1. Leatherman Tread Wearable Multitool

Behold the Leatherman Tread, a wearable, stainless steel multitool bracelet with interchangeable links that sport a variety of wrenches, screwdrivers and other tools — even a box cutter. The Tread comes in a natural steel finish or sleek black, and there’s an optional water-resistant timepiece with a shock-resistant sapphire crystal.

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2. DJI Phantom 3

Did your dad ever fly remote control planes with you? Maybe hand you a Polaroid camera and tell you to have at it? Return the favor by getting him his very own not at all creepy flying drone, with a built-in camera that streams HD 1080p video and still photos to his iOS or Android device. He can even preprogram it with GPS navigation and automated camera movements. You don’t have to be MacGyver to put this thing together; as soon as the battery charges up, your dad can start cranking out professional-quality aerial videos of the neighbor’s dog going nuts.

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3. Pyro Fireshooter

Your dad. Shooting balls of fire from his open palm. What could possibly go wrong?

No, seriously. That’s just what this thing lets him do. We suggest pairing it with a flame-retardant shirt and a fire extinguisher.

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4. Arsenal Firearms Double-Barrel Pistol

The double-barreled AF2011-A1 from Arsenal Firearms pays tribute to the legendary Colt 1911-A1… twice. That’s right, you’re looking at twin barrels in a fully functional .45-caliber sidearm. The duplex single-column magazines hold a total of 16 bullets, and a full payload can be delivered in about 3 seconds. Many of the parts are also interchangeable with the classic 1911-A1.

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5. Victorinox INOX Watch

Every watchmaker wants to sell you the promise that its watches are toughest — but Victorinox goes further than most by crushing their INOX watches under military tanks, torching them for more than a minute, gleefully flinging them off three-story buildings onto concrete, and marinating them in every toxic, corrosive chemical they can think of. And they look pretty darn good, too.

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6. BulletBlocker Bulletproof Lamb Leather Jacket

Don’t worry — there’s a lightweight NIJ IIIA bulletproof liner hidden in there, providing the same protective coverage as traditional law enforcement body armor. But until the bullets start flying, this is just a legitimately good-looking jacket made of soft lamb leather, with multiple inside pockets and a heavy-duty brass zipper.

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7. BulletBlocker NIJ IIIA Bulletproof Covert Backpack

BulletBlocker also has your goods covered with the NIJ IIIA bulletproof backpack. Whether he’s using this as a bugout bag or hauling his day’s work in the padded laptop sleeve, the bulletproof Kevlar liner and a number of tactical features, including a Backup Belt System compatible hidden pistol pocket, ensure your dad will be ready for anything.

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8. ZPacks Hexamid Solo Tent

Hardcore, long-distance backpackers and preppers both love their bombproof ultralight shelters. Check out the the ZPacks Hexamid Solo Tent, made of crazy-light, crazy-strong cuben fiber: You get a fully enclosed inner screen and storm doors for less than a pound, or use it as a tarp for less than half a pound. We’re pretty sure the tarp would fit in your pocket. Better get right on that order, though — this awesome shelter sometimes has a weeks-long backlog.

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9. 3Doodler 2.0

Forget doodling on paper. Next time Dad is bored, he can doodle 3D objects out of thin air with the 3Doodler 2.0, a major upgrade on one of the first 3D printing pens. This little gadget heats plastic threads then quickly air-cools them, letting you “draw” in three dimensions — and it has lots of cool sub-gadgets, like interchangeable nozzles for different effects, a portable power pack, and a foot pedal that eliminates the need to click with your fingers.

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10. JetLev-Flyer Shark

Reveal the superhero powers you always knew Dad possessed by strapping him into the JetLev-Flyer Shark’s jetpack. The Shark watercraft is small enough to fit on even a smaller yacht’s swim platform, but powerful enough to launch your father up to 45 feet into the air and power him through some pretty crazy dives and mid-air maneuvers. Better yet, the delivery includes a multi-day flying lesson, so you know he’ll come back in one piece. You can also buy a jetpack add-on to retrofit Seadoo and Yamaha watercraft for flying fun.

