Praxis: ANZAC Gear Reviews

Another publication that Matthew sent home from the 'stan was Spring 2012 issue of the Australian & New Zealand Defender magazine. (Self-proclaimed as "Australia's best-selling and most respected military magazine.") I'm always interested in gear reviews and as the Aussies and Kiwis have a much small defense expenditure per man at the tip of the spear so they are, perforce, light fighters. Thus, their gear is selected more on troop review in the field than is ours and they are allowed a bit more leeway to go to the field with personally-purchased gear. When you buy your own, and are going to rely upon it half-a-world away in a hostile land you, want what works, no BS. Among the gear reviews in the magazine were:

The Hardcore Hardware Compact MOE Tool. From the manufacturer's website:

Developed in conjunction with the SOER, (MBV Note: Special Operations Engineer Regiment) our MFE01 "Rhino" is designed to perform a multitude of applications dependant on situational requirements. Engineered for the extreme end of Hardcore use in MOE/entrenching roles, the MFE01 is the perfect compact all-round utility tool.

The claw at the business end of things is specifically designed for maximum leverage and also incorporates a modified cutting head designed primarily for splitting. At the end of the handle we have a chisel/pry that can be used for typical mid-range field duties. The MFE01 is skeletonized to mitigate weight with medium sized lanyard holes at both ends for the attachment of a carabineer or rope lanyard.

Some of the tasks we expect you'll use our MFE01 for include: prying, digging, chopping, hammering, cutting, smashing rock, as a climbing aid, for defeating locks, smashing windows & windscreens and raking out their frames and as a load bearing device.

The MFE01 is constructed from D2 tool steel, has a robust black Teflon coating and G10 handle. Our G10 grip scales are available in coyote & black and are secured with Torx screw, all steel fittings.

The tool is beyond pricey, coming in at $289 Australian dollars (presently the US dollar equals 0.98 Australian dollar), but it is so popular with troops around the world that the factory cannot keep up with demand and it is currently on backorder. A medium duty, lightweight tool, the MFE01 is a scant 27 ounces (765 grams), is 12 and a half inches long (320mm); six and two thirds inches wide (170mm); and less than a third of an inch thick (8mm).

Another review, this one on Fox River Military Wick Dry Maximum Mid Calf Boot Socks. From the ANZ Defender review:

The first thing you hear when someone pulls on a pair of US made Fox River socks is "Hey, these are really comfortable!" . . . The comfort of their top selling Military Maximum Performance socks comes from the extra padding across the toe, heel and shin profiles, with venting panels happily dissipating any heat build up.

Made from an abrasion resistant multifilament yarn with Spandex compression zones, these socks don't slump or lose their shape even after hundreds of washes.

They are listed on Amazon.

Finally, they review favorably the Recon 3 two-season lightweight sleeping bag. From Elite Survival (see link for specs):

On issue with the RAAF, commandos & NATO, U.S. forces in Iraq and other forces world wide makes this bag no ordinary item! The 1220 sleeping bag is a military 2 season sleeping bag, the sleeping bag can be laundered in the normal manner and will perform more efficiently than bags with natural fillings when wet. The bag and the compression sack weigh approx 2 lbs 15 oz (1.33kg). The Compression Sack spider both reduces the volume of the rolled bag for carriage and also provide a waterproof outer to prevent the bag from getting wet. Packs up very small so you can stash it away in your kit. Available in OLIVE DRAB.