Best of Day 4: Butterflies, bigfoots and bags - Military Technology, military gear, military gadgets - Military Times

Best of Day 4: Butterflies, bigfoots and bags

Day 4 Video: Jani-Song – Bigfoot Bag - Sleeka

ORLANDO, Fla. — Finally, some room to breathe.

By the fourth day of SHOT Show, most of the casual bystanders have had all they can stand. The booths are running out of promotional literature and even the most dedicated salesmen are a little tired of their own products.

The break provides the true believers with a little more time to take it all in. Ted Nugent was at the BlackHawk booth, checking out a new line of knives. (Did they have a cure for Cat Scratch Fever in the hunting section? We forgot to look.)

We did one last sweep of the showroom floor to get details on a few products we’ve had our eyes on all week but didn’t get around to previewing earlier. Quirky little items, we’re not sure they’re deployment ready just yet, but they looked fun nonetheless.

Enjoy our grand finale, “The Best of Day Four.” We’re popping smoke.

1. VIDEO: BlackHawk Jani-Song

Time to release your inner ninja.

New from BlackHawk Blades comes the Jani-Song, a flip-open “butterfly” knife modeled after the Filipino balisong fighting knives we loved to see on Kung Fu Theater. Unlike those finger slicers, the Jani-Song adds a level of safety to your mindless click-clacking.

Still composed of two handles attached to a sturdy blade, the Jani-Song updates the design to ensure that your fingers never come between the blade and the handle. An ambidextrous slide safety keeps it locked tight when you aren’t using it and a handy pocket clip allows you to keep it within arm’s reach.

The Jani-Song has a 3.4-inch blade and opens to an 8.4-inch overall length. Retailing for about $200, the knives will be available in April.

Until then, check out our video of creator Michael Janich showing off his skills, or catch the product specs at http://www.blackhawk.com.

2. VIDEO: Bigfoot Bag

Honestly, we were hoping for a new color.

The folks at Bigfoot Bag blew us away last year with their new idea in duffels. Unzip it flat like a waterproof tarp, place your gear in the center, then zip the bag up around it.

The concept is so incredibly simple, we’re wondering why no one thought of it sooner. Unfortunately, they’re only available in four decidedly un-tactical colors and styles — green for gear, blue for cargo, hunting camouflage for outdoors applications and a yellowy-tan for yard waste. Each color is available in three sizes, 5.1, 14.8, or 37.3 cubic feet.

Company reps tell us that they hope to expand the line into other styles and colors as word spreads about the current line. Until then, the bags are perfect for a day at the beach or a camping trip.

Retail prices range from $40 for the small yard bag to $150 for the large camouflage bag. When they make it in black or desert tan, we’ll take two.

Check them out on our video, or find a retailer at http://www.bigfootbag.com.

3. VIDEO: Snugpak Sleeka Reversible

There are days when you just don’t want to crawl out of your sleeping bag.

Now you don’t have to, thanks to the folks at Snugpak, a 30-year-old British company that makes some of the lightest and warmest bags around. The Sleeka Reversible is basically just a wearable version, a puffy parka filled with the company’s proprietary insulation.

It comes in a variety of colors, including the new Army Combat Uniform pattern (reversible to solid olive drab). When you aren’t wearing it, you can compress it to down to almost nothing with the included stuff sack, or use your own compression sack to make it even smaller.

The jacket retails for about $200, and the ACU pattern version will be available this spring. Check it out at Snugpak’s exclusive North American distributor, ProForce Equipment. You can find ProForce at http://www.proforceequipment.com.

Preview

The only gear show that really matters

Day 1

SHOT Show — Best of Day 1

Find of the day: Death around the corner

Day 2

SHOT Show — Best of Day 2

Find of the day: Beating blisters

Day 3

SHOT Show — Best of Day 3

Find of the day: BugBand

Day 4

SHOT Show — Best of Day 4

Find of the day: Get a grip

AUDIO SLIDESHOW: Knives

Video: SHOT Show Wrap-up