I bring a big cooler full of iced-down water and Gatorade to every class I attend, and make a point of sharing it with my fellow students and instructors.
Twenty bucks is cheap insurance, to make sure everyone leaves with the same number of orifices they arrived with. I don't know if it has ever made a difference, but it sure hasn't hurt.
Most duty gear systems have an inner and outer velcro belt system as well. The outer duty belt or war belt has velcro on the inside. The inner belt, usually about an inch and a half wide, has Velcro on it's outside so when you put the outer belt on the inner they make a solid foundation. A few belt keepers finishes the system to ensure everything stay snug and in place. All of those can be found very inexpensively on eBay or forums. Just buy some old used police gear. Heck, I've got a couple items I could send you if you like.
Did they manufacture it upside down?
Bring her along! My SO wants to make the drive down just so she can meet Paul. She's seen all his videos, and read his book, and just wants to make his acquaintance.
I like this idea. It would take me 60 seconds to take off my EDC stuff, tuck in my shirt, and strap on the battle belt. This is what I ended up getting, just because it was too tacticool not to own. If it doesn't work, it'll be sold on PF for a steep discount.
I'll take you up on that, especially with regards to pouches. I'll PM you, and the SO and I will swing by.
I've considered that. I'm actually very new to AIWB, and worked from an IWB at three o'clock for years. I need to learn the mechanics of the retention system, but honestly, I think the habit of pulling up my shirt is going to be the hardest thing to untrain.
They're not necessary, they're just quite a bit longer than standard mags, and easier to grab out of the mag pouch. I've never understood why people carry G19 reload mags for their G19: use the G17 mags, which are easier to grab, don't pinch your hand, and have those two bonus rounds.
I have hyperhidrosis, and am never not sweating. I have a Source water system, which I bought after hearing about it on ITS. My plans to use it never came to fruition, so I can only assume it works.
At CSAT, it's not an issue, as you can pull your vehicles right up to the shooting line. At other facilities, this may become a major issue.
Last edited by Chance; 05-27-2017 at 03:08 PM.
"Sapiens dicit: 'Ignoscere divinum est, sed noli pretium plenum pro pizza sero allata solvere.'" - Michelangelo
Vitalyte is my go-to. The big packages are convenient for home use, and they sell individual serving sticks that are perfect for adding to the ubiquitous 16oz bottles of water. Skratch Labs would be my second choice (if you qualify, they're on Promotive/Experticity).
Everyone is different, but what has worked well for me has been to drink a 1:1 ratio of water to water + electrolyte mix. I'll drink a bottle of plain water, then a bottle of water plus drink mix, and repeat throughout the day. I also find it key to snack continually all day, whether I'm hungry or not. If I don't do that, by about 1500 I start dragging ass and have difficulty staying focused. I like fresh fruit, Lara bars, granola, etc., and a light lunch, nothing heavy.
Hate to sound like a shill but for those who have to constantly deal with hot range days or heat in general, check out QORE performance. Ernest Langdon has a couple of videos on it explaining how they work. I wear them whenever I go shooting and it makes the brutal 90 degree weather here a bit more manageable so I have more concentration on what I need to focus my attention to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRQhcHsWjBE
As a fellow South FL resident, this is something I've been meaning to try out. Do you notice a significant difference wearing them compared to not? My practice sessions last about two hours on average, so it's not like I'm out in the heat all day, but for classes where I'm going to be in the sun all day for two to three days, maybe worth the investment.
Best things I've ever brought to a carbine class were lunch so that I could jam mags and fuck with gear during chow, and shorts and sneakers. Not kidding.
#RESIST
I have two sleeves and typically use two coolpacks right on the brachials both left and right and it cools the body down quite a lot for me, enough to stop my body from "wanting to sweat" if that makes sense. The more coolpacks you have on you, the more effective the whole system is. I like to use only one or two (when I'm wearing both sleeves) since I only have four coolpack inserts that I can rotate around in ice water.
Fully charged, they last for about 10-15 minutes while wearing them. They are definately something that should be considered if you go to classes or do any sort of exercise frequently.