Surefire has for decades been synonymous with high-performance flashlights, weapon lights and the like, but you would never accuse the company of building particularly affordable flashlights. They’ve never been a factor in the consumer EDC (Every Day Carry) market, just too expensive.

SHOT Show 2015 marked something of a revolution at Surefire as it upended expectations with its new Titan and Titan Plus flashlights, both in terms of price and EDC performance. The first shocker was the price. MSRP is $59.99 for the Titan, $99.99 for the Titan Plus. Take off up to $10 from some online outlets. Not the least expensive single AAA-cell high-performance LED flashlights, but for sure the least expensive Surefire lights ever, by a big margin, and quite competitive once you factor in the features. And, like all Surefire lights, they’re still mostly made here in the USA, with Surefire noting that they are "manufactured in California, in our turning center, using U.S. sourced metals. Only the LED and some circuit board components are imported. We make our circuit boards too."  But, wait, there’s more…

The Titan high beam provides a quite adequate 125 lumens, but the Titan Plus puts out an impressive 300 lumens of what I’ll call
"turbo" output (more on that later). All from that single diminutive AAA-cell. The 300-lumen output requires a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable battery (supplied), alkaline or lithium batteries have too much internal resistance and can’t supply enough current quickly enough. You can use those alternative batteries in a pinch, but it will provide notably lower top output in the Titan Plus. The Titan will run fine on a lithium AAA-cell, and for a bit longer actually.

This fall, Surefire sent me samples. The Titan I received came with a 750 mAh NiMH Surefire branded battery made in China. The Titan Plus included a premium Panasonic Eneloop Pro 900 mAh battery made in Japan. You’ll need your own NiMH battery charger, something many buyers will already own.

Both lights offer a low mode of 15 lumens and the Plus also has an intermediate setting of 75 lumens. Twist the head switch
counterclockwise (as held) to activate and then again to set the next output level, starting at low. After about 4 seconds at the intermediate level, the Plus resets and the next twist sets it back to low.  Both reset to low once turned off.

Sometimes you might prefer it just continue to high, even after some time has passed, but in actual use I didn’t find it really mattered much. A quick couple twists and I had 300 lumens when needed and didn’t accidentally get it when I didn’t. Particularly since high mode sucks the battery down quickly, the high setting should be reserved for only when needed.

I noticed one peculiarity with switching the Titan Plus from the intermediate level to high, in that it takes just a fraction of a second
longer pause between those modes than from low to intermediate. It only took a brief period of using the light to naturally accommodate that difference, but at worst you just have to give it another quick twist if it doesn’t go to high on that initial twist.

The heads have flats milled into them to provide added grip, especially important when operating one-handed. That works fine most of the time, but with wet or oily fingers, it is marginal. Some knurling or other means to provide a more secure grip would be better under such conditions. 

Surefire rates the Titan Plus at 300 lumens for 45 minutes, but that is its ANSI rating, which is somewhat misleading (even if it allows
for somewhat direct comparisons between lights).  In my experience, you can expect to get about 5 minutes of very high output before it dims enough to be noticeable and then another 10 minutes before it dims a bunch. Thus, my reference to this as a "turbo" mode.  Useful for those instances when you need a really bright life for something quick, but you should not expect it to provide full output for an extended period. At this juncture, it’s getting just about as much light as practical from that little AAA-cell. Bear in mind, also, that the eye is somewhat insensitive as a light meter and at higher brightness it takes a significant drop in light output for us to notice it.

The Plus is rated at 75 lumens for 2 hours and it took almost the entire 2 hours for it to drop enough to be noticeable, but it then dropped way down as the regulation circuitry had sucked as much juice as it could from the battery.  I found the 75 lumen output level more than adequate for almost any situation where I needed bright light for EDC use. I rarely used the 300 lumen level in normal EDC use.

The Titan’s 125 lumen high output is rated at 1 hour and it lasted 40 minutes before dropping precipitously. 

Running the lights at their 15 lumen output, the Titan is rated at 8.5 hours and the Titan Plus at 7 hours. I asked Surefire about that
seeming contradiction and they explained that the Titan Plus circuitry was optimized for the 300 lumen output and thus the 15 lumen output paid the price. They compared it to running your Ferrari around town.  In any case, I got pretty close to that in my tests. 

15 lumens is perfectly adequate for finding your way on a dark night and most situations requiring a light at night. For viewing
something more clearly in a room that wasn’t dark, the higher settings are better. I found myself using the low setting for 80% of my EDC use. By way of comparison, the 15 lumen output is about equal to the 2 x D-cell incandescent lights I grew up with (a long time ago, pre-Maglite) and it was far superior in usefulness with its far better beam quality.

MaxVision Lights Up the Neighborhood

Which brings us to another feature that separates these lights from most other pocket-sized EDC flashlights, the beam itself. This innovation is courtesy of the patent pending multi-faceted reflector that creates what Surefire is calling a "MaxVision Beam." There have been a variety of attempts to create smooth and wide light (flood) from high-output LEDs, whether single focus or via a zoom mechanism, primarily using a lens and occasionally with some reflector technology. Some have been better than others, but the majority have not been particularly compact and most have been less than impressive.

The MaxVision Beam is not about how far the beam can throw down-range; it’s all about providing a wide, even beam. This is especially
advantageous lighting up your entire environs out to a practical distance, a true "flood" beam. You really have to re-calibrate your expectations or you’ll miss the point.

For some time, the grail of higher powered flashlights has been "throw," how far they can light up something that’s a long ways
away. That has some advantages, particularly in some tactical situations.  You increase throw by concentrating the light beam in order to send more photons further, which is great downrange, but you end up with a very narrow bean up close. Design-wise, it’s a lot simpler than creating a broad and smooth beam, particularly using an LED.  These lights aren’t about throw, they are about useful light at close to moderate distances and they do an admiral job of it. 

After carrying these lights for some time in regular EDC use, and comparing them with other pocket-sized lights, the functional
advantage is readily evident. With the broad and even illumination, there’s a lot less moving the beam around to light stuff up and that, as it turns out, is a really good thing for an EDC light.