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1. Cannondale Scalpel 29

First on the list is the Cannondale Scalpel 29 Carbon Black Inc. XC mountain bike. A high-quality cross country (XC) mountain bike is a simple choice for the self-reliant who don’t want to depend on anything more than their own two legs to power their getaway vehicle. The obvious advantage of a bicycle as bug out vehicle is that it won’t run out of gas, and thus won’t need to be abandoned at some point on your journey out of harm’s way. This mode of travel can also be quicker in congested traffic heading out of town or in densely populated areas. Although most any decent mountain bike could fulfill these basic needs, we chose the Cannondale Scalpel 29er  because of the high quality components, low weight, and robustness of the frame. With full suspension front and back that includes the super cool weight saving single-sided lefty fork, it has plenty enough travel to take off-road ruts and rocks with ease, but with a lockout function that means your precious pedal power won’t go to waste with unnecessary bounce and sway. This impressively light 29er owes its race ready weight to the BallisTec Carbon frame and  Lefty fork. There’s a ton of debate within the mountain biking community of correct wheel size, and although even the majority of us at the Research Labs prefer a 26er for tight technical trail riding, we are exceptionally impressed with the handling of the Scalpel 29er and love the idea of the big rolling power and go-over-anything nature of a 29er as bug out bike. The beauty of the Cannondale Scalpel 29er is the frame geometry, a steep head angle combined with the short wheelbase means it turns tighter like a 26er, but has the distinct advantage of accelerating faster. Plus with a low-sheen all black finish the Cannondale Scalpel 29 Carbon Black Inc. is about as stealthy as it gets.

2. Stealth Bomber Electric Bike

If you like the idea of the mobility offered by a bike for the quick getaway, but are concerned that it might be a little short in the quick department, then an electric bike could be the perfect solution. At a top speed of 50mph the Stealth Bomber electric bike will certainly take you wherever you need to go much faster than pumping the pedals; at least with the competition mode engaged, otherwise the USA mode has a governor that reduces it to the max legal speed of 20mph. The Stealth Bomber does however also include pedals so you can supplement the 4.5 kW electrical output and increase acceleration using your own two feet. A max range of 50 miles may not work for everyone’s needs, but it could certainly help to get you out of harm’s way in a hurry or to your bunker off the grid. The Stealth Bomber electric bike also features advanced features like a smooth 9-speed transmission and powerful hydraulic brakes to keep you in control. Not to mention with a name like Stealth, aggressive styling, and an all black finish it seems to be the perfect fit as the Electric bug out bike of choice….plus we’re pretty sure it’s likely the electric bike Batman would have in his lair.

3. Yamaha Super Tenere ES

If speed and mobility are paramount in your plans for getting out of danger, then a proper motorcycle can’t be beat. You get the advantage of mobility with the distinct advantage of being faster than most anything on the road. We’ve chosen the Yamaha Super Tenere ES as our motorcycle of choice. This beast is big, bad, and capable of most anything you can throw at it.  While it’s not well suited to tight single-track scenarios, that’s not the point of the Tenere. We’ve decided to go with a large adventure bike that doubles as a full-fledged tourer because of its ability to easily carry a passenger and the hefty amount of gear necessary to survive out there. With a 6.1 gallon fuel tank and an estimated fuel consumption of over 40 mpg this big bike can take you, a passenger, and your gear quite a ways on a single tank. An electronically controlled suspension that can take advantage of 7.5” of travel at both wheels means you are quickly and easily able to make adjustment for on-road versus off-road needs. Stopping power of the Yamaha Super Tenere ES is solid thanks to a dual disk setup up front and a good ABS system. Throw in proven reliability of the Japanese manufacturer combined with fuel injection and a shaft final drive, and you have a bug out bike you can load down and rely on.

