High Ground Media, LLC

Introduced by True North Concepts as a supportive accessory to handgun manipulation, “The Racker” is intended to support end-users with a hardened point on which to manipulate a handgun.

Made from a proprietary blend of polymer selected for its rigidity and non-marring surface, The Racker is a 3.25” tall, singular-point belt accessory that provides a fixed point on which end-users can action a handgun slide or manipulate a magazine when one-arm manipulation is the only option.

The Racker is similar to the Modular Holster Adapter in that it has a mounting bar that can be threaded through most popular MOLLE/PALS webbing style belts, or mounted directly across any gun belt (up to 2.25” wide).

The Racker is available in Black (featured) or Earth Brown.  

Product Evaluation Scores:

• Cost – Average (3/5): With its list price of $29.99, The Racker was a minimalist support accessory for use in assisting one-hand actioning of the handgun (be it from injury or necessity). Made from a non-marring polymer blend, The Racker enabled the end-user to use something other than the holster itself, which can result in damage or marring of surfaces. The Racker has the unique place in that it does not have a market alternative, so there is no measure to evaluate cost—but given that similar True North products of similar materials and size are of approximate (average) cost, this would validate that for tis price The Racer is also appropriate for a small belt accessory.
• Comfort – Good (4/5): From a comfort aspect, The Racker was of an approximate size to the standard range belt and not excessively bulky. The profile was neither obtrusive or heavy enough to sag on the belt line. When using The Racker, it retained enough good rigidity to effectively action the handgun slide.
• Durability – Good (4/5): The durability of The Racker owed itself to the polymer blend of the product whereby it was of similar durability as other market products—such as polymer magazines, pistol grips, etc. This made The Racker very durable to the hard contact edges of the handgun, while still remaining a non-marring surface. Drop testing of the product onto hardened concrete only yielded surface blemishes and without any movable or connected parts, The Racker was unphased. It is possible that should, over the course of time and use, The Racker’s edge is lost as a contact surface but it can be easily shaved down to re-establish that contact point.
• Functionality – Average (3/5): Functionally, The Racker is a simplified alternative to actioning a handgun vice using the hard edges of a holster, or other tool to action the slide via single-hand use. In use, The Racker’s rigid design and reinforced backer allowed it to have that posture whereby the end-user could press their pistol-mounted optics against or the rear iron sight. The downside, unrelated to The Racker itself, was if the belt and its materials lacked corresponding structure. In belts that were very flexible/mailable (often only outer belts worn over the hip), such as the Wilder Tactical Cobra Belt, the downward pressure when The Racker was used caused the entire belt to curl over and thus delayed effective manipulation of the handgun. Oppositely, belts with more rigid materials and structure (often with corresponding inner belts or wider belts), such as the Wilder Tactical Urban Defender Belt had that strength to hold up while The Racker was used.
• Weight – Excellent (5/5): Weighing in at 0.8 ounces (with mounting hardware), The Racker was of a very minimal weight, for a functional accessory that didn’t add bulk or sag to the overall belt. It neither unbalanced the overall belt, or was obtrusive to the end-user. In contrast, while there was no direct comparator to The Racker, often end-users will utilize pistol pouches for storage or to provide similar pressure points against, and pouches like G-Code’s Scorpion Pistol Pouch (3.3 ounces) illustrate that The Racker is at an excellent light weight for a functional tool on any belt.

Overall Rating – Above Average (19/25)

Product Link: https://truenorth-usa.com/product/the-racker/

I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via High Ground Media, LLC, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.

The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the author. The views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.

Initially introduced in 2016, the Dragon Egg Mk II® by overseas manufacturer Direct Action® (DA) is one of several versatile backpacks offered by the vendor. The Dragon Egg itself is intended as a lightweight medium reconnaissance backpack that can also double as an EDC pack. It’s 500D Cordura material, rubberized zipper pull tabs, and NIR coating (color dependent) is used throughout and offers significant durability.

