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OUTDOORS - ADRENALIN - TACTICAL - ESSENTIALS - FITNESS - EXPLORE

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NEWS
R EVIEWS
FIR EAR MS
GEAR
FITNESS

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SUR VIVAL
ACTION!

HOME
A NEW YEAR APPROACHES!
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND PUSH
YOURSELF PAST YOUR LIMITS IN 2022

HOT STUFF
THERMAL IMAGING
THE T12-V MINI THERML IMAGING
SCOPE IS HERE AND WE PUT IT
THROUGH THE RAIDER MEATGRINDER

HIKING BOOTS
STEP INTO THE RIGHT BOOTS FOR YOU

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AND READ RAIDER ON THE GO!
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004 W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
CONTENTS
12 PACK IT IN!
ON THE RANGE OR DOWN THE HIGH STREET

16 OSPREY PUBLISHING
THE ELITE RANGE

2O HOT STUFF
MINI THERMAL IMAGING SCOPE

22 FIGHTING FIT
HOW TO BETTER YOURSELF

26 SURVIVAL ESSENTIALS
WALKING BOOTS ON TEST

29 LOAD UP!
DIRECT ACTION GEAR

34 ADRENALIN
HIKING

36 DEPLOY
DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM!

38 ON OUR RADAR
TRIPLE AUGHT DESIGN

40 HOLSTERS
OF THE KYDEX KIND

44 A GOOD READ
DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND

46 MIXED BAG
GADGETS AND ESSENTIAL GEAR

48 HIGHLANDEWR
THE JUNIPER 4 TENT

52 GALLERY
YOUR SHOTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

54 POSTER
A FREE POSTER FOR YOUR DESKTOP!

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 LEDER-GRIS
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J Bull Catterick
Silvermans London
WATERPROOF WAX
Base Camp Arbroath
Beckets Norwich OIL FOR TOUGH WET
Cadet Direct E.Sussex CONDITIONS
Altberg Yorkshire COLOURS:
Camoflage Store Devon MOD Brown
Dragon Supplies or Black
Colchester
JJ Supplies Brecon
Henry Dubora Aldershot
Military Kit Manchester
Taunton Leisure
Exeter, Briston, Taunton
Soldier of Fortune
North Wales
Top of the the Range
Tadcaster
Enforce Logic Windsor
ATR Bassingbourne
Royston
Adventure One

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BARRACK USE
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MOD Brown
Bay Stores or Black
HMNS Clyde

ALSO AVAILABLE IN
MOST SHOPS AND
PRI’S IN CAMPS

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Helikon-Tex®
Guardian Chest Rig®
Universal carry platform to accommodate
ammunition and personal equipment

Adjustable X- or H-harness
Spacious cargo pockets (USGI
canteen compatible) with eyelets
Fixed double rifle
magazine pouches (AK/AR)

Journey to Perfection
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RUCKSACKS ON TES T ON T HE R A NGE A ND ON T HE HIGH S T REE T - ON T HE R A

PACK IT IN!
GEAR FOCUS: LIFESTYLE OPTIONS EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF
THOSE EVERYDAY ITEMS THAT YOU SIMPLY CAN’T GO WITHOUT. EVERYONE
MONTH WE PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER TO WORK OUT WHAT WE COULDN’T GO WITHOUT ON AN EVERYDAY
BASIS. THIS MONTH WE’VE ‘TURNED TO OUR BACKS’ SO TO SPEAK, AND HAVE BROUGHT YOU 6 OF THE BEST
TACTICAL RUCKSACKS THAT ARE AS MUCH AT HOME ON THE HIGH STREET AS THE BATTLEFIELD.

5.11 ARC’TERYX HSGI

TACTICAL TRIAB 18
The 5.11 Tactical TRIAB18 features a fully
ambidextrous platform that can also be
converted to a traditional backpack. Loads of
internal organization and a quick access pistol
pocket provide just the right balance of storage
for your everyday requirements.
Whilst the 5.11 Tactical TRIAB 18 may look very
akin to the Star Trek badges, we can assure you
that their unusual shape and style definitely
turns heads. Add to that this is a ridiculously
sturdy bag that will fill all of your everyday
needs, then you really are on to a winner.
PRICE: £115.00
BLADE 30
The Arc’teryx Blade 30 might just be the perfect
overnight travel and laptop pack. Constructed using
materials with exceptional abrasion resistance,
tear strength and snow/dirt shedding properties,
the Blade 30 features a suitcase style fully opening
main compartment for clothing and necessities.
Full of internal compartments for various items,
the Arc’teryx Blade 30 is the perfect bag for those
who need to get to items within a flash, and does
all of this in a very stylish design as well. We’re a
massive fan of the Blade 30, and am sure our own
one will serve us well for years to come.
PRICE: £129.99
M24P DAY PACK
Modelled on High Speed Gear’s original “Moose”
pack line, the M24P Day Pack is a real favourite
here at Raider HQ. The design provides a basic, but
incredibly tough pack that retains features capable
of meeting the needs of military personal, law
enforcement officers, and civilians alike. The M24P
is large enough to carry sustainment gear, extra
ammunition, medical supplies and other gear for a
rapid deployment, but is small enough to provide
versatile storage options.
Available both with and without MOLLE, the HSGI
M24P really is an awesome rucksack to have laying
around - Small, sleek and functional, we’re a huge
fan, and can see the M24P Pack following us to a
number of different locations around the world!

PRICE: £99.99

012 W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
ANGE AND ON THE HIGH S TREE T - ON THE R ANGE AND ON THE HIGH S TREE T

WARRIOR
ASSAULT SYSTEMS
HELMET CARGO PACK
Pack is based on their
Warrior Assault Systems’ Helmet Cargo
Pack, which was in turn based on the classic Eagle
popular Cargo
first small capac ity, streamlined packs to
Industries MAP. One of the
of armo or load carrying gear
ur
be designed with attaching to the back
Pack was essen tially an enlarged hydration bladder
direc tly, the Cargo
hat were perhaps not needed in a
pouch, with storage for useful items
situat ion, but were nonet heless rather useful to the
life or death
Pack build s on this concept with a MOLLE
mission. The Helmet Cargo
vable straps. As well as a main “bag”
compatible pack that features remo
’s also an open out, mesh helmet storage section.
compartment, there
also be adapted as an SSE pouch.
This is ideal for a bulky helmet but can

TACTICAL TAILOR CAMELBAK GREY GHOST GEAR

REMOVABLE OPERATOR PACK
With the ability to attach to modular vests and
packs or used as a stand alone assault pack, the
Tactical Tailor Fight Light Removable Operator
Pack really is at the pinnacle of versatility when
it comes to a pack you can use both on the
battlefield and in the real world. Featuring a large
main compartment, hydration pocket, concealed
top port for routing of drinking tubes, a large
carry handily and stowable padded shoulders.
Of all the packs on show this month, this is
probably the most popular within the Raider
office, with practically everyone on the team
having one! Says a lot about the absolute
brilliance of the product to us.
PRICE: £69.95
LINCHPIN
Whilst you may brand this as more a hydration
carrier than an out and out rucksack, we’re firm
believers of if you can put stuff in it, and if it
goes on your back… Well then it’s quite clearly a
rucksack!
The Linchpin from CamelBak offers 4 large
compartments for various items, and makes use
of the brilliant Futura Harness made by Mystery
Ranch - Who make some damned awesome
rucksacks! We’re massive fans of the Linchpin for
it’s ease of use - getting individual items out of a
bag has actually never been so easy!
PRICE: £179.99
STEALTH OPERATOR PACK
The Stealth Operator Pack is designed as a
low visibility recce pack that can be utilized in
a civilian or military environment. The pack
features a large main compartment as well as a
center zip accessory pocket. Inside the center
zip pocket there are admin and organizational
pockets as well as a concealed holster to covertly
carry a handgun.
We’re huge fans of Grey Ghost Gear, and they’ve
done a great job with the Stealth Operator pack.
And whilst the concealed holster might not be
of much use for our UK readers, our US readers
should absolutely think about picking one of these
up. Although we did find that it kept our daily
banana from getting squashed!
PRICE: £84.95

W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM 013
 T H E ‘ E L I T E R A N G E ’
ELITE RANGE
F R O M O S P R E Y P U B L I S H I N G
OSPREY PUBLISHING HAVE LONG BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF MILITARY
PUBLISHING. WITH AN ASTOUNDING BACK CATALOGUE OF BOOKS WITH
TOPICS RANGING FROM JAPANESE SAMURAI TO US MARINE CORPS,
IT’S FAIR TO SAY OSPREY HAVE JUST ABOUT EVERY PERIOD OF WAR
COVERED. THIS MONTH WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT THEIR “ELITE” RANGE
OF PUBLICATIONS, A SERIES WHICH FOCUSES ON A SINGLE SUBJECT,
WRITTEN BY A NUMBER OF EXPERTS WITHIN SAID FIELDS.
BRITISH ARMY IN AFGHANISTAN 2006-2014
AUTHOR - LEIGH NEVILLE
Fighting an elusive and dangerous enemy far from
home, the British army in Afghanistan has been
involved in asymmetric warfare for the best part
of a decade. The eight-year series of deployments
jointly known as Operation Herrick, alongside US
and other NATO contingents within the International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, have
been the longest continuous combat commitment of
the British Army since World War II. Together with
Operation ‘Telic’ in Iraq, which immediately preceded
and overlapped with it, this conflict has shaped the
British Army for a generation. Enemy threats have
diversified and evolved, with a consequent evolution
of British doctrine, tactics and equipment. This book
provides a detailed analysis of those specifics within
a clear, connected account of the course of the war
US MARINE CORPS RECON & SPECIAL OPERATIONS
AUTHOR - J KENNETH EWARD
In the age of modern warfare the changing
landscape of the 21st century battlefield has
demanded a transformation within the US Marine
Corps Special Operations. Adapting to a huge
range of combat environments, an enormous
array of specialist uniforms, protective armour
and battlefield electronic devices have been
developed to facilitate missions in the most
extreme conditions. A special forces operator may
now have available to him a dozen distinct types
of body armour and two dozen different weapons;
never before in American military history has
so much been given to so few. Authored by
J. Kenneth Eward, professor at the American
016 W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
F R O M O S P R E
Each book in the Elite series focuses on a single
army or elite unit, military tactics or a group of
famous commanders. Military uniforms, insignia
and equipment are shown in full colour artwork.
Elite Books cover the full spectrum of military
history, examining the greatest armies, units and
commanders of the ancient, medieval, Napoleonic,
American Civil War, World War I and World War II.
Featuring full specially commissioned colour
artworks of typical military uniforms and equipment,
together with organisational diagrams and a wealth
of black and white photography, these books provide
an accessible resource for enthusiasts of all ages.
THIS MONTH WE HAVE TAKEN
A BRIEF LOOK AT A RANGE OF
DIFFERENT BOOKS, FOCUSING ON
CURRENT ERA CONFLICTS.
in Helmand, operation by operation.
Leigh Neville is an Australian national who
has written a number of books on both modern
conventional military units and special operations
forces serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, their
weapons and their vehicles including six titles
for Osprey with several more in development. He
has also consulted on military topics for several
wargame companies and television documentary
makers. He lives in Sydney with his wife and two
dogs. Peter Dennis was born in 1950. Inspired by
contemporary magazines such as Look and Learn
he studied illustration at Liverpool Art College.
Peter has since contributed to hundreds of books,
predominantly on historical subjects, including many
Osprey titles.
Military University, and illustrated throughout
with photographs and meticulous colour plates,
this volume offers the first detailed, authoritative
study of the characteristics, and performance in
the field, of the most modern combat gear and
weapons provided for USMC specialist operators
to date.
Kenneth Eward is a published science &
technology illustrator who teaches at the
American Military University. His past military
history projects have included ELI 190: US
Marine Infantry Combat Uniforms and Equipment
2000-2012 for Osprey, and assignments for
National Geographic and TIME.
Y P U B L I S H I N G - C U R R E N T C O N F L I C T
SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN AFGHANISTAN
AUTHOR - LEIGH NEVILLE
Intelligence specialist Leigh Neville identifies,
describes and illustrates the Special Operations
Forces (SOF) of the British, American and other
Coalition forces committed to the ‘War on Terror’
in Afghanistan since 2001, providing a fascinating
insight into specific operations detailing weapons,
equipment and experiences in combat. With
a surprising amount of recently declassified
material from government departments that
are yet to be published in the mass media, this
is a ground-breaking analysis of the largest
mobilization of Special Forces in recent history.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES IN IRAQ
AUTHOR - LEIGH NEVILLE
The companion volume to Elite 163: Special
Operations Forces in Afghanistan, Leigh Neville
now turns his expert analysis to the Special
Operations Forces (SOF) of the US and Coalition
allies serving in Iraq since 2003. Filled with recently
declassified material, first hand accounts, and
unique photographs, this book offers a rare look at
the largest mobilisation of Special Forces in recent
history. Examining in detail the US Delta Force, the
British SAS, Australian and Canadian Special Forces
as well as CIA and MI6 operational units, this book
provides a crucial study of their skills and success
in Iraq, from the Battle of Debecka to storming
US ARMY RANGERS 1989-2015
AUTHOR - LEIGH NEVILLE
Written by an expert on modern Special Forces
units and the operations they undertake, this book
explains the evolution of the Rangers’ missions in
Panama, the first Gulf War, Somalia and the post
9/11 invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. It reveals
the training and organizational changes that the
unit has undergone and investigates in particular
how their doctrine and tactics have changed during
the 14-year war in Afghanistan.
At the beginning of the war the Rangers were an
elite light infantry unit of picked men tasked with
short duration recon raids and securing ground
behind enemy lines in support of Special Forces;
W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
B O O K S
With extensive first-hand accounts providing an
eyewitness perspective of the fighting on the
ground and including information on the British
SAS, the US Delta Force, Australian and Canadian
special forces as well as MI6 and CIA operational
units, this book provides a crucial study of their
skills and successes amidst the Afghan mountains.
Leigh Neville is an Australian intelligence
specialist who is currently studying for a degree in
International Security. He has published a number
of articles on the subject and has excellent contacts
in the US, UK and Australian special forces.
the safe house of Uday Hussein. In a controversial
war that has been plagued by high fatalities
and military blunders, this book highlights the
successes enjoyed by Special Forces Operatives.
Leigh Neville is an Australian national currently
living and working in Sydney. He has travelled and
worked extensively internationally, was based in
Europe for ten years, and now works for a large
American consultancy. This is his second book
for Osprey, a companion to his earlier volume
on special operations forces in Afghanistan. He
is currently completing a Masters programme in
International Security Studies.
they have since evolved into a special-mission unit
themselves - on the cusp of being assigned to the
Joint Special Operations Command.
Leigh Neville is an Australian national who
has written a number of books on both modern
conventional military units and special operations
forces serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, their
weapons and their vehicles, including six titles
for Osprey with several more in development. He
has also consulted on military topics for several
wargame companies and television documentary
makers. He lives in Sydney with his wife and two
dogs.
017
www.snugpak.com
THERMAL OP TICS T HE R M A L IM A GING T E C H - T HE