4. 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish

For those who prefer four wheels to two, but still feel the need for speed, then we’ve got just the ticket (no pun intended). It’s the brand new 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish. Quite easily the best looking bug out vehicle on the list, and now that the 2015 model is capable of reaching 200 mph – it’s easily the fastest too. You’ll be rocketed to your safe house thanks to the latest generation V12 engine from Aston Martin, capable of producing 568 bhp and propelling this fine piece of machinery from 0-60 in a claimed 3.6 seconds. This incredible acceleration is in part due to the new eight-speed automatic transmission, with the eight gears produced by four gear sets and five shift elements to continually optimize the power being produced by the V12 and apply that energy to the tarmac.  Unconventional, yes. Badass, hell yes! So what if it’s a little “one note”, if you need to get away faster than anyone else and don’t mind eliciting drooling jealous stares while you do – then the brand new 2015 Aston Martin Vanquish is the way to go….we know it would be James Bond’s choice.

5. UEV-440 Camper Trailer

Next on the list is the UEV-440. This is an entirely different approach to getting away from whatever badness you’re escaping from. Instead of relying on mobility or speed to outrun the threat, this vehicle is all about being prepared wherever you find yourself. What you sacrifice in agility you redeem in preparedness no matter the location. You won’t be nearly as mobile, but it does have the added advantage of being a complete bug out shelter on wheels. So, if you don’t have a specific place in mind where you’re going to bunker down, then this is an excellent solution. It’s one of the few all-in-one travel trailers that is truly off-road capable, and smartly designed with plenty of storage for all the necessary gear without being so large that you can’t get out of sight. When the proverbial stuff hits the fan, simply back up your favorite 4 wheel drive to the UEV-440 and head for the hills.

6. ICON A5 Sports Aircraft

To round out the list we had to include a personal aircraft….’cause what more prepared than that?! Ok, we’ll admit this solution is not for everyone, but you’ll have to agree if the world is coming to an end, then your best bet is probably hopping in your personal plane and flying away from the nastiness.  We’ve chosen the ICON A5 as our aircraft of choice because of its manageable size, safety and ease of flying. ICON’s mission is to build the safest light sports aircraft in the world, and it looks as though they are well on the way to achieving their goal. With revolutionary aero engineering, they’ve designed a plane that theoretically completely negates the hazard of a stall spin and allows the pilot to maintain complete control even in stall scenarios. Check out the ICON A5 video to see the demonstration of their anti stall spin technology in use…it’s pretty impressive stuff. Beyond the beginner friendly flight features, each ICON A5 also has the ability to land on the tarmac or water – exceptionally cool if your bug out preparedness plan involves an idyllic remote fishing spot.

Hope you’ve enjoyed our roundup of top bug out vehicles. Obviously there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and truthfully there are a host of different factors you’ll need to account for in your individual bug out plan. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the perfect bug out vehicle for your specific needs. Use the comments section below to let us know your thoughts on your dream SHTF setup – make it as pragmatic or far-fetched as you’d like…. after all it’s still a free country.

Brown Safe has always and will continue to be steadfastly focused on security. Yes, historically this has primarily consisted of vault doors and day gates to protect military personal and sensitive material, as well as high-security safes depended on by families around the globe to protect their most treasured valuables….but we can’t stop there.

The Research Labs component of Brown Safe was created out of necessity for special projects that required a broader more systemic view of security. For this reason, we examine all manner of technologies and methodologies to minimize risk and security exposure. Sometimes pertaining to a specific safe or vault project, or sometimes a completely separate security product commissioned because of our passion for protection.

