A good camping mattress can be the difference between a solid, energized morning and waking up with a sleeping injury (yes, it’s a real thing). In the past testing season, I slept on six of the newest pads across 250 miles of the North Cascades to prove their worth. In the end, I’ve narrowed our collection down to 15 models to cover any camping situation. Whether you’re after the ultimate camping mattress (I highly recommend our top pick, the Therm-a-Rest MondoKing 3D) or need a budget-friendly option to get the family kitted out, like the $199 REI Co-op Westward Dreamer,…
I’ve had the chance to own and test a couple of Steelhead Outdoors lock boxes and they are impressive units. They just announced a larger version of their Drifter model. Steelhead Outdoors offers high quality lock boxes, safes, and cabinets. The Minnesota-based company was founded in 2016 and they manufacture their products right here in the United States. I first got acquainted with Steelhead a number of years ago and had a chance to review their Large HD Pistol Box here at Bearing Arms and over at my own site, The Square Reviews. More recently,…
While there isn’t a single best camping lantern for everyone, we sure looked for one. During our most recent proving session, lead gear tester Nick Belcaster camped with five new lanterns across 25+ camping overnights in Washington state to ensure our suggestions are tip-top. Sure, you could just use a flashlight or headlamp, but a top-pick lantern like the BioLite AlpenGlow 500 lights up the entire camp. Even budget options like the Duracell Tri-Power put out enough to illuminate the inside of your tent. Then there are big party options like the Goal Zero Skylight, or intimate mood-setters like the…
If you want evidence that Minnesota didn’t always have such an anti-gun tilt to it, just look at the fact that they’ve got a preemption law on the books. Local cities can’t, in theory, pass their own gun control, though it didn’t stop St. Paul from trying. And it’s not going to stop the other Twin City from giving it a go, too, it seems.Yes, really, Minneapolis is going to consider a local gun control bill.Minneapolis leaders are moving forward with a new gun control ordinance, but questions remain about whether it can actually be…
This article was originally published by Michael Snyder at The End of the American Dream. We live at a time when deception is running rampant. Iran is not telling the truth about what is going on in the Strait of Hormuz. Neither is the Pentagon. On Monday, a few commercial vessels were able to get through the Strait. On Tuesday, that number dropped to zero. That isn’t progress. In fact, that is the opposite of progress. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran is the greatest threat to the global economy that I have seen in my entire…
Camping and food go hand in hand, especially when car camping affords you the luxury of a two-burner stove. That’s why lead tester Nick Belcaster has been testing the best camping stoves for several back-to-back seasons, and has just completed another summer of testing six new stoves used across three states (and 40+ meals prepared). Our top pick, the Coleman Cascade 3-in-1 Stove, has plenty of firepower to keep dishes rolling off the line. But you don’t need to spend the big bucks, either, with the budget Coleman Cascade Classic only running $130. We’ve got 50+ years of combined experience…
Every year, brands trim the fat to stay lean in a constantly evolving automotive landscape. The transition to electrification keeps manufacturers’ sights fixed on new horizons, with little regard for the past—apart from nostalgic designs and decals. There are still nameplates that keep providing what we enjoy most about cars: the fact that they still need a driver behind the wheel. It’s easy to find a new car that can change lanes, brake, parallel park, and even call first responders upside down. But, what makes a car boring is exactly all of that. For us at CarBuzz to have an…
Some of the best meals I’ve ever had have been outside, hanging out around a fire at a campground, or miles into the backcountry. Maybe I was just hungry after a long day in the mountains. Or maybe food tastes better when it’s eaten outside. Either way, having a dialed camp kitchen makes those meals even more enjoyable to cook (and eat). Over the years, my setup has evolved as I’ve developed new systems and collected new gear. Once upon a time, my camp kitchen was pretty rudimentary. Those days are long gone, though. After years of slowly dialing the camp…
Guns are a key part of American culture, but we can’t escape that they’re also a key thing various extremist groups are going to want to get their hands on. Part of the reason our gun rights matter is that extremists will get firearms, and we need to be able to protect ourselves from such people. Other countries like to think they have a more enlightened approach to extremism. They have a lot of stern language about extremism, leave most people open to being killed without the means to defend themselves, and then, when something happens,…
It isn’t often that a National Guard Assault Helicopter Battalion has to rescue hikers and their pets, but when they do, they’re well-equipped for the job. On May 2, the Tennessee Army National Guard assisted the Nolichuckey Fire Department and local search and rescue (SAR) teams in extracting a lost hiker and his German shepherd from the Sampson Mountain Wilderness in the Cherokee National Forest. The hiker had gotten turned around and was stranded in a ravine overnight. The victim was discovered by rescue personnel in a hypothermic state, wearing just shorts and a T-shirt. He’d been missing for almost…
We all know how anti-gun California is. As a result, it was never a surprise that they’d crack down on privately made firearms. It wasn’t enough to mandate a serial number be obtained, which was already bad enough, but people could still pursue the hobby lawfully. No, they went full hog and banned all of it, even possessing the files. And then they started suing people who provided files for anyone to download, apparently thinking that shouldn’t be allowed since California is so important. After all, they try to dictate plenty to the rest of…
