Bulldog BDU Trousers (Coyote Tan)

Combat trousers, possibly the most overlooked bit of kit on anyone’s kit list. The current issued stuff is closer to pyjamas with belt loops than anything you would hope for in tough rocky terrain. The thigh pouches usually bulge uncomfortably and are only held closed by a single awkward button. The belt loops begin to fray and the knees start to wear through after only a couple days on exercise. Let’s not forget that even if you are issued a pair in the correct size you’ll be lucky if they fit comfortably. 

  To solve these problems many personnel in both the military and security world have been looking at kit outside of the general issue naff. But this creates another problem, “What kit should I spend my hard earned money on?” and in the case of trousers I believe I’ve found a good answer in the Bulldog BDU Mk1’s. A recent purchase I’ve used on a Firearms Course in Poland only a couple weeks ago. I’ve sorted everything into 5 categories (Cost, Value for money, Ease of use, Construction and Alliness) and each category will be rated 1/5 to 5/5

Cost:

  

  Usually retailing for around £55 I managed to pick up a pair in my preferred Coyote Tan at UKMCPRO but you can get them in Black, MTP, and even Tropic MTP. 

  Overall for cost: At the full price of £55. 5/5

Value for Money:

 Straight out of the box I noticed a majority of the loose threads had already been melted down which is a nice bonus as completely monging it and setting things entirely a blaze is for me a 50/50 chance at the best of times. Being made from Heavy Duty Ripstop they wear incredibly well even after a few days of kneeling and going prone on a sandy, rocky range laden with spent brass. There’s also a few extra features I didn’t expect for the price, drawstrings on the thigh pouches and extra padding where the small of your back would be to name just a couple. 

Overall Value for Money: Well pleased and am looking to get another pair. 5/5

Ease of Use:

  For starters there is plenty of room for waist adjustment (I have a small which can adjust from a 27” waist to a 31” waist) this is done by the two velcro tabs on the rear of the trousers between the belt loops. If you’re one that wears external knee pads then you’ll find the velcro adjustment on the back of each knee very handy for getting rid of all that baggy material hanging out like a corner shop bag in the wind. 

  As for cleaning, they do require some weird settings for machine washing and making sure that the washing powder/tabs you use don’t have some kind of chemical in it (the washing label inside can give you the exact name) There’s the added ache that you’re not supposed to tumble dry or wring them out but I found jumping in the shower with them for a quick rub down and leaving them to dry overnight works just fine. 

Overall Ease of Use: Lots of handy features but the washing and drying is more of a pain than I’d like it to be. 4/5

Construction: 

  Again, being made of Heavy Duty Ripstop, it will be a while before you have to replace them. The stitching of the belt loops is solid, though try as I might, not a single stitch popped even after a few good tugs. There’s pouches on the inside of each knee with ample space for most kinds of knee pad insert whether it be prepared shaped silicone or cut to shape sections of foam from football shin pads like myself. 

  Wearing these I failed to develop any kind of sweaty swamp-ass even when running around in a humid 30 Centigrade, proving that these trousers are not only comfortable but also breathable. 

Overall Construction: Reliable and comfy. 5/5

Allyness:

  Well despite their ability to make even a scruff bag such as myself look somewhat professional, they are only trousers after all and there isn’t anything particularly “tacticool” about them. Maybe try getting a pair in a camo pattern or try the “sunglasses and MP5” like me. 

 Overall Allyness: Look decent but nothing particularly exciting about them. 2/5  

Summing Up:

  If you’re looking for a great deal for some no nonsense trousers for a decent price then you won’t find much better than these. Personally I’m most likely to buy another pair but if internal knee pads aren’t you’re thing then maybe try the new MK2 trousers which are exactly the same besides them having external stitched on my knee pads and you’ll be looking at about £15 more. All in all I’m really happy and I can see these being part of my standard training kit for the for the foreseeable future.  

  

  UKMCPRO-Bulldog Trousers

  This Kit Pest Review was written by Robert. Hopefully you enjoyed it and if you have any thoughts or comments related to this article then leave a comment! 

 If you'd like to visit Cooper's Kit Corner, you can find it here.

 If you'd like to visit Gen Kit Exchange, you can find it here.

Dantac Stash bag

Cost £££ - at £12 they're not cheap, but they're custom made.

Value for money 4 - It's a small bag, there are plenty of cheaper ones out there, but this one should last a lifetime.