Our lawyers and those of the organization we are working with to implement an Active Shooter Response Solution have asked us to maintain the utmost secrecy of the project…..but we felt it was necessary to break the silence if only to let the other responsible concerned citizens among us know they are not alone – there are others that are 100% focused on the issue, exhausting their significant resources, and committed to making a change. Because there is plenty of room for discussion about mental health, background checks, and all manner of firearm related discussion – and we agree with healthy meaningful debate – but the reality is sociopaths are doing real harm right now and that is what we are focused on. We intend to create a solution that will eliminate these threats post-haste and make the copycat cowards think twice.

We’ll be doing our best to give you regular updates on the progress of this system, and get back to offering the same articles, insights, reviews, and tips you’ve come to expect from the us.

Thank you for the support and stay safe!

– The Brown Safe Research Labs team.

1. Survival Pod X-Stream

The perfect stocking stuffer for the Prepper on your list, the X Stream Survival Pod includes 16 different survival tools in one compact container of paracord. Carry as a key-chain or attach to the zipper of your favorite pack or jacket and you’ll always have just what you need right at your fingertips. This handy tool includes:

• 1 – 4cm D Shaped Carabiner
• 1 – 1″ Sharp Eye knife and sheath
• 1 – 1″ Fire Stick Flint
• 1 – 6″ Jute Firestarter/Tinder
• 1 – 6″ Strip of Duct Tape
• 1 – 12ft of 550 Parachute Cord
• 1 – 1 1/4″ sewing needle
• 1 – Spoon Lure
• 1 – #6 Live Bait Hook
• 1 – #8 Live Bait Hook
• 2 – Split Shot, tin, removable fishing weights
• 1 – 15ft of mono-filiment fishing line
• 1 – 1 gram of reusable hot glue
• 1 – 12″ steel green snare wire
• 1 – 1 1/2″ hacksaw blade

2. Tactical Operator Pen

The perfect double-duty tool and a cool complement to any EDC kit. The Tactical Operator Pen from Tuff Writer is sure to please any guy on your Christmas list. This tactical pen functions as both an excellent writing utensil and defensive tool. Plus with an all black satin finish and knurled surface for positive grip, it looks as stylish as it is lethal. Carry this pen and you’ll always be ready whether you need to sign your John Hancock or defend yourself from Johnny-come-lately.

3. Goruck GR2

Founded by a Special Forces vet, Goruck was created to make great gear. Their proven equipment is some of the toughest on earth; designed to withstand some of the toughest challenges on earth. Here’s what the founder Jason had to say about the Goruck GR2 “GR2 travels really, really well. I’m no stranger to the austere, the posh, or the grind of getting to both, but no matter where I’m going I want to get there with as little hassle as possible, find a place to set my bag down and then find an adventure or two. I hate the traveling part of travel anymore: the lines, the baggage check, separating out my laptop, stripping down at security. When we were designing GR2, our goal was to create and simplify the one travel bag we wanted to take with us anywhere. So that’s what we did.”

4. Gerber Downrange Tomahawk

If you have a tough-as-nails guy on your Christmas list and don’t want to disappoint, then the Downrange Tomahawk is sure to do the trick. This tomahawk from Gerber is a serious tool, fully equipped with a large beveled edge on one side of the ax head and a heavy-duty hammer on the other. Below the grip of this smasher and basher features a hefty pry bar for leveraging your way through anything you don’t feel like busting to bits. Add in other features like 420HC steel construction, G-10 handles with integrated scales, plus a MOLLE compatible sheathe, and now you have a Christmas gift that keeps on giving.

5. Triple Aught Design Stealth Hoodie

The Stealth Hoodie from TAD has been meticulously engineered to achieve the perfect blend of superior weather resistance and adaptive insulation. A smart looking protective layer that is actually smart; this jacket literally adapts to the environment both inside and outside the jacket to maintain the ideal body climate. In the presence of heat or body moisture, the pores open to channel that heat and moisture away from the body, keeping you cooler and more comfortable. When it’s cold or body moisture has not accumulated, the pores constrict, retaining heat inside the jacket. Performance and function are the baseline requirements of everything Triple Aught Design makes, and this jacket features clean-lined design without superfluous details. The silhouette is modern without the bulk and has a subdued color palette to ensure you’ll blend into natural environments and look mighty tacti-cool all the while.