HOT STUFF
T12-V MINI THERMAL IMAGING SCOPE
THERMAL IMAGING USED TO BE THE STUFF OF SCIENCE FICTION, BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC BY FILMS SUCH AS
PREDATOR. HOWEVER OVER THE YEARS THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN REALISED, AND IS SLOWLY BECOMING MORE
AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THIS MONTH WE TAKE A LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE OF THIS TECHNOLOGY BECOMING
MORE AVAILABLE, WITH THE T12-V MINI THERMAL IMAGING SIGHT, FROM SCOTT COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL.
At not more than a couple of inches in any
dimension and weighing only a few ounces,
the T12-V from Scott Country International is a
deceptively modest little package, genuinely
not a lot bigger than an RMR type reflex sight,
certainly smaller and lighter than most Eotech
type sights we've seen and even T1-type sights
on high mounts.
The rear of the device features a small screen
about an inch wide, the front features a strange
looking lens housing with a tiny 7mm objective
lens at the end of the barrel and a single CR123
battery mounts laterally with a watertight
sealed screw cap holding it in place. 2 simple
rubberised buttons on the right hand side of
the metal housing are marked in red. The T12-V
features a solid fitting but easily releasable RIS
rail clamp on the bottom. This clamp can be
removed in favour of alternative fitments, its
even feasible that it could be mounted to a pistol
slide. Overall, it is rugged and simple without
any fussy details or fiddly adjusters, which is
what we like to see.
CANNED HEAT
You turn on the T12-V by holding down the red
“ON” button on the side for a brief moment. You
are greeted by a short boot-up animation screen
before the thermal imaging process starts.
Initially we noticed that the display is marred
by a couple of vertical lines but as the device
“warms up”, these clear leaving a fascinating
thermal display. You can press the display toggle
button and cycle through several different
output modes/ renderings of the display. These
include High Contrast (white hot, black cold,
with orange and blue in between) Black and
White (White Hot), Black and White (Black Hot)
and High Contrast Green and Black (Green
Hot). Depending on your situation all of these
display modes are valid however for that classic
“thermal” look the High Contrast with orange
and blue is the top choice!
By default the display doesn't show a reticule
for aiming, instead it just shows the thermal
readout along with a battery level indicator.
You can activate the reticule display and
select between a square, a chevron or a more
traditional ringed dot, the reticules can be set
in either contrasting black or white or red. It's
also possible to “zero” the sight by adjusting the
position of the reticule but we'll explain all that
later, as it may be best to use the T12-V a little
differently…
As well as reticule selection you can activate
“Sharpening” in the menu and also toggle
“Squelch” on or off. Sharpening is rather
straightforward and influences the display,
improving clarity in some cases. Squelch on the
other hand is not so obvious.
With Squelch activated the display seems
to “recenter” in order to show the difference
between temperature contrast more easily,
most objects will show “hot” until a hotter
object appears in the display. With the Squelch
setting off, the device displays something that
appears more akin to “true temperature”.
Neither one of these settings is superior and
they will each suit different situations and target
environments.
COOL OFF…
There are a few downsides and limitations to the
T12-V, they are not show-stoppers by any means
but they are things to be aware of in a tactical
situation.
First you are dealing with an 8.33 degree field
of view and a level of magnification. It can be
tough to make things out within about 10ft but
for the majority of the time this is negligible.
The field of view is reasonably narrow though so
careful scans of the environment, sweeping left
to right, are
required to detect subjects. It should also be
noted that Thermal Imagers cannot see through
glass. Glass appears as a non transparent block
through the T12-V so be mindful of this in urban
environments…
Finally the display refresh rate is only 9Hz
which sounds incredibly slow when compared to
TV screen performance however in use, it really
doesn’t seem to be a hinderance. Tracking fast
moving targets isn't really the name of the game
and when employed aptly, the 9Hz refresh rate
is perfectly useable.
Overall the T12-V is an interesting little sight
that could certainly lend itself well to a couple of
applications such as hunting. That said though,
we struggle to see where it would find it’s
place on the battlefield. At £675 it’s far from a
cheap purchase, but it could be just what you’re
looking for!

FALSE COLOUR GREEN BLACK AND WHITE BLACK AND WHITE

“THERMAL DISPLAY" “NIGHT VISION” “WHITE HOT” “BLACK HOT”

020 W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
E R M A L IM A GING T E C H - T HE R M A L IM A GING T E C H

HOW DOES THERMAL IMAGING WORK?

Thermal imaging is a pretty straightforward concept but makes use of some very impressive
advances in technology. At it’s basics, thermal imaging makes images of heat. In reality
though it makes use of infrared radiation.
Thermal imaging cameras have lenses, just like visible light cameras. But in this case the
lens focuses waves from the infrared energy present in all objects onto an infrared sensor
array. Thousands of sensors on the array convert the infrared energy into electrical signals,
which create a video image. The infrared camera measures and displays a “thermal profile” of
objects in relation to the temperature of surrounding objects. So a person, warmer than the
surrounding air, appears “white” while the cooler surrounding air or buildings will appear in
varying shades of gray.
T12-V MINI
BROKEN DOWN, THERMAL IMAGING WORKS LIKE THIS... THERMAL
1: A special lens focuses the infrared light emitted by all of the objects in view.
2: The focused light is scanned by a phased array of infrared-detector elements. The detector
IMAGING
elements create a very detailed temperature pattern called a thermogram. It only takes about
one-thirtieth of a second for the detector array to obtain the temperature information to
make the thermogram. This information is obtained from several thousand points in the field
SCOPE
of view of the detector array.
3: The thermogram created by the detector elements is translated into electric impulses. £675
4: The impulses are sent to a signal-processing unit, a circuit board with a dedicated chip that
translates the information from the elements into data for the display.
5: The signal-processing unit sends the information to the display, where it appears as
various colours depending on the intensity of the infrared emission. The combination
of all the impulses from all of the elements creates the image.

SCI T12-V SPECIFICATION

■ Max 150m detection range (boar sized object).
■ 8.33 degree field of view.
■ 9hz refresh rate.
■ On board image processing enhancement.
■ Multiple thermal palette modes:
(White Hot, Black Hot, NV Green and Colour).
■ Battery Power level display.
■ Auto Power save.
■ User selectable reticles.
■ Picatinny rifle mount.
 FIGHTING FIT

TRAINING
HOW MUCH REST IS ENOUGH?
ONE QUESTION WE GET
ASKED A LOT IS - HOW MUCH
REST IS ENOUGH REST? WHAT
PEOPLE DON’T GO ON TO
MENTION IS REST BETWEEN
WHAT?! YOU’VE GOT REST
BETWEEN REPS, REST
BETWEEN SETS, BETWEEN
EXERCISE AND THEN
BETWEEN SESSION. SO THE
QUESTION ‘HOW MUCH REST
IS ENOUGH REST’ DOESN’T
HAVE A SIMPLE ANSWER.

When it comes to age old questions, this

one is up there with ‘What supplements are
the right supplements’ and ‘What rep range
should I be using’. But of all of the questions,
it is probably the hardest to give a definitive
answer to. Rest time between individual reps,
a set, a single exercise and between sessions
will vary between individuals and their
training goals and purpose.
However, whilst individual people will all
vary, most training goals can be generalised
into certain categories. Within these
categories you are then able to see standard
patterns within training regimes that give you
a general idea of rest periods for individual
training types. For example powerlifters will
do very short bursts of training with large
rest periods in between to not put their
muscles under too much strain.
Understanding your rest period is nearly
impossible to do if you don’t understand
your training regime. It’s even harder if you
don’t understand your own body and the
limitations your body has at it’s current point
in time. Too many times I’ve gone to the gym
and absolutely pushed myself with very little
rest only to find myself injured very quickly.
Now it took us a while to work out exactly
where we were planning on taking this
article, but after a bit of thought we realised
that generally bodybuilders and powerlifters
aren’t going to be reading a fitness section
within a ‘Mens’ magazine. They’re going to be
looking more at your specialist magazines.
What we have here is usually your average joe.
But instead of completely generalising
here, we’re going to go one better. I’ve spent
the last month doing a set training program,
6 days a week. What we have here is 3 AVERAGE JOES
individual sessions that I’ve been doing twice it took us a while to work out exactly
a week - Chest/Arms, Back/Shoulders and where we were planning on taking this
Legs. All of these sessions also have elements article, but after a bit of thought we
of cardio and all sessions end with a slight realised that generally bodybuilders and
abs workout. All I’ve changed over the past powerlifters aren’t going to be reading a
couple of months is my rest duration between fitness section within a ‘Mens’ magazine.
exercise to best work out the optimum rest They’re going to be looking more at your
period between each individual area! specialist magazines. What we have here
is usually your average joe.
So how did we fare? Well to put everything
into context I will first list what we did on
each day of training.