Anyone who has walked down an alley or on a trail in the dark knows what it’s like to be continuously moving the light around to light
up near, far, left, right, etc. You just can’t illuminate everything you want to be able to see at the same time. 

Not so with the MaxVision Beam. Surefire says it was specifically designed to light up your natural field of vision with a smooth, pretty
even beam. Find yourself in an alley and the entire alley is lit up, wall to wall, a huge advantage in situational awareness. On the trail, you’ll be able to see up ahead, both sides and that branch sticking out ready to poke your eye out. Working on something in the dark, changing a tire or fixing something under the hood, lighting a big chunk of the work area simply makes it easier to accomplish the task at hand. On low output, it illuminates a good portion of any map or chart and all of one of those old-fashion books printed on paper that some folks still read.

The difference compared to a conventional flashlight really has to be seen to be appreciated. This light isn’t about throw distance, it’s
about usable light where you need it most. Click here for a Surefire has a marketing video that does a fair job of showing the MaxVision beam.

Construction

The Titan has a Type III black anodized aluminum body, 0.58 inches in diameter and 3 inches long, weighing in at 0.9 oz. It’s a good size
and weight for a key-chain light and has an integral tailcap post and split ring.

The Titan Plus has a bushed nickel-plated brass body. It turns out that aluminum just isn’t conductive enough to accommodate the current
flow needed to push the light output to 300 lumens. It is also 0.59 inches in diameter with the length extended to 3.375 inches to accommodate the extra electronics needed to work with that high output and the removable tailcap.

The change to brass ups the weight to 2 ounces, a very noticeable difference. While it also has an integral tailcap post, it comes with quick-detach plastic tailcap (that adds 0.1 ounces) with split ring that fits over the end so it’s relatively easy to get it on or off a keychain when you need to. A good yank or levering the cap off to the side separates the cap from the light. In my opinion, at nearly 2 ounces it’s a bit too heavy for a keychain light for most folks.  So, it’s a good thing that it also comes with a removable pocket clip.

The tailcap retains the pocket clip and serves as attachment for the plastic cap, it doesn’t appear to have any other function. The tailcap
on my sample was tight enough from the factory that in order to unscrew it to remove the pocket clip I needed to use a slim screwdriver through the post hole to get enough leverage. The clip is not reversible and at 2 ounces, it’s really too heavy to use as a cap light.

The lights are rated at IPX7 for water-resistance, meaning they are good for immersion up at 1 meter for 30 minutes.  I testing them for 45 minutes at 1 meter (lost track of the time) and they worked fine afterwards with no visible water intrusion.

Bottom Line

The bottom line is that I think Surefire has a potential hit with the Titan line-up.  The price and features work for somebody looking for a
compact and useful EDC light that’s a step up from the run-of-the-mill 1 x AAA LED flashlights for not too much more money. Whether Surefire can successfully market to a more average consumer remains a question. Engineering innovation for a new market is one thing; marketing to an entirely new consumer is a far bigger leap.

Franken-Titan

I really liked having the triple mode option with that really bright high beam for the occasional times it comes in handy, and the mid-range 75 lumen output for general use, but I really wanted it as a keychain light. I wondered what would happen if I fitted the Titan Plus head (and 900 mAh battery) to the Titan aluminum body? That combination weighs in at 1.3 ounces, a significant reduction in weight, relatively, putting the "Franken-Titan" back into keychain weight territory, in my opinion.

I asked Surefire about this and they said it wouldn’t damage the electronics, but noted that the threads were slightly different. It seems
to screw on and off just fine for me, so apparently not different enough to matter.

Surefire said they didn’t have any runtimes or output ratings for this configuration. In terms of light output, it seemed to me to be
visually indistinguishable at 15 and 75 lumens. Without an integrating sphere I couldn’t measure the brightness, but if I had to guess, I’d say it was close to the same on the high setting as with the brass body. It lasted at or near the initial brightness for essentially the same amount of time at all levels. Clearly it wouldn’t work to produce the same ASTM rating at full 300 lumens, or they would have stuck with aluminum, but that is of little concern to me.  It works just fine from my practical use perspective. It’s now in my pocket on my keychain.   

Perhaps it’s something for Surefire to consider as buying two lights to get one doesn’t exactly provide the same level of value.  Also, the quick-detach option with that tailcap would still be nice to have with a lighter-weight EDC light.

And, as long as we’re wishing, an affordable Surefire 1xAAA headlamp with the MaxVision beam would be a great addition to this consumer EDC line-up.

Leatherman’s Tread takes the concept of an EDC (Every Day Carry) multi-tool in an entirely new direction with virtually unlimited potential. There have been numerous less than successful attempts at functional jewelry that you wear as a pendant and there’s no shortage of keychain-sized tools, many of which can be hung from the neck. However, the Tread’s 25 tools ingeniously incorporated into the links of a stainless bracelet may be almost as revolutionary as Tim Leatherman’s original Pocket Survival Tool (Click on image to right for higher resolution).

Leatherman President Ben Rivera, formerly chief designer at Leatherman, was inspired to create an alternative to a traditional multi-tool after an uncomfortable and inconvenient experience at Disneyland that left him without his Leatherman Skeletool. Rivera related that he “was unwilling to give it up (at the gate), so they made me take it all the way back to my hotel room (with security following him the entire way). I knew there had to be another way to carry my tools with me that would be accepted by security.”

The somewhat intricate links are precision manufactured using a Metal Injection Molding (MIM) process. Compared to the typical 300-series stainless typically used in jewelry, watch bands and the like, the 17-4 stainless steel can be heat treated to harden the steel so it will hold up to the rigors and abuse the tools will see. The bracelet is available in either natural stainless steel or with a DLC (Diamond-Like Coating) black finish.