6. Randolph Engineering Sunglasses

Aviator sunglasses are always in, because there’s no denying that the look of these specs are equal parts cool and classic. Randolph Engineering is the literal innovator of the iconic Aviator sunglasses. In the late 1970′s Randolph Engineering started manufacturing Mil-Spec Aviator sunglasses for the United States Air Force, producing in excess of 200,000 sunglasses annually, and they became the prime contractor in 1982. By the late 1980′s Randolph had expanded into the commercial sunglass market after civilians learned about the quality of its sunglasses. These shades have been worn by everyone from Mav in Top Gun to Don Draper, so why fake it when you can have the real deal with Randolph Engineering Sunglasses.

7. Brunckhorst Sidekick TAD Edition

Triple Aught Design has teamed with legendary knife craftsman Lyle Brunckhorst to produce a high quality folder for everyday use.  Folding knives offer many advantages, but one downside is the inherent risk that the locking mechanism can potentially fail while in use, leaving one to constantly maintain awareness of your grip. Lyle Brunckhorst and Dan Perreault have used their combined history creating custom knives to develop the patented Xross-Bar Locking System, so no matter the grip position your hand is protected from a potential failure. Users of this Brunckhorst Sidekick TAD Edition are now free to slice and dice more aggressively and with increased confidence in their knife.

8. The Polaris Sportsman Military ATV

ATVs are awesome, plain and simple, but even more awesome when they are spec’d for military application. The Polaris Sportsman Military ATV is a bad to the bone 4 wheeler that is up for any task you can throw at it; complete with a bunch of tactical tech to get you in or out of as much trouble as you can muster, including innovative TerrainArmor non-pneumatic tires that never go flat, electronic power steering, AWD and active descent control for maximum traction, 3,000 lb Warn winch, and an impressive 77 hp engine mated to a military-grade transmission.

9. Bell & Ross Blackbird

You can never go wrong with giving a nice watch as a gift, and the Bell & Ross Blackbird is about the coolest watch going. The BR 126 Blackbird pays tribute to the legendary 1960s American spy plane, the Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird”. It has retained the appearance of this stealth plane, whose black paint absorbed radar waves, in its anti-reflection matte black case. An aviation chronograph designed according to professional specifications, the Vintage BR 126 Blackbird is equipped with a Flyback function with orange hands for optimal legibility.

10. Brown Safe MAN SAFE Elite Edition with Biometric Lock

The ultimate gift for the man that has it all, The MAN SAFE Elite Edition is a high-security safe to keep all his finer things protected. Plus, all  that’s worth protecting will be available at the swipe of his finger with a biometric fingerprint reading lock that would have even James Bond feeling a bit jealous. The MAN SAFE also features a hefty dose of luxury upgrades including carbon fiber and stainless accents, LED interior lighting, and Orbita watch winders among others. Not to mention this beast is completely constructed from military-grade ballistic steel, a material so strong even .50 caliber anti-sniper rounds don’t leave a dent..so you know it can withstand nearly any threat out there.

Division Furtive is a Montreal based maker of limited run watches. At the Labs we have a special fascination with timepieces, an appreciation that first emerged when studying the complexities of mechanical watches and an interest in the intricacies they share with the locking mechanisms of our safes and vault doors. However, over time our love for all things horological has grown, and we are very impressed by what we’ve seen from Division Furtive.