022 W W W.RAIDER-MAG.COM
CHEST/ARMS WHAT DID WE FIND OUT?
✓ Superset: 3x8 Dumbbell Bench Press/3x12 Dumbbell Chest Fly So we started this program on the 6th October, which gave us 47 days in
✓ 3x Best Effort Incline Bench Press which we could train. Given we were only training 6 days a week, you’re left
✓ 5x5 Barbell Bench Press with 42 days worth of training. Throughout these 40 days, we messed around
✓ Press-ups till Failure with rest periods every 6 days, which gave us 6 weeks of tinkering with rest
periods to work out which left us not only feeling freshest after exercise, but
✓ Drop Set 3x Failure Rope Pull Downs also which allowed us to push ourselves further.
✓ Pyramid Set 15/10/5 Barbell Curls What we found out was more which muscle groups could take extended
✓ 3x Failure Skullcrushers punishment as opposed to what rest periods you should be looking at using
✓ 3x Failure Concentration Curls for exercise. We’ll explain what we mean here.
So, as we mentioned, over the 6 weeks we changed the rest periods each
week to see what happened throughout training. Week 1 we had an absolute
BACK/SHOULDERS minimal rest period - you’re talking enough time to change weights or have
✓ 5x Pull-ups till failure a drink here, and on the final week we took extended periods of break, with
✓ 5x12 Renegade Rows certain exercises seeing longer break periods than others.
✓ Pyramid Set: Barbell Rows, 20/15/10/15/20 When we trained on week 1, we blasted ourselves as hard as we could,
✓ 3x12/15 Dumbbell Rows throwing up a couple of times in the process, but it was all for the good of the
✓ 2000m Rowing Machine article so we wasn’t really fussed. All we found was that an exceptionally fast
paced leg day took us a full day to recover from. Whilst we still ached the next
✓ 3x10 Dumbell Press day after doing the other two sessions, legs day left us feeling a little worse
✓ 5x5 Military Press for wear, to the point that after doing legs on day 3 we took a full day’s rest,
✓ 3x12 Reverse Flies meaning legs actually creeped over to day 7, which was a Sunday. This then led
✓ 3x Failure Front Dumbbell Raise to us not doing any form of cardio on Day 1 of Week 2 due to aching.
After that we slowly increased the rest time each week, and whilst we saw
no real changes on Week 2, Week 3 saw us drop the rest day after Day 3 legs.
LEGS Week 4,5 and 6 was when we started to notice a real change though. As you
✓ Squats till failure, putting 10kg on bar after each set. can see, a lot of the exercises I’ve done in this program have been labelled as
✓ 3x12 with 20 seconds hold at end leg extensions ‘until failure’. This was done purely to see how the body reacts to rest when
✓ Superset: 3xFailure Leg Press/3x10m walking lunge /w weight. being put under physical stress.
✓ Bodyweight squats till failure What we began to notice is that on these exercises that were done to failure,
increased rest periods meant we were able to put out a higher number of
All of these days of exercise were always started with a 3 mile timed run and reps per set. So whilst week 1 may have seen us do 20/17/13 on one specific
finished with some form of ab work along with 5 minutes worth of Burpees. exercise, week 4,5 and 6 saw these number dramatically increased due to the
muscle not being as burnt out when reaching this stage.
Overall it was a very interesting experience, not just for the sakes of an
article, but also to allow me to better understand my own body.

SO WHAT DO WE THINK?
I’ll be honest, I’m still completely unsure on what amount of rest is best. I
honestly think the best way to go around rest, is to first evaluate your goals,
build a fitness plan and then change your rest times constantly.
From previous experience, allowing your body to get used to something isn’t
always the best idea. Sure, whilst you’re getting used to a certain habit, you’re
slowly going to become better at something. And everyone likes getting good
at things, especially in the gym. But what you will see happen very quickly is
a plateau. What separates people apart; especially in the gym, is those people
who are not afraid to constantly test their limits. You’ll usually find these are
the people with the physiques you want, or the numbers you want.
What we did fully work out though, is that if you push yourself real hard on
legs day, you’re gonna really ache in the morning!
But if you want our honest opinion, keep your body guessing. Never do the
same thing for more than a month, constantly change things up so your body
doesn’t have the time to adapt to your training regime and you’ll slowly be on
the right path to where you want to be!

W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM 023
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SURVIVAL
WALKING IN
A WINTER
WONDERLAND

026 W W W . R A I D E R - M A G A Z I N E . C O M
THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR
WALKING
AND THAT ' S JUST WHAT THEY ' LL DO
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO NOW
WE SAT DOWN AND TALKED YOU
THROUGH THE BASICS OF BOOTS,
LOOKING AT INFORMATION SUCH
AS SOLES, SHOE CONSTRUCTION
AND A VARIETY OF OTHER THINGS.
AFTER PUBLISHING THAT ARTICLE
WE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF
QUESTIONS REGARDING WINTER
BOOTS… SO AFTER A SHORT BREAK
FROM SURVIVAL, THIS MONTH
WE'RE ANSWERING OUR FANS
AND BRINGING YOU A REPORT ON
TECHNICAL WINTER BOOTS!
You may think to yourself that a boot is a boot, but
when it comes to finding the right footwear for full
winter use there are far more considerations than you
might think. Boots designed for winter use, especially
use in mountainous terrain in snow and ice, are
actually incredibly technical and you really need to
analyse your area of operations carefully to ensure you
make the right choice of boots.
If you’re operating in a lowland area in winter the
first consideration is whether you’ll be dealing with
snow or ice underfoot. If not then general service boots
with a waterproof lining will probably serve you just
fine. If, however you’re going to have to contend with
the white and slippery stuff you may need to consider
boots that are compatible with a walking crampon.
And as you move onto altitude you’re going to need
a boot that will let you use crampons all day long; the
higher you go, the more the boot will change until
you’re into a double layer boot with a fully stiffened
sole. Are you going to need to do any technical rock or
ice climbing? This too will have a bearing on exactly
what boots you choose. Are you going to be on skis? If
yes, then again a ski/march boot specifically designed
for this role will be needed.
Let’s first off look at the boots themselves. Technical
boots are ranked from 0-3, which is really all about the
stiffness and suitability for use with crampons.
WINTER SKILLS TAKE TIME TO LEARN, AND EVEN WITH ALL THE RIGHT KIT EVEN A MINOR ACCIDENT CAN
PLACE YOU INTO A SURVIVAL SITUATION VERY QUICKLY. WINTER TRAINING SHOULD REALLY NEVER BE
UNDERTAKEN ALONE, AND YOU WILL NEED ALL OF YOUR WILDERNESS SKILLS LEARNT THROUGH OUT THE
YEAR WITH YOU. GET THE RIGHT KIT, GET THE RIGHT INSTRUCTION, AND PRACTICE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!
CHOOSING THE RIGHT BOOTS
BO
Not suitable for crampon use; boots in this
category are general walking boots with too
much flex in the sole unit and with uppers
that too soft for safe crampon use.
These will be of a more solid build than boots
B1 in the B0 category, with enough stiffness in
the sole for use in easy snow and ice
conditions found at lower elevations. The uppers will
provide good ankle support and have enough
thickness of leather to allow crampon straps to be
securely tightened without discomfort.
A boot in this class will have a stiffened sole,
B2 which means the sole is reinforced with a
shank of steel, plastic or composite. Thicker
leather will be used in their construction allowing the
boot to be worn all day with crampons. Usually
designed with soild ankle support, this is a good all
rounder for higher elevations.
Technical mountaineering boots; these can be
B3 'double boots' or thermal lined boots (such as
the yellow La Sportivas pictured). Boots in
this category are invariably fitted with a full length
shank. Boots of this type are capable of performing at
high altitude and are designed with extreme, technical
rock and ice climbing in mind.
CRAMPONS 101
Once you have the choice of boots right it’s then time
to move onto their compatibility with crampons. Once
again, crampons are classified from 1-3.
The first option in this shortlist is a fully
C1 flexible crampon for walking, with or without
front points.
An articulated crampon with either straps
C2 front and back or step-in heel and front
straps; these are suitable for higher altitudes,
but not really for anything too technical. They will
have front points for use on steeper ground though.
Getting into technical climbing/
C3 mountaineering territory a C3 crampon can
be an articulated climbing model, but are
more usually rigid technical climbing models with
either two front points, or even a mono-point for
mixed rock and ice work.
W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
THEORY TO PRACTICE
A B0 boot will not accept any form of crampon, the sole
unit is too flexible and the straps would compress the
upper so much that it would restrict blood circulation,
a sure way to encourage frostbite.
A B1 boot will accept a C1 crampon but not C2
or C3 crampons.
A B2 boot will accept C1 and C2 type crampons.
A B3 boot will take the lot, from C1 to C3
although they will perform at their best with a
dedicated C3 crampon.
If you’ve never worked with crampons before then
you’re going to want to get in some practice, as even
walking with them can be a frustrating, and possibly
expensive experience. Crampons by their nature are
sharp, and it’s very easy to catch a front point in
your Gore-Tex overtrousers! Not only will this be a
costly experience, but it can also lead to taking a fall.
My best advice is to take a course run by
professionals such as those offered at Plas-y-Brenin
in North Wales or Glenmore Lodge in Scotland. A day
with a pro climbing instructor or mountain guide
will set you well on your way to using your winter kit
effectively.
If you are considering technical climbing (ie with
full climbing equipment) then it’s not just a case
of changing out of your summer rock shoes and
into a winter boot/climbing crampon combination;
again, the general principles of climbing remain
constant, but you’re going to need some new
tools, quite literally, in the toolbox! Ice climbing
not only requires a great boot/crampon combo,
but also the use of ice axes and different types of
protection, such as ice screws. Again, take advanced
professional instruction in this area.
Once you’ve mastered your new techniques and
equipment then as always it’s a case of practice
makes perfect! Now for many of us who live in a
temperate climate this can be a bit of a problem as
the likelihood of getting good, climbable ice is pretty
rare. My answer to this in the past has been to think
“outside the box”; you could build yourself a wood
plank climbing frame between two trees that will
allow you to practice your axe and front point work.
Again, safety first, be mindful of your surroundings.
027
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LO A DDIREC T AC TION GE AR RECENTLY WE’VE THROWN YOU A FEW HINTS ABOUT DIRECT ACTION, A NEW

UP
SUB-BRAND OF THE RENOUNED HELIKON-TEX UMBRELLA. WE MANAGED TO
GET OUR HANDS ON THE DIRECT ACTION RANGE FROM MILITARY 1ST, AND
WE WERE SO IMPRESSED THAT WE JUST HAD TO BRING YOU A FULL FEATURE!
Direct Action is a new series of professional products by founders Helikon-Tex, a well respected Polish
tactical gear manufacturer that has built up a fearsome reputation for creating quality kit in a variety of
patterns and styles; all for a very reasonable price.
Their products draw on the experience of ex-operators from around the world, with top elite units such as
US Navy SEAL Team Three and Polish JW GROM providing feedback throughout the design stage.
The Direct Action series is made from top quality components, such as Cordura®, YKK® zippers, Duraflex® -
Woojin buckles, or fire retardant fabrics. Additionally, its laser-cut modules are compatible with the MOLLE/
PALS system, and resignation from traditionally used webbing and straps allowed for decreasing the weight
of its elements. In effect we achieved a smoother, low-profile look, useful in urban conditions.
Overall the Direct Action series of tactical gear meets the expectations of the most elite units, and is more
than capable of surviving the harsh environment these operators tackle on a day-to-day basis.