The links are easily exchanged or removed as needed using a coin or, perhaps, your normal Leatherman tool. Regardless, the all-important and essential bottle opener will always be available, integrated into the fold-over clasp (which is adjustable in quarter-inch increments). Leatherman anticipates creating optional links with additional tools and tool combinations that will allow a Tread owner to customize their bracelet to suit. The potential tool options are virtually unlimited and as soon as we started examining the Tread many potential new tools came to mind.

To use any tool, the appropriate link is selected and then the remainder of the bracelet squeezed together becomes the handle.
If there’s any drawback to the integrated tools, it is the short length of the screw and hex drivers. With a 1/4″ drive socket in one of the links, that drawback can be alleviated by carrying a few standard 1/4″ drive bits and possibly an extension. No doubt Leatherman will soon make such a pocket kit available, similar to the bit kits for their regular multi-tools.

In an era where men’s wrist jewelry and watches often make a motorcycle drive chain look petite, the Tread is unlikely to raise an eyebrow. Rivera told us that he’s been flying with the prototype worldwide for a year with no issues. The Tread isn’t a flyweight bracelet, but at 5.3 oz (150g) is unexpectedly light, due in part to the voids and such created by the integral tools. Titanium would be lighter, but it would also be more expensive by an order of magnitude.

The Tread QM1 replaces a couple links, leaving 19 tools, with a Leatherman-designed, Swiss-made watch with a quartz movement. Its scratch-resistant sapphire crystal is in keeping with the likely abuse the tool may see. The watch snaps in and out of its stainless carrier and it’s not difficult to imagine it being replaceable with a variety of watches and smart watches down the road. Again, the possibilities are darn near limitless.

The initial list of tools incorporated into the Tread are:

Cutting Hook, Bottle Opener, Carbide Glass Breaker, 1/8″, 3/16″, 1/4”, 5/16”, 3/8” and 10mm Box Wrenches, 3/32″, 3/16”, 1/4″ and 5/16” Screwdrivers, #1-2 and #1 Phillips, 3/32”, 1/8”, 3/16”, 1/4”, 5mm and 6mm Hex Drives, #2 Square Drive, 1/4” Socket Drive, Oxygen Tank Wrench, Pick/Sim Card Tool

The stainless Tread will have a MSRP of $150, the DLC version will be $200. Leatherman says the Tread bracelet will be available Summer 2015, followed by the version including the watch in Fall 2015, at $500 for stainless and $600 for DLC.

We only had a brief opportunity to play with the Tread at SHOT Show, so we’ll have to reserve any real-life impressions until we get one to play with at length. Stay tuned…

Final judgment is in on ACR’s lawsuit against DME and its design consultants alleging that they misappropriated ACR trade secrets and documents and incorporated them into DME’s SATRO PLB. In a Stipulated Judgment and Permanent Injunction issued on January 15, 2013, DME lost big time.

For background:

Click Here for the original article about the DME SATRO PLB from December 9, 2011: They Keep Shrinking: Smaller & Lighter PLB From DME

Click Here for the intial article detailing the filing of the lawsuit with supporting documents from October 15, 2012: What Happened to the SATRO PLB from DME?

The Stipulated Judgment and Permanent Injunction represents a negotiated agreement between the parties that has been agrreed to and been signed off by the judge in the case. This came about after DME lost the critical first round when the judge issued a preliminary injunction against DME back in October 2012.

Click Here to read that Order Granting Plaintiff’s Motion for a Preliminary Injunction, which includes the judge’s findings of fact which virtually all fell in favor of ACR.

In the end, not only was DME forced to pull the SATRO PLB from the market, which it had already essentially done, and agree not to use ACR’s trade secrets, they also agreed that for a period of four years they would not market ANY PLB and for two years would not market ANY EPIRB. Essentially, for the agreed periods of time, DME is out of the PLB and EPIRB business.

Moreover, the other defendants, the design consultants who formerly worked for ACR, agreed that for a period of five years they cannot work or contribut in any way to the design, development. marketing or sales of PLBs, EPIRBs, or ELTs.

There’s more details, but those represent the bottom line results, a big win by ACR. Click here to read the entire Stipulated Judgment and Permanent Injunction.

NOTE: DME has withdrawn the SATRO PLB from the market. Click here for the final judgement in this lawsuit.

I have been getting a number of inquires about Astronics DME Corporation’s SATRO PLB-110 “world’s smallest and lightest” PLB that we first wrote about back in December of last year (2011). Besides being small, one of the unique features of the PLB was a form factor that mimicked a modern smart phone, making it flatter and more pocketable than existing designs. It was also buoyant, despite the small size, another unique feature at the time. There’s been a lot of interest and DME was saying that they expected to reach market in the Spring of 2012, though Spring came and went without the PLB being available.

Since it isn’t unusual for a distress beacon manufacturer to blow their expected introduction date, in my experience, I wasn’t all that concerned or surprised. In any case, we are now in the Fall of 2012, and after more emails to me asking what was happening, I decided to check up on what was going on.

I was able to ascertain that both COSPAS-SARSAT and FCC approvals were gained in March and May, 2012, respectively, but, I found that the SATRO PLB has disappeared from the DME web site.

When I tried to talk to DME about the SATRO, I got nowhere, zip, nada, nothing! Think “black hole.” Clearly, something was awry and when a company clams up that tight, my first suspicion is some sort of legal issue is involved. After some further sleuthing around the Internet, seems my instincts were correct.

Turns out that just days before I published my initial report on the SATRO, ACR Electronics filed a Federal lawsuit against DME and its design consultants, former ACR design engineers and employees. These former ACR employees left ACR and formed their own electronics design consultancy, gaining DME as a client. ACR claims, among other things, that they had misappropriated ACR trade secrets and documents and incorporated them into the new SATRO PLB. ACR also asked for a Preliminary Injunction to prevent DME from selling the SATRO PLB, which has not, to date, been granted. You can see all the allegations in the filing here:

ACR’s 1st Amended Complaint

Also, I have posted some motions from ACR and DME:

ACR Motion for Preliminary Injunction
DME’s Proposed Findings of Fact
ACR’s Proposed Findings of Fact

These all make for interesting reading, but, they only tell part of the story. There have been dozens of filings in this case (as of this article, 166 items on the docket). Some of the filings have been sealed at ACR request and there’s hundreds of pages of declarations and additional motions (costs money to get these, so we just got a few of what seemed like the most critical). Whatever else happens, the lawyers involved must be making a mint.