They’ve managed to blend the lines of time-telling and technology. Their latest creation is the Type 40, and we were happy to open this package to discover it. With the Type 40, Division Furtive has taken robust and refined industrial design, applied a heavy dose of Mechatronics, and created a watch that functions unlike any other. With one look it’s immediately evident this watch is anything but traditional. The thick textured epoxy case and smooth rubber band in all black makes a bold statement, but it is definitely the unique indicators on the face that reveal its true nature. Unlike a traditional dial with hands and numerals to display time, the Division Furtive Type  40 uses a series of small LED’s and two linear indicators, one that corresponds to hours and another below for minutes. However, these two linear displays don’t stop there. The metallic gold on black graphics reveal a host of secondary features, including moon phases, days of the week, calendar, battery life, travel mode, and more. Yet, there are no buttons anywhere to access them, instead you actually tap or double tap the face of the watch to display these additional features. And if you’re thinking that walking around with little glowing lights on the your watch is a little hokey, have no fear, the watch displays nothing until you actually turn your wrist to the standard viewing angle (approx. 45 °) to read it….preserving battery life and manliness – ingenious stuff!

Actually we haven’t even gotten to the genius stuff. The truly amazing tech part of this watch is that it sets all of these features by interacting with your computer or smartphone. Division Furtive realized that nearly everyone references their phone or computer when setting the time on their watch, so why not simply let these devices set the time (and a lot more) on the watch for you? A specially designed smartphone or web app pulses light which is then read by the watch via a small glass window on the back – VOILÀ your watch now knows the exact time, date, moon phases, if it’s leap year or not, etc.

We are excited about this out-of-the-box mingling of technology and time-telling, and we loved opening up our Division Furtive Type 40; so, if you have a watch fanatic on your gift list who loves technology and has a penchant for distinctive design, then we know they’ll love opening the box to a Type 40 just as much as we did.

Head over the Division Furtive website to learn more about the watch and to purchase.

What looks to be a Hummer on steroids is actually quite a bit more. While it retains the no-nonsense boxy looks, it’s actually substantially larger with substantially more ability (and we all know the Military’s favorite vehicle is no slouch when it comes to off-road ability). The Ghe-O Rescue can be equipped with everything from stretchers and a rescue sled to a snow plow, tracks in place of rear wheels,  water tank for firefighters, and even pneumatic pillows on the wheels for deep water or snow crossings.

Combine these heavy duty add-ons with a robust transmission with lockable axles and your choice of either a gas powered engine pumping out 500bhp or the diesel version capable of 304bhp and you’re ready to conquer just about anything. Have a look for yourself….it’s mighty impressive.

An industry leader for years, Armytek has a record of proven performance when it comes to building some of the best tactical flashlights on this planet. Sadly, we didn’t get a chance to test any Armyteks with our last review, so we thought it was time to put these in-demand flashlights through the gauntlet in this follow-up. We had Armytek send us three different models for us to take a look at: the Barracuda, the Viking Pro, and the Predator Pro.

Barracuda XM-L2

Armytek impressed everybody with their original Barracuda, which featured a U2 LED, but now, Armytek has released their Barracuda model with a U3 LED. With the bigger and badder Barracuda Armytek has pumped up both the Lumens and throw to make a great flashlight even better. The Barracuda is one of the only LED flashlights we’ve found that can really stand up to our good ‘ol AE Light that we featured in our previous Top Flashlights article. With an output measured at 1450 lumens and a throw of 540 meters, the Barracuda is a definite beast designed to tackle any job and practically turn night into day. We really enjoyed the fact that it has both a concentrated center beam with flood around, enabling it to be multipurpose and malleable to your needs. Plus, multiple mode operations allow the user to adjust brightness levels when the full 1450 lumens is a little overkill or you want to extend the battery life a bit. The Armytek Barracuda is also surprisingly lightweight for its size, giving you one more reason it makes a great flashlight.

