click of a button. The major turn off for police with the SureFire brand is the price, retailing online at £90-£110 in general for the G2 and 6P models, where as cheaper Chinese made products from <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/led-lenser-torches.html">Led Lenser</a> or <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/fenix-torches.html">Fenix</a> retail for around fifty pounds for their standard models that offer comparable lumens and run time to the Surefire versions.<br />
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SureFire attribute their high prices to their custom developed LEDs where other factories use "off the shelf" LEDs and customised their reflector cones and lenses to optimise light production. Whether this justifies the price tag or not.... I would be inclined to say not.<br /><br />One thing that specialist users will appreciate is that SureFire have retained certain filament bulb models where other companies have now moved almost exclusively to LED models. Now whilst LED torches offer higher lumen output and better battery life they have one major drawback (if you need it) they can not be used with <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Mini-Maglite-AA-Red-Nightvision-Lens-Attachment.html">IR filters</a>! So they are no good if you are trying to use IR night vision image intensifiers. Now this is quite a specialist role that requires such a niche feature but it is one Surefire understands more than a "commercial" or "retail" producer would.<br />
<br />Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-31056778032042566392012-09-25T00:21:00.000-07:002013-02-06T06:39:33.978-08:00Police Uniform ShopsThere are quite a few different <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/police-uniform.html">police uniform</a> shops available online, many selling much the same range of products from <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/5-11-clothing.html">5.11</a>, Arktis, Blackhawk, Under Armour etc etc. and very often at similar prices (do keep an eye out for sporadic promotions though as you can save significant amounts with Newsletter special offers or Facebook deals when they come up). <br />
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One of the best police uniform shops is PatrolStore.com, offering one of the best product ranges and probably consistently the best prices on the web (even before some of the fantastic special offers they often run). The site offers some great features which really help when shopping for police uniform supplies, top of my list being the large 1000*1000 good quality pictures. The pictures normally show the uniform items from several different angles and pick out special features where applicable to highlight them. A great example from their range of uniform supplies is their <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/police-vests.html">police vests</a>, especially the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Op-Zulu-Advanced-Tactical-Duty-Vest.html">Op. Zulu Advanced Tactical Duty Vest</a> which shows a 1000*1000 front and rear view and then also seven additional pictures of key features, such as pockets, straps, docks and epaulette holders.<br />
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Speaking of <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/Epaulettes---Black-Plain.html">epaulettes</a> these are an often hard to find piece of police uniform which can be a real struggle to convince stores to release extra pairs if you loose yours or have several layers on and have not been issued with enough to have a pair on every layer.<br />
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Less important these days for the new "tactical" police uniform is a <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/viper-clip-on-tie-p-836.html">clip on tie</a>, these used to be an essential piece of uniform, but the new moisture wicking polo shirts have replaced the traditional white shirt and a tie is no longer normally worn by police officers. (It is still a key bit of kit for your security uniform though if that's your industry).<br />
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So whatever your uniform (police, military or security) needs are check out the PatrolStore.com for all your <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/law-enforcement-equipment.html">law enforcement</a> <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/">shopping</a> needs.Tactical Reviewerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05727105402613914058noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7261133811540073575.post-44104182320110326142012-04-19T09:29:00.002-07:002012-04-19T09:29:57.468-07:00Led Lenser TorchesI have been in a lot of situations over the years where having the right kind of equipment is essential. The right tool for the job is critical (as everyone knows), and in dark places, the right tools are <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/led-lenser-torches.html" target="_blank">Led Lenser torches</a>.<br />
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When I need a high quality, bright and resiliant torch while on patrol, I tend to steer clear of my smaller and less powerful torches. I know that my Led Lenser torches will outperform and outlast all of the others. The brightness to battery life ratio found in Led Lenser torches makes them the last word in tactical lighting.<br />
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I really can't say enough good things about them. So many times I have been caught short because the batteries have drained too quickly on my Maglite, or the light produced hasn't been bright or clear enough. I personally use the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/LED-Lenser-Torch---T7-p-12157.html" target="_blank">Led Lenser T7 torch</a>, although I also have a Led Lenser Police Tech Focus Torch, as it has the benefit of an advertised 130 hours of battery life (I've had slightly less, but that's with HEAVY use). It also has a feature that is very much lacking in many other torch manufacturers, and that is the ability to adjust focus of the light. This is one of the BEST features of Led Lenser torches and once you have used one, you won't want to go back.<br />
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The light from a Led Lenser torch is incredible too! Pure white, bright, crisp and sharp. I can give you the specs of my Led Lenser torch (200 lumens output) but really, numbers can't explain how good these Led Lenser torches really are.<br />
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Batteries are damned expensive and a huge pain in the butt to remember to buy and I HATE it when my torches run out of steam while in the middle of use. Because of this, I have found that Led Lenser Torches to be extremely battery friendly and my Led Lenser torches tend to last longer than say a Maglite or Fenix.<br />
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I've been fortunate enough to see the <a href="http://www.patrolstore.com/LED-Lenser-Torch-X21---Pro-Series---1068-Lumen-p-12155.html" target="_blank">Led Lenser X21</a> in action and it was unbelieveable. The X21 is like the "big daddy" of the Led Lenser torches that I've seen. It has 7 light emitters that pump out an astounding 1068 lumens and it shows, it was so bright. I admit, I'm a little bit of a gadget geek and would LOVE to own one of them but I couldn't justify buying any more Led Lenser torches.<br />
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If you have considered Led Lenser Torches, then take the plunge today. I highly recommend getting one of the Led Lenser Torches, you won't be disappointed and you will have one of the best tactical torches around as Led Lenser Torches are durable, bright and efficient.<br />
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<br />Tactical Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06713075089924638352noreply@blogger.com0