Exterior

From the front, the Dragon Egg’s exterior has a slightly curved design that allows for additional storage of items in either the administrative compartment or main storage space. On the front is a laser-cut MOLLE/PALS compatible field on which both sides have daisy chain webbing for use with bungee cords or other retention accessories. At the top is a soft 5” (L) x 3” (H) velour lined pocket that is zipper secured and intended for small electronics or sunglasses. On top of the velour pocket is a 5” (L) x 3” (H) (female) hook-and-loop field for identification or morale patches.

Behind the front exterior is a dual zipper-secured administrative compartment that opens to the bottom of the pack. The admin compartment includes; two slip pockets for paperwork, a small mesh pocket for loose items, three pen sleeves, and two accessory pockets of different sizes (one secured via a hook-and-loop flap and the other utilizes a pull tab and shock cord retention). Oppositely, a second larger mesh pocket is on the interior of the opening side. At the top of the admin compartment is a key retention lanyard.

At either side of the pack is an elastic storage pocket designed to fit a full-sized hydration bottle that is secured via hook-and-loop, with a pull tab at the top to assist in opening. The pockets also include an additional laser-cut MOLLE/PALS field on the exterior, and a single drainage grommet. Both sides also have top and bottom compression straps that facilitate in securing the weight of the backpack closer to the body.

At the top, the dominant feature the Dragon Egg has is a reinforced carrying handle woven inside of 2.5 meters (8 feet 2 inches) of 550 paracord, which is in turn anchored by plastic D-rings. The reinforced material also ends in another plastic D-ring on either side. The access slot for a hydration tube is located just above the shoulder straps.

The bottom of the Dragon Egg has nylon loops and straps, secured via slide-release buckle, for a sleeping bag or shooter’s mat. Additionally, there is a single drainage grommet in the center of the bottom.

The Dragon Egg’s backpanel includes a rigid padded insert for added support to the pack’s frame and against the body. It also provides insulation for the laptop/radio storage compartment that measures 9.5” (W) x 15” (H) and accessed at the top of the backpanel via its dual zipper.

On the exterior of the backpanel are two bands of DA’s proprietary CVS-Combat Vent System® that is an enclosed air channel foam design that aid in moisture wicking and improved ventilation. Both shoulder straps are contoured and feature the CVS foam for added padding. A fully adjustable sternum strap can be relocated throughout the length of the shoulder straps. A slide-release buckle at each strap also provides immediate disconnect should it be required. At the bottom is a removable waist belt that is secured via a slide-release buckle.

Interior

The Dragon Egg’s main storage compartment is zipper-secured and has an internal hydration sleeve and zipper secured mesh pocket. It should be noted the main storage compartment only opens 2/3’s the height of the pack due to the associated external side pockets.

Specifications:

• 25+ liter capacity
• Made of durable 500D Cordura®
• All zippers are YKK with rubberized tubing on pull tabs
• All slide-release buckles are Duraflex®/WooJin
• PenCott™, Kryptek™ and Multicam® camouflages are NIR treated

The Dragon Egg Mk II is available in 15 colors or color combinations that include Mk II Crye Multicam (featured), Adaptive Green/Coyote Brown, Black, PenCott variants, Woodland, and Urban Gray.

Product Evaluation Scores:

