Father’s Day Gear That Actually Works

This Father’s Day gear guide skips the gimmicks and sticks to tested packs, tools, blades, lights, gloves, medical gear, and a dryfire training kit that actually work. If Dad shoots, travels, fixes things, or just likes being prepared, this list has teeth.

This year’s Father’s Day Gift Guide is a mix of new and old, or at least new and updates to old. Items featured here have been tested by yours truly in real-world situations. The older I get, the less time, space and interest I have in things that just don’t work right. These products work right. Feel free to send me any of these for Father’s Day.

Send Dad Packing With Low-Vis Carry Gear That Works

In the last 10-20 years, what has become more ubiquitous than a backpack? Co-opted from college students, backpacks have found their way into the office, the airport, and the coffee shop. And what better way to low-key carry than in a purpose-built backpack like the 22L Gamut from Vertyx. I have been using the Gamut for the past few months, and it’s become one of my favorites.

As an airplane carry-on, it is both unique and stealth. It looks good, but it’s not exactly like everyone else’s. Each feature is well thought out, from the straps to the padding to the pockets. The top pocket can hold a large phone with other items and hides a zippered, fleece-lined eyewear pocket. The main compartment can clamshell open, exposing zippered pockets, a padded laptop sleeve, a padded tablet sleeve, and other areas to stow items. It also has a padded floor panel to protect items if you drop the pack on the deck. The dual-sided sleeves handle water bottles well, and the front features a leather-lined grab sleeve, while the back has a traditional grab handle.

Finally, there is a concealed carry pouch that is purpose-built and fully customizable for any pistol (I used a CrossBreed holster). The extra-large pull tabs on the carry pouch can be configured for left or right-hand draw. Every aspect of this pack is extremely well engineered, and it shows. The padded back has a passthrough sleeve for carrying on top of a roller bag. Made with 500D nylon and YKK zippers, this is a high-quality bag. $229.99

Another new covert carry-on bag is the LVC12 from 5.11 Tactical. Frequenters of this column know I use 5.11 gear extensively, and this new bag fills the low-vis-carry mission set perfectly. With ambidextrous access to the concealed carry pouch, the LVC12 gives fast carry access in a very low visibility configuration. I’ve traveled through airports (sans firearm), and this pack is the poster child for a gray man bag.

Dual water bottle pockets, clamshell padded main storage, fleece-lined eye pro pocket, and topside grab handle are all proven 5.11 designs. The hidden rear padded pocket fits either a full-size laptop or an armor plate. The LVC12 does tactical without screaming tactical, which is exactly the point. Available in a wide variety of colors for $160.

Easy There Poncho: The Rain Fix Dad Will Actually Carry

As long as you are getting Dad a pack, why not throw in the extremely packable 5.11 Packable Poncho? With an adjustable drawstring hood, taped seams, and waterproof silicone coating, the Packable Poncho is a useful addition to truck contingency gear. The poncho measures 56 inches by 84 inches, yet the whole thing packs down to a tiny 6x6x3 inches. The mini MOLLE system on the back of the pouch lets the poncho tag along pretty much anywhere.

I’ve seen some reviews of this poncho whining about it not being this or that. Look, it’s not a custom-fit rainsuit. It’s a versatile contingency item that takes up very little space. It is a hasty rain barrier that you will be glad you have if you need it. $90.

Dryfire For Dayzzzzzzzz With the Mantis Titan X

Years ago, I discovered Mantis dryfire systems in the SHOT Show basement, and today they are a big, bad company that continues to innovate. From their MantisX to their Blackbeard systems, Mantis delivers outstanding dryfire practice with proven results. My own 3-gun placements increased as a direct result of dry-fire practice with Mantis products.

This year, Mantis introduced the Titan X system, and it’s another great training aid. It’s both a dry-fire trainer with all the usual data-driven diagnostics that Mantis has provided for years. With it, you can analyze your trigger pull, your draw stroke, and even how you transition between targets. In addition, the Titan X has a laser that gives instant visual feedback on accuracy, either through simple visual observation or through the use of the Mantis Laser Academy.

The Titan X comes in familiar form factors such as the G17, G19, or G45 Glocks. More forms are on the way for popular handguns. The inert Titan X trainer is RMR optics-ready, or it may be used with the attached fixed sights. The magazine can be dropped and replaced during a reloading drill. The trigger is very realistic, and it resets. The only thing missing is the recoil and the heft of an actual loaded pistol.