£84.00
DIRECT ACTION DUST PACKOf all the products within the The straps system on the DUST comprises of Small details all over the bag, including quality
Direct Action range, the DUST comfortable contoured sections with side-release plastic moulded hardware, shrink-wrapped zipper
Pack stands out the most to us, buckles joining them to the lower portion of the pulls, webbing management straps and also slot for
and with that in mind it is the bag. This means the straps can be detached from hydration hoses give you immediate impression of
product we’ll bring to you first. your person rapidly in the event of an emergency quality and intelligent design.
Being the smallest pack in the like a snag. The padding on the section of the bag
current range at 20L, the DUST that rests on your back is thick and well ventilated. WEIGHT: 1210 g
is the ideal candidate for an everyday carry pack It’s made from a chunky rubberised foam material CAPACITY: 20 l
with the build quality and features to hack the pace covered in a wide spacer-mesh textile. It’s actually GET YOURS MATERIALS: 100%
of a tactical environment. quite rough to the touch and can even be felt on the TODAY FROM Cordura® 500D
The make-up of the pack consists of a large main skin through a t-shirt. Over time though it proves MILITARY1ST.COM COLOUR OPTIONS: Black,
compartment with external compression straps. to be comfortable and also cool, if a little on the Olive Green, PL Woodland,
Inside there’s also subdividers, one against the heavy side. Coyote, Camogrom®,
back with padding to secure a laptop of around 15” Multicam®, Shadow Grey,
in size. There’s also a large mesh organiser pocket PenCott™ GreenZone,
WE HAVE PenCott™ Badlands
facing this inside, ideal for charger cables and other
ABSOLUTELY NO L OF
items and accessories. E LE VE
QUALMS OVER TH THIS DIRECT
On top of this main compartment, a fully zippered FA CT UR E WI TH
MANU T AND IN TERMS
fold out panel opens to reveal and organiser AC TION PRODUC DAYSACK OR EDC
rack sewn into the bag. There are the usual ING A SM AL L
OF BE LY
PERHAPS THE ON
sleeve pockets that are ideal for documentation, BAG, IT’S IDEAL. CRITICISE IS THAT
ASPE CT WE CA N
passports and suchlike and also small pouches to F BUILD QUALITY
THE BOMBPROO IRLY HIGH
hold individual items. Velcro straps form a useful INCURS A FA Y.
tourniquet storage point and a large mesh pocket WEIGHT PENALT
make sand ideal space for things like your wallet.
Facing this organiser rack is a transparent fronted
map sleeve. Positioned so that with the back off
you can lay it on the ground, open the panel and
easily navigate. Additionally, there’s a further panel
pocket on the front of the bag that is accessed via a
vertical zipper and can be used to store things you
might need in a hurry.
Each side of the bag houses an expandable pocket
that when zipped shut and flush to the side of the
back does not protrude out, but when deployed is
large enough to accept a drinks bottle.
Distinctively, the Direct Action DUST pack features
a new laser cut, MOLLE compatible panel system
that allows you to attach additional pouches if
required. Despite being slightly harder to thread
MOLLE straps through, the laser cut system gives
a sleeker look to the pack. We’re not so sure if it
actually saves weight but despite our best efforts
and abuse, we could not cause the laser cut slots
to tear or fray without using a blade or sharp edge.
Bearing in mind this is probably a pack most suited
to “tactical” EDC use, the slot system actually looks
quite discreet, especially when pared with the black
colour option we chose it in.

W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM 029
L O A D U P ! T HE DIR E C T A C T ION R A NGE UNDE R OUR SP O T L IGH T - F R OM MIL I TA R Y

Both the Small Messenger

Bags and regular
Messenger Bag follow
the same design. A main
compartment lined with
velcro loops for individual
customisation. a padded
sleeve inside for secured
carrying of a notebook.
a large zippered pocket
with transparent
window for storing of
maps and documents.
four external pockets
with internal organisers
and a singular zipped
rear pocket.

£54.99 - £69.99
DIRECT ACTION MESSENGER BAGS
Next from the Direct Action range you have the
Small Messenger Bag and the regular Messenger
Bag. Which, due to being almost identical bags we
will be looking at these within the same section.
Both the Small Messenger Bags and regular
Messenger Bag (pictured in white) follow the
same design - A main compartment lined with
velcro loops for individual customisation, a padded sleeve inside
for secured carrying of a notebook, a large zippered pocket with
transparent window for storing of maps and documents, four external
pockets with internal organisers and a singular zipped rear pocket.
Each bag then also comes with an adjustable shoulder strap, a
detachable waist strap which secures the bag during motion, a drag
handle, velcro loop spot and pass-through zipper as well as top of the
range materials and fasteners.
You’ve then also got the laser cut MOLLE/PALS which really gives
this bag that tactical feel, and allows the user to extend the use of the
bag by attaching various pouches such as magazine pouches.
Whilst there are very subtle differences such as the Small
Messenger Bag only being able to hold an 11” notebook compared
to the 13” storable within the Messenger Bag, and the fact you get
8 rows of MOLLE/PALS on the Messenger Bag compared to the 6
rows on the Small Messenger Bag, the two are virtually identical.
Which brings us to asking why on earth anyone would ever opt for
the smaller of the two bags, especially when the price difference
really isn’t very noticeable; especially if you’re not picky on which
camouflage pattern you purchase.
Overall though we were very impressed with the two Messenger
Bags, with the build quality standing out once again. We are however
sceptical as to whether two of these two bags really needed to be put
to market, especially seeing as the difference in size really is tiny - With
the bigger of the two bags measuring 35x26x13cm and the smaller
coming in at 33x24x14cm.

030 W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
Y 1S T - T HE DIR E C T A C T ION R A NGE UNDE R OUR SP O T L IGH T - F R OM MIL I TA R Y 1S T

£54.99 - £69.99
THE DIRECT ACTION FOXTROT WAIST BAG
Next on the agenda is the Direct Action Foxtrot Waist
Bag. The Foxtrot Waist Bag is a highly durable bag that
is ideal for use as an EDC (Everyday Carry) bag as well
as brilliant for use by various professionals around the
world including police, military and paramedics, as well
as perfect to use for hiking, hunting or trekking.
The pack features a very spacious main compartment
with inner velcro loops for easy customisation, a padded tablet
compartment, various external pouches for various uses including a water
bottle pouch, padded back and side waist panels for added shock protection
and a removable shoulder strap should you prefer to use the Foxtrot Waist
Bag as a simple holdall.
Going into more detail regarding the storage space available to the Foxtrot
, the main compartment is lined with velcro loop material for individual
customisation and the padded inner sleeve is about big enough to take your
usual tablet or other small electronic devices. You then have three external
pockets - one front admin pocket with multiple inner sleeves, pen slots and
an external zipped pocket for any items you may want to keep separate. The
two side pockets are simply zipped side pockets that have various usage.
Made of a highly durable and water resistant 500D Cordura, the Foxtrot
Waist Bag is certainly something that will withstand the test of time. As with
all of the products in the Direct Action line, the Foxtrot Waist Bag is covered
in laser cut MOLLE/PALS for extra storage should you decide you need it.
You’ve also got use of highly elasticated shock cord on the top of the bag for
any items you may need easy access to.
Personally we love the Foxtrot Waist Bag and can see many applications
for it within the real world, but our personal preference would be for
use as a first response bag for any medically inclined professionals. I
personally have something very similar at the moment which sees use for
this exact reason - carrying all the first aid basics within it and it performs
admirably. However with the added MOLLE and general brilliant build
quality, it may be time to throw out the old and purchase the new.

£13.99 - £18.49
DIRECT ACTION FLAME RETARDANT
BALACLAVA & MULTI WRAP Another two products that are very similar,
this time we have the Flame Retardant all of the
Balaclava and Multi Wrap.
Created with a seamless technology for direct action
superb comfort, the Direct Action Flame
Retardant Balaclavas and Multi Wraps are gear featured
made from a soft and breathable mix of high
quality materials that provide a basic level of protection from here is readily
flashes and short exposure to flames. This first level of protection
offers very basic protection, however it will not melt or dip which
is very much a positive.
available FROM
Thanks to the use of Elastan, both the Balaclava and Multi Wrap
mold to the shape of your face and neck, providing even more
MILITARY1ST.COM
comfort as well as a product that won’t need constant tinkering or
extra measures to stay firmly in place.
Whilst there is very little you can say about products like this, as
we’ve not put it on and run
through a fire to see if we THANKS TO
are burnt, it is a very well
THE USE OF EL AS
made product, and the TAN,
BOTH THE BAL AC
quality of the materials
MULTI WRAP MOL LAVA AND
themselves certainly make
you feel like you’ve invested OF YOUR FACE AN D TO THE SHAPE
in a strong product. D NECK, PROVIDIN
EVEN MORE COM G
FORT
A PRODUCT THAT AS WELL AS
We’ll be honest, we’re not
massive fans of Balaclavas, W
but the Multi Wrap will CONSTANT TINKER ON’T NEED
certainly be finding itself ING OR EXTRA
MEASURES TO ST
within our collection of AY FIRMLY
tactical gear in the very IN PL ACE.
near future!

W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM 031
L O A D U P ! T HE DIR E C T A C T ION R A NGE UNDE R OUR SP O T L IGH T - F R OM MIL I TA R Y

£109.99 - £124.99
DIRECT ACTION
GHOST BACKPACK Direct Actions’ Ghost Backpack is
absolutely full of features, and is
the perfect option for those of you
who want something a little bigger
than the DUST or something with
a few more options compared to
the Dragon Egg. Being the biggest
pack in the Direct Action range at 28L with a 3.5L
detachable pocket we were expecting big things from
the Ghost baclpack.
The Ghost Backpack is essentially a 3-day
hydration backpack, perfect for both military
personnel and members of the police alike, but
again like many of the Direct Action items
would be highly useful in general outdoor
pursuits such as hiking or hunting.
The Ghost has on a whole kept it very
simple. The large main compartment
comes with nothing more than an
internal mesh pocket to keep
items organised and a
hydration pocket for obvious
hydration needs. Nothing
exactly ground breaking there.
You’ve then got two side pockets that
are closed with simple velcro tabs,
again hardly ground breaking.
The next few things though are
something a little different that got
our attention. The first of these being
a simple padded sunglasses pocket.
Whilst this may seem like a very simple
addition, it’s something we’ve yet
to see in the tactical world, and it
certainly lends itself well to the EDC
market. The 2nd section of the bag we
were very much impressed with was the
detachable 3.5L external pocket that
also doubled up as a helmet carrier.
Now whilst we’ve seen helmet carriers
on bags in the past; Eagle are the first
company to come to mind here, the way
the Ghost does it is something a little
different and it certainly works.
The detachable bag itself is very simple, with it
essentially being an empty pouch apart from an internal
organiser and external zipped pocket. If you decide
you’re not a fan of said bag, you can simply unthread
the elastic shock cord and you’ve got yourself a Ghost
Backpack without the added 3.5L external pocket. Bare
in mind though that removing this will remove the bags
ability to store a helmet.

The Ghost backpack features a handy Combat Vent System

incorporated into the padded back to help with ventilation,
This Ghost Backpack is
a durable drag handle, quick release shoulder straps with essentially a 3 day hydration
added chest fastening, D-Ring attachment points, side
and bottom retention straps with quick release buckles,
backpack. perfect for both
a detachable hip belt with standalone use option and low military personnel and members
profile shoulder straps with MOLLE panel then you realise
you’re getting a whole heap of bag for your money here. of the police alike. but again
You’ve then got to take into account the brilliant build like many of the Direct Action
quality, excellent materials and the general design of the
bag to realise you’re onto a winner here. Overall the items would be highly useful in
Direct Action Ghost is definitely a strong contender, general outdoor pursuits such
and is probably one of the best backpacks we’ve
seen in a long, long time! as hiking or even hunting.

032 W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
Y 1S T - T HE DIR E C T A C T ION R A NGE UNDE R OUR SP O T L IGH T - F R OM MIL I TA R Y 1S T

£94.99 - £109.99
DIRECT ACTION DRAGON EGG
The Dragon Egg is the bag
that falls in between the DUST
and the Ghost, and after the
brilliance of the two backpacks,
the Dragon Egg really had a
tough legacy to live up to.
Coming in at 25L, on the
outside the Dragon Egg looked very similar to
various other packs out there, but certain
design features really do make the bag
stand out.
Whilst the DUST offered brilliant build
quality and ample storage space and the
Ghost offered a huge amount of storage
space along with the great build quality,
the Dragon Egg offers just about anything
you could think of needing in a bag, and if
truth be told we were hugely surprised by
the huge amount of options available to
the user here.
The main compartment was your
average main compartment, complete
with the generic internal mesh pocket,
hydration pocket and bottom drainage hole
- not exactly anything to write home about.
You’ve then also got the dedicated padded
sunglasses pouch that we absolutely loved
in the Ghost. You’ve also got a very large
front admin pouch with a variety of pockets
including a inner mesh pocket and various
expandable pockets, along with the usual
pen slots and a rotatable carabiner. On top
of that you have two expandable side pockets
with velcro fasteners and side zips, along
with a concealed back compartment that has
an additional hydration pocket and a padded
sleeve able to take up to a 15” notebook/
laptop. Whether we’d use both of these features
in unison is a questionable matter, but if push
come to shove we’re sure we could deal with the
impending danger of having a very wet laptop.

