In the previous post on the Surefire Aviator A2L, I gave it's specs and dimensions.  Now let's discuss the areas in which the A2L excels.

If you you've read my other flashlight posts, then you know that I'm a fan of dual output flashlights. Having low and high outputs just makes a lot of sense. I'm also a fan of the so-called "tactically correct" tailcap that Surefire uses on the L1 Cree Lumamax, LX2, and A2L. I like it because it is extremely simple and intuitive. The user can instantly select the amount of temporary light output needed simply by pressing the tailcap once.

The A2L has the two stage tailcap in addition to a colored low-light settings. In the past if you wanted a flashlight to use in low-light that wouldn't ruin your night vision, you had to add an external filter. The external filters add bulk and can be lost if not of the flip-up variety. The blue, red, or green low output levels eliminate that problem.

The colored low output mode is all flood that works great for activities such as hunting, reading in the dark, navigating your home in the dark without waking others, etc.

The high output level has a nice spot with will defined flood. Compared to a standard Surefire G2 or 6P, the A2L has a bit less flood. The beam fills a room well at night so that there's no dark spots yet has enough throw to reach out at distance when outdoors.

To conclude, the A2L is a step in the right direction from Surefire. In my opinion, the colored low output models are the ones to get since there's no reason for the white A2L when you can get the LX2 with 200 lumens on high!

Find A Surefire Aviator A2L Flashlight on eBay!

New Surefire A2L Blue LED Aviator Flashlight HA Bezel

US $199.99

2d 3h 57m

Surefire A2L Whte LED Aviator Flashlight BRAND NEW 2010

US $173.00

5d 21h 57m

NEW Surefire A2 LED Aviator Dual-Output Red A2L-HA-RD

US $169.00

20d 7h 38m

NEW Surefire A2 LED Aviator Dual-Output Blue A2L-HA-BL

US $165.00

22d 4h 26m

New Surefire A2L White LED Aviator Flashlight HA Bezel

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25d 22h 22m

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As previously discussed in a post on Surefire's 2009 catalog, Surefire released an LED version of the popular Aviator, given the model number A2L.

The A2L is a unique light in Surefire's lineup in that it is both dual output and dual spectrum. What that means is that it has two brightness levels, and two color outputs. The first level is 10 lumens and is available in white, blue, red, or green (blue and red are 3 lumens at the first stage). The second level is 120 lumens (110 for the red and blue models). The original A2 was 50 lumens on high and 3 on low so the maximum output has been dramatically increased.

The way the A2L works is that there are four LEDs around the primary LED in the bezel assembly. Pressing the tailswitch slightly turns on the low output LEDs. Pressing further, the high output LED turns on also. The low output LEDs remain on with the high output level. Surefire refers to the switch as "tactical correct." It's the same system used in Surefire's L1 Cree and LX2 and I have to agree about it being tactically correct. Simpler is better in this case.

The A2L is 5.4" in overall length making it exactly the same as the LX2. It is a two cell light running on 3 volt CR123A batteries like most other Surefires.

Cosmetically, the A2L reflects the new Surefire styling with the same linear grooves as found on the LX2. All the knurling previously found on Surefire lights is gone, saving your clothes from some wear and tear.

The A2L also features the pocket clip found originally on the Surefire E1B. It allows the user to carry the light in a bezel-up or bezel-down configuration as needed.

In the next part I'll go into details about what makes this flashlight great and why you need one.

These days holsters made from injection molded plastic and thermoplastic forming have taking the world by storm.  Thankfully, there are still many holster makers who painstakingly mold high quality holsters from leather.

Unfortunately, the world lost a holster making icon when Lou Alessi passed away.  But his designs will live on in holsters made by other craftsman who he trained and guided along the road to learning holster making.

So, you're looking for some new gunleather but don't know where to look?  Here are some recommendations.  A good place to start is the Milt Sparks shop.  The Milt Sparks shop makes some of the high quality holsters available and offer a wide variety of designs.  If you have a particular style of holster in mind, they probably make one like it.   You can be assured that it will be well made and made to last.

Another place to look is holster maker Matt Del Fatti.  A true custom holster maker, he offers a variety of designs, colors, and exotic leathers.  Holsters don't get any better than Del Fatti's.   You'll probably have to be patient when ordering, however.  It takes time to make perfection.

Josh Bulman also makes some of the best holsters.  Luckily for us, he also makes an authorized version of the Alessi Ankle Holster, which continues to be an unrivaled design, in my opinion.

If  you are not picky about holster color and can choose from a couple of well designed models, Gary Brommeland makes some of the best IWB holsters.  His designs are extremely thin, though somewhat utilitarian compared to the others mentioned.

5-shot Leather is another place to look.  Again, you won't have as much variety available as Milt Sparks or Del Fatti, the quality is very high and the designs are well done.

If you refuse to carry a plastic holster and are looking for the best in leather concealed carry, then take a look at the holster makers above.  Between them you should be able to find a carry rig that is extremely comfortable, well made, and a joy to carry.