Ease of use 5 - It’s a zip bag.

Construction 4 - Very well put together, I’ve knocked it down by one point because I think the zip might go after about 5 years or so.


Allyness 5 - This is the stuff of the true KitPest, custom made stash bags.

  Small bags are always useful for putting stuff in and if you're like me and have a dislike for the lower quality tactical brands, then you have a bit of a problem. They have seemed to take a bit of a monopoly in this market and if you're a KitPest and you would feel the shame when you pull out a bag with their name all over it. 

  Well look no further, DanTac, a small British company has sent me this bag.

  I use mine for keeping my power pack headphones and iPod in along with charging cables, but it would also be good for model kits, small notebooks, a straight up pencil case or anything else you can think of putting in there.

  It's well made and will fit into a utility pouch, the grab makes it easy to pull from a top flap or trouser pocket. It's not waterproof but it is made from 1000D cordura so it's gonna be shower proof.


Summary

  It's a well made little bag. If you're in the market for one, well this will do the job and has not made by a low-end brand that you won't feel ashamed when you get it out or have to put green tape over the manufacturer's label. Also it's made by a small veteran owned business, so you know it's made in the UK and not by an 8 year old in China and profit goes towards an extra pint rather than a shareholder looking for an extra holiday home.

  DanTac is a small veteran owned company and the stash bags are available here... https://www.facebook.com/dantac8244/ 


  This Kit Pest Review was written by Coops. Hopefully you enjoyed it and if you have any thoughts or comments related to this article then leave a comment! 

 If you'd like to visit Cooper's Kit Corner, you can find it here.

 If you'd like to visit Gen Kit Exchange, you can find it here.

 Tax Reclaims - https://forces-money.co.uk/

Magpul AFG2

Cost £££ (34.99) 

In terms of weapon attachments it's pretty cheap. 

Value for money 4/5

Extremely good for what you're getting.

Ease of use 4/5

You'll need an Allen Key, but simple to mount and completely natural to use. 

Construction 5/5

Bombproof build from Magpul.

Allyness 5/5

Let's you live out your operator fantasies every time you pick up your IW.

  When the British Army adopted the MIL-STD-1913 handguard a collective groan of pleasure from squaddies could be heard from Pyongyang. Dreams of canted iron sights, 17 torches and a bottle opener mounted to your individual weapon were one step closer to being realised, but for a while all we were given was the issued downgrip. 

  Now, don't get me wrong. The issued downgrip does serve a purpose and in static locations or on the range it is bloody useful. Who doesn't like just popping down a bipod and having to put in zero effort to zero. As soon as we step into the real world things, in my opinion, become a bit more less practical. The length of the downgrip means is is constantly getting caught up on when patrolling through close environments, a comfortable patrol position is hard to find and 9 times out of 10 my default setting was to take it off on drawing my weapon and stick it back on when the weapon went in. 

  Step in the Magpul AFG2. According to the sales pitch it "takes into account natural body mechanics and provides a comfortable and stable user interface that reduces fatigue and allows for more precise weapon control. By positioning the shooter's hand high on the centerline of the bore, unlike conventional vertical fore-grips, the AFG2 helps mitigate recoil and control the weapon to facilitate faster, more accurate follow-up shots." But does it actually achieve this? 

  Having conducted blank and live firing with the AFG2 so far things are looking up. Patrolling is much more comfortable with the hand in a more natural and comfortable position. The weapon is more balanced and stable as the hand is positioned in a way that naturally pulls the butt into the shoulder. This in turn does help to mitigate recoil by ensuring that there is correct contact between the weapon and body. Sure, there's a bit more work involved in the prone, but that means you have to actually apply the Marksmanship Principles as opposed to just letting a bipod do all the work for you. 

  Overall the AFG2 is a (in terms of weapon attachments) cheap, lightweight and well thought out alternative to the downgrip for those of us that don't get on with the issued one. It doesn't hurt that it looks ally as tits too! Just ensure that you zero your weapon with it on before conducting any live firing or duties involving weapons to keep you legal. 


  This Kit Pest Review was written by Samlongshankswatt. Hopefully you enjoyed it and if you have any thoughts or comments related to this article then leave a comment! 

 If you'd like to visit Cooper's Kit Corner, you can find it here.

 If you'd like to visit Gen Kit Exchange, you can find it here.