WHILST
THE GHOST OFFERS
HUGE AMOUNT OF A
SPACE ALONG W ST OR AGE
IT
BUILD QUALIT Y, TH H THE GREAT
OFFERS JUST AB E DRAGON EGG
OU
COULD THINK OF T ANYTHING YOU
NE
AND IF TRUTH BE EDING IN A BAG,
TOLD
HUGELY SURPRISE WE WERE
HUGE AMOUNT OF D BY THE
OPTIONS
AVAILABLE

STRAP IN!
The Dragon Egg then also comes with a padded and stiffened back
incorporating the same Combat Vent System as the Ghost, a durable paracord
drag handle, heavily padded quick release shoulder straps with added chest
fastening, multiple D-Ring attachment points, side and bottom retention
traps with quick release buckles, a detachable hip belt with quick release
buckle and a ton of other smaller features such as rubberised zip pullers.
Additionally, thanks to the egg shape of the Dragon Egg, the pack has a
much smaller height than some other bags with similar capacity and due to
this offers itself much more kindly for use with belt kits or ballistic vests.
Overall a very well thought out pack from Direct Action and Helikon-Tex,
and definitely a strong bag to contend with both the DUST and Ghost.

W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM 033
Hi k i ng!

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

HIKING IS GENERALLY DEFINED AS
GOING FOR A LONG WALK, USUALLY
IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, WHICH MIGHT
NOT STRIKE YOU AS THE MOST
ADRENALINE-FUELLED PASTIME
GOING, AND I WOULD BE UNLIKELY
TO DISABUSE YOU OF THAT NOTION.
HOWEVER WE CAN’T SPEND ALL OF
OUR FREE TIME RUNNING AT 11 OUT
OF 10 AND HIKING IS AN EXCELLENT
WAY TO UNWIND WHILE WORKING ON
BOTH BODY AND MIND. AS A PASTIME
IT IS NOT WITHOUT OCCASIONAL
THRILLS ALTHOUGH THEY DO TEND
TO BE AESTHETIC RATHER THAN
VISCERAL OR LIFE-THREATENING.
Hiking is generally walking for walking’s sake. I
wouldn’t include rambling which is a somewhat more
leisurely activity, nor a wander with the dog in the
local park. Hiking is walking with intent, whether than
intent is to conquer a peak, complete a trail or to walk
the full-length of the West Highland Way. It doesn’t
need to be done as if it were a forced-march but
dawdling will get you nowhere fast.
The United Kingdom is particularly fruitful for hikers,
regardless of which part of it you live in. All four
countries offer varying challenges and despite the
fact that you could be forgiven for thinking that this
nation is literally bursting at the seams
with people there are a surprising
number of wide open spaces
waiting to be explored,
most of which are not
that far from centres
of population.
GETTING STARTED
What do you need? Like nearly every outdoors
pastime, hiking can be done for relatively little
money. I’m talking about walking after all, so really
all you need are your feet. Given recent news stories
concerning a certain naked rambler it might be wise
to wear more than a pair of shoes and a determined
expression but the truth of the matter is that you
do not need to invest heavily in hiking, certainly not
at the start. The one area that no hiker should ever
scrimp on is boots. Your legs are doing the work,
your feet will take the punishment. Good boots are
the difference between reaching the end and feeling
tired but satisfied and not finishing the hike at all,
or with bruised and bleeding feet. It’s not necessary
to spend hundreds of pounds on your boots but you
would be well advised to visit a shop that specialises in
outdoors gear and seek their advice. A pair of Scarpa
mountaineering boots may well be terrific for crampon
work in the winter but they will destroy your feet in
other environments. Conversely light-weight footwear
might reduce your load but if they don’t separate you
from the ground beneath your feet, you will pay!
A pair of Merrells will cost you from about £100,
likewise North Face or Brasher, my current boot of
choice. While shopping online can save you a bit of
money there is simply no substitute for sitting down
and trying a variety of makes and styles. Full leather
or lightweight man-made materials? What kind of sole
unit? High or low ankle? Remember that different
manufacturers build on different lasts so their idea
of size 9 will vary as will the specifics for shape and
fit. Don’t be hidebound about what you want, you may
well find that the boot that offers the
greatest support and comfort
is not from the maker
you originally
thought about
and of a
completely different style.
I would take it as read that any decent boot should
be waterproof, probably incorporating a membrane
within it’s construction but these aren’t wellies
so expect to spend a little on decent boot care /
waterproofing product. Nikwax are brand leaders here
but there are others.
My wife used to hike for years in a fluorescent
workman’s jacket which was highly effective at
stopping wind and rain albeit at the price of being a
bit on the heavy side. Again you don’t need to spend a
fortune on clothing and you are likely to acquire more
and more as your hiking progresses. As ever ask other
hikers you meet – what do they use and what are the
pros and cons? Someone who has used a bit of kit for
years is best placed to give you an honest answer! As
a general guide however look to the following to keep
you comfortable and protected:
Clothing should be practical, comfortable and
reasonably hard-wearing, especially if you expect to be
scrambling over the Lake District or the highlands of
Scotland. I would avoid jeans like the plague. They are
heavy and when they get wet, bloody uncomfortable
and they take ages to dry. Poly-cotton trousers such
as CragHoppers, Berghaus or North Face will all fit
the bill nicely combining good wicking properties with
wind resistance and comfort.
On a purely personal basis I’d steer away from
“all-in-one” solutions where jackets and mid-layers
are combined in one garment. Keeping comfortable
is about layers and the ease of removing and donning
those layers. If you are powering up Hellvelyn, you
probably don’t need four layers of clothing, even if the
temperature is only just over freezing. You’ll
be generating a lot of heat from your
exertions. As soon as you stop
though you will need to
keep that heat in your
body otherwise
hypothermia
beckons.
There is

034
a bewildering array of fleeces, soft-shells and outer
layers to choose from. I’m utterly rubbish at using
technical base-layers but I recognise the difference
between a £15 Karrimor fleece and something from
Berghaus or Rab running to £70 or more. As part of a
layered system the Karrimor might be fine, so don’t
discount them but I would expect the more expensive
items to be better made and much longer lasting. You
may also find that the pricier option will operate over a
wider range of climactic conditions.
The sheer range of choices in outer layers is enough
to make your head spin and you should set a budget
and stick to it. Be aware that names do not necessarily
equate to suitability. As a case in point both my wife
and I have North Face jackets but only hers is really
suitable for tackling foul weather in the depths of
winter. It cost her a bit over £200 some ten years ago
but it still looks as if she just bought it. Mine cost me
half that and would require more layers underneath
than hers. I could use it on the hills, but I don’t think
it’s really intended for serious outdoor work.
One final thought – jackets such as the SnugPack
Sleeka or the Buffalo Active Shirt are a wise
investment if you are out at anytime of the year where
the weather can get cool. Astonishingly light and easy
to cram into a small space they provide a remarkable
level of insulation and wind resistance. You probably
don’t need it when slogging up a hill, but as you sit on
the peak, feeling pleased with yourself that additional
warmth will be very welcome.
EVERY LITTLE HELPS
It used to be the case that a good OS map and a
compass were utterly vital and it’s a skill I would
urge on all hikers. Planning your route on a paper
map has always been one of the pleasures of hiking
for me. However these days there are a range of
cost-effective hand-held GPS units available,
many with real-time mapping,
a good example is the
Garmin eTrex 20
which supports
downloadable maps depending on the nature of your
outing. Obviously there are others and it’s also true
that there are many apps available for smartphones,
some of which are free. Google provide Google My
Tracks (android only) which will plot routes and allows
you to download maps relevant to your journey so
that you’re not constantly sucking data (or worse,
left halfway up a mountain with no data & no maps!).
ViewRanger on the other hand is available for both
IoS and Android and is as much a community as an
app, with routes being uploaded by other ViewRanger
users. There are many others it goes without saying
so look around and check the reviews. I’d never leave
myself without a map & compass as backup, no matter
how good the technology.
To all of this add water, food, somewhere to store
the clothing you’re not wearing at any given point
and you’re clearly going to need a rucksack. Smaller
day sacs, around 20-30 litres are just that – good for
a day’s walking but if you are planning to be out for
days you’ll need something bigger. Expect to pay from
£30 upwards for a day sac and considerably more
for something suitable for a multi-day hike. The best
brands haven’t changed much in years with Berghaus
and Lowe Alpine still serious contenders. The old
British favourite, Karrimor, is now a brand wholly
owned by SportsDirect however they still produce kit
worth checking out, especially if you are being budget
concious. Less is best when it comes to anything
that has to be carried and it’s worth spending time
working out what you really need as opposed to what
you think might be handy. You would think all bags
are the same, but there will be some out there that fit
you better than others. If you’re trying them in a shop
stuff them full of anything you can find to simulate
load. If the staff object, find another shop where they
actually understand what rucksacks are for.
Although I was cynical about walking poles for years,
advancing years has taught me that they can
be a godsend, especially for descents.
There is a bewildering array
of choice out there, so
rather than make
recommendations
here
I’ll advise a chat with the staff in your shop of choice.
Avoid the very cheap as they will let you down far too
quickly.
WHAT NEXT?
At this point, despite the suggestion that you don’t
need much, we’ll forgive you if your head is swimming
a little. Most of what we’ve mentioned you will
acquire over time, but even if you rush out and buy
the basics they are unlikely to go amiss nor need they
break the bank.
As mentioned earlier the UK is something of a
god-send for hikers. Ours isn’t a huge country so
even if you fancy tackling the Cuillins on the Isle of
Skye, you probably aren’t more than a day or so away,
wherever you live.
Scotland and Wales offer some spectacular walking,
as both countries are far from over-populated.
Scotland crams about 80% of her total population
into the stretch of land between Glasgow and
Edinburgh leaving an awful lot of open space to
explore. Wales is similar, albeit smaller, but the
Snowdonia National park is an excellent starting
point. England too is not just cities and conurbations,
especially as you head north. The Lake and Peak
districts beckon and if hills and mountains aren’t
really your thing the North East, with it’s spectacular
coastlines is worth considering.
The thrills encountered in hiking are not those
of the high speed bike ride but they are deeply
rewarding. Along with the natural satisfaction of
setting and achieving goals comes the aesthetic
pleasure of seeing stunning views and panoramas
first hand, not just through the magic of Google.
Hikers are by and large a friendly lot and much useful
local information and route suggestions can be had
over a pint or a cup of tea and the end of a day’s
walking. It is without a shadow of a doubt good for
your soul, I’ll spare you the near-meditative crap,
but you definitely get into your stride physically and
mentally during a good walk. Spend a a weekend
away hiking and although you may return to the
daily grind with stiff muscles I guarantee your mind
will be clearer, sharper and better able to cope with
whatever life throws at you. If you haven’t already
headed to the hills, what’s stopping you?!
DEPLOYMENT ESSENTIALS DON’ T LE AVE HOME WITHOUT THEM - DON

DELPOY! DEPLOY!
GEAR FOCUS: DEPLOYMENT OPTIONS THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO LEAVE AT HOME
THIS MONTH, A SERIOUS BUM-BAG FROM SNUGPAK, AN EVERYDAY TORCH THAT’S SMALL ENOUGH TO TUCK
BEHIND YOUR EAR, A BIG, SHARP, POINTY THING, SOME OUTSTANDING FOOTWEAR AND SOMETHING TO WHILE
AWAY THOSE LONG HOURS WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF WAITING ONCE AGAIN FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN...