Answer: It boils down to your intended use for the flashlight and how much you are willing to spend. As a general rule, I recommend staying away from rechargeable flashlights for everyday carry because you can't quickly get the flashlight working again. A non-rechargeable flashlight can be returned to service as quickly as you can swap out the battery.

In my opinion, Surefire makes some of the best flashlights available. One of Surefire's best models for everyday carry is the E1B. It's small, rugged, and bright enough for most uses. For tactical or police use, I feel the the best Surefire is the L1 or LX2 due to their simpler user interface.

Another good flashlight brand is the NovaTac series. The NovaTac Storm flashlight model is reasonably priced and well made.

Lastly, Fenix brand flashlights are another option. Don't expect them to be as reliable as a Surefire, however. They are reasonable quality tools for the amount paid. Here's a review of the Fenix L2T.

The bottom line is that I would stick with an LED flashlight as the lamp will probably last the life of the flashlight. That means that the only thing you need to go to keep it working is change the batteries when they die.

Stick with the major brands that I outlined above and you can't go wrong.

A while ago I did a review of the Surefire X300. In my opinion, it remains as the best pistol-mounted weapon light available.

As originally released, the X300 had an output of 110 lumens. Surefire recently upgraded the performance of the X300. It now has an output of 170 lumens, an increase of 50%. Best of all, the retail price will remain the same.

The Surefire X400, which includes an on-board aiming laser module, was also upgraded to a 170 lumen output.

Unfortunately, Surefire is not offering an upgrade on previous models of the X300 at this time.

Take a look at my other Surefire reviews.

In previous posts we discussed items to be carried in urban survival kits. One item that should be in any survival kit, urban or wilderness is a fire starter. Make that multiple fire starters.

ESEE knives (formerly RAT knives, not to be confused with Swamp Rat Knives) has begun selling a fire kit that is worth a look for any survival kit. The ESEE fire kit is a misch rod attached to an anodized aluminum handle. The handle contains a watertight storage compartment that can be accessed by removing the cap. On the inside of the cap is a small button compass for survival navigation.

In terms of size, I think the storage compartment would be large enough to hold one CR123A battery if the compass was removed. I have found that there's plenty of storage for two small fishhooks, 20 feet of braided line, and a small amount of tinder with the compass.

The misch flint throws more sparks than the more common ferocium rods. They seems to work best when struck with the edge of a sharp knife.

The cap of the fire kit has a lanyard loop for attachment to your kit or paracord. I've found that by adding a few inches of braided paracord to the lanyard loop and storing some small survival items in the storage compartment, you have a survival kit that will fit in the palm of your hand.

Overall it's a high quality piece of gear that sells for around $30 online.

Find ESEE Fire Kits on eBay!

ESEE Knives IZULA B Fire Kit - Black *In Stock Now*

US $65.95

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ESEE Knives IZULA OD Fire Kit - Olive Drab - IN STOCK

US $65.95

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ESEE Knives IZULA DT Fire Kit - Desert Tan - IN STOCK

US $65.95

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ESEE Knives IZULA P Fire Kit - Pink - IN STOCK NOW

US $65.95

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ESEE Knives Fire Starter Kit Green IN STOCK NOW

US $33.95

20d 5h 44m

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In the previous post on an everyday carry urban survival kit, we discussed first-line survival items helpful for surviving an urban disaster scenario. Those scenarios included earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, acts of terrorism, and other disasters that occur without notice. The focus of this post is preparing a lightweight go-bag for those items that may be necessary but too large to carry on your person. Don't misunderstand, however, this is not a bug-out bag. The purpose of this bag is to carry items that will help you escape from a dangerous situation (such as a burning or collapsing building) or sustain you in place until help arrives.

The second-line item list is purposely minimal. My feeling is that a stand-alone bag of this nature is probably not practical. Most people, however, do carry some type of bag; be it a messenger bag, briefcase, or purse (including the man purse). These are items that could be inserted into those already carried bags, taking up minimal space.

If you do wish to build a kit of this nature from scratch, including the bag, here are some options that I feel would work perfectly. I like the idea of always maintaining as low of a profile as possible, especially in an urban environment. Therefore, one good option for your urban survival kit is the Arcteryx Mistral bags. They are sling bags that are available in 8 or 16 liter versions. Just as important, they are available in three different color choices, all of which appear mundane and non-threatening. Another option is the varied sling bags available from Maxpedition. They appear more tactical so keep that in mind.

Now that you have a bag for your items, what do you put in it? First of all, depending on the climate where you live and work, it may be a good idea to put a lightweight, waterproof windbreaker into your bag. Obviously, you need a jacket that is lightweight enough to pack tightly. If you live in a cooler climate and have the space, a heaver jacket may be a good idea. The idea behind the jacket is to keep your body temperature regulated so that you can effectively make the necessary decisions to keep yourself alive.