 Tax Reclaims - https://forces-money.co.uk/military-kit-insurance/

Salomon Speed Assault

Fight Light Trainers

https://online.edgarbrothers.com/products/salomon-forces-speed-assault-boots

  Is it a boot? Is it a shoe? It’s the Salomon Speed Assault, ladies and gentlemen! One of the several excellent offerings in the Salomon Forces range (including RSM- friendly Quests, the fantastic non-GTX Quest Desert, and an intriguing-looking Jungle Boot), the Speed Assault is an interesting concept which doesn’t have a civilian equivalent in Salomon’s range. It utilises the same contagrip, heavily treaded sole as the legendary Speedcross (ally favourite of many squaddies), albeit with a slightly more “boot-like” sole profile. The Speed Assault shares a number of design features with the Speedcross, particularly the tongue and speed lacing system, which is as effective and hassle-free here as it is on the Speedcross itself.

  First things first. Is the Speed Assault a military boot? No, not unless you kick doors, clear buildings and cut about in a chest rig for a living, in which case congratulations, your job is cooler than mine. Your CoC may also take issue with you cutting about in what is essentially a glorified trainer. However, the Speed Assault is an excellent shoe/boot for a number of issues and could be used for green stuff in a pinch, which is why I often pack them as harbour shoes. 

  The Speed Assault comes in Multicam/MTP compatible Burro Brown and features a much higher ankle than the Speedcross, which provides a remarkable amount of ankle support for such a minimalist boot. It also weighs literally next to nothing, a remarkable feat for a shoe that’s got some decent structure to it. The shoe itself is made of the same ripstop weave the Speedcross is but features less padding and a wider toe box, as well as moulded plastic reinforcements on the outside , heel and toecap. This helps protect the boot, which stood up very well to five days’ hiking on some very rough shingle, surviving unblemished and intact.

  The Speed Assault is definitely a summer boot. It features a single layer of ripstop synthetic canvas-like material which is in no way shape or form waterproof – but this is clearly an intentional design, as it also has two jungle boot-like water valves on the inside of the instep to allow water to drain out. It would make an excellent summer wetlands or arid terrain hiking shoe/boot.

  I wore the Speed Assaults for five straight days, pretty much fresh out the box, whilst hiking in the mountains in Italy. Temperatures ranged from 30 to 38 degrees. I never once experienced a hotspot, a blister, or anything similar, and the shoes required no breaking in whatsoever. I also had no issues with hot and sweaty feet, despite hiking in high temperatures for several hours. On scree, steep dirt, and even slick wet stone the contagrip sole’s grip was outstanding – better than a lot of vibram offerings, particularly going up dirt hills, where the flex in the sole coupled with the aggressive tread left me feeling anchored in. I carried medium weight over rough going on a number of occasions and experienced no stability issues. The drawstring laces stayed tight and comfortable throughout even when subjected to steep gradients and uneven terrain. I also waded up a river for several miles, and once again the Speed Assault performed superbly, venting the water out whenever I emerged from the riverbed and providing good traction on the slippery stones underfoot. Once I left the river behind, my shoes dried in the heat in no time – far faster than a boot could hope to. 

  Two minor quibbles – one is that the material round the heel has a tendency to ride down and form a very uncomfortable ridge when donning the shoes, meaning that rather than pull them on like a normal trainer you have to fully loosen them off, slide your foot in whilst keeping the heel of the shoe clear with a finger, and then let it sit onto it. The other is that on steep descents over rocky scree the ankle support was minimal and I risked a twisted ankle descending too fast a couple times, but that’s to be expected in such a lightweight shoe.

  Is the Salomon Speed Assault for you? Well, if you’re an operator you don’t need my advice. If you’re in the forces, you might be able to rock a pair of these for Battle/Boot PT and other activities with minimal loads. If you’re into fell running, these are an excellent alternative to the Speedcross – for a minimal to no increase in weight compared to the latter you’ve got far superior ankle support and a beefier toebox. If you’re a hiker then definitely give these a go, particularly if you favour warmer climates or are into superlight trekking and expeditions. If you’re planning on going somewhere hot (where your feet might occasionally get wet) then these are a serious contender. It’s exceedingly difficult to find a pair of lightweight hiking boots in the UK that won’t make your feet want to die or are non-GTX lined, so if you’re off to Southern Europe, Africa, Australia, South Asia or South America then give the Speed Assault a serious thought. Although they’re not as garish as civilian offerings the understated Burro Brown doesn’t scream “military” or “contractor” as a Desert Tan shoe might, and your only non-GTX alternatives for that kind of environment (particularly hot wetlands) are generally speaking military desert or jungle boots (which are normally high-leg and a lot heavier), which depending on the country’s political climate you might not want to wear. 