SNUGPAK GERBER
RESPONSEPAK LMF II SURVIVAL KNIFE
We’ve looked at a reasonable amount of Snugpak hang the bag over your shoulder or wear it across All men should be able to say
kit in this month’s issue, but we’re going to give your chest or back for greater security. “Call that a knife? THIS is a
you another bit to consider. There are a couple of It will swallow a remarkable amount of gear knife…” and then brandish
reasons; firstly this is an invaluable bag whether despite it’s diminutive dimensions, and this makes a terrifying blade of
you are just out and about or on deployment. it hugely versatile. Phones, wallets, torches, gargantuan proportion
Secondly it’s astonishingly good value for money, paperback books or Kindles disappear with ease. and very little can hold
especially coming from a respected name such as The end pockets can accommodate hand held GPS a candle to the Gerber
Snugpak. Ladies and Gentlemen, we give you the receivers or two way radio sets without difficulty. LMF 10” survival knife.
Snugpak ResponsePak. Next month we will be The build quality and construction are reassuring to At 10” long including
doing a head to head feature on Every Day Carry the point that we had no qualms about just jamming the handle and with a
(EDC) Bags and this will be put up against offerings things into the ResponsePak just to see how much thick, industrial blade,
from the likes of Maxpedition and Viper Tactical, it would actually hold. Zips and seams held up the proportions of
however, that’s next month. perfectly to this abuse. We expected them to, but it’s the knife look rather
The Response is a fairly small, do everything always nice to double check. stubby, but don’t
bag, measuring 36cm(W) x 14cm(H) x 22cm(D). It’s In our opinion the ResponsePak is more suited to let our photograph
constructed from 600 denier woven polyester and personal use, it’s ideal for ensuring that you have fool you, this thing
features a permanently attached waist belt which all you need to hand when travelling or just out and is nearly a foot long.
should fit everyone up to a 46 inch waist. There about. We could see it serving as part of a tactical or The rubberised handle
are two end pockets, one main compartment which law-enforcement load-out but in our opinion this is gives an excellent
has an internal divider and a front pocket. All the probably not its strong suite. positive grip and the
pockets are secured with heavy duty zips and the blade features a full
ResponsePak can be worn as a bum-bag or carried tang, which means
using the combined carry-handle / compression the steel insert runs
straps. While not as simple as say a carrier bag, there right into the handle.
is a lack of fuss with this design. There are MOLLE / The pommel at the
PALS loops on the outside but in reality you are far base of the grip
more likely to use these to tuck items such as torches Available in black or olive, the Response pack has an is angled into a
or pens into, the things you need to get to quickly and RRP of £17.95. We found ours on Amazon in the UK point to use as a
easily. The waistband is long enough that you can for £14.95. so it clearly pays to shop around. glass breaker but it
is separated from the
blade itself to minimize
the risk of electrocution
should you slash
through a wire in your
quest for manliness.
It’s massive, imposing
and even comes with
a drop-leg sheath
with an integrated
sharpener, there are
even special holes
to lash the knife to
a stick to fashion a
spear should you go
fully native. Part knife,
part chisel, there’s
no manlier way to
whittle some sticks
round a camp fire.

036 W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
N’ T LE AVE HOME WITHOUT THEM - DON’ T LE AVE HOME WITHOUT THEM

SALOMON raider
recomme
QUEST 4D GTX ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪nds!
The Salomon Quest 4D is a fast-paced hiking boot that’s transitioned
over into military and law enforcement use and for good reason! It’s a ✪
stable and comfortable boot best suited to those that require a wider fit.
A Gore-Tex membrane keeps your feet dry whatever the weather, from
brief immersion in deep puddles to dew-soaked grass but you’ll also find
breathability is maintained to keep your feet from overheating.
An EVA midsole provides cushioning on hard surfaces but the “4D
Advanced Chassis” provides rigidity and support over uneven terrain
to provide a planted feeling no matter what. Rubber heel and toe-caps
provide bump protection and a lasting barrier against abrasion.

COMFORT SPEED
DURABILITY PRICE

KLARUS
MI10 KEYRING LED TORCH
It is hard to remember a time when LEDs (Light
Emitting Diodes) were unheard of in torches and
instead we relied upon incandescent bulbs which
used to break or burn out. We still have a MGC single
LED torch which cost nearly £30 more than ten years
ago and which produces just enough illumination to
find the floor in a really dark room! Nowadays LEDs
are everywhere and far from being dim they are
increasingly blinding.
There are number of attributes that all good every-
day-carry torches require. Size: it has to be small
enough to be secreted in a pocket or bag, otherwise
you’ll just leave it at home. Performance; it needs to
be bright enough to at least illuminate an average
sized room, or help you safely navigate uneven terrain
in the pitch dark. Ease-of-use; there are some torches
out there which frankly think that they are spaceships
and have a corresponding number of buttons. Simple
is easy is best.
Enter the Klarus Mi10. If we have one criticism of
this little unit it is that it might be considered too
small being not much larger than the AAA battery
that powers it. The Mi10 is a personal favourite of the
Editor, he’s been carrying one for years. The specs.
are impressive too:
Check that final figure – 80 Lumens! Ok, that’s not
a tactical flashlight but it more than enough for
navigating in the dark, for dog walking or for any
other task you may find yourself having to perform in
poor lighting.
Although not recommended, we find the slim case
easy to clench between our teeth if necessary
without being overcome by an urge to throw up,
useful if the task requires both hands free. The three
output settings are accessed by twisting the head
of the torch, so it meets the simple test perfectly. It
always defaults to the lowest setting when turned
on, this has proved invaluable for navigating a dark
bedroom and a sleeping wife when returning from
a night out! We prefer not to encumber it with a
keyring as part of it’s charm and it’s usefulness is its
diminutive size, it’ll slip into a pocket and you won’t
notice it until you need it.
THE RRP IS £29.95 WHICH MAY
SEEM A LITTLE STEEP FOR SUCH
A SMALL LIGHT. YOU WILL FIND
IT CHEAPER IF YOU DO A BIT
OF HUNTING, AND IF WORK OR
AMAZON
KINDLE
We are not going to waste our time or yours going
over the books versus eReader debate here, we’re
just going to nail our colours to the mast and say
get one. Why? That’s easy. You can carry literally
thousands of books with you, in a device which,
even with a protective cover on it, will slip into a
pocket. If you like to read, if you like to read a lot,
you really ought to have one of these. Whether
you are passing time waiting for planes trains or
automobiles, stuck in barracks going nowhere fast
or even deployed to some obscure part of the globe,
the Kindle is your friend.
It’s very difficult to explain the convenience of
this little unit to someone who has never used one.
Suffice it to say that once you get used to it, ‘real’
books will always seem somewhat cumbersome,
no matter how attractive they are. Unlike several
thousand books, which would weigh several tons,
a fully loaded Kindle will weigh just under 200g. At
169 mm x 119 mm x 10.2 mm you can stash it pretty
much anywhere and it’s always ready to distract
you from your boredom. We haven’t intentionally
abused our Kindles, but they have had tea spilt on
them and been dropped or knocked over countless
times. They all continue to work perfectly.
A while back we had a conversation with an ex-
RAF technician who told us how often manuals had
to be updated, it was basically a full-time job. We
decided (as you do) by the end of the conversation
that the RAF would save a lot of time by using

■ LED: Very bright CREE XP-E R2 (50,000 hrs life).

PLEASURE TAKES YOU STATE-SIDE Kindles and updating them all wirelessly whenever
the manuals were updated. Don’t think that’s going
■ Battery: 1x AAA battery EXPECT TO FIND IT THERE FOR to happen anytime soon unfortunately!
■ Function: There are 3 modes (Low - Med - High),
which are accessed by twisting the head.
$29.95, CONSIDERABLY BETTER If hours of Call
■ Switch: Head-twist switch. Modes can be cycled by VALUE. EVEN AT FULL RRP of Duty are your
loosening and tightening the head. thing, this isn’t
■ Performance: Highly efficient performance due WE THINK IT’S OUTSTANDING necessarily for you,
to the digitally regulated output, which maintains
constant brightness.
VALUE. IT’S BRIGHT, BUILT LIKE but if you like a bit
of downtime with
■ Protection: Reverse polarity protection circuit A (VERY SMALL) TANK AND MOST a good story we
protects against incorrect insertion of batteries. cannot recommend
Sealed with O-rings for water resistance and service IMPORTANTLY IS SO EASY TO it highly enough.
life. Waterproof and Dust Resistant to IPX-8.
■ Dimension: 71.6mm (Length), 12.7mm (Body).
CARRY THAT YOU’LL NEVER BE LEFT Next to your
mates it is your
■ Weight: 21g (without battery). WITHOUT ILLUMINATION WHEN best travelling
■ Finish: Black aluminium with precision knurling.
■ Reflector: Orange peel to provide a smooth,
YOU NEED IT. A SOLID WINNER! companion and
unlike them, it
flawless beam. probably won’t
■ Lens: Toughened, ultra clear glass embarrass you...
■ Low Mode: 2 Lumens (66 hrs.)
■ Medium Mode: 20 Lumens (5.1 hrs.)
■ High Mode: 80 Lumens (70 mins.)

W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM 037
ON OUR RADAR TAD FAST PACK LITESPEED BACKPACK

FROM
£2 4 9

ALTHOUGH A REL ATIVELY YOUNG COMPANY - BEING FOUNDED IN 1997, TAD

HAVE GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH, OFFERING ITS END USER A
WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS THAT HAVE TRULY UNDERGONE A TRIAL BY
FIRE PRIOR TO RELEASE. WHILST THEIR HQ IS BASED IN AN INDUSTRIAL
CENTER, THEY’RE SITUATED BETWEEN TWO GREAT TESTING AREAS - THE
PACIFIC OCEAN TO THEIR WEST AND THE SIERRAS TO THEIR EAST.
The Pacific offers them a great way to test how their gear reacts to water, how quickly it dries
out, how heavy it gets when soaked, how much water it actually retains when fully submerged.
The Sierras allow TAD to really push the gear to its limits in the kind of environment it is
designed for - covering a 400-mile region and offering some of the harshest conditions you’ll
find in the U.S. The Sierras are more than a simple mountain range though, containing various
different kinds of terrain to really push the gear to it’s limit.

TRIPLE AUGHT DESIGN FAST PACK LITESPEED

W W W . T R I P L E A U G H T D E S I G N . C O M
A personal favourite of ours, The FAST Pack
Litespeed was inspired by customers who were
looking for a lightweight and more nimble
alternative to the legendary FAST Pack EDC to use
in active scenarios when you need full range of
arm motion. The result is a streamlined 1300 cubic
inch pack that incorporates the modularity and
ruggedness the FAST Pack line offers.
Perfectly suited for urban EDC (everyday carry),
day hiking, travel or any activity that requires free
movement, the FAST Pack Litespeed has a narrow
profile and contoured design that lets you carry
essential gear without having to sacrifice speed.
And although it may look a little on the small
side, it’s got a very Mary Poppins feel behind it.
TAD have designed their smallest pack to handle
the loadout of your basic gear. A bladder pocket
and two internal mesh pockets provide additional
storage space. Top and bottom compression straps
allow you to carry extra gear, such as jackets
or sleeping bags, without wasting space inside
your pack. Their signature Transporter Tail can
be configured in a variety of ways to hold either
odd-sized items like a helmet or linear items like
fly fishing poles, snowboards or rifles. If unused,
the tail can easily detach and be stored away.
Constructed from the toughest and most durable
materials to get you where you need to go. The
pack is made of MIL-SPEC 1000 Denier Invista
Cordura® fabric, a high tensile strength composite
nylon thread and webbing that’s nearly impossible
to rip or tear. To alleviate the wear at critical stress
points such as the handle, shoulder straps and top
exit for the hydration tube, TAD used Hypalon - the
same material found in Zodiac boats, due to its
abrasive and rugged nature.
I’ve had the FAST Pack Litespeed for a good
couple of months now so it’s seen some good use
and has been everywhere with me. I’ve taken it
shotgun shooting, down town to pick up some
bits and bobs and it’s been my go to ‘fitness’
ruck since day 1. I’m one of these people who
enjoys running long distances quite a lot so
having a small pack I can take with me to fill with
some energy gels, water and some other bits and
bobs is a life send, but finding such a pack was
a royal pain in the backside until I came across
TADs brilliant Litespeed. The weight of the TAD
FAST Pack Litespeed tends to be distributed
brilliantly for running, and the waist and chest
straps help secure the ruck so it’s not swinging
all over the place whilst running.
■ FROM: WWW.HEINNIE.COM
■ PRICE: £249.99
■ COLOURS: BLACK, GREY, COYOTE
The Litespeed doesn’t stop there though, another
great application for this great ruck in terms of
fitness is cycling - especially when you’ve got a
whole heap of stuff to take with you or if you need
somewhere to stow your helmet whilst you run
some errands. The Litespeed comes with a helmet
section, so simply store your helmet in there and
you’re good to go!
THE TAD FAST PACK LITESPEED IS AN
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT OFFERING,
AND WHILST IT MAY NOT BE THE MOST
CONVENTIONAL RUCK OUT THERE IT’S
CERTAINLY A BRILLIANT PIECE OF KIT
THAT WILL BE IN MY GEAR ROOM FOR
A LONG, LONG TIME.