Wilson Combat is stepping into a slightly different lane with its latest handgun, and it’s not just another striker-fired clone. Meet the BULWARK. This new midsize 9mm is built around an enclosed internal hammer-fired system, aiming to deliver the trigger feel of a traditional hammer gun without the bulk—or snag points—of an exposed hammer. That alone sets it apart in a market dominated by striker-fired pistols. Instead of relying on a spring-driven striker, the BULWARK uses a fully enclosed hammer system. The goal here is pretty straightforward: combine the reliability and ignition consistency of a hammer gun with a clean,…
The new Army Combat Fitness Test (CFT) is an annual requirement for designated combat MOSs, including infantry, armor, special forces, explosive ordnance disposal, artillery and combat engineers. You must complete the following circuit in 30 minutes or less. The purpose is to create a job-related testing activity that builds upon the new Army Fitness Test (AFT). Both the AFT and the CFT are tested once each year for these groups. The non-combat-arms MOSs (military occupational specialties) will take the AFT twice a year. The new Army CFT consists of the following events: Start with a 1-mile run. 30 dead-stop pushups.…
After more than twenty years of covering the Second Amendment debate in the United States, one of the conclusions that I’ve drawn is that while pro-2A advocates generally want people to be educated about firearms and gun policy, the gun control lobby generally wants folks to be as ignorant as possible. A great example of this is a recent post by Brady’s Kris Brown on Bluesky, where she claimed “while this administration distracts you with a ballroom and an ICE rebrand, they’re also working overtime to flood communities with guns.”Their latest? Letting guns be shipped…
Minnesota just took a big step toward sweeping gun control but whether it actually becomes law is a different story. An expansive gun bill cleared the state Senate, targeting so-called “assault weapons,” “high-capacity” magazines, ghost guns, and binary triggers, according to reporting from FOX 9 Minneapolis–St. Paul. Will this Minnesota gun ban prevent the next shooting? Supporters are calling it a win. Critics are calling it unconstitutional. And right now, it’s stuck somewhere in between. The push comes in the wake of the Annunciation church shooting, where the attacker fired more than 100 rounds in just minutes. Families affected by…
We don’t often dunk on undeserving cars, but spotting a struggling Suzuki Jimny on the highway the other day reminded me just what a terrible car it actually is. Yes, it’s an epic off-roader, but very few of us actually have to drive over a mountain to get to work. As a result, Jimny ownership means living with a highly compromised yet cute car that can only do one thing. Many of you won’t agree with the cars on this list, which includes a Jeep for the very reasons mentioned above. But rest assured that I will also make a…
United States President Donald Trump has temporarily put “Project Freedom” on hold, pausing military escorts in the Strait of Hormuz. He said that the blockade of Iranian ports will “remain in full force and effect” until a final agreement with Tehran is reached. The now-aborted operation is the latest flashpoint between Washington and Tehran. Iran warned that any foreign military entering the strait would be targeted, insisting that safe passage through the waterway must be coordinated with Iranian forces. –RT. “Based on the request of Pakistan and other countries,” as well as “great progress” in talks with Iranian representatives, Washington and Tehran have “mutually agreed” to…
Every time something bad happens, the script gets dusted off. “Common sense gun control.” It sounds good. Feels good. Polls well. But when you actually press on it, ask for specifics, it starts to fall apart real fast. A recent breakdown by Colion Noir took a closer look at that argument and started asking the questions nobody seems willing to answer. Hope Walz calls for “common sense” gun legislation. Case in point: the latest viral push from Hope Walz, daughter of Minnesota’s Tim Walz, jumping on TikTok to explain how gun control is basically the line between civilized people and…
It is Military Appreciation Month and one longtime national nonprofit is raising continued awareness regarding the importance of Military Working Dogs (MWD) in military service members’ lives. Soldiers’ Angels, based out of San Antonio, Texas, works directly with deployed MWD handlers. With it also being National Pet Week, they are encouraging the public to help donate canines’ most-needed items due to handlers experiencing a lack of specialized supplies overseas. Specific items requested include heavy-duty toys for power chewers, grooming tools, large food and water bowls. Due to MWD’s strict diets, Soldiers’ Angels cannot accept or ship dog food or treats.…
Nothing can spoil a hunt like foot problems. But great, condition-appropriate hunting boots will keep feet happy and hunters moving through mountains, marshes, forests, or fields. Apart from being burly and weather-proof, the best hunting boots have focused qualities for specific environments. If you’re chasing elk across mountains, you’ll want very different footwear from duck hunters hunkering in a cold, wet blind. To build this list, I and a team of hunters tested more than 25 pairs of boots over eight years. For this round of testing, we collectively spent over three months trekking through steep elk country in Colorado,…
The DOJ’s new effort to overturn Denver, Colorado’s ban on so-called assault weapons has received a warm welcome from Second Amendment organizations and advocates, who see the challenge as a welcome opportunity to create a circuit court split on the constitutionality of such bans… and maybe give the Supreme Court a nudge to take up the issue sooner rather than later. In a statement, NRA-ILA Executive Director John Commerford declared the move is “exactly what gun owners voted for.” The Trump administration has been relentless in defending the Second Amendment, and today’s lawsuit against Denver’s unconstitutional…