This lawsuit certainly could explain why DME decided against selling the SATRO, at least at this juncture. If they were deemed in the end to be liable, any damages would be significantly lessened if they didn’t sell any of the beacons. And, the motion for preliminary injunction is pretty much moot if they aren’t selling the PLB. On the other hand, there is no certainty that ACR will prevail in court.

Also, along the way, DME filed a counterclaim against the consultants, a normal strategy in such a complicated lawsuit, covering their butt somewhat in case the consultants actually did do what ACR alleges.

If ACR’s claims are true, they have every right to sue and stop the theft of their property. A cynic might note that as long as DME isn’t selling the SATRO, ACR benefits by not having to compete with a PLB that could offer consumers some significant perceived advantages over the existing ACR PLBs.

No surprise, DME and the design consultants counter in their filings that they did nothing wrong and that ACR is way off base. Mostly they say that whatever similarities that exist between the SATRO and the ACR PLBs are the result of common design solutions to electronics required by dint of the regulatory specifications in any PLB and/or expertise and procedures these particular engineers already had prior to be hired by ACR and/or existing technology freely available or not really a trade secret of ACR.

I won’t bore you with the myriad convoluted details, claims and counterclaims, allegations and rebuttals, you can read the filings above if you need help falling asleep one night, but only time will tell how this ends up. As of the end of last month, the court docket shows that the parties had agreed to a mediator, a standard procedure in such cases, and perhaps that means that a settlement can be reached…or not. Another option might be that DME will redesign the SATRO to avoid any possible issues with the claimed stolen ACR tech, or it may be that one or the other may eventually prevail in court.

Without access to all the court filings, it is impossible for me to render an opinion as to who is in the right in this fight. The only thing that is certain at this point is that it is a nasty fight that is costing all involved lots and lots of money and consumer availability of this smaller and lighter PLB is uncertain at this point, so don’t be holding your breath. If you need a PLB today, just get one before you find yourself wishing you had.

Not surprising given the ongoing litigation, neither ACR or DME would comment for this article.

Stay tuned!

NOTE: DME has withdrawn the SATRO PLB from the market. Click here for the final judgement in this lawsuit.

I don’t care if you have been naughty or nice, ‘tis the season for me to make a list of everything from stocking stuffers to ultimate gifts that would make anyone who enjoys the outdoors smile.

I know, you are thinking this is just about me and my Doug Ritter Gear, but read on; there is more than just my gear, these are just great gifts for your favorite outdoor enthusiast, hunter, pilot, hiker or someone who loves “great gear.” This is gear that I would “bet my life on.” Much of this follows my mantra of “if it isn’t with you, it can’t save you™.” Any of it will earn you big smiles.

Stocking Stuffers

There’s no excuse not to always have a flashlight with you with the proliferation of compact LED flashlights. My Doug Ritter Special Edition Photon Freedom Micro-Light is available again and at a reduced price, only $15.95. It has a great feature set and will hardly be noticeable on a key chain, so it will always be there when you need it.

I am also a big fan of headlamps because they allow you to have both hands free to do whatever needs doing. There is no shortage of good headlamps out there, but Princeton Tec has a unique and fun offering that may be worth taking a look at. Over at Princeton Tec’s Spectrum program you can customize a Fuel headlamp with your choice of body colors. When they introduced this service to journalists earlier this year, I did up one with a bright yellow body and red end caps. The Fuel is a nice mid-range headlamp that runs on AAA batteries. Their Remix (not customizable at this time) is a similar design that adds a high output 100 lumen LED.

For a compact survival headlamp, having a switch that cannot readily be inadvertently switched on in storage, the Petzl e+Lite is a great choice with multiple light output options, plus a red LED, and the eGear EQ2 is a minimalist single LED design that is ultralight and compact, if more basic (and less expensive).

The original best-selling Pocket Survival Pak™ I designed is still going strong and is still a perfect gift for anyone who is active in the outdoors. All the essentials in a compact waterproof pouch that weighs under 4 oz., truly does fit in a pocket and really could save yourself, a loved one or friend’s life. This is the epitome of “if it isn’t with you, it can’t save you™” gear and this kit is sized right to always be with you.

Add an Adventure Medical Kits Two Person SOL Survival Blanket (which is really sized just right for one-person), and you’ve got a perfect pocket-sized shelter companion to the PSP. The polyethylene material is far superior to old-style Mylar emergency blankets.

I always carry at least two, and usually three, means to start a fire. It is really that important. Besides a compact lighter, reliable matches are a good choice. For many years I have recommended REI’s Stormproof wind- and waterproof matches. Now these same reliable matches are available more widely under the UCO brand and, even better, they are now also available pre-packaged in a waterproof vial, so that you can be confident that the striker strip, which is not waterproof itself, will be dry as well. These are the matches I include in my Ultimate Survival Pak™.

Last year we introduced the Pocket Survival Pak™ PLUS, which adds a number of other useful items (compact RSK® Mk5 knife, LED flashlight, water purification and water bag), to the PSP to further enhance a survivor’s prospects. The upgraded waterproof pouch is even tougher and it still fits in your pocket.

Sharp Stuff

This is a great time to get a Doug Ritter RSK® knife with virtually all models and variations in stock and KnifeWorks.com offering FREE GROUND SHIPPING in the USA on all the RSK® knives (except the Mk5)! You will also receive a FREE Maxpedition Waterproof Pocket Notebook ($5.50 value) with each order (while supplies last).

My acclaimed RSK® Mk1 and Mini-RSK® Mk1 Axis Lock folders are still going strong, more popular than ever, which is gratifying.

