Table of contents for April/May #66 2025 in RECOIL OFFGRID

Prices and details for products and services featured in RECOIL OFFGRID are set by the manufacturers, retailers, and agencies, and are subject to change without notice. 100% ACTUAL SIZE Throughout this issue you will see certain images are labeled as being 100% Actual Size. This designation is for the print edition of this issue. Because of the various screen sizes on different tablets and computers, we cannot always provide actual life size images in digital versions. We apologize if this causes any confusion and thank you for your understanding.…

Winter’s chill can hit like a punch to the chest, but the right kit turns frosty ground into just another stretch of road. We’ve pulled together gear that holds its own in teeth-chattering conditions — boots that fight off numb toes, a beanie hiding a spare key, and tools that earn their keep when the mercury dives. Ahead, you’ll find a few standout picks that kept us warm, a range of gear that really earned its keep in the freeze, and a final rundown of the top performers that rose above the rest. RECOIL OFFGRID’s Top Picks Now that temperatures have dropped across much of the United States, we’ve been preparing to stay warm in the field. Throughout our testing, everything performed well, but two pieces of gear really stood…

There are many reasons why people have had to run through the wilderness and evade much larger forces in a desperate pursuit of their freedom or life. Ranging from world wars, ideological or ethnic genocide, or widespread chaos and a failure of civility. Regardless of the reason, when it’s required, the skill becomes much like a parachute to a man falling from the sky — extremely helpful. Initiating the first phase of evasion should occur as soon as it becomes clear that avoiding a larger, more powerful force is necessary. Again, it could be an undercover operative getting discovered and needing to break contact. Or a downed helicopter pilot, waking after a crash far beyond the friendly lines. Or perhaps it’s a small family trying to get to their bug-out…

Imagine walking into an unfamiliar environment and being able to immediately assess its safety, potential threats, and opportunities for escape or advantage. This skill is not just reserved for trained professionals like military personnel or law enforcement. Civilians can develop the same ability to read places and situations by understanding how our sensory systems, cognitive processes, and situational awareness work. Armed with these understandings, we can make better decisions and stay one step ahead of potential dangers. You could be navigating a crowded city street, exploring a remote hiking trail, or simply assessing the atmosphere at a social gathering. Having the ability to "read the room" can provide a significant advantage. Developing this skill enhances personal safety and builds confidence in handling unpredictable situations. By becoming more attuned to environmental…

If you’re looking for a versatile and reliable tool that can handle various tasks, from kitchen prep to outdoor adventures, look no further than a paring knife. This simple-yet-efficient knife design has been a staple in kitchens worldwide for decades, and for good reason. Its compact size and sharp blade make it an excellent choice for precision cuts, peeling, and coring fruits and vegetables. However, the usefulness of a paring knife continues beyond the kitchen. Its lightweight design and thin edge make it an ideal tool for outdoor enthusiasts, hunters, and butchers. Let’s explore the advantages of a paring knife for a wide range of camp craft and utility tasks, while uncovering a unique collaboration between a renowned security consultant and a leading knife manufacturer that has resulted in an…

The Premise When trapped behind enemy lines or lost in the wilderness, survival often comes down to resourcefulness, adaptability, and grit. Human ingenuity has always been the best tool for evading capture and staying alive. But how do elite operatives manage to escape hostile environments, traverse perilous terrain, and ultimately make it home? Will Fowler, a military historian and writer, delves into the strategies and techniques employed by some of the world’s most elite special forces in The Special Forces Guide to Escape and Evasion. From the jungles of Vietnam to urban war zones, this guide provides a peek into the mental and physical training that enables soldiers to thrive in the face of insurmountable odds. The 411 Fowler’s book explores the art of evading capture, a skill that begins…

1. COAT Make: Prometheus Design Werx Model: Aegis LT - Ranger Green MSRP: $429 URL: prometheusdesignwerx.com 2. CHEST RIG Make: FullTang Tactical Model: Modular Chest Rig-Kit Bag MSRP: $169 URL: fulltangtactical.com 3. PANTS Make: OTTE Gear Model: Range Pant V2 MSRP: $159 URL: ottegear.com 4. FIREARM Make: Zenith Model: ZF-5 Essentials Package MSRP: $1,500 URL: zenithfirearms.com 5. OPTIC Make: Steiner Model: MPS Micro Pistol Sight MSRP: $633 URL: steiner-optics.com 6. SILENCER Make: SilencerCo. Model: Spectre 9k MSRP: Unknown URL: silencerco.com 7. FOLDING STOCK Make: JMac Customs Model: AB-9R w/Folding Buttplate and 1913 Folding Mech MSRP: $351 to $471 URL: jmac-customs.com 8. IFAK Make: Dark Angel Medical Model: D.A.R.K. Trauma Kit MSRP: $221 to $253 URL: darkangelmedical.com 9. LOCK PICKS Make: Sparrows Lock Picks Model: The Vorax MSRP: $95 URL: sparrowslockpicks.com…