  VERDICT: The Salomon Speed Assault stood me in good stead from the depths of a riverbed to over 2000m in height. They’re lightweight, comfortable and extremely breathable. Buy yours here:

https://online.edgarbrothers.com/collections/salomon/products/salomon-forces-speed-assault-boots

Allyness: 4/5

Cost: ££

Recommended Y/N: Y

This Kit Pest Review was written by Tommasso. Hopefully you enjoyed it and if you have any thoughts or comments related to this article then leave a comment! 

 If you'd like to visit Cooper's Kit Corner, you can find it here.

 If you'd like to visit Gen Kit Exchange, you can find it here.

 Tax Reclaims - https://forces-money.co.uk/military-kit-insurance/

ARC’TERYX KHARD 30 – MULTICAM

• Cost:    £££££ (£295) 
• Value for Money:  2/3
• Ease of use:  5
• Construction:          5
• Alliness:           4

  When it comes to kit, my go to brand list is small. One brand I’ve wanted to include for a long time but has always eluded me is Arc’teryx. 

  Arc’teryx for many of you are a world renowned civilian outdoor kit and clothing supplier. Some know they also have a Law Enforcement Armed Forces (LEAF) range.

  I’ve been in the market for a new daysack for a little while now and thanks to Edgar Brothers (edgarbrothers.com) and their ghost deals, I managed to secure myself a Khard 30 at almost half price!

  The Khard 30 is a 30 litre daysack made from 500D nylon Cordura® 6,6 balanced weave with silicon. It measures 560mm tall and weighs a cool 1.4kg empty. It’s a single compartment pack that is exposed by full U zip that can be top, side or full compartment opening. It has two side pouches are geared nicely to fit 3L hydration pouches and have routing channels inbuilt for the hydration tubes. It has a structured back panel formed by two removable aluminium rods and lightweight low profile straps on both the shoulder and waist. The shoulder straps also feature quick release buckles.

  The Khard 30 is PPE compatible by removing the aluminium rods so will work with body armour and helmets. It’s geared towards signallers, medics and assaulters and even has routing holes for all your comms cord needs. 

  Inside there is a plethora of Velcro and daisy chains. This is where the Khard comes into its own. You can 'modulise' this pack with a multitude of pouches available from various tactical suppliers. So if like me you’re and OCD freak the Khard is heaven.

  Now the first thing I noticed when I got my hands on the Khard was that its rigid. I mean it almost feels somewhere between 500D and 1000D nylon Cordura®. Even without anything inside it, it was true to form. Next it looks great. I hate poor strap admin and this bad boy has that covered. Velcro stays keep it tidy from top to bottom.

  So functionality. One thing I hate is having to pull everything out of my daysack to get something at the bottom. The U zip solves this problem. It allows you to access anything from the bottom to the top, either from the front or the side of the pack without digging deep or pulling it all out. Get it decked out and 'modulise' it with pouches on the inside and I can see this pack being a dream.

  However, it does have it’s let down’s. The first being the waist strap. If like me you don’t like a waist strap then its fine, but if you do then it’s a bit too light weight and I can see it being uncomfortable as it does ride high. That said, you can solve the comfort problem by adding on the hip pods that come with the larger model, the Khard/Assault 45.

  Now for the clincher. The biggest let down of all is the price. At nearly £300 it’s very high cost! Unfortunately all Arc’teryx LEAF gear is and not many people are willing to pay the price. But if you do decide to part with the money, Arc’teryx do guarantee their craftsmanship for life.

  That said I love this pack. Whether using it in an operational environment or just a day to day hike with a waterproof and your lunch inside, the functionality is second to none. Its rigid, looks great and although it doesn’t look it at first glance, is very comfortable. I’ve had this pack for about 3 weeks now and I just don’t want to put it down. I’m looking forward to seeing the punishment this pack will take.

 This Kit Pest Review was written by Dan. Hopefully you enjoyed it and if you have any thoughts or comments related to this article then leave a comment! 

