Founded in 1994, its headquarters are located in Wilsonville, Ore. This is the site where the magic happens. All Crimson Trace products are designed, engineered, manufactured, tested and shipped out from this Oregon facility.

To better fit the vast variety of popular firearms, these laser sights fall into three main categories: Rail Masters, Laserguards and Lasergrips.

Rail Masters

[Crimson Trace CMR-201]

Made to enhance rail-equipped firearms, the various Rail Master styles provide adjustable and universal fits. These flavors of laser sights include a number of cutting-edge technologies. The tap on, tap off activation feature ensures that utilizing your laser sight is easy and second nature. The secure lock technology puts an end to barrel overhang. For those who have several rail-friendly guns, these sights can easily be switched from gun-to-gun in a matter of seconds.

Laserguards

[Crimson Trace LG-412]

These laser sights attach directly to the frame of the handgun. Especially useful during concealed carry, the Laserguard provide the reliable accuracy that is so very vital in self-defense. These styles also provide the advantage of instinctive activation, which allows the laser sight to be turned on when holding the gun in the natural firing position.

Lasergrips

 [Crimson Trace LG-660]

These laser sights are super easy to install. They will replace the existing grips on the handgun. Lasergrips also feature the instinctive activation. Available in a number of configurations, these laser sights can accommodate pistols and revolvers. Lasergrips keep shooters on target and provide a more ergonomic feel for handguns.

After you add a Crimson Trace Laser, you’ll understand why the company’s products have raked in the awards over the year— including the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence Award’s Self-Defense Product of the Year.

Has a laser sight ever saved your life? 

At the end of this year, Converse military boots will no longer be produced. But don’t panic! Those boots you’ve come to rely on are won’t be marching off into the sunset.

New for 2013, Warson Brands will introduce a complete line of Reebok military boots. As Converse bows out of the duty and uniform markets, Reebok will be stepping up and promises to provide top-notch athletic inspired footwear that gets the job done.

Featuring advanced comfort and performance technologies, Reebok styles will help military professionals excel in even the most demanding of missions. The footwear supports wearers during training, field use, elite operations and tactical maneuvering. Trusted styles such as the Rapid Response and the Velocity will still be available.

As one of the top three athletic brands worldwide, Reebok is committed to inspiring and enabling athletic achievement through innovative product designs. Backed by this resolve, Reebok will infuse some excellent features into your favorite boots. For example, both the Velocity and the Rapid Response boast comfort-supporting technologies like EVA cushion midsoles and dual-density outsoles.

All boots will continue to be manufactured with the highest quality construction standards, and several protective styles will continue to meet or exceed ASTM safety standards.

Now do we have your attention? Browse our selection of Reebok military boots. And for those lucky enough to attend SHOT Show 2013, make a note to check out the new Reebok line in person at booth #10179.

Partnering with Leatherman, MilitaryGear.com is excited to launch The Improvise Photo Contest. We’re asking you to show us how you improvised. Just submit a photo of your unlikely tool or solution and tell us how you did it. To get started, visit The Improvise Photo Contest page.

[Example entry: Needed a zipper pull for my combat boots and the hole wasn't big enough for paracord so I used electrical wire. Works great! - Sean]

The winner takes home a pretty cool prize package. The Tools of Improvise Prize Pack includes a Leatherman MUT ($180 retail price) and a LED Lenser M7R Rechargeable Flashlight ($150 retail price). These are especially handy tools for the gun enthusiast.

Designed for military and civilian shooters, the Leatherman MUT boasts 18 tools of awesomeness, including a three-bit count. Among the tools you can find in this ridiculously amazing multi-tool are wire cutters, combo knife, hammer, saw, carabiner/bottle opener, large bit driver, cleaning rod/brush adapter, bolt override tool, replaceable firearm disassembly punch, replaceable bronze carbon scraper, front sight adjustment tool, replaceable cutting hook, needle-nose pliers, and 3/8-inch wrench. Whether it’s the shooting range or the field, this little bad boy might just become one of your favorite pieces of kit.

To light those night patrols, the M7R Rechargeable Flashlight provides up to 220 lumens of bright light. Outfitted with the Advanced Focus System, it ensures you have both a focused beam for long-distances and a light source for up-close situations. The Rapid Focus system allows you to easily switch from reading to searching with one flip of the bezel. Probably best of all, this handy flashlight can be recharged in as little as five hours. Say goodbye to added battery costs.

Submissions will be accepted until September 25, 2012, but voting will continue through October 4, 2012. The staff of MilitaryGear.com will select the winner from the top five submissions. The lucky winning entry will be announced on our Facebook page on October 5, 2012.