Let’s start off by looking at the abbreviation SERE: Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape. Now, picture what SERE training looks like in your mind. There is a high chance that you’re picturing military personnel in some type of austere and remote environment, faces painted with camouflage, hiding from hostiles just across the river or mountain range. Now, what I want to do is dispel the myth that SERE is only for the military and teach you that with awareness, an appropriate survival kit, and properly dressing for each situation, you can confidently navigate and mitigate life-threatening situations. Survival Separating the concept of survival from the broader framework of SERE is a logical starting point. Survival, at its core, encompasses enduring and overcoming challenges in situations such as a plane crash in…

“Leakage” occurs when a student intentionally or unintentionally reveals clues to feelings, thoughts, fantasies, attitudes, or intentions that may signal an impending violent act. These clues can take the form of subtle threats, boasts, innuendos, predictions, or ultimatums. They may be spoken or conveyed in stories, diary entries, essays, poems, letters, songs, drawings, doodles, tattoos, or videos. Another form of leakage involves efforts to get unwitting friends or classmates to help with preparations for a violent act, at times through deception. For example, the student asks a friend to obtain ammunition for him because he is going hunting. Leakage can be a cry for help, a sign of inner conflict, or boasts that may look empty but actually express a serious threat. Leakage is considered to be one of the…

Oh, the great outdoors. It’s the perfect place to escape the chaos of the city and reconnect with nature. But what happens when your day hike goes wrong, and you find yourself stranded in the wilderness overnight? That’s precisely what happened to me, and boy, did I learn the importance of packing the right gear. It all started as a simple day hike, but the weather had other plans. A sudden snowstorm hit; before I knew it, I was lost and alone in the wilderness. I realized I was in for a long night. But thanks to my trusty pack and strong mindset, I was able to make the best of the situation. Mission Specific I used to go for speed and miles in the woods. These days, my goals…

The world keeps showing us how swiftly comfort can give way to crisis. Reports of violent criminals slipping through lax borders and settling into everyday neighborhoods are no longer distant headlines. Attacks on young women on once-secure streets and the spread of gangs — like the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua — staking out apartment complexes remind us that danger can evolve faster than we’d prefer. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Yet the truth is that there are ways to prepare, mentally and physically, for scenarios that once seemed exclusive to war zones or distant trouble spots. The principles of SERE — Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape — no longer belong solely to those in specialized fields. They can enrich the lives of anyone determined not to give predators the upper hand.…

Peter Magnin’s path to becoming a survival expert reads like something out of an adventure novel, blending raw experiences in military service, immersive journeys into primitive skills, and years spent guiding expeditions through some of the world’s most challenging environments. From SERE training with special operations personnel to brain-tanning moose hides and leading survival courses in the Amazon rainforest, Magnin’s insights into survival, bushcraft, and mindset reflect hard-earned lessons. In this interview, he shares his journey, the critical differences between survival and bushcraft, and why a knife, a lighter, and situational awareness can mean the difference between life and death. How did you first get started in survival, and what sparked your interest? Peter Magnin: It started when I was a kid. My dad was from northern Wisconsin, a classic…

School shootings aren’t only extremely tragic events, but they also spawn vivid discussions amongst our communities. Media pundits and politicians debate the causes of and solutions to the problem ad nauseam, but one group that we often don’t hear from are those who stand guard on the front lines of defense every day: teachers. Teachers are the eyes and ears of our school system, so it goes to say that they have a stronger finger on the pulse of students than most. Their voices, however, are often drowned out regarding the struggles, anxieties, and stories that today’s educators share on the front lines of the classroom. Painting the Picture Before we can see through the eyes of the teacher, we need to gain a proper perspective of what characterizes an…

One of the hardest diagnoses to make in a perfect world is that of abdominal pain. It can be a challenge in the austere setting, but it’s not impossible. This article will cover some topics to explore further and some common causes of abdominal pain. There are many books on the subject of abdominal pain. However, one that gets passed around the halls of surgical residency is Cope’s Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen (now in its 22nd edition). This book is worth having in your library if you plan on being medically astute in the austere setting. One of the helpful parts of the book is that it divides abdominal pain into quadrants and provides potential diagnoses for each quadrant. Although Cope’s delineation of pain may be beneficial, it…