The second item i'll mention is a small pry bar. It needs to be something relatively compact and devoid of sharp edges that will destroy your bag and the items in it. It should be long enough to pry heavy objects. Look around at your local hardware store. If weight is a concern, look online at titanium pry bars. Also, several companies, including TOPS Knives and KaBar are now making knives which are, in effect, sharpened pry bars. They can do double duty as a cutting and prying tool. These knives are tough enough that they can hack through sheet metal, such as that used in exterior building doors and auto bodies. They also come with protective carry sheaths. If you're pinching pennies, take a look at the County Comm Breacher's Bar. It won't hold an edge like a knife but would work fine for prying.

These are some ideas to get you thinking about urban survival situations. On the next installment I'll cover more items to put into your urban survival kit.

Most people into knives are aware that Kershaw has been offering some very high quality folding knives at good prices for a while. Like their competitors, Kershaw has signed up some well-known custom knife makers to design knives for them. One of their most successful collaborations has been with knifemaker R.J. Martin.

One of Kershaw's newest Martin-designed knives is the Chill. For those familiar with Martin's knives, the Chill can be considered a smaller sibling to the Q36 folder. For reference, the Chill has a blade length of approximately 3 inches.

Like the larger custom knife, the Chill is a flipper. It has bronze bushings on each side of the blade to facilitate smooth opening. The Chill has a liner-style lock made up of skeletonized steel liners. The Chill's handles are made of textured G10 scales.

Overall, the fit and finish of the Chill seems to be quite high, especially considering that it has a street price of $20.

For those fans of tip-up pocket carry, the Chill facilitates both tip-up and tip-down carry. It is drilled only for right-hand use, however.

The only negative thing I can say about the knife is that opening with the flipper requires a bit of wrist action to swing the blade to full extension. Remember, this is a $20 knife without IKBS or Martin's roller bearings.

Find a Kershaw Chill on eBay!

KERSHAW Chill POCKET FOLDING KNIFE G-10 HANDLE gr.GIFT

US $19.90

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Kershaw Chill G-10 Black Linerlock Knife New

17 Bids

US $17.51

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Kershaw Chill knife knives pocket folding NIB

US $19.95

1d 3h 56m

KERSHAW Chill POCKET FOLDING KNIFE G-10 HANDLE gr.GIFT

US $19.90

2d 8h 50m

Kershaw K3410 "Big Chill" Knife G-10 3410 NEW 7" OA

US $28.95

3d 1h 58m

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Spyderco Knives' booth is always one of the most sought after in regards to new products. The anticipated Spyderco PPT folder is now shipping. On display was two smaller prototype versions of the PPT which are not scheduled for production at this time. The Spyderco Warrior was also on display in a black-coated version as well as the standard satin finished version.

ZT Knives had two new fixed blades on display. One was the RJ Martin designed model 170. The other was a new design from a ZT Knives employee. Both models should be shipping in the next 4 to 6 weeks.

The only thing new on display from Gerber Knives was the Octane multi-tool, which is similar to their other tools only smaller and slimmer.

For the tomahawk fans out there, RMJ Tactical had their hawks on display. They have finally come out with a hammer pole version of their Shrike tomahawk for those people who dislike spike tomahawks. The new hawks are available immediately but sheaths are a few weeks out.

In the flashlight world, Surefire had a booth setup with their lights on display. Noticeably missing was the Surefire LX1. According to a rep, the LX1 will be out "anytime" now. I'm not holding my breath. I do find it curious that it was displayed at the SHOT Show but not the Blade Show.

Spec-Ops Brand makes a useful little pouch designed to be used as a BDU trouser cargo pocket organizer. Luckily, it works just as well with non-military cargo pants.

Why they didn't name it the cargo pocket organizer, we'll probably ever know, but that's what it is.

Included with the DCOB are two Aloksak dry storage bags. I immediately pulled them out because I don't need them for my use. Before I received the DCOB, I was afraid that it might be too large for the pockets of some cargo pants and shorts. Fortunately, I have not found that to be the case. Having used it with several popular brands of cargo pants and shorts, as well as more "tactically" oriented pants, it has fit into all of them. It will not fit the standard 5.11 pants, however. Their cargo pockets are tool small.

The DCOB is essentally a pouch 7" x 7.5" x 1" with a mesh divider inside and a mesh pocket on the outside. The outer mesh pocket is divided into three sections, the middle being made for a pen. The other sections fit flashlights, cell phones, knives, multi-tools, etc. perfectly.

Besides the mesh divider, the only other thing in the pouch is a lanyard hook for attaching keys or other items.

On the rear of the pouch are ALICE attachment points as well as a hand loop for pulling the pouch out of your pocket. The webbing making the hand loop extends down into two belt loops so that the pouch can be mounted to a belt if desired.

Overall, I think it is a great item that I should have gotten years ago. My favorite aspect of it is that it empties out my other pockets because a lot of my EDC gear can be carried in the DCOB.

There are, however, some minor changes I would like to see made to the pouch. First of all, the exterior mesh pockets are too tall for accessing items. For example, I can't carry my Blackberry in the pocket because I can't get it out. Secondly, I'd like to see the belt loops attached at the bottom of the pouch with snaps so that they could also be used to attach the pouch to MOLLE loops. That would make it more versatile than the ALICE attachment, in my opinion.