This contest is only open to U.S. residents who are at least 18 years old.

ACU Coats & Pants

When things start to heat up, these ACU coats and ACU pants will make that patrol more bearable. Made of a breathable nylon/cotton ripstop, they are both fade, shrink and wrinkle resistant and retail for $79.99. The uniform is vat-dyed and permanent pressed to meet military specifications.

The coat incorporates hook and loop-faced patches where you can attach rank, unit and name insignia. Other key features include a hook and loop cuff closure, a three-slot pen pocket and mandarin collar. Both are outfitted with external kneepad and elbow pad pouches.

Shirts

The Massif combat shirt ($179.99) is THE brand you to wear outside the wire. It is advertised as the only field-tested and authorized combat shirt allowed for troops. In fact, the digital tiger version can only be purchased after proof of your active military status. Durable and breathable, the shirt is created from an innovative fire-resistant fabric that boasts a four-way stretch.

[Massif Army Combat Shirt]

In most combat shirts, the torso is a different color than the sleeves. Not this Propper TAC.U combat shirt! Incorporating MultiCam throughout, the half-zip at the top allows for a little breathing room. Coming in at $74.99, the shirt has added bonuses like fulling articulated elbow pad openings, integrated dual cuff with thumb hole and right sleeve, dual-layer zippered pocket. It was definitely designed for high-intensity use and movement.

[Propper TAC.U Combat Shirt]

MultiCam Vests

The Blackhawk HPFU V.2 Performance Vest($79.99) is an updated variation of the original high performance fighting uniform. The tuxedo cut allows for easy access to belt-mounted items. The vest provides additional warmth and can be worn over the HPFU V.2 shirt.

[Blackhawk HPFU V.2 Performance Vest]

If you’re looking to create a more uniform look, slip the Tru-Spec Tru Extreme Vest ($69.99) on over that combat shirt. It’s made of 50/50 nylon cotton ripstop material. Its mandarin collar can be worn up to keep out any debris. Its front zipper has a hook and loop closure that provides a smooth uniform appearance.

Footwear

Now available in MultiCam, the Magnum 8″ Spider 8.1 HPi ($182.99) is a non-metallic style. Its upper fuses leather with 1650 denier ballistic nylon, while the Spider Mesh lining and M-PACT contoured sockliner keeps you stepping comfortably. The exo-frame build incorporates a fast rope system.

[Magnum 8" Spider 8.1 HPi ]

The Oakley Megawatt ($84.99) brings that military flair to casual shoes. These might look heavy duty, but remember they are intended for R&R-type activities.

[Oakley Megawatt]

Packs

These packs blend in perfectly. The CamelBak Linchpin ($207.90) takes it a step further and has a hydration capabilities. In fact, it carries up to a 3.1-liter reservoir. Specifically designed to transport ammunition and radio equipment, it allows you a full range of motion and easier movement through narrow spaces.

[CamelBak Linchpin]

One of our most popular packs on the site, the Oakley Icon Backpack 2.0 ($199.99) is sought after by MultiCam enthusiasts throughout the country. It has space for a laptop and a good portion of your gear and kit.

[Oakley Icon Backpack 2.0]

These are just a few of our MultiCam pieces… we have more than 75 items of clothing, gear and more! Make sure to check out MilitaryGear.com.

What’s your favorite piece of MultiCam gear?

Soon after the April TACOM message was released, the troops began to question the decision. The Magpul polymer magazines have demonstrated extreme reliability and performance in combat situations. In fact, a number of special ops units go so far as to issue them prior to deployments into battle zones.

As reported by Military.com, Matthew Bourke, an Army spokesperson, said the message was incomplete and failed to mention that the final decision rests with the commanders in the field.

“Maintenance Information Messages [from TACOM] are permissive,” said Bourke. “They are not an order. They are not a directive. All content and direction in those messages are optional for the recipient.”

So why was the message released at this time? Sources told Military.com that it might have something to do with the $10.7 million contract TACOM Rock Island awarded to Brownells, in which they must manufacture 1.4 million improved magazines by January 2010.

Since a 2007 reliability test, PEO Soldier has been on a mission to develop an improved magazine for the M4. The test revealed that nearly 30 percent of the M4′s stoppages were mag related. Changes to the improved magazine include a redesigned follower, modified bullet protrusion and extended rear leg. It has been reported to reduce the risk of magazine-related stoppages by more than 50 percent when tested against older models.

For the time being, it looks like soldiers will still be able to stick with that trusty poly mag.

Do you trust in aluminum or polymer? 