Specifications:

• LED: Cree XM-L2 U2
• Output:  1390 Lumens
• Hotspot:  4 degrees
• Spill: 40 degrees
• Throw:  569 yards
• Weight:  14 oz

Viking Pro

The Armytek Viking Pro is a powerful light with tons of flood. We’re talking 850 lumens of blinding light output, and a reach of around 250 meters. The LED responsible for the whopping output and respectable throw is the high quality Cree XM-L2 U2 LED, and can be powered by either one 18650 Li-Ion battery or two 123s. We found the Armytek Viking Pro to be an excellent all-around flashlight. Not only does it produce a lot of usable light, it also features three lumen output levels (850lm, 6lm, and 200 lm) and a strobe setting. At just over 6” long it’s the perfect companion to most any outdoor adventure, and a great one to keep in the go bag or glove compartment. As with all Armytek flashlights, the construction is beautiful, rugged, and as tactical as it gets. Utilizing the same matte surface as the Barracuda, you won’t feel ashamed pulling this Armytek out no matter what the mission is.

Specifications:

• LED: Cree XM-L2 U2
• Output:  850 Lumens
• Hotspot:  10 degrees
• Spill: 40 degrees
• Throw:  270 yards
• Weight:  5.82 oz

Predator Pro

While each is a great flashlight in its own rite, it’s clear that both the Viking Pro and Predator Pro flashlights share strands of DNA. Each of these lights by Armytek is a well-built tool designed to deliver. And with an anodized aluminum-alloy body with hermetic sealing system, both flashlights provide secure protection from substantial slamming around. However, the Predator Pro (as the name implies) even looks like it was born to be bashed about. The strike bezel has an intimidating style and seems to handle its intended purpose with ease, while the serrated texture of the body and dimples on the tail cap provide positive grip while doing so. The strobe setting is easily set by rotating the handle approx 1/8 of a turn to produce a disorientating effect, and lower output levels of 6lm or 200lm are also available to suite the task at hand. Even though the Armytek Predator Pro has a more modest output than the Viking Pro, its 670 lumens are still more than enough to get the job done. Plus, this flashlight is especially impressive once you find those 670 lumens reach out to 400 meters to find what’s going bump in the night.

Specifications:

• LED: Cree XM-G2 R5
• Output:  670 Lumens
• Hotspot:  5 degrees
• Spill: 40 degrees
• Throw:  437 yards
• Weight:  5.82 oz

The more we dive into the world of personal illumination, the more we realize how critically important it could be for us to have a great flashlight by our side for when the going gets tough. Here at the Brown Safe Research Labs, we affirm that security is critically important, and we believe that if you decide to go with any of the Armytek flashlights featured here you’ll be granted the peace of mind that light always brings.

When we received our Schon pen, we were astounded, yet again, at how amazingly beautiful such a simple everyday tool could be. We loved the fact that this pen could become small and unnoticeable when its cap was on, but full-length when the cap was put on the back. This allows you the comfort of being able to carry the Schon pen in any circumstance, while not sacrificing the full-body design we know and love.

The Schon pen is an engineering marvel. Once disassembled, you can see how both simplicity and strength were Ian’s main focuses when designing this pen. While the Schon pen doesn’t accept as many cartridges as other custom pens (such as the Bolt), Ian designed the pen around the Fisher Space Pen cartridge, a popular, reliable cartridge that you can find at your local Staples.

We decided to ask Ian a few questions about his vision and process, and we got some really interesting responses:

1. Why does the vast pen world need the Schon pen? What does it symbolize in your mind when compared to huge manufacturers and other pen makers?

Every component of this pen is made entirely in Massachusetts within 100 miles from my shop. I can confirm that the shops that work on these parts are ethically sound and treat their workers fairly. Doing big projects like the pen helps keep shops like these alive and help save jobs within my community. For me this projects is about doing something I love the right way, and showing people that keeping projects local can be possible without outsourcing overseas.

As far as the pen, I designed it to be compact, leak proof, dependable and easy to carry. I always enjoyed having a pen with me at all times, but couldn’t find one I liked, so I went and made my own. The pens two part construction gives it a very precise and tactile feel when assembling, similar to threading a silencer on a pistol. This action often draws attention to the user and that they have a unique pen like no one has seen before.

