• Smith & Wesson M&P pistols work very well for me.
  • I’ve had very good fortune with Doug’s blades, as well as Bradford Knives, Benchmade, Microtech, and now Hogue. Spdyerco’s quality is excellent but I rarely carry one due to speed of deployment and (for mundane cutting tasks) speed of folding the blade away safely.
  • I’m quite a Leatherman fanboy and always one of their multitools with me.
  • Nitecore and Klarus are my two favorite brands of flashlights, both for performance and reliability. Mad respect for the Maglite fans out there, Maglite’s products are extremely rugged and (if LED) reliable.
  • Heatsheets makes the most useful small shelter items (blankets) I’ve been able to find, way way better than the cheap Mylar survival blankets out there but with almost no additional bulk.
  • As far as medical kits are concerned, I tend to make my own.
  • Having trained quite a while for someone who’s never been a medical professional, I’ve come to the conclusion that the C-A-T is the only tourniquet I’ll carry, and I have one with me constantly.