Recoil OffGrid

Human traffickers, process predators, narco-terrorists, hostage-takers — these are just a few groups within the criminal element that employ unlawful custody. These types of criminals are generally very experienced at their craft, and understand that elim...

As world leaders continue to scratch their heads about the best way forward and activists demand immediate solutions to very complex societal issues, we can easily expect more knee-jerk political responses to future disasters. The collateral damage caused...

The original plan for this article was to outline how to set up a helmet for use with Night Vision Goggles (NVGs). However, there’s no sense in talking about what color to paint the walls of a house before the foundation is poured — first, we need to disc...

Elsewhere in OFFGRID #43, we have some very specific technical articles on night vision related topics: technical specifications on tubes, accessorizing night vision compatible weapons, and setting up helmets for night-vision use. But the rapid proliferat...

In previous issues, we had a chance to attend and evaluate Byron Rodgers’ Protector Symposiums 1.0 and 2.0. What we walked away with was nothing short of thinking to ourselves, why didn’t anyone put together an event like this sooner? If you haven’t read...

What do horror movies, home invasions, alien abductions, and special operations missions all have in common? They usually take place at night.   Evolutionarily speaking, humans are not nocturnal creatures. But our ability to produce tools has allow...

Feeling cold is a matter of perspective. Hot summer days can make the nights feel unbearably cool by comparison. This scenario is precluded by the fact that when 90 degrees F turns to 60, your health and wellbeing is usually not in immediate danger. Contr...

EDC, or Every Day Carry is a deeply personal topic. Everyone has their own ideas of what to have on their person on a day-to-day basis. These items often include a handgun, knife, wallet of choice and sometimes medical components. In addition to the items...

Premise: Criminal profiling has come a long way over the last several decades, both in terms of its investigative methods and prominence in pop culture. One name that stands out in this area of study is John Douglas. His FBI career not only brought him fa...

We often hear the expression “serial killer” in reference to a succession of crimes committed by depraved, shadowy figures. Their murders are often grotesque in nature, but the patterns exhibited in these crimes reveal characteristics of those behind the...

As a federal agent for 12 years, I never knew if I’d be conducting surveillance, responding to a bomb threat, or meeting with a U.S. attorney. Defensive, medical, survival, and day-to-day gear had to be accounted for. My work has now shifted to consulting...

The Viktos Zerodark MC Insulated Jacket is the type of layering every adventurer should own. While that isn't to say the lightweight packable jacket is the lightest of weights or the smallest to pack, it fills a gap found all too often across those who en...

The decision of whether or not to intervene when someone else is falling victim to violence is only made more complicated by the multitude of unanswered questions that typically surround such a situational event. Often seated at the center is the question...

Considering the vast number of Veterans in the United States, and the manifold uses of America's Rifle, the evolution of AR-15 style mag pouches has followed both a linear and circular path. Linnear, in the effort to become lighter, with better retention,...

The world we live in seems to be crumbling around us these days. I want a pair of jeans that allows me to carry everything I need to deal with unforeseen events, without advertising my preparedness to every passerby. I need to wear these jeans for work an...

How would you define yourself in a single word? Perhaps it’s a family title — mom, dad, husband, or wife. Or maybe it’s a professional title that represents your life’s work, such as soldier, officer, firefighter, or doctor. There’s one term that encompas...

We've started spending more time with Body Armor and plate carriers here on OFFGRID in the last months, and if you look at the numbers, that has been reflected by the country as a whole over the last year. Although it can be a daunting subject to breach i...

Humans have been making clothing with built-in pockets since at least 1200 AD, when our ancestors started cutting slits in their tunics to access coin purses or keys stashed in their undergarments. However, the concept of storing tools on a belt is far ol...

I once heard a very interesting, if not somewhat grim, outlook on interpersonal conflict from a soldier I served with. Roughly remembered, it goes something like this: “All things being equal, tactical advantage goes to he who cares the least about what h...

When people think of winter, they think of holidays, family, snowmen, and skating. What can be a fun time can also become a disaster if you’re ill prepared. Things that seem trivial the rest of the year can become a life-or-death scenario when the mercury...