• Cost – Good (4/5): At $139.00 USD for a mid-level backpack, the Dragon Egg offers a great level of functionality, quality materials, and durability at its offered price. Closest market competitors would be Tru-Spec’s 3-Day Backpack ($131.95), the Huron Assaulter’s Sustainment Pack ($229.95) by TYR Tactical, or the Exigent Circumstance Pack ($281.01) by First Spear. Other market alternatives are readily found, but often lack the extensive hardware, design, or lack the quality materials with such weather and abrasion resistance.
• Comfort – Good (4/5): The CVS padding on the backpanel and shoulder straps were immediately notable for their comfort when the pack was fully loaded. The CVS material aided in mitigating body heat despite the humid Midwestern temperatures. The paracord-wrapped carrying handle was also very comfortable in the hands due to its width and rounded dimension. However, the most positive aspect for comfort was the Dragon Egg’s ability to keep the center of the pack’s weight up high because of its domed design. Alternative packs often have a sack-like design to them wherein all the weight is consolidated at the bottom. If not worn properly, or there is no waist pad, this can have an adverse effect on the body. But as the Dragon Egg is tapered on the top and bottom, the load was more evenly distributed along the upper torso. It also had the added benefit of being more maneuverable while wearing a plate carrier and gun belt, because of that taper.
• Durability – Excellent (5/5): With 500D Cordura (treated for a low Near InfraRed (NIR) profile), genuine YKK zippers, and Duraflex slide-release buckles it was be hard to imagine a pack with more durability built in. Add into it that the CVS foam padding had a protective fabric on the exterior to prevent being compromised, and that bartack, X-pattern, and double-pass stitching was readily noted throughout made for a high level of improved reinforcement over other market packs. Typically, these marks often reveal vendors with extensive experience who are marketing their products to end-users who thrive in the field, and that is reflected in the Dragon Egg Mk II.
• Functionality – Good (4/5): Functionally, the Dragon Egg was ideal for a light-moderate pack that was at home for a day on the range, day hike, and short camping trip. The elastic pockets and extensive laser-cut MOLLE/PALS compatible fields offered the added benefit of expanding on the pack’s functionality be adding accessories or additional pouches. The angled zipper of the main storage compartment made accessing it easy and allowed for the user to readily see the bottom of the pack. Another positive in the functionality of the Dragon Egg was its consistency in hardware, specifically the rubberized pull tabs on all the zippers. Other vendors that do include similar features often only do so on the main storage compartment and not throughout. The Dragon Egg did this on all zippers and it allowed for tactile grip on all enclosures. About the only negative from a functional aspect was the Dragon Egg had a storage capacity of 25 liters and it would be nice if DA had a larger variant of the pack.
• Weight – Average (3/5): At 3.49 pounds, the Dragon Egg comes in under the weight of Tru-Spec’s 3-Day Pack (3.8 pounds), but above the weight of TYR Tactical Huron (1.50 pounds) or First Spear’s ECP (1.74 pounds). This reflects the differences in lightweight materials and minimalist designs by all the vendors, and each should be balanced against the needs of the user. As it stands, the Dragon Egg is of average lightweight design considering its enclosing materials still makes it ideal for day hikes or extended light field work. It would be interesting if DA would make a larger 3-Day pack of the same design as it would put it on more even footing with larger packs while still keeping a lot of the same functionality.

Overall Rating – Good (20/25)

Product Link: https://us.directactiongear.com/dragon-egg-backpack-831#UGC

I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via STL Shooting Enthusiasts, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.

The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the author. The views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.

Introduced in 2022, the Range Trainer Waterproof boot by Viktos is an advancement on the previous Johnny Combat design and balances breathability with a rugged design to sustain the end-user with a tactical mindset at work, in the field, or on range.

The chassis of the Range Trainer Waterproof (RTW) boot is made from a ripstop nylon stitched together using double-line nylon thread.

The hardware on the RTW includes unique nylon eyelets with rubberized edges that are anchored into the chassis using double line bartack stitching. The laces are Dupont nylon with plastic tips.

Sidewalls on the RTW are also made using panels of nylon and ripstop nylon to give the greatest degree of flexibility in the material and foot during dynamic movement. The upper panels on the 6” throat includes micro-venting to assist in heat dissipation and preventing penetration by debris or dust. The heightened throat also provides the ideal height to support the ankle in light/moderate environments.

The interior lining includes a breathable/waterproof membrane to help ensure the end-user’s feet remain dry but breathe adequately. Meanwhile a hi-rebound foam on the interior’s midsole provide added comfort. When measured from heel-to-toe, there is a slight 11mm drop to lessen the fatigue in the foot as well as aid in natural walking mechanics.

The RTW draws on and improves the outsole design to the Johnny Combat series footwear by having a full combat-focused rubber outsole with an over-molded synthetic heel for added protection. The lug design gives the sole a self-cleaning flex that helps ensure debris or rocks do not remain lodged.

The reinforced toe box is made from TPU (a type of thermoplastic with the same performance characteristics as steel toe inserts but lighters and non-conductive) and tapered to accommodate for a variety of environmental situations or conditions that the footwear may encounter.

The Viktos Range Trainer Waterproof boot comes in Coyote (featured) or Nightfall and available in sizes 6 through 15.