 If you'd like to visit Cooper's Kit Corner, you can find it here.

 If you'd like to visit Gen Kit Exchange, you can find it here.

 Tax Reclaims - https://forces-money.co.uk/military-kit-insurance/

British Tactical News Release!

British Tactical News Release!

We have just released a MOLLE knife sheath available in three lengths of 5, 6 and 7 inches. We have named it in honour “Mad Jack” Churchill - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Churchill.

It was developed at a customer’s request to modify our popular bayonet sheath for the SOG Seal PUP Knife and we extended the range to sizes above, the 7 inch is ideal for the Fairbairn Sykes Commando and other knives and is the first version we are launching.

Some of its features:

• New Laser cut 500D/500D laminate MOLLE grid on front which lines up with the rear MOLLE rows for seamless mounting behind other pouches. Ultra strong and lightweight.
• New laser cut Laminate MOLLE/PALS attachment system. Lower profile, lighter weight and does not absorb moisture.
• Has own internal HDPE card blade insert. Free of charge replacement inserts for lifetime of product if ever needed.
• Adjustable hook and loop hand guard retention, sewn in lines to cut down to required size.
• Removable and adjustable bungee elastic retention loop and webbing tab at end of the hand guard, ideal to quickly loop over hand guard to hold in place.
• Two placements positions for retention hook/loop, high and low.
• Will also accept most knives up to 7 inches long and 1 1/4 inch wide.
• Available in Multicam Original, Coyote Brown and Black.
• Reinforced stitching using nylon bonded rot and mildew resistant thread and externally bound seams.
• Superb build quality with laser cut fabric (heat sealed), precision automated sewing.
• Proudly made in the UK.
• Lifetime Defect Warranty.


Here is a link to the listing on GKE - https://www.genkit.co.uk/en/listings/438646-7-inch-mad-jack-knife-sheath


  Available to pre-order through GKE with a 15% pre-order discount already applied.

  - Dave
  British Tactical 

Klymit Pillow

• Cost: ££££ (£19.75) GET IT HERE 
• Value for Money: 3
• Ease of use: 5
• Construction: 5
• Alliness:         2

  If I had a favourite brand for outdoor gear it would probably be Klymit.  You may have seen my review of the Klymit sleeping pads I already have (Spoiler – They’re Awesome!).  I have recently added another to my collection (wait out for review) because I was looking for something a bit more luxurious… To go with it I decided I wanted a pillow.  There are tons of inflatable pillows available, all of them just variations on a theme.  The Klymit pillow is different however.

  Firstly, like all Klymit inflatable products, it inflates and deflates really rapidly.  No getting dizzy trying to force air into it.  Equally, when it comes to time to stick it away it deflates in literally a couple of seconds.

  Next up, it is tiny when it’s folded away in its little stuff sack.  This thing is literally only a smidge bigger than the size of a lighter.  Sucks to be you if you opt for a cammo one and drop it on the deck!  Mine fits very neatly inside the same bag as my sleeping pad.

  Like all Klymit products it has seriously robust construction.  It has a 30D top and a 75D bottom which makes for really high tear and abrasion resistance.  Unlike the sleep pads, it doesn’t come with a repair kit, but you would be pretty unlucky to need one.

  The “X Design” is meant to stabilise and centre your head.  It is also designed to fit inside the hood of a doss bag.  With it in the hood I frankly found that it was only comfortable when I laid on my back.  Not great, as I am a side sleeper.  It was also a bit sweaty against the face so I shoved it between my bivvy and my doss bag, which was much better all-round as it meant I could use it side sleeping.

  To sum up, I would say that this is a great bit of kit in terms of its size and durability, but is a little disappointing in terms of comfort.  Especially given its cost.  That said, it is still miles ahead of anything else that is available.  You clearly will get no Alliness points if you pull one of these out, real soldiers don’t use pillows!  But it is worth considering for chucking in your kit to use at a FOB or PB, when weight and size really count.  You can get them here 

  

  This Kit Pest Review was written by Ben OToole. Hopefully you enjoyed it and if you have any thoughts or comments related to this article then leave a comment! 

 If you'd like to visit Cooper's Kit Corner, you can find it here.

 If you'd like to visit Gen Kit Exchange, you can find it here.

 Tax Reclaims - https://forces-money.co.uk/military-kit-insurance/