“Using this knife is a joy, and I can’t really find anything I dislike about it. It’s a tough choice now on whether to carry this, or much more expensive custom folders.” – T. Young – Simi Valley, CA

We just got in the first run of the orange-handled Mini-RSK® Mk1s, matching the orange RSK® Mk1 we’ve offered for a few years now. The Mini is now available in Black, Yellow, Orange and Pink. When you purchase a Pink Mini, 10% of the purchase price supports women’s cancer research.

The second run of my RSK® Mk2 Perseverance fixed blade with Variable Personal Balance™ is now available and is getting rave reviews. Here’s what Tactical Knives had to say:

“a well-balanced combination of Ritter’s thoughts on portability, balance and control, and (Ethan) Becker’s beliefs on power, strength and durability to withstand the abuse knives often suffer…” and “…the RSK Mk2 can give the user the edge needed to persevere and overcome even the harshest of environments.”

My RSK® Mk3 fixed blade is again available, now with an improved sheath. Its versatile drop point blade in CPM S30V and sculpted ergonomic G10 handles combine to make it a perfect choice for many, be they hunters or those looking for a quality and lightweight fixed blade for outdoor sports or survival.

“…more than strong enough to handle any requirement…handled very well and showed no sign of weakness in strength or materials…” – Terrill Hoffman in Tactical Knives. “Long story short, I love the knife! …G-10 scales, with S30V steel, full tang construction, stone washed finished without having to pay custom prices $$$$$…!” - TJ – Denver, CO

If a very compact knife to fit in a survival kit is what you are looking for, I suggest you consider my RSK® Mk5 skeletonized fixed blade. This diminutive knife will perform many a chore and was designed originally for my Pocket Survival Pak™ PLUS, but is now available from any CRKT dealer.

If you are looking for a slightly larger, but still compact skeletonized fixed blade, the Becker Knife & Tool BK-14 Eskabar, an Ethan Becker and ESSE Knives collaboration, is a great choice, or the ESEE IZULA is available in a multitude of colors including don’t-lose-me orange and Zombie venom green.

Get Rescued™ NOW!

Nobody goes out intending to end up needing rescue. By the same token, anyone who goes into the outdoors, on land or sea, or who flies by general aviation, and who expects that it can’t happen to them is simply in denial. Stuff happens that you cannot control, no matter how good or talented you may be. Once you get over the can’t-happen-to-me syndrome, the next question is what to do about this? The answer is simple, ensure that when it does happen you get rescued in the shortest possible time, because time is often your enemy. There is no excuse today for not carrying some means of signaling distress with your location.

For well under $300 you can get a 406 MHz Personal locator Beacon (PLB) with integral GPS that is about the size of many cell phones, weighs less than 5 ounces and easily fits in your pocket. With a simple press of a button your distress alert is sent out through the international COSPAS-SARSAT distress satellites and help will be quickly on its way. There is no recurring charge or subscription and the battery has a replacement interval of 6 years (by which time it will be smaller and cheaper, so you won’t replace the battery anyway).

Essentially, with a PLB you can ensure that you will get rescued with minimal fuss, much less risk on the part of Search and Rescue and far less concern on the part of your loved ones. The PLB takes the “search” out of Search and Rescue. Anyone who ventures into the outdoors without a PLB or some means of communicating their distress (and a cell phone doesn’t count) is irresponsible and not the brightest bulb on the tree, in my opinion.

My current recommendation for a PLB, and the one that I carry, is the ACR ResQLink Model PLB 375. If you don’t have a PLB, or if yours is over three or four years old, just get one!

As an aside, carrying a PLB doesn’t mean you don’t have to carry essential survival equipment (see above). Weather and other issues can delay rescue. You still have to be prepared to survive at least overnight and perhaps longer in more extreme environments.

Saving the best for last, I offer up the Doug Ritter Ultimate Survival Pak™. Originally developed for pilots, this survival kit also become popular for those who want the very best while traveling, living in an earthquake zone or who reside where severe weather is a regular occurrence. The Ultimate Survival Pak™ is designed for two people and includes all essentials for 72 hours. Options are available to expand coverage to three or more persons. I build Doug Ritter Survival Paks like my life depended upon it…because your life might™.

“I wanted to very best for my family and that’s what I found in your Ultimate Survival Pak. It provides great peace of mind knowing that I’ve got everyone covered with the best I can possibly have onboard.” C. H., Long Island, NY

Remember, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Doug Ritter Gear supports the non-profit Equipped To Survive Foundation and this web site.

Wishing you the very best for the holidays and the coming new year.

NOTE: DME has withdrawn this PLB from the market. Click here for the full story about why you cannot buy this PLB

A new entrant in the PLB wars is claiming to be the world’s smallest and lightest Personal Locator Beacon, eclipsing the current record holder in this regard, the ACR ResQLink which was just introduced earlier this year. Slated to be available in Spring of 2012, the new SATRO PLB-110 from Astronics DME Corporation certainly seems to have a good basis for that claim at just 4.09 x 2.39 x 0.92 inches (104 x 61 x 23 mm) and only 4.3 oz. (122 g).

While not a name familiar to most consumers, DME has been making aviation ELTs (Emergency Locator Transmitters) for 20 years with a reputation for quality and robust products. You will find many of their emergency products installed on most airliners. SATRO is a new brand name for their consumer oriented products, derived from the parent company’s NASDAQ symbol “ATRO,” of which the PLB-110 is the first.

Unlike the other pocket-sized PLBs introduced to date, McMurdo’s Fast Find Model 210 and ACR’s ResQLink, the SATRO PLB-110 is inherently buoyant. While not an essential feature in my opinion, you should always have the PLB tethered to you if flying over water, that’s a pretty neat trick in such a small package. No need for a “float coat” to slip on to provide flotation.

I had the opportunity to handle a prototype and the flat form factor, clearly modeled on the iPhone, makes it very much more pocketable than its competition. The antenna wraps around the body, similar to the ACR designs.

It is equipped with a current generation 66-channel integral GPS, full GPS test function, and a flashing LED. The clear top case has a Fresnel lens molded over the LED to help spread that light wider. I’ll be interested in seeing exactly how effective that is in the real world.

