Category Tech and Equipment

A flashlight is an essential piece of real life superhero equipment, and it has many uses.  The most obvious use, is to provide light in dark areas. It is a useful tool in deterring crime.  Criminals do not like any attention brought to them, especially bright lights.  Aside from deterring crime a flashlight can also be a great self defense weapon.  If you get a nice sturdy flashlight it can be used as a small club. If you buy a bright high powered flashlight you can use it to visually impair any attacker or criminal. In order to do this, you would need somewhere around a 200 plus lumen flashlight.
The great thing about a flashlight is that it is legal wherever you go. Many states have laws prohibiting most self defense weapons; however flashlights are good where ever you go.
Personally, I carry a 200 Lumen Husky Flashlight. I bought it at home depot for $25. For the price it is an amazing light to have.


There a lot of great flashlights to choose from. The traditional maglite is good. It can be bright and has good weight to it.

If you want to go higher end I would advise checking out fenix flashlights.
FenixFlashlights
I’m looking to eventually get the Fenix TK45 which has a sleek three light design and can output up to 760 lumens.

Here are some extra links to check out flashlights
http://www.tacticalleds.com/
http://www.solarforcestore.com/servlet/StoreFront
http://www.maglite.com/index_flash.asp

By Dark Guardian
You don’t have superpowers. No matter how much training you have it can only take one bullet to end your life. This is real life and if you are going to be doing anything that might put yourself in danger you need to keep yourself protected. You should make sure you have a bullet proof vest. Buying vests can be pricey, but you always have to think; how much is my life worth?
Here is a list of the different level vests and the protection they provide.
Type I
Type I body armor is light. This is the minimum level of protection. This armor would protect against 2.6 g (40 gr) .22 Long Rifle Lead Round Nose (LR LRN) bullets & .380 ACP Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets. Type I body armor is not what you would want if you are possibly going to be in danger.
Type IIA
(Lower Velocity .357 Magnum; 9mm). This armor protects against .357 Magnum jacketed soft-point bullets, with nominal masses of 10.2 g (158 gr), impacting at a velocity of 381 m/s (1,250 ft/s) or less, and against 9mm full-metal jacketed bullets, with nominal masses of 8.0 g (124 gr), impacting at a velocity of 332 m/s (1,090 ft/s) or less. It also provides protection against such threats as .45 Auto., .38 Special +P, and some other factory loads in caliber .357 Magnum and 9mm, as well as the Type I threats. Type II–A body armor is well suited for those seeking protection from lower velocity .357 Magnum and 9mm ammunition.
Type II
(Higher Velocity .357 Magnum; 9mm). This armor protects against .357 Magnum jacketed soft-point bullets, with nominal masses of 10.2 g (158 gr), impacting at a velocity of 425 m/s (1,395 ft/s) or less, and against 9mm full-jacketed bullets, with nominal velocities of 358 m/s  (1,175 ft/s). It also protects against most other factory loads in caliber .357 Magnum and 9mm, as well as the Type I and II–A threats.
Type II body armor is heavier and more bulky than either Types I or II–A. It is good for those seeking protection against higher velocity .357 Magnum and 9mm ammunition.
Type IIIA
(.44 Magnum; Submachine Gun 9mm). This armor protects against .44 Magnum, lead semi-wad cutter bullets with gas checks, nominal masses of 15.55 g (240 gr), impacting at a velocity of 426 m/s (1,400 ft/s) or less, and against 9mm full-metal jacketed bullets, with nominal masses of 8.0 g (124 gr), impacting at a velocity of 426 m/s (1,400 ft/s) or less. It also pro-vides protection against most handgun threats, as well as the Type I, II–A, and II threats. Type III–A body armor provides the highest level of protection currently available from concealable body armor and is generally suitable for routine wear in many situations. Type III-A offers great protection but can start becoming bulky and warm especially in hot and humid climates.
Type III
(High-powered rifle). This armor, normally of hard or semi rigid construction, protects against 7.62mm full-metal jacketed bullets (U.S. military designation M80), with nominal masses of 9.7 g (150 gr), impacting at a velocity of 838 m/s (2,750 ft/s) or less. It also provides protection against threats such as 223 Remington (5.56mm FMJ), 30 Carbine FMJ, and 12-gauge rifled slug, as well as the Type I through III–A threats. Type III body armor is clearly intended only for tactical situations when the threat warrants such protection, such as barricade confrontations involving sporting rifles.
Type IV
(Armor-piercing rifle). This armor protects against .30–06 caliber armor-piercing bullets (U.S. military designation APM2), with nominal masses of 10.8 g (166 gr) impacting at a velocity of 868 m/s (2,850 ft/s) or less. It also provides at least single-hit protection against the Type I through III threats.
Type IV body armor provides the highest level of protection currently available. Because this armor is intended to resist “armor piercing” bullets, it often uses ceramic materials. Such materials are brittle in nature and may provide only single-shot protection, since the ceramic tends to break up when struck. As with Type III armor, Type IV armor is clearly intended only for tactical situations when the threat warrants such protection.
I do not advise putting yourself in a situation where you are in danger of being shot. If there is any chance please keep yourself protected. Decide what level vest suits your needs. I have not been shot at yet, but there are times where it could have came close. For myself and especially for the people in my life I make sure to wear my vest.
Stay protected and stay safe.
Here are some site suggestions to check out bullet proof vests.
http://www.bulletproofme.com/
http://www.turtleskin.com/Body-Armor.aspx
http://www.usabodyarmor.com/
http://www.globalarmour.com/
http://www.galls.com/category2.html?assort=general_catalog&cat=2992