Product Evaluation Scores:

• Cost – Average (3/5): With its list price of $130, the Range Trainer Waterproof boot was made with a blend of materials and design that allows the end-user to perform in any urban or moderate field environment. There is an equal blend of ripstop nylon and synthetic materials throughout the chassis that will ensure the product’s longevity despite hard use. In contrast, market alternatives to this type of range boot would be the XA Forces (Mid) boots ($169.95) by Salomon, the Moab 2 boot ($139.99) by Merrill, or the Raide 2 (Mid) boots ($109.95) by Bates. As such, the RTW boot is at an appropriate (or average) price range amid the market for similar boots as well as for the materials and design utilized.
• Comfort – Good (4/5): Sizing for the RTW ran true-to-fit (meaning a size 11 will fit as a US-sized 11 shoe – not based on the actual physical length of the user’s foot). It took about a week for the nylon chassis and foam inserts to break in; but when it did, the RTW was very comfortable. The heel was also very well supported and protected, and the boot held its strength from the heel, up the Achilles line, and across to the laces. Thus, it was apparent the boot was designed to give support when and where needed. The sole’s exterior held a shock-resistant steyr foam lining on the outer edging that helped support and pad the foot bed, while preventing rolling of the ankle. The RTW was most comfortable over the course of a 30-day evaluation cycle during sprints and over loose, level surfaces while still supporting the foot and joints. Lastly, the tongue of the RTW was just as thickly padded as the rest of the interior, giving it ample padding against tightened laces and preventing unnecessary pinching.
• Durability – Good (4/5): From a durability aspect, the RTW held a good level of durability while worn as an EDC and range boot given its tested environment (which included pavement, grass, loose rock, water and mud). By its design, the intent for the RTW was to serve as an urban EDC or moderate flat range boot, and as such the materials excelled in those settings. The rip-stop nylon exterior took a good amount of rough edges, abrasion, and flex with only light/moderate marring to the material—none of which cracked or penetrated the inner layers of the shoe. The padding and interior lining aided in breathability and flexibility to maneuver various terrain. The double line stitching and very thick bartack at key stress points provided a good level of durability to prevent any separation of the materials. The TPU toe cap and heel took the brunt of abrasion but performed very well for a range environment in protecting the toe while giving the boot structure.
• Functionality – Good (4/5): Functionally, the RTW provided a good level of use for flat range movement, with a moderately loose surface (i.e. dirt and lose rock). The boot’s 6” throat and micro-venting helped to provide support to the ankle, while allowed for breathability to alleviate any sweating. The tread was similar to other trainer-style footwear by Viktos and other companies; with a flat “slick” sole, and a light tread design that offered a light self-cleaning lug design that kept moisture, small rocks, and debris from building up. It was noted however, that while mud did spread away from the toe and trusstic portion of the sole, it did fill the lug design (likely because of the flatter overall design and less aggressive tread as compared to those found on the Johnny Combat Ops). At no point did moisture penetrate the interior in light/moderate rain.
• Weight – Average (3/5): Each individual boot weighed in at 1.06 pounds (or 2.12 pounds for the size 11 pair) which is reasonable considering the volume of overall nylon material, TPU toe cap, and light lug design. In comparison to the market alternatives noted above; the XA Forces (Mid) boots (1.02 pounds per boot) by Salomon, the Moab 2 boot (1.15 pounds per boot) by Merrill, or the Raide 2 (Mid) boots (1.2 pounds per boot) by Bates show the diversity in weight for similar footwear. However, in the market of alternatives each has differing lug design and underlying materials (nylon, leather, composite, etc.), so that would explain the variance in weight. As a whole, the features and materials of the Range Trainer Waterproof boot by Viktos helped ensure it remained an appropriate (or average) weight amid the overall market for the consumer.

Overall Rating – Above Average (18/25)

Product Link: https://www.viktos.com/collections/boots/products/range-trainer-wp-boot

I am reviewing this product as a courtesy to the manufacturer and via High Ground Media, LLC, so that I can evaluate it and provide my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give positive reviews. All views are my own, and based off my personal experience with the product.

The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the author. The views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.