Information via http://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/06/07/army-now-says-no-ban-on-rifle-magazines.html

Designed for temperate environments, the camouflage is made up of organic pixels that utilize colors found in nature. In the video, Hegger talks about the specific applications of the Propper TAC.U combat shirt, which is now available in A-TACS FG.

Also available in the FG pattern are ACU pants, ACU coats, BDU pants, BDU coats, BDU patrol caps and boonies.

What are your thoughts on the A-TACS FG pattern?

“Tiger Stripe has been a very popular pattern stemming back to the Vietnamese War,” said Jeff Mason, Tru-Spec spokesperson, “where this camouflage was originally used.” He explained that they created this pattern using the popular four-way selection found in the Tru-Spec MultiCam.

The TRU coat and TRU pants are both made of a 50/50 nylon cotton ripstop. “The reason for that is that it captures the no-melt, no-drip attributes that are desired from law enforcement and military today,” said Mason.

Both pieces have the same TRU fit and functionality. This coat does boast an advancement—the coordinate compartment, which can be installed on either arm. “This is very beneficial for SWAT personnel,” said Mason. “The can actually put their SWAT coordinates into this compartment and it’s protected from the elements, moisture and so forth.”

These TRU coats, pants and combat shirts (yes there is a combat shirt) all start at $73.95 (MSRP), but larger sizes are priced differently. ATT Tru-Spec clothing will be released later this month.

Do you have a favorite Tiger Stripe variation? Tell us about it in the comments section. 

There’s no question that the hydration system/pack will keep you organized. It has external side pockets that each fit three M16 magazines. The external top pocket tailored to store goggles or NVGs. Its front compartment boasts internal organization and an external pocket for easy access to that essential gear.

The Linchpin’s reservoir stores up to three liters of water, which should keep you adequately hydrated on that next mission. The durable reservoir features an easy-to-fill and clean Omega opening, leak-proof screw cap, insulated tube, patented Big Bite Valve, HydroLock one-handed flow control and HydroLink exit port.

NEWS STORY: Father’s Day – 26 Gift Ideas for the Tactical Dad

A true blue patrol pack, this 1800-cubic inch pack features a Futura harness. Designed by Mystery Ranch, the harness is customizable to fit the pack to the wearer’s torso. While it may seem a tad too much for its size, it does allow you to carry more weight with more control and can account for the additional bulk caused by body armor. The streamlined design also makes the wearer more mobile and agile.

Yet another cool aspect of the Linchpin, when its reservoir is removed that sleeve can easily hold most laptops. Its front compartment keeps smaller tools organized, while the overflow stash pocket provides easy access to gear.

The Linchpin retails for $215 ($231 in MultiCam) and is available in four color ways: coyote brown, foliage green and MultiCam and Universal patterns.

So, what do you think? Let us know, and create your own. Feel free to post a link to it in the comments section.

“The improvements to the ABU are a continuum of the Air Force Chief of Staff’s initial direction to ‘fix what we have’ with regard to uniforms,” writes Michael Dickerson, chief of media relations for USAF. “The number one complaint about the ABU was that it was too heavy and too hot. We lightened up the fabric to help alleviate those issues.”

This newer, lighter ABU fabric will be a ripstop weave composed of a 50/50 nylon-cotton blend. Found in the ABU and other military uniforms, Near Infrared Compliant (NIR) technology allows soldiers to appear at the same radiation level as the surrounding terrain, which makes it much harder for enemy forces to detect them. In addition, the NIR technology makes the uniforms less visible in low-light environments by reducing the reflection of light.

The 50/50 nylon-cotton ripstop is much more breathable than the original ABU fabric, a 50/50 nylon-cotton twill weave that has been found especially ineffective in war environments such as Iraq and Afghanistan. In fact, Army servicemen have been wearing nylon-cotton ripstop uniforms for years. Following suit, Airmen stationed in hot climates will happily embrace this change, as the new fabric is much more comfortable and will allow them to do their jobs more effectively.

The very first ABU prototype was unveiled in 2003. After extensive wear testing and several updates, the Air Force began issuing ABUs to those enlisted in basic training at Lackland AFB in 2007.

The fabric will be machine washable and wrinkle resistant. The ABU can only be worn inside the wire in a war zone. Incoming recruits will be the first ones to receive one of the ABUs in the new fabric because it will be issued during basic training. For everyone else, it will be phased in eventually; until then Airmen may continue to wear the original weight ABUs.

If you just can’t stand the heat anymore, you can pre-order the nylon-cotton ripstop ABU coats (MSRP $59.99) and ABU pants (MSRP $59.99) at BDU.com. The first orders are expected to ship by April 16, 2012.