038 W W W.RAIDER-MAG.COM
K Y D E X H O L S T E R S
HOLSTERS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LOT
LONGER THAN YOU PROBABLY THINK, AND
AREN’T JUST MODELLED FOR FIREARMS,
IN FACT THE EARLIEST FORM OF A HOLSTER
WAS FOUND TO COME FROM 11TH CENTURY
BC, WHERE THE FUTURE KING OF ISRAEL,
DAVID USED SUCH A DEVICE TO CARRY AROUND
LARGE ROUND STONES FOR THE ‘REMOVAL’ OF BIG BULLIES.
HOWEVER IN MODERN TIMES, THE USE OF A HOLSTER HAS
LARGELY BEEN FOR THE HOLSTERING OF HANDGUNS.
Over the years, the make up and construction
of holsters has massively changed, with
companies keeping up with the evolution in
materials available. The likes of leather, nylon
and polymer have been put into use, and until
recently had almost been the ‘Holy Trinity’ of
holster materials. That was until Kydex was
introduced to the scene.
Kydex was the brainchild of Rohm and Haas
Company, a Philadelphia-based materials
manufacturer who worked within the aircraft
interior business. In the late 1960s, a range of
industries began to realise that kydex sheets
could be manipulated into almost any shape
through the application of heat, allowing you to
hold the material around various different forms.
And so in 1997, Kydex, LLC was born. Kydex has
seen use in instrument consoles, lavatory pans,
door liners, aircraft pulldown trays,truck fenders
and a whole heap more, including our subject
matter - firearms holsters.
But why Kydex over other popular materials
such as leather or nylon? Well you’re right in
thinking that both leather and nylon holsters have
always been a very popular choice within the
firearms world. Leather offers it’s users a product
that is both physically strong and aesthetically
appealing, whereas nylon offers a product that
was cheaper but just as physically strong.
However on the downside, leather holsters
are sensitive to temperature, moisture and
humidity. They also require a ‘break-in’ period
and need to be thoroughly maintained. Nylon
likewise is sensitive to moisture and takes a
long time to dry out, leaving you with a soggy
holster and a soggy sidearm. Both can also lead
to negligent discharge as well due to their re-
holstering difficulties.
040 W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
K Y D E X S O L U T I O N S U N D
MOULDED
HOLSTERS
On the other hand, Kydex
offers a product that is
maintenance free, don’t
require a break in period,
don’t absorb any moisture,
and re-holstering is a breeze.
Essentially Kydex is a material
that offers all the things you’d
want for the perfect holster,
and last a lifetime.
Another big plus side
regarding Kydex holsters is
the fact that each holster is
hand made and made exactly
for the sidearm you plan on
holstering in it. None of this
ambidextrous, multi-pistol
nonsense, simply a holster
designed to holster your
sidearm on the side designated
by yourself.
SO HOW ARE THEY MADE?
In it’s most basic form, making Kydex holsters is
very simple. However to create quality products, a
lot of time, effort and love goes into the process. KYDEX HOLSTERS
To create a Kydex holster, makers heat a sheet of
Kydex, mold it around a form, cut off the excess
ARE YOU INTERESTED?
Does a Kydex holster sound like the one
material and polish the finished holster. Sounds
thing you’ve been missing from your life? Do
easy right? What this doesn’t take into account
you need one at this very precise moment?
is the hours put in prior to learn the process so
Well unfortunately we’re not magicians and
you’re able to follow it through flawlessly, as well
won’t be able to magic you one up. However
as the quality control that goes into the product.
we have put together a list of some of our
You’ve then got to have a certain level of expertise
favourite Kydex holsters, enabling you to
to follow the process through, for example Kydex
jump on the internet and place your order!
needs to be heated to a very precise temperature
and cooled in a very specific way.
D E R O U R S P O T L I G H T - K Y D E X S O L U T I O N S

GM TACTICAL CUSTOM
W W W.TA C T IC A L- K I T. C O . UK
New kids on the block GM Tactical are a UK based brand specialising in Kydex creations. These guys will
literally custom make you anything you want, as long as it’s made from Kydex! So far we’ve seen magazine
pouches, magazine wedges and the mightily impressive Q-CAT; a tourniquet holder made out of Kydex!
Their holsters are by far the creme de la crop of their product range so far though, and they will custom
make you a holster to fit your sidearm of choice. The build quality is perfect and all of their products are
made from genuine Kydex material flown in from the US.
Each product goes through intensive quality control prior to postage and the final product really is solid.

With the GM Tactical website under construction, you can currently purchase a range of GM Tactical items
through our friends at Tactical Kit. You can find them at www.tactical-kit.com.

PREDATOR GEAR INC. RAVEN CONCEALMENT G-CODE

W W W. P R E D AT OR GE A R INC . C OM
Predator Gear Inc. are a Denmark based
company that make a range of gear including
holsters, magazine carriers, a range of
accessories and general everyday carry gear.
Their Kydex holsters are some of the best
on the market, and come in two different
models - the popular Mongoose OWB and the
Mongoose OWB - WML.
The Mongoose OWB holster is a handmade,
formfitted kydex holster. It features two
adjustable retention points and a superb
fit. It is compatible with all Predator Gear
Inc Accessories, and a wide range of SERPA/
Bladetech accessories. The holster is made
from .093″ kydex. The Mongoose OWB - WML
offers everything the original Mongoose
does, but does it with the ability to cater for
a weapons mounted light; hence the WML
designation.
One of the great things about the Predator
Gear range is the amount of options you have
when it comes to purchasing. Not only do they
cater for a huge range of sidearms, but they
also offer various mounting options and a
range of different colours!
W W W. R C S GE A R . C OM
Raven Concealment are a US based brand
that grew from humble beginnings. Starting
as a basement project by three friends
hand-forming Kydex holsters back in 2005,
the company grew into a multi-million
dollar manufacturing enterprise that now
offer a huge range of different holsters and
accessories.
Their Kydex range has slowly grown and now
offers a wide range of different products, with
some really cool little items within the range
such as back up gun holsters.
The Phantom range covers a wide variety
of sidearms and comes in both non WML and
WML variants.
The Phantom was designed from the
outset to provide the highest possible level
of concealment by being adaptable to wear
with virtually any style of clothing. What
makes the Phantom so unique is its ultra-thin,
body-hugging pancake profile. This profile,
in conjunction with their Eclipse Modular
Mounting System, allows the Phantom to
be worn either on the belt or inside the
waistband.
W W W.TA C T IC A L HOL S T E R S . C OM
G-Code have been a player in the Kydex
holster game for a long period of time now
and have consistently produced solid products
at a ridiculously cheap price point.
Their OSH RTI Kydex Holster is by far our
favourite of the range. It combines the heavy
usage, precision formed modular Kydex
holster as seen in the original OSH holster, but
pairs it with their brilliant RTI mounting plate.
The Rapid Transition Interface is one of the
best mounting platforms we’ve seen, giving
the user a variety of different ways they
can mount their sidearm, but is also super
lightweight and very low profile.
The OSH RTI range caters for a range of
different sidearms, and also comes in a
variety of colours. If you’re after a holster that
provides you with a range of different options
in one package, the G-Code OSH RTI range is
definitely the way forward in our opinion.

W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM 041
 THE ULTIMATE WOODLAND AIRSOFT EXPERIENCE!
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W W W.F REEF IRE ZONE.CO.UK

ME DI A RE V IE W DE VIL’ S PL AY GROUND: BY SIMON CHAMBERS

DEVIL’S PL AYGROUND ISN’T YOUR

AVERAGE WARTIME BOOK. YOU DON’T
GET THE USUAL GUNG-HO VIOLENCE
AND MONOTONOUS HYPERBOLE
USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH BOOKS
BASED ON WARTIME PERIODS. INSTEAD
YOU WILL GET A DOWN-TO-EARTH,
INSIGHTFUL, HONEST AND ACCURATE
PAGE-TURNER THAT WILL KEEP YOU
HOOKED RIGHT UNTIL THE VERY END.

DEVIL’S BY SIMON CHAMBERS

PLAYGROUND
VERY RARELY DOES A BOOK OF THIS CALIBRE PRESENT ITSELF, GIVING YOU
AN INSIGHT INTO A WORLD NOT HEARD OF BEFORE. DEVIL’S PL AYGROUND
AS WRIT TEN BY ‘SIMON CHAMBERS’; A PSEUDONYM GIVEN DUE TO THE
SENSITIVE NATURE OF HIS WORK, GIVES THE READER A FIRST HAND
him was the vast work of Private Security. Having
attended a close protection course, it wasn’t
long before Chambers was offered a job with
one of America’s top close protection companies.
This was just the beginning of another 7 years
of putting his life on the line, but this time
as a hired gun as part of the biggest Private
ACCOUNT OF HIS TIME SPENT AS PART OF AMERICA’S BIGGEST PRIVATE Security company on the planet - Blackwater.
SECURIT Y COMPANY - BL ACK WATER. IF YOU’RE BY ANY WAY INTERESTED During his early years in Iraq he was a vital part
of Paul Bremmer’s bodyguard team. As one
IN THE ACCOUNTS OF A MAN WHO SPENT UPWARDS OF 7 YEARS WITHIN would expect, when living your life so close to
THE PMC WORLD, THEN DEVIL’S PL AYGROUND IS A MUST READ. the edge, there were times Chambers almost
lost his balance, and his times saw him shot
Simon Chambers’ book, “Devil’s Playground” tells form the spearhead for the British Army’s rapid and wounded twice and blown up twice. Yet he
of his epic experiences in ‘The Devil’s Playground’ intervention capability; soon progressing to 1 survived all of these ordeals.
as the first British soldier to join the infamous PARA as part of the Special Forces Support Group Devil’s Playground isn’t your average wartime
Blackwater Private Security Company, a name (SFSG). The years that followed cut similar paths book. You don’t get the usual gung-ho violence
synonymous with the PMC world. The original in various other army roles, amongst which and monotonous hyperbole usually associated
book was banned from being published due to Chambers was only marginally slowed in pace by with books based on wartime periods. Instead
its sensitive nature, but all legal references have a particularly bad parachuting accident whilst you will get a down-to-earth, insightful, honest
now been lifted, and you now have the chance to jumping as part of the Royal Corps of Transports and accurate page-turner that will keep you
read a first hand experiences of Simon during his Parachute Display team - The Silver Stars. hooked until the end. What you gain here is a real
time in Blackwater. This is a man who sought - and still does seek, insight into the emotions and experiences of life
Simon Chambers’ CV reads like one of a to survive on the near constant presence of for any who are brave enough to ‘dance with the
fictitious superhero from the realms of fantasy adrenalin pulsing through his veins, so it should Devil’ in his very own playground.
and fiction, yet he is the real deal and he has be of no surprise that when his long tenure in
all of the relevant credentials to prove it. As the British Army came to a close, there were
a former member of Britain’s elite Parachute very few civilian jobs to match such a colourful
Regiment, Chambers was trained and ready to working history. But what there was available to

044 W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
D O N ’ T L E A V E H O M E W I T H O U T ‘ E M ! G I Z M O S

DEPLOYMENT
ESSENTIALS
WE HAVE THE USUAL
MIXED BAG OF ITEMS
FOR YOU THIS MONTH,
ALTHOUGH THERE IS TIE
IN WITH THE APOCALYPSE
A number of the items below are part of the prize that’s up for grabs, but not all of them, we felt
that these had enough individual merit to justify highlighting.
BAG COMPETITION WE’RE
The Wave head torch has a seriously neat trick up it’s sleeve, one that is actually useful. We
have suggestions to keep your electronics going while away from reliable power sources and a
RUNNING (SEE PAGE 13
brilliantly simple suggestion to protect those very gadgets from the worst the weather can throw
at them. Finally a sensible option as far as first aid kits are concerned – maybe not the most
OF THIS MONTH’S ISSUE).
exciting thing going, but vital nonetheless.