*From Beerio’s Manual
Plate armor was traditionally made of iron or steel in the day of the knight, however due to the use of stronger and better crossbows and bows and the damnable invention of the gun, plate armor became less and less useful until it was abandonned altogether.The main problem with plate armor wasn’t that it couldn’t be made bulletproof. The problem was to make it bulletproof it became too heavy to be worn for a reasonable amount of time during combat.
Today man has learn of new and better materails other than iron and steel.
To make bulletproof plate armor today there are a few materials recommended:
High density plastic
Onnex
Kevlar or other ballistic fabrics incased in a resin.

From Beerio’s Manual
Chain armor is great defense against cutting damage. If constructed properly, also offers a reasonable amount of protection against piercing damage such as from a spear or knife thrust.
The viking style of chain armor is recommended. Viking style armor consisted of flat rings (think of a washer) alternating with round ring types (think of a piece of metal wire in a simple loop) with padding underneath. (This will be explained in detail later when I have time to update the site)
Keep in mind that chain armor is useless against bullets and blunt trauma damage such as from a base ball bat.
A variation on chain armor is ring armor where the rings are sewed or glued directly on a cloth or leather backing.

KEVLAR® is a space-age material designed by DuPont Industries. The material has been used for bullet-proof vests, helmets, masks, and friction absorption in the automotive and aerospace industries among other applications.
General Features of KEVLAR® :

High Tensile Strength at Low Weight

Low Elongation to Break High Modulus (Structural Rigidity)

Low Electrical Conductivity

High Chemical Resistance

Low Thermal Shrinkage

High Toughness (Work-To-Break)

