EOTech XPS2-0 Review

I put together this EOTech XPS2-0 review because I was recently in the market for a new site for my AR-15 and when I was shopping around I looked at  everything in the market, from cheaper sites like NC Star to very expensive Trijicon sites.  I landed somewhere in the middle of the cost spectrum but from my point of view I landed near the top of the functionality spectrum with the EOTech XPS2-0.

EOTech Holographic weapon sites (HWS) are used day in and day out by our military and law enforcement teams across the country and world. That being said there are some other top brands out there that are very popular in the field such as Trijicon and Aimpoint.  You really cannot go wrong with either EOTech, Trijicon ACOG or Aimpoint and much of it comes down to personal preference and cost.

There are some key differences between these three sites. The first difference is the reticle, the second difference is the battery type / battery life and the third difference is magnification.

 

Aimpoint

Aimpoint is known for their single dot reticle. Unlike the EOTech with the 65 MOA circle and the 1 MOA dot , AimPoint sites have a single 2 MOA dot or 4 MOA dot depending on the model . This is great for CQB but is a more challenging aim at a medium range since the dot will cover a larger area of the target.

The next comparison is battery and battery life. AimPoint sites have  a variety of battery options as do the different series of EOTech HWS. However the battery life on these things range from 3-5 years of continuous use! The EOTech weighs in at about 600 hours or 25 days of continuous use.

AimPoint red dot sites are available with 1x magnification like the EOTech and you can buy a  3x magnifier, again, like EOTech. The only drawback  on the AimPoint  under magnification , is the 2 or 4 MOA dot.

Trijicon

The Trijicon ACOG is another widely used weapons site. The reticles vary on these sites from a circle with a dot in the middle like the EOTech to a horseshoe pattern to the popular chevron reticle. These are all very effective in the field.

The Trijicon does not take batteries rather it has a tritium phosphorus lamp which depending on the model, will illuminate the reticle for up to ten years. This is great if you are in the line of duty or in the military however not so great if you plan on using the site after 10 years.

The Trijicon ACOG’s very in magnification per each model. They range from 1.5x to 6.5x magnification

The only drawback with the Trijicon sites is that they are supremely expensive starting at about $1200 up to $2000 plus.

 

Eotech XPS2-0

There are many different types of sites in the EOTech family. The differences are subtle but enough to make navigating them difficult. The XPS2-0 is a mid-range site that is characterized by its horizontally mounted cr123 battery. This makes the site extremely compact, only taking up a couple of inches of rail space. The EOTech field of view is large and square shaped so your field of vision is wide and it makes shooting with two eyes open really easy, I actually prefer it.

The controls on the EOTech sites are extremely easy to use, there are two buttons that control on/off and the lumination of the reticle which there are many settings for. The HWS locks tight on your rail and if removed and replaced on the rail, it will still be right on the money for accuracy. The user guide says that it is within 2 MOA but I have not noticed a change at all.

The reticle is my favorite part of this site and the reason that I went with Eotech over Aimpoint. The 65 MOA circle is very useful for quick reflex, up close shooting. The single 1 MOA dot makes reaching out and hitting those medium range shots at 100, 200, 300 yards much easier than larger MOA reticles.  When you add an Eotech 3x Multiplier into the mix you have, in my opinion one of the most versatile sighting systems on the market.

There are a lot of Eotech sites on the market and navigating them can be difficult, that is why i put together an EOTech Comparison Chart. Just clink the link and you will find a breakdown of all the EOtech sites an the differences. That link again: EOTech Comparison Chart

Les Stroud Ultimate Survival Knife - Junk?

If you're looking for a quality survival knife packed with features at a reasonable price, look no further than the Les Stroud Ultimate Survival Knife, by Camillus Cutlery. We'll go over the specs of each component and a description of the features.