2. How does one begin to craft a custom pen? What goes into the process?

The first pen was based on a few different criteria. I really wanted it to be compact, elegant yet simple and dependable. With these qualifications in mind, I designed this pen to the best of my ability and fabricated the originals myself in my garage. As an engineer this was a test of designing to a process that I knew I could deliver on in the end. Keep in mind, all the fabrication of these original pens was done on a 1920’s clausing lathe with no automation. Many pens were fabricated and tested by friends and members of the EDC community. With their feedback I iterated through even more designs and settled on the design we have today. A pen that is dependable, aesthetic, unobtrusive in your pocket and a pleasure to use daily.

3. Do you plan to design other pens in the future, or perhaps revise your current one?

I have some new pens in the works. A clip design, a knurled design and a few in stainless and titanium. Stay tuned for more of these pens in the future.

As expected, writing with the Schon pen is actually exciting. Knowing that you have such an extraordinary tool in your hand both makes you prideful and humble at the same time. The writing is smooth, the grip is just right, and this custom pen makes a definite style statement.

And another great addition to the story of the Schon pen is the fact that it’s crafted and assembled here in the United States. Support Ian’s vision for lasting, unique tools by purchasing this custom pen from his site, located here.

Great care is taken to cover every last detail of the heist and some show a degree of initiative within the criminal fraternity that is not as rare as you may think.

From audacious key copying to hiding in museums out of business hours, thieves can sometimes surprise you with their ingenuity and some of the most creative crimes are nothing less than works of genius. How else would you get past some of the world’s best security systems other than by thinking one step ahead and getting your hands on the biggest hauls?

Some of the world’s all-time greatest heists have relied on such ingenuity to achieve their aim and here are the tales of the most creative and frankly brilliant crimes in history provided by SimpliSafe Home Security.

Copyright SimpliSafe Wireless Home Security

By working towards the simple goal of staying safe, we can all become more proactive in keeping our families and ourselves protected into the future. That’s why we were excited to take a closer look at the CRKT ExiTool. The ExiTool is a cleverly designed car emergency tool that breaks away from the pack through innovative design and a simple goal in mind: staying safe. Whether it is an accident with another automobile, careening into a body of water, or anytime a person is trapped in their automobile during a perilous situation, the ExiTool is designed to be your one-stop-shop for getting free and getting to safety. And unlike similar tools which perform the same function, the innovative design places the ExiTool right where you need it during that unfortunate accident we never intend on occurring. In fact we did an impromptu poll here at the Labs and while nearly every one of us had some sort of car emergency tool that was intended to perform the same life saving measures as the CRKT ExiTool, less than 20% of us were able to say with certainty that we could access that tool quickly enough to do any good in an emergency situation.

The ExiTool has just the right features, it’s no Swiss Army Knife, but no other superfluous fluff is needed in a tool meant to aid in smashing and slashing. It utilizes a seatbelt cutter and window breaker to make a simple, yet effective tool to possibly help save your life. Plus, as an added benefit this car emergency tool has is a small LED for low-light situations, which makes it a handy piece of gear to have around even during non-emergency scenarios.  There are quite a few car-centered emergency tools that one can put in their glove compartment or center console, but what makes the ExiTool one of the best car emergency tools for automobile emergencies is the fact that it clips on to your seatbelt, making sure that it will always be by your side when all hell breaks loose.

“I am an EMT. I have handled countless patients involved in vehicle crashes that left them upside down trapped in a car. When your vehicle goes upside down or flips, everything goes flying. The Exitool will still be on your seatbelt easy for you to access and simple to use” – Jenn Coffey

The company, Columbia River Knife and Tool Company (CRKT), is an American company founded in 1994 that has dedicated itself to craftsmanship and usefulness. CRKT is unique in that it brings on some of the industry’s top designers and revolutionaries to help design quality tools. And as we at Brown believe, quality counts.