Excellent Dimensional Stability

High Cut Resistance

Flame Resistant, Self Extinguishing

Historic Kevlar Explination Video
From Beerio’s Manual
When working with Kevlar, don’t think of it as sewing, but as making armor such as the medeval warrior did with leather.
1. Find some clothes that fit you as you would like your new suit to fit. I would suggest something old, stained and with holes in it because you are going to be disassembling them.
2. Cut the clothes up along the seam. Becareful to use the seam because that is how the patterns were assembled originally.
3. Use the new patterns to outline where the cuts will be on the kevlar fabric.
4. Cut the kevlar carefully as marked.
5. Assemble the kevlar along the seams as the original suit was.
Some key points:
Practice on some cheap fabrics in case your first attempt does not go good the first time. Kevlar is VERY expensive. Don’t think of the fabrics you practice on as wasted because they can be used for other purposes such as normal day use (if they are really bad looking you can wear it around the house or for bed clothes)
You can also dye them and wear them over your kevlar suit. Kevlar is strong but not very fashionable.
You do not need to use a needle and thread to assemble the patterns together. Rivets, screws and powerful glue are other ways to fashion kevlar together.
Kevlar’s main weaknesses are that it decomposes under alkaline conditions or when exposed to chlorine.
20 layers are needed to stop a 9mm handgun bullet traveling at 1200 feet per second

NOMEX is the registered brand name of a flame retardant material marketed and first discovered by DuPont in the 1970s. It can be considered an aromatic “nylon”. It is sold in both fiber and sheet forms and is used as a fabric wherever resistance from heat and flame is required. Nomex type 410 paper is the original and one of the larger grade types made, mostly for electrical insulation purposes. The paper is used in electrical laminates such as circuit boards and transformer cores as well as fireproof honeycomb structures where it is saturated with a phenolic resin. Honeycomb structures such as these, as well as mylar-nomex laminates are used extensively in aircraft construction. Both the firefighting and vehicle racing industries use NOMEX to create clothing and equipment that can stand up to intense heat. Both aramids are heat and flame resistant but Kevlar, having a para- orientation can be molecularly aligned and gives high strength. Meta aramid polymer cannot align during filament formation and has poor strength.
Race car drivers commonly use a hood to protect them in the event of fire.Military pilots and aircrew wear one-piece flight suits made of over 92% NOMEX, to protect them from the possibility of fires and other mishaps. The remaining 8% is usually Kevlar thread used to hold the fabric together at the seams.

Developed by d30-lab, d3o is a soft and flexible material that hardens on impact. According to the manufacturer, d3o is produced by combining a viscous fluid with a polymer (both proprietary in nature). The molecules are weakly bound and move very slowly under normal conditions, making the material very soft and flexible. However, the distress of a sudden impact causes the chemical bonds to strengthen and the moving molecules to lock together. The material becomes a hard, protective shield. This process happens in less than one thousandth of a second. The faster the impact, the more rapidly the molecules respond.

The ASP Tactical Baton is a retractable self-defense baton manufactured by Armament Systems and Procedures, INC. It is a durable telescoping impact weapon used mainly by Law Enforcement and private Security personnel.
While the martial arts community has a number of cheap expandable batons available, such products differ dramatically from the ASP Tactical Baton. The FBI, The DEA, The U.S. Secret Service, and The US Army do NOT issue these exotic weapons to their personnel. They do issue the ASP Tactical Baton.
In most locales, you will need to be ASP Certified to carry and use this baton. ASP Basic Certification is provided for law enforcement officers. ASP Instructor Certification is designed to train instructors for police agencies. ASP Trainer Certification is available for individuals who will, in turn, train instructors in various Law Enforcement agencies. Both ASP Instructor Certification and ASP Trainer Certification are provided by Armament Systems and Procedures at no charge. Participation in an AIC or ATC program is scheduled through an authorized ASP Distributor or ASP Technical Support Manager.
 

What is Pepper Spray?

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Pepper spray is a nonlethal aerosol spray made with the pepper derivative oleorsein capiscum (or OC). It is used to cause temporary blindness and incapacitate an attacker. You should only use pepper spray if you are threatened or your life is in danger. It is a crime to use pepper spray to commit malicious acts.
 
A steady burst of 3-5 seconds will turn almost any attacker, no matter how “tough”, into a blind crybaby, and allow you to either escape, or take control of the situation. Some brands of pepper spray will also leave an invisible chemical on the attacker which will help the Police identify them.
Before you buy a container of Pepper Spray, always look at the expiration date. You will need to buy a new can when it expires. Most brands last for about 2 years.

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How does pepper spray work?
 