The PLB-110 is rated to transmit at a minimum of 5 watts for the duration of its battery life, rated for 24 hours at -20C (-4F). Its depth rating is 10 meters (32.8 ft) for 5 minutes and 1 meter (3.28 ft) for an hour.

The MSRP is expected to be $299, so street price should be competitive with the McMurdo and ACR.

NOTE: This device has not been authorized as required by the Rules of the FCC. This device is not, and may not be offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.

NOTE: DME has withdrawn this PLB from the market. Click here for the full story about why you cannot buy this PLB

UPDATE: July 21, 2011: FCC approval granted, now available for purchase.

(3D CAD images provided by ACR – click for higher resolution images – the images are an accurate representation of the new PLB I examined.)

It’s been a long time coming, but I just got a firsthand look at ACR Electronics’ answer to the popular McMurdo FastFind 210 PLB. The new ACR ResQLink 406 MHz PLB (model PLB-375) is ever so slightly smaller and lighter than the McMurdo at 3.9″ (99mm) x 1.9″ (48.3mm) x 1.3″(33mm) and 4.6 oz (130 g). That compares to the FastFind’s 4.17” (106mm) x 1.85” (47mm) x 1.34” (34mm) and 5.3 oz. Enough for them to lay claim to the “world’s smallest and lightest” PLB title.

The price is not yet finalized, but expect it to be competitive with the McMurdo’s $250 street price.

This First Look is based on ACR provided information and my short opportunity to get some hands-on experience with a pre-production unit. It appears to offer some clear advantages compared to the FastFind, beyond the small difference in size and weight. What ACR have done, essentially, is to put their SARLink PLB on a severe diet, while keeping its desirable features.

As with all previous ACR PLBs, the ResQLink has a flexible blade antenna wrapped around the case that is very easy to deploy one-handed. Just slip the tip from the retaining clip and rotate it up into position. It has detents at both the perpendicular and horizontal points for flexibilitywhile in a pocket or some such arrangement. Its design configuration is to be set down on its back with the GPS antenna oriented to the sky and the antenna perpendicular to the body of the PLB. I like that ACR have added a retainer on the side of the PLB opposite the antenna pivot that the antenna slips into, addressing one of the minor annoyances of prior models of ACR PLBs, the antenna sliding away from the body while stowed. This one is much more secure when in the stowed position.

The activation and test buttons are covered by the plastic encased base of the antenna when stowed. Rotating the antenna away from the stowed position gives access to the two buttons on the side of the device. That’s very neatly solves the need for two separate physical actions required by the regulations and keeps the buttons safely protected from inadvertent activation when stored.

The ResQLink uses a 66-channel GPS for very quick acquisition of location, like its previous generation brethren that had very quick time to first fix, and has a full GPS self-test, which I prefer. It can also be used with ACR’s 406Link.com subscription-based web site for through system testing and limited messaging with GPS location. Two days of free testing are included so that the new owner can assure themselves that the PLB is working by testing it up to the COSPAS-SARSAT geostationary satellites and back down to an earth station.

ACR claims that the ResQLink will always exceed 5 watts output, which they claim to be better than the McMurdo’s measured nominal 4.6 watts. They are claiming typical battery life of 30-40 hours at -4 degrees F (-20 C), considerably more than the minimum 24 hours requirement.

There’s a flashing white LED “strobe” that automatically activates when the PLB is turned on that is visible through the clear plastic front of the body. Results of test mode operation are enunciated via this LED as well. A good size lanyard attachment point is provided, along with a lanyard to secure the PLB to you.

it is not inherently buoyant, so a float pouch will be an available option. ACR rate it as waterproof to 33 feet (10m) for 10 minutes.

ACR plans to keep the exiting AquaLink models in production as they feel there is a market for an inherently buoyant PLB, even if it is larger, plus they will keep the digital display “View” versions of the existing models around since they feel the display provides a compelling feature set for some purchasers.

From my point of view, I prefer the smaller, lighter new ResQLink for all uses. As I always say, “if it isn’t with you, it can’t save you™” and you are much more likely to carry the small ResQLink than a larger PLB. For marine uses or where you might end up in the water inadvertently (aircraft ditching, for example), as long as the PLB is connected to you by a lanyard, which you need to do regardless of whether or not it is buoyant, you are good to go.

The new ResQLink is small enough to easily fit into a pocket or can be carried in an appropriate-sized cell phone holster on your belt.

I found the ergonomics of the ResQLink to be very good. It is easy to grip securely, there’s enough exterior elements on the case to assist in that, and very easy to operate one-handed. Both are definite advantages over the McMurdo FastFind.

Notwithstanding some non-obvious issue, which given ACR’s reputation and past experience I don’t expect, the new ResQLink incorporates enough notable advantages over the McMurdo FastFind that it appears to be the next must-have PLB. Expect availability of the new ResQLink in the first quarter of 2011.

We will have a full report and images of the real PLB, along with side-by-side images with the McMurdo FastFind 210, as soon as we can get our hands on one for more than a few minutes.

UPDATE: July 21, 2011: FCC approval granted, now available for purchase.

Initial Hands-on Report – Second Generation SPOT

SPOT, LLC introduced their second generation “SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger” at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Salt Lake City, Utah, this week. The new device (I’ll refer to it as SPOT 2 to differentiate between it and the original SPOT) appears to address many of the deficiencies we found in the original SPOT, both in terms of ergonomics and human interface issues as well as GPS performance.

SPOT provided the following list of new features in their press release and I have annotated the list with my thoughts and comments:

30% smaller and lighter than the original model at 5.2 ounces – As the images show, it is quite a bit smaller, which is rarely a bad thing. In comparison to the new McMurdo Fast Find PLB, it is a bit shorter and thinner, but wider. I suspect volume would be similar.

