Part 2: Outside The Home In my previous article, I said it’s easier to find protection from bullets outside the typical home than inside. However, outside the home, the odds of needing it are much greater, so it’s worthwhile understanding...

What stops bullets, and what does not? It’s a simple question, and yet so foundational—if you’re concerned enough about personal and family safety to prepare defenses against contingencies such as home invasions and random gun violence outside the home. In your planning, have you given it any thought, much less prepared for it?

Part 1 of this discussion on how to prevent and prepare for a home invasion offered guidelines for preventing one from occurring in the first place, as well as the beginning of a predetermined action plan that involves all family...

FBI statistics show there are 1.65 million home invasions in the U.S. each year. A home is broken into every 30 seconds. The rate of burglaries varies from state to state. For example, New Mexico has 696.8 burglaries per 100,000...

What are the best winter cold weather gear thermals for police officers and those working outdoors?

Now some with experience in the outdoors might say, "layer up to stay warm." Well this might work if your hiking or skiing because you can easily stop to shed a layer or two if you start getting too warm. However this isn't an easy option while on duty as a police officer. It would require removal of your police radio, gun belt, body armor and uniform shirt. Not a quick or easy task. Additionally, many officers can find themselves overheating on their core, beneath their body armor, while their arms, shoulders and upper chest/neck are freezing.

How To Set Up A Plate Carrier

First things first; why are you wearing a plate carrier. You must first answer this question before moving on to the next steps. Are you simply wearing it for protection against being shot? If so, what kind of bullets are you concerned about getting shot with; .223 or 9mm (or one of the many other rifle or pistol rounds)?

Are you yourself carrying a weapon? If so, what kind of weapon; a rifle or a pistol. If so, you will need to carry additional ammo. How much ammo will you need to carry. Maybe you're carrying a rifle and a pistol as a secondary weapon. In this case, you'll have to carry ammo for both weapons.

All these things must be taken into consideration prior to setting up your plate carrier. But for now, let's start off with the type of plates you need.

Our final Factoid is that, with the addition of K2 Thermal to our Equinoxx line, any cold weather activity can be engaged in more effectively, efficiently, and comfortably.

This makes K2 Thermal a great holiday gift for anyone who works or plays in cold weather.

From postal workers and courier drivers to traffic and school crossing guards; from cable installers and linesmen to construction and oil rig workers, there are numerous outdoor work applications for K2. There’s even more outdoor recreational activities, such as hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, golf, skiing, ice skating, bird watching.

Importantly, to get value from K2 Thermal, one doesn’t need to do some activity requiring special physical dexterity or athletic prowess. For example, courier delivery doesn’t require fine motor dexterity, but wouldn’t it be more pleasant to have it? One can wear a bulky coat to chop firewood, but wouldn’t it be more enjoyable (and maybe even safer) to wear a light thermal shirt that provides full freedom of movement. Motorcycle or bike riders could wear it to block wind as well as enjoy a greater sense of freedom.

Flexible Material With a 3-Layer Design

The material is soft, supple and fairly thin. So it may surprise to learn that it’s actually comprised of three different layers that are heat-pressed together: an inner grid-thermal layer to trap body heat, a middle layer that’s water resistant, and an outer layer that blocks wind.

Importantly, all three layers allow for multi-directional stretch, which makes Stage 3 and K2 so form-fitting and comfortable without the discomfort of traditional compression gear.

The entire K2 Thermal shirt uses this material. Stage 3 is designed for use with body armor and the core material is different so you don’t overheat in your armor. The Stage 3 core material is a moisture-wicking, polyester/spandex blend that does not include the inner thermal-grid layer.

To learn more now, please see our Equinoxx Stage 3 and K2 Thermal product pages.