Pepper spray is an inflammatory agent. When the spray comes into contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, throat and lungs), it causes immediate dilation of the capillaries. Temporary blindness and instant inflammation of the nose, throat and lungs will occur immediately after the spray comes into contact with the mucous membranes. The attacker will experience difficulty breathing, coughing, choking, sneezing, severe burning sensations to the eyes, nose, throat and skin, and nausea.
The inflammation will last anywhere from 15 minutes to approximately one hour.

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Is Pepper Spray Legal?
 
Pepper spray is legal in all 50 States in the U.S. However, possession and/or use may be regulated or prohibited by law in some jurisdictions including your city or town. If you are not 100% sure that pepper spray is legal to use and carry in your locale, check with your local Police department.

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Where is Pepper Spray Prohibited?
 
You cannot carry pepper spray on board a commercial aircraft. If you do, you can be charged with a Federal Crime and a $25,000 dollar fine. You may not be allowed to carry pepper spray into Federal buildings and State buildings, if in doubt…leave it at home.

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Various Pepper Spray State Restrictions:
NEW YORK – New York residents may only purchase defense sprays from licensed Firearms Dealers or licensed Pharmacists in that state.
MASSACHUSETTS – Massachusetts residents may only purchase defense sprays from licensed Firearms Dealers in that state.
MICHIGAN – Pepper Spray can be no stronger then a 2% concentration of OC (see top of this article).
WISCONSIN – Pepper Spray can be no stronger then a 10% concentration of OC. Can must be between 15-60 grams only. The bottle must also have a “safety” which locks into place.

Here are the different levels of bullet proofing and what they protect you against. Picking the Level of bulletproofing you need depends on the threat level you face.

Armor Level	Protects Against
Type I (.22 LR; .380 ACP)	This armor protects against .22 caliber Long Rifle Lead Round Nose (LR LRN) bullets, with nominal masses of 2.6 g (40 gr) at a reference velocity of 329 m/s (1080 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and .380 ACP Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets, with nominal masses of 6.2 g (95 gr) at a reference velocity of 322 m/s (1055 ft/s ± 30 ft/s).
Type IIA (9 mm; .40 S&W)	This armor protects against 9 mm Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets, with nominal masses of 8.0 g (124 gr) at a reference velocity of 341 m/s (1120 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and .40 S&W caliber Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) bullets, with nominal masses of 11.7 g (180 gr) at a reference velocity of 322 m/s (1055 ft/s ± 30 ft/s). It also provides protection against the threats mentioned in [Type I].
Type II (9 mm; .357 Magnum)	This armor protects against 9 mm Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets, with nominal masses of 8.0 g (124 gr) at a reference velocity of 367 m/s (1205 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and 357 Magnum Jacketed Soft Point (JSP) bullets, with nominal masses of 10.2 g (158 gr) at a reference velocity of 436 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s). It also provides protection against the threats mentioned in [Types I and IIA].
Type IIIA (High Velocity 9 mm; .44 Magnum)	This armor protects against 9 mm Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets, with nominal masses of 8.0 g (124 gr) at a reference velocity of 436 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and .44 Magnum Semi Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP) bullets, with nominal masses of 15.6 g (240 gr) at a reference velocity of 436 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s). It also provides protection against most handgun threats, as well as the threats mentioned in [Types I, IIA, and II].
Type III (Rifles)	This armor protects against 7.62 mm Full Metal Jacketed (FMJ) bullets (U.S. Military designation M80), with nominal masses of 9.6 g (148 gr) at a reference velocity of 847 m/s (2780 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) or less. It also provides protection against the threats mentioned in [Types I, IIA, II, and IIIA].
Type IV (Armor Piercing Rifle)	This armor protects against .30 caliber armor piercing (AP) bullets (U.S. Military designation M2 AP), with nominal masses of 10.8 g (166 gr) at a reference velocity of 878 m/s (2880 ft/s ± 30 ft/s). It also provides at least single hit protection against the threats mentioned in [Types I, IIA, II, IIIA, and III].