For comparison, I handled the Titan X G19 and a SIRT trainer side by side. The SIRT has a very realistic weight, and the Titan X is considerably lighter (really, just the slide is light, as the magazines feel like loaded magazines). Aside from that, the Titan X experience is realistic.

The beauty of the Titan X comes in the dry-fire diagnostics. The free Mantis app provides a broad range of training options to keep you interested over time. And let’s face it, the problem with dry fire is that it can be boring. Mantis systems such as the Titan X solve that problem. The other great thing about the Titan X is the price. You get all of this functionality for $200. You read that right. Get Dad this trainer and watch him smile.

Still on the Cutting Edge With Benchmade SOCP Blades

Benchmade knives have been made in Oregon City, Oregon, for over 30 years. This year, Benchmade has updated a knife I featured in last year’s gift guide. I was very interested in this update because I’ve been using the Benchmade Special Operations Combatives Program (SOCP) Dagger as an everyday carry for many months. It is very concealable, readily accessible, and has little to no burden to wear over an appendix-carried pistol.

As mentioned last year, the SOCP dagger was designed by Greg Thompson. Mr. Thompson is a legend in the combatives community, and he designed this dagger for hand and knife fighting for Special Operations personnel. At the 2025 SHOT booth, Greg showed me how naturally this knife can be used defensively. For anyone with any level of jiu jitsu training, the SOCP dagger is an immediate force multiplier. The same jiu jitsu motions, such as shrimping, can be 100 times more effective when you add the SOCP dagger. Even if you don’t train in jiu jitsu, any stabby-McStabby leave-me-alone motions are intuitive with this knife.

There are two updates to the original design. First off, Benchmade reshaped the blade to make it easier to sharpen and easier to use for everyday tasks. The new Spear-Point SOCP has one side of the tip sharpened, while the other is dull. The result is a much more useful knife for the things you will most often be doing when pulling it. I’m looking at your Amazon box.

The second update is a shorter version, the SOCP Mini. I find this innovation very welcome. One position for wearing is inside the beltline on either side. The Mini’s shorter overall blade doesn’t ride as deep in your pants, so it is more comfortable than the full-length version. Because it’s more comfortable, the user is more likely to carry it all the time. Be sure to get the optional $10 leather backplate patch, which makes carrying the SOCP dagger much more comfortable if you have any kind of belly. There’s a trainer available for $75, or get the Dagger/Trainer combo for $150. The Mini is just $100, including the sheath, and the full length is $125. Colors range from black to tan to tungsten gray.

Dad, Can You Fix This Please? Fix It Sticks Says Yes

Another update to a long-time winning product set comes from Fix It Sticks. If you or your dad follow this gift guide, you probably have some Fix It Sticks sitting on a workbench. Well, they now sell an organizational solution in the form of a hard case from Nanuk. The case is water-resistant, impact-resistant, and dustproof.

Fix-it also sells what’s called The Works with Hardcase, which pretty much has anything Dad will need at the range, stored on three MOLLE panels inside the hardcase. The Works includes tools to service ARs, pistols, shotguns, and optics for most tasks, including a torque limiter option, T-Handle Wrench, 1/2″ socket, choke tube wrench, 1911 bushing tool, Glock ® front sight tool, small pry bar, bolt carrier scraper, castle nut wrench, pin punches (plastic and metal), bronze scraper, pick, brush bit, A2 front sight tool, 8-32 threaded brass cleaning rods, and a magnetic parts tray.

There are a ton of bits included: 13 hex in common metric and SAE sizes, 7 Torx bits, two Phillips bits, and two slotted bits. There is also enough room in the kit to add many of your existing Fix It tools, such as torque limiters. $400-466.

Don’t Bleed Out: Snakestaff Makes Readiness Pocket-Sized

Several of my gift guides in the past have featured tourniquets, and I strive to have at least one within arm’s reach at all times. But let’s face it, in the summer that’s tough to do. Enter Snakestaff Systems. They make tourniquets that are smaller than the traditional tried-and-true tourniquets, such as the C-A-T. Snakestaff’s goal was to provide an effective tourniquet with a smaller form factor.

Size alone will make you more likely to carry this in your pocket, but so will the knowledge that you will be ready if tragedy strikes for you or someone around you. These are available in regular 1-inch width or 1.5-inch width, for just $32. I recommend getting several for your family, your vehicles, and as trainers.