The knife is 10" inches in overall length, weight is 7.6 oz and 11.5 ounces with the sheath. It features a 4.75" inch, full tang, 440A grade Stainless Steel blade. The blade is bonded with Carbonitride Titanium for increased strength, blade sharpness and friction resistance. It's also partially serrated, has a drop point and is non-stick coated. The most important part of any survival knife is the blade and this one doesn't skimp on features.

The handle is brightly colored and easy to spot if you lie it down. The rubberized material feels good in the hand and promotes a good grip on the knife. At the bottom of the handle is a steel pommel for tapping or hammering and it has a built-in lanyard hole.

A nice feature of the knife handle is that whatever position you hold it in, whether it be cutting, sawing or hammering - the handle is altered slightly to fit that grip and still not interfere with the other grip positions. It literally feels natural in any grip position. It is clear that a lot of planning went into the design. Not all survival knives put that much forethought into how it actually fits in your hand with in each application. It's a nice touch and speaks volumes about the quality and craftsmanship of this knife.

The sheath is comprised of nylon and plastic, including a lock and strap to keep the knife secure. The outside of the sheath has a built in ceramic knife sharpener and a mirror for attracting help, as well as a whistle and fire starter. A cord and flashlight are tucked inside and there are various compartments for holding other things you might need.

Surviving in the wild takes preparation. With the Les Stroud Ultimate Survival Knife, you'll be ready for whatever Mother Nature has in store.

Check out the Pricing on AMAZON Here:  Les Stroud Knife

Kimberly Hoffman - Does Her Income System Work?

Hot off the press! just finished up a video on Kimberly Hoffman's My online Income system. I used this program some 4 years ago to learn the ropes of affiliate marketing. I still use these techniques everyday and thought I would share the love!

If you would like to go straight to Kimberly Hoffman's Site Click Here

For a  full review of the Kimberly Hoffman Program click the link!

The ultimate Bug Out Bag

The Ultimate Bug Out Bag (UBOB) is here! Everything that you need in a BOB without having to think about it. Are you prepared? Match your list with ours and fill in the gaps.

 

Check out : Survival Gear Blog for the lists of all products shown as well as pricing and purchase information.

Les Stroud Desert Folding Knife Review- Survivorman knives

The Les Stroud Desert Folding knife is one of the newest  folding knives in the Les Strous Knife series.  Les has survived the harshest desert conditions and has put a lot of thought and design into these knives. The knife has a nicely designed TPR and ABS handle that is very well balanced and comfortable to use for long periods. The folder has a quick opening feature that is easy to use and allows the blade to snap into place and lock, all with one hand. The Les Stroud Desert Folding knife is made from carbonitride-titatium bonded 440 stainless steel which is extremely durable and corrosion resistant.

The 7.75 folder is extremely durable and is a great choice of anybody who wants to go camping or any other outdoor activity in the forest. The Swiss, who teach their children early on to be self-reliant, have found the Les Stroud Desert Folding knife quite to their liking. They post that it is a knife that even children can use with ease and without danger to self especially during their forest teachings( forest teachings are mandatory class outings for Swiss children).

The Les Stroud Desert Folding knife comes with an incorporated belt clip that has a fire starter. The knife is very strong and is one of the most reliable folding companions. It is specially built to withstand that impossible tasks in your camping excursions. The knife grips have rubberized back that ensure that the knife cannot slip from your wet palm. The knife has bright green highlights that ensure that you don’t misplace it or lose it in the brush. Overall this is a very well thought out folder and will last a life time if it is taken care of properly.

For more information on this line check out: Les Stroud Knife Review 
To take a look at my top survival knife picks visit Best Survival Gear

Les Stroud (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cold Steel Trail Master - Review

The Cold Steel Tail Master is one of the top survival knives that you will find in the market today. There are a lot of high quality production knives out there, but this is one that has been tried and true for literally decades.