£8.99 - EBAY
DUAL USB, WATERPROOF SOLAR-POWERED PHONE CHARGER
Smartphones, don’t you love them? More computing power than NASA until recently and yet it all slips
into your shirt pocket. There is only one teeny, tiny problem – all that epicness draws a lot of power and
it’s hardly unusual these days for phones to need recharging every day, sometimes more often than that. FROM
Power reserves aren’t a new idea – it’s basically a battery pack from which you can recharge your £8.99
phone but we really liked the fact that this one packs a lot of punch – 5000mah to be precise – but adds
the potential to use nothing more than sunlight to keep it topped up.
In fairness to the supplier, they make no bones about the fact that to fully charge this device using
sunlight alone would take 50 hours under optimal conditions to charge from empty. Realistically you
would charge it from a charger of computer USB connection and then allow nature to keep the charge
topped up.
Being dust-proof and moderately waterproof it is ideal for all of you who like to venture beyond the
beaten track and who rely on your phones for navigation or just plain old communication. In effect you
are carrying another days worth of power in your pocket or clipped to your backpack and that extra
might just prove to be seriously important. Typical of it’s breed, it incorporates a white LED allowing it
to serve as an emergency torch if required.
There are a whole host of these devices available – we went with this one as it’s typical of the breed
and at a price that should break the bank but depending on your particular needs it’s worth shopping
around. You could carry a spare battery, but let’s see you recharge that with only sunlight!

046 W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
, G A D G E T S A N D E S S E N T I A L G E A R

£19.99 - WWW.HIGHLANDER-OUTDOOR.COM
HIGHLANDER WAVE 3 WATT LED HEADTORCH
The world is awash with headtorches, so there has to be something a bit unique about one for it to
stand out. The secret to the Wave’s attraction is in the name – it’s motion activated. Headtorches FROM
£18.99
aren’t generally noted for their convenient on-off switches, it’s a size thing. The Wave tackles
this problem head on (excuse the pun) by fitting a motion sensor to their torch. You can choose
whether or not to activate it, but once enabled it is enough to wave your hand within 20 cm of
the light to switch it on or off.
Hardly the newest technology going but we spent a ridiculous amount of time passing our
hands across our face just to make the light work! Even though you understand what’s going on,
there is still a spark of magic about this.
If that was all, it would be a nice touch but hardly exceptional, fortunately the wave has more
than sufficient features to recommend it. The elasticated headband is extremely comfortable
and the light unit can be angled to put the light right where you need it. The three AAA
batteries required to power the light are stored in an east to access box fitted to the rear of the
headband, and changing them is an absolute breeze.
In normal mode the torch has two intensity settings, high and low along with a strobe function – each accessed by pressing the power button. The sensor
function is activated or deactivated by using a smaller, secondary button to the side of the unit and can be operated independently of the main switch.
Once active you simply wave your hand across the front of the unit and Voilà! Let there be light. In this mode the headlight only operates at full intensity.
It’s a simple idea that makes the headtorch so much more usable and like us you will probably wonder how you managed without!

£12.99 - WWW.HIGHLANDER-OUTDOOR.COM
PRO-FORCE WPX PROTECTOR
We could be harsh and suggest that this is just a waterproof bag with a lanyard, and we would if it didn’t actually work as
well as it does.
Complex electronics, be they phones, cameras or GPS generally have an ambivalent relationship with water, which is to
say that unless they are properly protected, they hate it. If you are going to venture into areas where wet is part of the
description you have a few options; you could leave your devices at home, you could spend quite a bit of cash buying FROM
only devices with a waterproof rating or you could wrap them in a ziploc bag or two and hide them in your rucksack. All £12.99
of these work but they’re either expensive or make your device effectively unusable. The WPX protector could save you
a whole lot of grief, not to mention cost.
It is ridiculously simple to use, pop your device into the bag, fold it over, clip it to the plastic bar. Done. You now have a
double seal protecting your device but the really important thing is that you can still use it. Yes, the touch-screen experience
isn’t quite as slick as you’re used to and the sound quality suffers a little, but only a little. Everything still works including
the camera(s) but your precious is safe from muck and water.
We tested the WPX with a Lumia 535 phone, a 5” Windows phone. It fitted without difficulty, the screen was both readable
and usable and the front and back cameras still delivered perfectly acceptable results. Lacking rain (most unusual given
the summer we have had here in the UK) we had the bizarre experience of taking our phone into the shower. We’re glad to
report that it remained both completely dry and completely functional.
If we are completely honest we looked at this product with a certain amount of “Really?” but it has won us over completely
because whatever else it is, it works and that’s the most important attribute any accessory can have. For not much more
than a packet of your finest smokes these days it is an ideal way to protect your beloved electronics. Highly recommended!

£12.99 - WWW.HIGHLANDER-OUTDOOR.COM FROM

FIRST AID “MIDI-PACK” £12.99
Whether you are heading for the back of beyond or simply travelling, carrying a first aid kit is a sensible idea.
You can simply put your own together, choosing the items that you think you’ll need but if you aren’t certain
what to pack a kit like the Midi-pack can be a very good starting point.
Supplied in a ripstop red nylon pack with a dual waterproof zip the kit contains the following items.

To this basic assortment we would add painkillers, diarrhoea remedy

and some rehydration sachets. Thus equipped you have the basics;
Water resistant zip
both for exploring and travelling. We appreciate that some of you may
be uncomfortable supplying drugs of any kind but in our experience if Belt loop with poppers/velcro
the recipient isn’t in a position to make the decision to take them you 5x5cm low adhesive pad
probably need an ambulance. 12x Assorted safety pins
A kit like this is purposely limited, there is a compromise between Antiseptic wipes
what you can carry and how big the pack gets. Unless you are willing
4x1cm fabric strip
to lug a full trauma pack, and are qualified to use it, this is probably as
much as most of us need. 7.5x5cm Wow bandage
There are couple of nice and useful touches – the belt loop features 2.5x5cm Microporous tape
both Velcro and popper closures which should make a deal more 7.5x4.5cm Crepe bandage
secure in use. We also much prefer the bright red colour of the pack as Wound closure strips pack
opposed to the more commonly seen green. It is highly visible and it’s
Triangular bandage
unlikely that anyone would struggle to guess what it is amongst a pile
of kit. The contents are all contained within a ziploc polythene bag and A pair of vinyl gloves
we always keep them there, replacing the bag as necessary.

W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM 047
 ON OUR RADAR GIVE ME SHELTER

HIGHLANDER
THE JUNIPER 4 TENT
WE SPEND QUITE A LOT OF TIME AND PRINT TALKING ABOUT LIVING IN AND ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS.
WHILE WILD CAMPING IS MANNA FROM HEAVEN FOR SOME, IT IS A FACT THAT NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO SPEND
THEIR DAY GATHERING THE MATERIALS TO BUILD A SHELTER, MANY OF US WOULD PREFER TO HAVE AN MORE
CONVENIENT ACCOMMODATION OPTION. IF YOU ARE GOING TO ESCHEW THE COMFORTS OF A LOCAL HOTEL OR
BED AND BREAKFAST, THE OBVIOUS OPTION IS A TENT. THEY HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING READY TO GO
WHEN YOU ARE, OF GENERALLY BEING FAIRLY COMPACT, OF COMING WITH SOME KIND OF GUARANTEE, OF BEING
WATERPROOF AND INVOLVE NO SCRABBLING AROUND LOOKING FOR SUITABLE BUILDING MATERIALS.
went back into it’s bag, a little less neatly we’ll
The range of tents is genuinely bewildering, from single person shelters made using the very highest grant you but that’s not a problem.
specification materials that can be easily carried in a back pack to canvas behemoths, suitable for a So, we have a tent that is easily transportable,
family of eight and outfitted with stoves and chandeliers (seriously – we know someone whose idea of especially if you are travelling by car, easy to put
camping is exactly that!). In between you will find everything from the straightforward and simple to up and to stow away when you’re finished and
complex and confusing. keeps the elements at bay. Moreover, that guide
We decided to ask Highlander for a tent to test as we had a weekend trip planned which was an price should be treated as just that. A bit of surfing
ideal testing ground. There were meant to be four adults going, this became two at the last minute has found prices as low as £45-£55 for the Juniper
which may have been a blessing, more of that anon. The larger tent we had asked for wasn’t available 4 which really is a bargain. For us, with four adults
but the smaller Juniper 4, a four-person dome tent was, and duly turned up at the Raider offices in inside, it would be friendly but maybe were just not
plenty of time. It came neatly packed in a nylon holdall which although not large was bigger than you terribly sociable. As a quick weekend getaway for
might want to strap to a backpack. In this case that was fine as we were travelling to our destination two it was ideal and although we accept that this
by car. The holdall weighs 5 kg, which given the negligible weight of the bag means that the tent isn’t a backpacker’s dream, we have no issues with
weighs 5 kg! As is common these days the instructions are sewn into the bag so in theory you don’t recommending it for that use wholeheartedly.
lose them and it’s just as well as we were to have no opportunity for a trial erection of the tent. In a future edition we will look at tents which
better suit the wilderness of ideal of one man and
his pack, until then we’ll just hunker down, get a
A couple of key things there – anything over couldn’t stand up but nor were we hitting out heads brew on and watch the sun set.
1500mm of hydrostatic head is regarded as of the inner tent when sitting down. Space was
‘waterproof’ and the pitching time at five minutes perfect for the two of us on the trip although like
– we will see.
It would be amusing to offer a story of ineptitude
and tangled guy ropes with the participants, us,
all “X-person” descriptions things would have been
cosy had all four of us actually gone. Reviews are
much easier when things go wrong – you can either
THE JUNIPER 4 TENT
slipping and falling in mud while getting hilariously be funny about it or enraged – in this case we can Dimensions: O: 295x240x125, I: 210x235x120.
entangled in errant guy ropes. Sorry, it didn’t only report that the Juniper did exactly what it Pack Size: 60x20x20cm.
happen! In fact, simply by following the instructions said on the bag. It rained over the weekend, the Size: Outer: 295x240x125cm
we had the Juniper up and ready in no much more inside of the tent stayed dry. It was windy although Inner: 210x235x120cm.
that the suggested time, the difference between not gale force, we still had the tent by the Sunday Colour: Everglade/green.
the suggested time and actual time largely with no hint of it taking to the air like a kite. The Weight: 5.0000.
accounted for by mislaying our mallet for knocking porch area, although too small for sitting out in of Outer fabric: 190T Breathable polyester with
in the pegs... an evening was ideal for leaving and storing kit as waterproof PU coating.
Once up, the Juniper 4 was everything we had suggested. Even taking the tent down and folding Inner fabric: 190T Breathable polyester.
expected. With just over a meter of head room, we it away is covered in the instructions and the tent Groundsheet: Durable polyethylene.
Outer Dimensions: 295x240x125cm.
Inner Dimensions: 210x235x120cm.
FROM Capacity: 4 person.
£74 Inner pitch first dome style.
Pre attached porch groundsheet.
Low and high level vents.
Pre attached high visibility guy-lines.
Poles: 9mm & 8.5mm fibre glass.
Fire retardant.
Taped seams.
Hydrostatic Head: 2000mm.
Pitching time: 5 minutes.

048 W W W.RAIDER-MAGAZINE.COM
 T H E T R A D E T A C T I C A L G E A R M A G A Z I N E

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