We have a game at my house at social events. Anyone can toss the blue trainer Snakestaff Systems tourniquet at someone else and say where that person has been shot. The recipient has seconds to react and remedy the situation with the training tourniquet. It’s like beer pong, only more practical. Play the tourniquet game while enjoying board games, watching movies, or whatever, and raise your readiness level.

Fits Like a Glove: Ironclad Gear for Hot Suppressors and Hard Use

In the past few years, there has been a crowded booth at the entrance to the SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range. Ironclad Performance Wear has been giving out a free pair of gloves at the SHOW with great success. There’s nothing like free stuff at SHOT to create a line. Ironclad Performance Wear makes a ton of different purpose-built gloves (visit their website; they have gloves for everything you never knew you needed). I talked to the rep there at the booth, and he sent out several types of gloves for testing.

Here are the results: all gloves tested were very good, but the standout was the HeatWorx Heavy Duty Fire Resistant gloves. But more on that later. First up are the general-purpose gloves, the Grip, with a neoprene knuckle, silicone grip, and sweat-wipe thumb. This is a solid glove for any task requiring grip (achieved with a silicone surface). These are a bit thick for running a 3-gun competition, but you could do it. I would not use these to run barbed wire strands, but for any general-purpose task, they are solid. The sweat wipe thing sounds silly until you use it. $19.99 in several colors.

Next up is the Caliber, standard duty. These I would run in a 3-gun competition. They are light, tight, and feature a sheepskin palm and finger pad cover. The “rollover” fingers design is patented and is touchscreen compatible. The pre-curved fingers, spandex back, and well-designed wrist make these a good high-speed, low-drag option. $34.99

Finally, we have the Ironclad Heatworx Heavy Duty Fire Resistant gloves. These are my new all time favorite special purpose glove. Anyone who shoots suppressed, which is rapidly becoming everyone, knows exactly what happens after a few mags: ouchy hot metal is what happens. Having the ability to check suppressor tightness or remove a quick-detach suppressor after a few magazines is very useful. I had been packing an oven mitt type thing that came with one of my suppressors to the range for this purpose. Not anymore.

These Heatworx gloves are fantastic. They are made with Kevlar, silicone, and Nomex FR thread. Not only do they stand up to the heat, but they are grippy, so checking suppressor tightness is fast and easy. Remove a carboned-up old-design “quick detach” suppressor without the usual struggle, and without burning your hand. The Ironclad Heatworx gloves have a permanent place in my range bag. Highly recommended. $69.99

Dad Enlightened You, Now Return the Favor With an LEP Flashlight

Every dad likes a good flashlight. Gone are the days in which he must settle for a 4 D-cell flashlight to merely illuminate the back tree line. Today’s LED flashlights are powerful, rechargeable, and extremely durable, so what could be better? I’ll tell you what: an LEP flashlight. You read that right, LEP, not LED. Want to impress your flashlight-phile dad? Get him an LEP flashlight.LEP stands for Laser Excited Phosphor. That’s laser as in laser beam. A blue laser inside the light illuminates and excites a phosphor plate that then emits a very bright, very tight beam. These have been out for a few years, but when Ledlenser offered one, I had to buy it. I have many Ledlenser flashlights, and I completely trust them. I got the P9R Core LEP.

In short, this thing is amazing. The LEP part of the flashlight thoroughly illuminates trees several hundred yards (not feet) away, and by “thoroughly,” I mean better than high beams on any vehicle. Everyone I’ve shown this light to stares in amazement and says, “Wow”. This light also has red and white LEDs that are useful for conserving night vision and normal flashlight duties. $340.

Father’s Day Gear Guide Price Snapshot

Pros & Cons: The Good Stuff and the Catch

• Pros: Every product here was tested in real-world use, the price spread runs from $32 to $466, and the list covers travel, carry, dryfire, medical, tool, glove, blade, and light needs.
• Pros: The guide keeps the focus on things Dad will actually use after the wrapping paper hits the trash.
• Cons: Some items are specialty gear, so the best pick depends heavily on whether Dad needs a pack, a trainer, a tool kit, or an excuse to point a laser beam into the tree line.
• Cons: The higher-end tools and lights are not cheap, but cheap gear that doesn’t work right is how you end up buying twice.