The Trail Master is a survival knife in every sense of the word. It is 14.5 inches overall and has a 9.5 inch blade. It is exceptional at chopping, slashing and clearing your way through brush. If I had a need to build a shelter for the night or prep firewood this survival knife would be my first choice. The blade of the Trail Master is a full flat grind with a cantled edge, the San Mai version that is described below has a rolled edge but both knives are a full 5/16 of an inch thick. Yes, 5/16 of an inch thick, that is almost a 3^rd of an inch. This is one of the thickest knives that I have seen or researched. The majority of my survival knives are ¼ inch thick which is pretty much the standard I look for in top survival knives. The trail master out does that and that is why it is viewed as the best survival knife available, by many survivalists.

 

There are two versions of the Cold Steel Trail Master the first is forged in an SK -5 steel which is a Japanese equivalent of 1080 carbon steel.  SK-5 and 1080 are both know for hardness and superior edge retention. This knife comes out of the box absolutely razor sharp and will stay that way when put through its paces.

 

The Trail Master also comes in San Mai III steel, which is very expensive, but VERY nice. The San Mai steel is essentially high carbon steel sandwiched between more flexible carbon steel. This allows the knife to have excellent edge retention, extreme toughness and resistance to chipping or breaking. The San Mai also has a rolled edge which is more traditional and is known for even better slicing abilities then the standard cantled edge.

 

Both of these knives are the best in their price classes and once you get your hands on one, you will immediately understand that these knives are tools that are meant for a life time of use and then to be handed down to your son for another life time of use. I highly recommend the Cold Steel Trail Master to anyone that is serious about owning a superior tool for survival, hunting, way finding or camping. This is definitely the Best Survival Knife in its price range.

The Best Survival Knife – Survival Knife Reviews

Looking for the best survival knife for your needs can be a task that is easier said than done. There are a ton of survival knives on the market and even more opinions on what should be the considered the best survival knife.

I have been an outdoor enthusiast all my life and have collected knives from an young age. There are many personal things that you should consider when you are trying to find the Best Survival knife for your needs however there are a few things that are constant and that all good knives should have.

Constants You Should Look For In All Quality Knives

 

Fixed Blade

The first constant that you should look for is a fixed blade knife, all good survival knives should have a fixed blade. These types of  knives can handle much more punishment and hard use than a  folding knife and will be a much better tool for chopping and cutting.

Full Tang

The second constant is that your fixed blade knife should be full tang. The tang refers to the extension of the blade metal all the way through the knife handle. Essentially the entire length of the knife should be constructed out of one piece of steel with the handles either bolted on to either side of the tang or otherwise covering the tang. Many good survival knives will also have a exposed tang butt cap on the end of the knife for hammering.

Good Steel

The third constant is good steel. This one is a biggie and separates the cheap knives from the good knives and the good knives from the great knives.  There are two main categories of steel, Stainless and Non-Stainless.  Stainless steel is generally softer than non-stainless but is more resistant to corrosion. There are many different types of stainless that range from complete junk to some of the most expensive knives on the market. Stainless steel can be a very good blade material but the good stuff can be expensive. For brevity I will list some stainless steels that are very hard, keep an excellent edge and will last a lifetime. I would buy a survival knife made out of any of the following steels.

 

·         AUS- 8

·         AUS -10

·         AUS-12

·         440 C

·         BG-42

·         VG- 10

·         S30V

 

Non-Stainless Steel is generally tougher, harder, takes a better edge and retains that edge longer than stainless steel however it  is more susceptible to corrosion.  I am a big fan of  Non Stainless steel and most of my knives are made of 1095 High Carbon or better. These are knives that take a beating,  hold an excellent edge and are very hard to break or bend.  There are a number of different types of Non Stainless Steel that are extremely strong and that I highly recommend.

·         1095 High Carbon Steel

·         1050 High Carbon Steel

·         D2 Steel

·         5160 Steel

For a complete guide to the types of steels your can click Types of survival knife steel.