New enhanced satellite antenna for improved performance in foliage or canopied environments and Advanced GPS performance chipset – The original SPOT suffered from less than stellar GPS performance in challenging environments and even some not so challenging. In part it was the GPS receiver, which wasn’t leading edge, but in larger part it was caused by the fact that the GPS receiving antenna and the satellite transmitting antenna were one and the same and it was optimized to transmit to the Globalstar satellites. SPOT claims the new dual use antenna is a major breakthrough and doesn’t compromise GPS performance. I’ll take that with at least a small grain of salt, but expect that there will be a significant improvement in GPS performance between having a current generation, high sensitivity GPS receiver and a better antenna. Only testing and field experience will show how much better.

Because SPOT 2 still relies only on GPS to provide location information in the distress signal, improved GPS performance would be a significant advantage. If you are already a fan of SPOT, and plan on it being your distress alerting device, that alone would be worth the upgrade, assuming it delivers on the promise. At this point, particularly without having tested it, I am not suggesting that SPOT is, in my mind, a replacement for a 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacon for distress alerting, but if you intend to use it for that purpose, the improved GPS would be good to have.

GPS Acquisition light and “Message Sending” indicator light – dedicated indicating LEDs should help eliminate some of the confusion that was caused by the many different flashing LED indications on the original SPOT. That was a continual source of annoyance and, in many cases, serious problems when a user misinterpreted what the device was doing. The lighted buttons (see below) are part of that solution.

Dedicated GPS Tracking button – Again, this should help make it less confusing and easier to use the tracking function. This is actually pretty important because the tracking function can provide a degree of back-up in case the device does not transmit a GPS location in a distress alert. SPOT 2 will transmit a distress alert, even without a GPS location. If you have tracking engaged and you have an emergency, but the distress alert does not include a GPS location, then Search and Rescue might have the digital bread crumb trail to provide a starting point for a search. The key here is that you have to manually engage the tracking feature and you have to do that on a daily basis.

SPOT has improved the tracking feature by recognizing the issue that often showed up with the original SPOT when in the field, that a tracking point or points were often not received by the system, which could occur for a variety of reasons. In an effort to mitigate this issue, SPOT 2 now sends the current tracking location and the previous two locations in every tracking data burst (three bursts every 10 minutes). Thus, if the system doesn’t receive a few of those tracking data bursts, for whatever reasons, it can recover to a degree. Obviously, if there are more than a couple tracking locations not received, as we would sometimes see or have been reported with the original SPOT, it cannot recover more than two locations previously. There is no suggestion that satellite communications have been improved, so satellite visibility may likely still be an issue in some cases.

New, dedicated pre-programmable Custom Message button – This could be very helpful by allowing an alternative message to the Help or I’m OK messages available to the original SPOT user. Uses for this message function are limited only by your imagination.

Protective covers over S.O.S and Help button to prevent inadvertent message transmissions – This should help prevent accidental activation and the unexpected arrival of SAR at your location. This is a requirement for PLBs and I’m glad to see SPOT adopt this to their device.

Illuminated buttons – Helpful at night, for sure. But, even better, each is used to indicate that function is engaged and working, which will address the confusion caused by the LED indicators on the original SPOT

Choice of orange or silver – I think this is aimed primarily at their SPOT Assist vehicle assistance market where perhaps bright orange isn’t considered quite so fashion forward. Orange makes a lot more sense for our wilderness, marine, aviation and other similar uses

Included case and neoprene fastening band – There’s no integral clip like on the original SPOT; they provide a cell-phone style soft case with a clip. The Velcro dot can be used for mounting on your car dashboard or aircraft glare shield, etc.

The new model includes globally recognized symbols for its message buttons to accommodate use in international markets and stimulate distribution to a growing customer base in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia – 911, as used on the original SPOT, is not universally understood, but S.O.S. is. The button symbology is pretty straightforward and much better than the original SPOT.

SPOT 2 is powered by three AAA-cell lithium batteries (compared to AA-cells for the original SPOT) which will provide a bit over 4.6 days of S.O.S. transmissions every 5 minutes with a full charge. Of course, if you are using the tracking and other features, that will shorten the S.O.S. transmission time. There is a low battery warning, the Power On LED flashes red, when battery capacity reaches 30% remaining. Just like on the original Spot, two screws retain the battery compartment cover on the back of the unit.

SPOT 2 reportedly meets or exceeds the same environmental and abuse resistance standards as the current PLB standard requires. It is claimed to be significantly more waterproof than the original SPOT. That was rated to one meter for 30 minutes, but we are aware of a number of instances where that appeared not to be the case or insufficient for use while running a river and the like, even when it wasn’t immersed that deep or that long. SPOT 2 is rated to 5 meters (16.4 feet) for 1 hour and that should be adequate for most users.

Pricing will be the same as the current SPOT, with an MSRP of $169.95 and an expected street price of about $149. As before, a subscription is required and cost of that remains the same; $99.99 for distress alerting, HELP and Check OK messages and use of the customizable message button. Tracking adds another $49.99. GEOS insurance for costs incurred in a rescue remains at $7.95 per year. Normally this hasn’t been much of a concern for those adventuring in the U.S., but given all the publicity recently about persons being stupidly charged ridiculous amounts for rescue in some cases, unfortunately, I suspect that will be a strong sales point for SPOT.

As before, if your subscription lapses or the computer loses you, they won’t pass along your distress alert or messages. No money, or record of money, no rescue. I still have a serious issue with this policy.

GEOS continues to provide the distress alerting interface, and my concerns about how they accomplish that remain as well. While they seem to have improved significantly since they first started, often with a push from authorities, I am still not impressed by some of the reports I receive about them stumbling to make contact with the correct SAR service in some instances. Giving credit where due, they have plenty of saves to their credit, but I cannot ignore the issues that remain or the difficulties that have manifested themselves in the reports I get.

GEOS reportedly provide a generally responsive interface with the listed emergency contacts during the search and rescue phase, but they still need to improve how they interface with SAR, based on reports, and they need to become more proactive in doing so. Their proprietary position towards their system and performance and lack of openness makes it even more difficult to both access their performance and service and to come up with better solutions. This continues to be the subject of much discussion in the SAR alerting community. GEOS remains an issue and question mark for me with regards to using SPOT for distress alerting.

