If a hurricane, tornado or earthquake struck tomorrow, destroying homes and taking out utilities like electric, gas and water...are you prepared? If civil unrest erupts and rioters and looters rampage out from the cities and end up in front of your house...are you prepared? If the next widespread national/global heath threat unleashes (Covid, monkey pox, killer hornets, etc.)...are you prepared? 

With various calamities and disasters happening now more than ever before and crime and lawlessness on the rise, home security and emergency preparedness are critical aspects of modern-day living. I recommend three preparedness components, or tools, that will help you and your family cope in the best possible way with such crisis and possibly save your life:

1, An Emergency Kit

2. A Tactical Defense Plan

3. A Bug-Out-Bag

A tactical go bag, also known as a bug out bag, is an essential tool for anyone serious about being prepared for unexpected events or emergencies. Ever since becoming a Police Officer and seeing, first hand, how most people are not prepared at all for various emergencies and events, I’ve made it a point to always have a tactical bug out bag in every one of my vehicles.

So what’s actually in my vehicle emergency bug out bag? It is filled with emergency supplies that I can quickly access in case of an emergency.

Having a tactical go bag in my vehicle at all times means that I can be ready for any situation at any time. Why should you have one? Whether it's a natural disaster like an earthquake, flood, or hurricane, or a man-made disaster like a serious motor vehicle crash, terrorist attack or civil unrest, you can be confident that you have all the essential supplies you need to deal with the situation and/or survive for several days if need be.

Over the years, the word “tactical” has gone down the same road as the word “organic.” We see it everywhere and many companies plaster it all over their ads and marketing campaigns. But what, exactly, does it mean when something like a bag is labeled “tactical?” Let’s start with the definition of the word “tactical.”

You’re probably not in the military right now, but a civilian. Your “military end” or “end beyond the immediate action” is to keep safe, to keep alive. So the “tactical” gear you use should assist you to this end.

The foundation of every piece of gear and apparel developed by 221B Tactical is to help keep you alive. This includes our bags and packs. We “carefully plan” every detail and function of the bags to help you gain a “strategic advantage” in a multitude of scenarios to help increase your chances of survival.

The Right Plate Carrier

Not all plate carriers are the same. Combat professionals (military, SWAT teams) need to carry many tactical items, such as numerous ammo magazines, rifle retention, first aid kit, etc., and to be able do a lot of things, so their plate carriers require a great deal of utility. An example of this is 221B’s Shadow Plate Carrier.  

You don’t want this for home defense. The optimal carrier for you will be stripped down, bare bones, hold ballistic plates and provide storage for a few essentials, such an extra magazine or speed loader, perhaps a flashlight. An example of this is 221B’s QRF low-profile, minimalist plate carrier that can be thrown on super fast.  

This month I shared the story of Maxx-Dri Vest, from its beginning 10 years ago—when I, then a police officer, resolved to find a way to wear body armor comfortably—through its evolution to today’s Version 4.0, which defines the state-of-the-art in body armor ventilation. 

Maxx-Dri Vest is a phenomenal success, with some 250,000 purchased by people wearing body armor in law enforcement, military, private security and other fields. Their enthusiasm has resulted in more than 20,000 5-star reviews. Many of these can be read on our site. 

Following are some highlights. But first, a quick reminder that our 10-Year Anniversary Maxx-Dri Vest promotion concludes in a few days, at the end of March. We’re offering a FREE Maxx-Dri Silver Elite T-Shirt (black), a $38 value, with the purchase of each Maxx-Dri Vest 4.0. See our Promotion Page for details.

From its simple beginnings as my personal solution to the heat and sweat problems caused by body armor, Maxx-Dri Vest has come a long way. Thanks to valuable feedback from users and my own experimentation, we've improved the design, materials, and functionality with each version.

The journey from version 1.0 to 4.0 has been an incredible experience and I'm so proud that the Maxx-Dri Vest has become an essential piece of gear for those who wear body armor in law enforcement, military, personal security, and countless other fields. Comfort is important because staying comfortable keeps you focused. And remaining focused keeps you safe and alive.

In Part 1, I discussed the importance of body armor for civilians and highlighted the fact that violence can occur anywhere, at any time. I mentioned different locations and situations, besides being at home. Taking account of the locations and situations common to you and your family’s lifestyle is a good starting point for choosing the right body armor. But for context, I need to explain the various body armor platforms and ballistic protection levels. 

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) sets the standards and quantifies ballistic protection for body armor. For any level, the bullet must not perforate the vest and the vest must protect against blunt trauma. The levels, from lowest to highest protection, are IIA, II, IIIA, IIIA+, III, III+, and IV.  Here’s an NIJ Chart that clarifies some of these. Level IIA through IIIA are tested to protect against handguns, and III through IV against high velocity rifle rounds. 

So I spent many long hours and long days in body armor. I’d sweat, itch, and ultimately stink, as the armor vest got soaked with sweat, and laundering is difficult and time consuming. (Sweat also degrades the vest’s ballistic material.) I constantly adjusted the vest, which moved around and generally felt awkward and heavy. Many days I’d get fatigued from just having to wear my body armor all day long.

Discomfort is distracting, when you need to be highly focused, as danger could erupt suddenly. It’s ironic that equipment designed to increase your safety can impair situational awareness. But I dealt with these discomforts for many years.

Finally, after one grueling 12-hour day when a nasty rash broke out across my back and ribs, I’d had enough. Knowing of no existing solution, I resolved to invent one myself.