Emerson CQC 10

I've been wanting an Emerson knife since I heard about it in a Richard Marcinko book.  I did some research and they are awesome knives, although they run a little more than I have ever spent  on a knife.   I decided to finally take the plunge and get an Emerson folder.

I got a CQC 10.   I picked that model because I wanted something with a substantial enough blade.  I had bought a different knife with a 2.85" blade, and it just didn't seem like a good, big, manly, solid knife.  It was good, but just not enough.

So anyway I got the regular blade ( a combo serrated blade is also available) and am very happy with it.  The blade measures 3.6 ".  It's a good size - not too big and definitely not too small.  It came razor sharp.  The blade has a black non reflective coating, and is made of steel with a conventional V grind.

Here are the specs:

Handles	Black G-10 epoxy / glass laminate
Blade	154 CM Premium Blade Steel
Finish	Black or Silver
Grind	Conventional V Grind

Overall Length	8.50 in.
Blade Length	3.60 in.
Blade Thickness	.125 in.
Hardness	57-59 RC
Weight	4.7

The handle is made up of a material called G-10 (An extremely durable makeup of layers of fiberglass soaked in resin, then highly compressed and baked. Impervious to moisture or liquid and physically stable under climate change.) and is just as substantial as the blade.  It has a good solid feel and provides a good grip.  It also includes a clip for your pocket and maintains a reasonably low profile.

The CQC 10 has the wave feature.  It's a little hook like thing on the outside of the blade, that's designed to catch on the pocket, as it's being drawn.  With a little practice, it's a very fast way to deploy the blade.

This is my favorite knife.  Although Emerson knives are expensive, so far I think it's well worth the money.  I purchased this online at Dave's Knife World and am equally happy with this vendor.  Dave himself takes the time to answer emails, and shipped me the knife very quickly.

After having the knife for about a month, and using it for various cutting tasks, the blade is still as sharp as when it came from the box.  Definitely worth the money, and I would recommend this knife to anyone looking for a good capable folder.
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Surefire earplugs

I have no idea why I got these in the first place.  They do look cool, as far as earplugs go, and they work ok, but I think the free foam earplugs do just as good a job.

Sorry, had to get that out of the way.  The Surefire earplugs are different from others that I've seen in that they kind of are molded to fit and stay in your ear.  They are pretty comfortable for extended lengths of time, and that's their biggest plus.  The biggest negative is that they don't provide as much hearing protection.  I've repositioned them while using them, for example while at the range, and they still don't give me what I want. 

They do work pretty well in other high noise areas such as flying.  I was on  a military aircraft and wore these while sleeping, and they didn't bug me at all, and reduced the engine noise to a mild roar.  I've tried this with military issue ear plugs, and while the military plugs keep out the noise as well, they are not comfortable for periods over an hour.

The earplugs also feature a plug that can be engaged or disengaged to vary the amount of noise.  I would assume it's for times where you might need to hear someone's voice, and still keep out sudden loud noises.  I don't know.  They are also low profile, so you can get away with wearing headphones with these plugs, which is nice.

Bottom line is like I said at the beginning of this.  Get some decent foam earplugs, and you'll probably get the same result. If you've got money to burn, you may not be totally disappointed with these, but make sure you get the right size as well.  I believe these come in 3 sizes.  You can check you sizing here on the Surefire website.

TadGear EDC Fast Pack

I'm always looking for a good solid backpack that can go camping with me, go to work, and serve as an overnight bag while traveling.  I've found exactly what I need in TAD Gear's FAST Pack.

It's not just another tactical looking backpack.  It's built very sturdy, and has solid components like zippers and stiching.  I've loaded it up in the high 40 pounds and carried it with the handle.  Many other packs would have torn (I know this from experience), but this pack does fine.  I've also thrown this on my back with a heavy load and have been amazed how comfortable it is.

In addition to the construction, it has some other cool features like a compartment for a hydration bladder, a transporter tail (fold down module for securing a rifle to the pack), and a "flashlight cave".  The flashlight cave basically is a little zipper compartment underneath the pack, that allows one to access the compartment while wearing the pack.

Here's the specs from the manufacturer's website:

MILSPEC 1000-Denier Cordura Nylon.
MILSPEC High tensile strength composite nylon thread.
MILSPEC High tensile strength nylon webbing.
MILSPEC YKK Nylon Coil Zippers.
Features our Modular "Transporter Tail".
Primary zippered external Admin top pocket.
2 zippered side accessory pockets
Features single right side TAD Gear "Flashlight Cave".
Flexible HDPE removable framesheet.
Volume = 1800 cu in / 29.5 L.
Colors: Foliage Green, Multicam, OD Green Limited Lifetime Warranty.

I've enjoyed using this.  The various webbing on the outside makes it possible to attach commercial and milspec equipment pretty much anywhere.  There are plenty of external pockets and one internal pocket.

When I was getting ready to purchase this pack, I was also looking at the Kirafu line of packs, but went with this one.  I still might purchase a Kirafu for longer trips.  The TAD Gear is perfect for carry on luggage for an airplane, but if you're going for more than a day or two, it might be insufficient for everything, although I've never been known to pack light.  1800 cu. in. is  a decent amount, but it can get tight if you're carrying another pair of shoes and maybe a laptop with  a couple changes of clothes.  That said, I've used while camping to carry water, snacks and other junk while hiking, and it's been more than enough.

The bottom line is that this is a bullet proof pack, great for everyday carry situations (hence the name EDC).  I highly recommend TAD Gear.  I've gotten other stuff from them and will say they have good customer service in addition to their products.

Attention:  This item is now for sale on ebay.  Check it out at here