SPOT 2, like the original SPOT, is assembled in China.

SPOT 2 is scheduled to be available “later this fall” according to SPOT. All SPOT was showing at Outdoor Retailer was a non-functional model. We have been promised one of the first units manufactured and we’ll bring you an initial evaluation as soon as possible, once we have it in hand.

Initial Hands-on Report – Second Generation SPOT

Read our updated Initial Evaluation of the McMurdo Fast Find.

It’s leapfrog time in the PLB business and McMurdo revealed today at Miami International Boat Show their big leap forward, a new FAST FIND range of Personal Locator Beacons. The following information is culled from McMurdo press releases and their Fast Find web site.

UPDATE February 28: The new Fast Find has received FCC approval.

FAST FIND weighs 5.3 oz (150g) with dimensions of 1.34” (34mm) x 1.85” (47mm) x 4.17” (106mm). That’s a major reduction in weight and size over the competition, from 3-5 ounces less, and a couple ounces lighter and more compact even than the SPOT Satellite Messenger. This is small enough to easily fit in a shirt pocket.

There are two models in the FAST FIND PLB range, the FAST FIND 200 and the FAST FIND 210, both to be priced at $299 or less according to the press release. This would be approximately one third to one half less than the price of competitive PLBs. The 210 model has an integral 50-channel GPS receiver. I can’t imagine why anyone would buy a PLB without GPS, but perhaps it’s all about marketing and being to quote lower prices and the like.

FAST FIND also includes a SOS LED flashlight facility which is manually activated. I like the concept of it being controllable by the user. It is not buoyant, so you want to be sure it is tethered if use in the water is contemplated. It is rated waterproof to 30 ft. (10 meters) for 5 minutes. I’m not sure what that translates to just floating in the water, but I suspect its probably perfectly adequate for most uses, even on the water. FAST FIND is a Class 2, rated to -20°C, and its integral battery has a storage life of 5 years.

Activation is initiated by first pulling a red tab on the top of the body which pulls off the yellow plastic cap revealing the antenna, which will uncoil, somewhat like their first generation Fastfind models. With the cover gone, the activation button is now accessible. The GPS antenna is identified as being next to the ON button. The FAST FIND antenna extends up from the “face” of the PLB, so deployment is with it laying on the back, again just like the prior generation. We’ll just have to see how well it works one-handed.

There is a full system GPS acquisition self-test, restricted to a maximum of 10 tests throughout the 5 year storage life of the battery.

Given the size, weight and price point, if there are no hidden surprises (I’m a professional cynic), this would be a game changer for PLBs. The size and price also would make it much more enticing for those considering SPOT as an alternative to a PLB.

For further information about FAST FIND visit: www.fastfindplb.com.

UPDATE February 28: The new Fast Find has received FCC approval.

Read our updated Initial Evaluation of the McMurdo Fast Find.

My report on Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2008 continues (click here for the previous installment):

Leatherman Puts Folders on Diet

Leatherman’s line of folders, introduced in 2005 and expanded in 2006, offered a number of unique features including exchangeable bits in some models, and were generally well received. If there was one common complaint about them it was that they were quite bulky in the pocket. Version 2 of the folders, so to speak, have been launched and the knives have been put on a diet to produce a slimmer and trimmer line-up.

The new Crater and Expanse lines also bring a more consistent look to the line, they are all obviously siblings, something that wasn’t the case with the original line-up. There are 10 new models in each line. (Crater c33T (top) and Expanse e55B (bottom) pictured here) Rather than bore and confuse you trying to describe all the permutations, click on the links below for the Leatherman feature sheets (in PDF format) that include a full feature matrix:

• Leatherman Crater Knives
• Leatherman Expanse Knives

Outwardly, the obvious difference is that the Crater knives have black glass reinforced nylon handles, the higher end Expanse knives have stainless steel added to the GRN. Both series offer either 2.6-inch or 3.1-inch blades. The Crater blade steel is 420HC, the Expanse is 154CM. Each model in each line also offers either a plain edge or partially serrated edge.

As with the original lineup, the smaller blades are liner locks with an improved smoother operating version of Leatherman’s Blade Launcher for opening. The larger blades are lockbacks with right-handed thumb stud opening. Various combinations of features include a screwdriver, a bit driver (using Leatherman’s proprietary bits) with imptoved and more compact bit storage in the handle and a carabiner/bottle cap lifter that folds into the handle. Each has a removable non-reversible pocket clip.

The 30% thinner and lighter knives feel much better in the hand and pocket. They look better as well, at least to my eye.

Pricing (MSRP) ranges from $24 – $70 for the Crater line and $44 – $87 for the Expanse. Expect initial deliveries in the Fall.

One-Breath Inflater Pump

If you’ve ever had “fun” blowing up an air mattress, toy or other piece of inflatable equipment, or using a foot pump to accomplish the same, you must have wished there was an easier way. Sure, you can use an electric inflater, but that requires a source of power. You can hand the job off to a convenient kid, if there’s one available, but they have their own issues, of course. Finally, someone has the answer and it’s another one of those forehead slapping why-didn’t-I-think-of-that moments.

The Millair Company’s patent-pending “Instaflator” is so stone simple it is almost ludicrous. Attach the nozzle to whatever needs to be pumped up, unfold the plastic tube, blow lightly into the end of it, then roll the tube up, which transfers that air into the inflatable. The video below shows how simple it is. No huffing, puffing or near hyperventilation.

You can watch a more comprehensive demo on their Web site. It comes with three different nozzles designed to fit most inflatables. MSRP is $3.50 and they estimate that one Instaflator is good for 30-40 inflations.

NOTE: One of our readers noted that a raft manufacturer has been using a similar concept for some time, so how patentable this is may be an issue. Regardless, that does nothing to detract from how great the idea the idea is and how inexpensively they have implemented it.

Check Back Soon for More New Gear

In an effort to speed up the process, I’m going to publish this review of new products from Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2008 in stages over the next few days. Check back for more new gear, hopefully tomorrow.