Table of contents for June/July #43 2021 in RECOIL OFFGRID

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 allowed us to create artificial, if not perfect, adaptations to our environment. In the case of darkness, our first adaptation was fire. We could create light where there was no light, making our environment more usable, even after the sun went down. This technological use of fire was surpassed by that of electricity. From street lamps to flashlights to headlights on cars, “electric torches” became the safer, more effcient version of the gas lantern or burning stick. But about 75 years ago, the way human beings interact with the night took another turn. Instead…

An old maxim of creativity is to take two things that aren’t normally seen together and combine them in a way that brings out new qualities in both. In regard to survival, when not under the stress of an immediate threat, this has led to the development of tools, gear, and skills not considered before. Some disappear almost immediately; others become the new standard. From the outside, GBRS Group appears to be combining two things that don’t obviously fit together: skateboards and night vision. But after talking to them, we realized they’re a surprisingly natural match. The team at GBRS Group isn’t just a group of medically retired SEALs who provide top-tier training for end users. Digging into the history of combat footwear, for years those engaged in combat looked…

Throughout human history, our species has always looked for advantages in both technology and tactics. The rock became the club, which became the spear, which became the arrow, and finally the firearm. The sword was always more important than the shield, and of fensive technology was always forward-thinking and progressive. Regardless of time, culture, race, or creed, humans have always looked at our resources and thought, how can we weaponize this? One of the biggest hindrances to warfare has always been darkness — sure, fighting happened at night, but up until recently, it wasn’t conducted the way we do business in this century. Enter image intensification, more commonly known as night vision (NV). It’s light amplification on a large scale, turning very small amounts of light photons (be they visible…

Elsewhere in this issue, 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 proliferation of civilian-accessible night vision options over the last several years has left a lot of interested consumers chewing on the dust of “experts” (real or imagined) who have spent hours, or years, conducting research or amassing trial-and-error experience. If you’re night vision curious but unsure of where to start, we present “Square One.” Don Edwards is a Ranger Battalion and Special Forces veteran with literal decades of night vision experience in real-world operations. He previously worked as the director of government and law enforcement sales and training for Tactical Night Vision Company (TNVC) before starting his…

Why do things go bump in the night? Why do werewolves change at the full moon? Why are vampires allergic to sunlight? The short answer is it’s easier to do evil deeds after nightfall. By the time the sun is completely down, most people are tired, relaxed, full-bellied from dinner, and getting ready for bed. There’s less light, generally less traffic (both vehicle and pedestrian), and it’s colder. If you have ill intentions, you’re unlikely to be seen and even less likely to be paid attention to. According to an article published by The Sleep Judge, based on 2017 crime reports from several selected cities, more than half of violent crimes occur at nighttime. We gleaned the following highlights from their data: - 65 percent of murders and nonnegligent manslaughters…

Whether it’s a power outage, a natural or man-made disaster, or something as common as a roadside breakdown, emergency backup lighting and power will often play a critical role in any recovery effort. Even the most basic tasks become vastly more dif ficult when you can’t see what you’re doing. For emergency lighting, a battery-operated flashlight or lantern has usually been the standard. Although ordinary flashlights/lanterns are effective, many of the examples you’ll find at big-box retailers and hardware stores are bulky and inefficient. For those times when visibility is critical, you’ll need more robust and flexible lighting solutions. Enter Chip-On-Board (COB) LED technology, which packs a large quantity of highly efficient LEDs onto a small circuit board for higher light intensity and lower energy usage. In this article, we…

Along time ago, on an Army base far away, I began my military career training to be a Cavalry Scout. This reconnaissance-oriented occupation was all about observing the battlefield undetected, whether we were in a vehicle or traveling on foot. Of all the tactics we were taught, none were as important as leveraging every asset at our disposal to our advantage, including the time of day. Scouts learn to operate under the cover of darkness to an extreme degree. After nearly a decade within the ranks, I had the opportunity to use and abuse multiple generations of night vision optics under some of the most austere conditions. A few of those optics appear in the movies, but some of them required non-disclosure agreements. I recently had the opportunity to evaluate…

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 by legislation that’s lacking in forethought and scientific evidence only serves to complicate and aggravate an existing situation. Those of you who’ve been hit hard financially by punitive COVID-19 mandates know far too well what we’re talking about. Why wouldn’t that same haphazard approach be applied again tao other areas where the government needs to “do something” instantly to solve a problem? After all, the salary, safety, and living conditions of those who create these laws always manages to remain unaffected. So, let’s turn our attention to what the future might look…

Every day, most of us have approximately 12 to 16 hours of sunlight to work with. That means we also have approximately 8 to 12 hours of darkness. If your rifle, handgun, or shotgun aren’t setup for working in the dark, you potentially have a limited-use item — a 12-to 16-hour gun for a 24-hour world. If you’re one of these folks, we’re going to help you out. I personally strive to have a 24-hour gun. So, no matter the occasion, I have a working firearm that can do more than just shoot in well-lit, controlled environments. I want a reliable, dependable system with the equipment that’s better than just “good enough.” The phrase “good enough” tells me that you know there’s better, and you’re not willing to achieve it…

In an ever-evolving world of threats, our adversaries’ weaponry and technology is changing the way we fight. The easy acquisition of night vision devices (NVDs) and even technological advances in smartphone architecture are giving them the capability to operate and fight at night — an ability that for years was the sole territory of advanced nation states. During daylight hours and areas of full light, the game is fairly even. Once the sun goes down, whoever has the best tech and training has the advantage. Adding an infrared laser device to your blaster, whether you're military, LE, or civilian can give you the edge in owning the night, regardless of your mission set. The military has been using IR lasers for a couple of decades now — let’s face it,…

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. Contrast this with a region which has harsh, or longer than average, winter seasons and this temperature change dynamic creates a new series of risks. For example, when temperatures dip into the negatives, even mild sustained winds can cause exposed skin to freeze solid in minutes. In the U.S., approximately 1,300 deaths occur each year due to cold-weather injures, about twice the number of fatalities incurred by heat. Preparing for extreme winter conditions means preparing for the worst. As an avid outdoorsman in a region with…