 

Personal Considerations

The “best survival knife on the market” may not be the best survival knife for you personally. There are a number of things that you have to take into consideration to find the right blade for your needs. Here are some things to consider:

What are the main functions of the knife that you will be using? Do you want it for chores around the house, camping, heavy chopping , skinning game or for  Bushcrafting?  These are all very different style knives, although some great survival knives close the gap and are great at a number of these uses, no knife that I have found is great for all of them. So let’s categorize them and put them into a few buckets.

 

Bushcrafting

Bushcrafting fixed blades normally are a small to medium sized knife that have about a 3” – 4” blade and are made with a high end steel that will retain a VERY good, razor sharp edge  like D2. These knives will have a relatively thin drop point blade which increases the ability to make detailed cuts. You will want to stay away from anything that is serrated.  A couple great knives in this category are the following:

·         Fallkniven F1

·         Swamp Rat Vex

 

Outdoor survival 

Generally your larger more beefy knives , outdoor survival knives range from a 5” blade to a 9” inch blade depending on how much chopping you will be doing. These knives are generally made of 1095 High Carbon or D2 steel. You will want a blade with no less than a full ¼ inch thick blade and tang. The tang should remain thick and wide throughout the handle.  These knives are made to be beat on and are every much a “tool” as they are a knife. You should avoid serrations and look for a drop point blade shape. Some great knives in this category are as follows:

·         Becker BK 2

·         Becker BK9

·         ESSE RC 5

·         Ontario RTAK II

 

Hunting

Hunting knives are a whole different breed of knife, they may look similar to an outdoor survival knife but they are strikingly different.  Generally Hunting knives have a  3” -5” blade and are made of a top stainless steel.  Since edge retention and corrosion resistance are major factors, look for a knife made out of VG-10 or S30V.  You will want to choose a knife with a thinner blade both in the thickness of the tang and the thickness from the edge to the spine. There are a few distinct types of points you will find such as a drop point, clip point and a skinning point. A couple good hunting knives are as follows:

·         Fallkniven Pro Hunter knife

·         Buck Alpha

 

Some other important considerations in choosing your best survival knife are the handles and the sheath. Both of these considerations can play a big part in your overall satisfaction of the knife that you choose.

Handles

Just like every other topic in the world of knives there is a lot to be said about the handles thatyou choose on your knife. There are many different materials that are all really good,  however are different to the touch. Some of the popular knife handles are Krayton Scales, Micarta Scales and Grivory.  Krayton and Grivory are less expensive but personally I think that they are just as good as Micarta.

The handle thickness should be comfortable for the size of your hands and I would suggest ensuring that you have a lanyard hole at the base of the handle. Another great feature that many of the Best survival knives have is removable handles.  Normally the handle will be “bolted” on either side of the Tang. This allows you to clean your knife and change out the handles for a different material. The Becker Series knives are known for this feature and it is a HUGE plus.

Sheaths

There are a lot of great knives out on the market that come with pretty crappy sheaths. It can be a big letdown if you do not know what you are looking for. Many popular knives have a pretty big following and you can find great quality custom sheaths for them but if you do not want to go that route then look for a few things.  Kydex sheaths are generally very good quality and will last for a long time. They don’t absorb water or dull the edge of the knife when they are sheathed often. Another solid sheath construction is a ballistic nylon sheath with  kydex insert. These last a long time and usually have several carry options.  Lastly, good old trusty leather. As long as the sheath is made well and of a good grade of leather it will last you a life time.

Another consideration is the way that you want to carry it. There are several options including scout carry, belt carry, drop leg, MOLLE, or a tactical leg strap. In my opinion smaller knives are great to carry scout, but lager knives are great candidates for a drop leg option.

 

As you can see there is a lot that goes into finding the Best survival knife for your needs. The knives that I have recommended in this article are ones that are extremely high quality and will last a lifetime. I hope that this has educated you on a broad perspective of what to look for when you are choosing a survival knife.  If you would like to look at specs, pictures and videos of the knives mentioned here and a number of others, Check out my website.