Expedition Portal Visits The SHOT Show - Live Updates

[Hltoppr]

First hour of the SHOT Show, I run into McVick and Matt! Had a great dinner at the Irish pub in New York, New York with them and the folks from MaxTrax and Expedition Overland.

On the way out, my kind of Vegas...old school radio store in Boulder City.



Radios galore!



We were at SHOT for Mountain Rescue, so mostly hung out in the law enforcement sections, looking for mobile thermal gimble units, comm systems, and rope tech....



New Yates harness!



When you're really, really serious about reloading brass....



Or getting Zombies....



Highlight! Getting to meet Les Stroud, aka Survivorman. He's a big proponent of SAR teams!



Then...only in Vegas!



Meeting with Las Vegas Metro Air SAR...I really want a heavy Huey and a Little Bird.... they're set up to do fast rope insertions on both platforms!

 

[MattScott]

SHOT was a very successful show for Expedition Portal; however, we we're a little bit surprised at the amount of 'Tactical' gear that was at the show, it was difficult to find any upland bird gear, or traditional shooting sports equipment. Everything had a tactical flair to it. It isn't a bad thing, I just think we had hoped to see more traditional pursuits.

Here's the day two (final) roundup.

Mechanix was on hand with some new gloves which we thought would have some great uses for overlanding.

Perhaps this could be useful for general vehicle work, while providing a visible color for spotting.

The full leather glove is not only more trendy, but could see purposes in winching.

The extractor glove is very technical and had plenty of armor for ADV motorcycle usage.

There was also a glove with a built in light.

I think I'm going to need a tactical reconnaissance helicopter at all times.

Mystery Ranch makes some of the most incredibly well made technical and tactical backpacks I've seen.

I'll call these 'Tastefully Tactical'

Brian was really interested in wearing this armor on his dual sport.

The Powermonkey extreme was well made, including a power panel and battery kit at around $200

SOG had a new line of knives with integrated LED flashlights.

The lights appear to be really bright, and a great integration

SOG is also introducing a new line of tactical flashlights

While this SOG knife is a prototype, it's will be the thinest assisted opening knife on the market.

McMurdo makes a great satellite emergency beacon. It's based off technology taken from the marine industry and is for use only in emergencies - it also has an external antenna that unfolds.

We were able to sit down with one of CRKT's knife designers, he designed this tactical spork, that actually can be used as a self defense weapon and a screwdriver.

He designed about my favorite knife as well. It's a folding knife that handles like a kitchen knife. I use my pocket knives frequently for cooking in the field, this one seems great.

Carson Optics has a great lens cleaner that uses carbon to help assist in the cleaning process.

FLIR was on board with their Thermal imaging systems

They have this great compact scope.

Here's what what it looks like to use the scope.

They also have a larger model.

 

[MattScott]

I'm more so familiar with Leica's legendary line of camera equipment more-so than their line of firearms and outdoor optics. Here's my best shot as the stuff is truly artwork.

The Rokon

Have you ever wanted laser target acquisition in your hand?

Traser

I'm impressed with this company - I was able to sit down and chat with the CEO, who is very interesting and knowledgable. Apparently, they made Luminox for a long time as well. What's interesting about Traser is that they make products to true military specification.

This is the watch that the owner of the company was wearing.

This is what happened after he drove over it with a tank. Yes, a military tank.

The P6600 - Expect a more in depth review on this watch in the near future.

Barbour was at the SHOT Show.

They released a new line of footwear.

Victorinox was on hand with several new knives.

This is modeled after the knife the Swiss Army currently gets outfitted with.

Gerber produces an vehicle emergency kit - it's quite well built.

A flashlight is included in addition to the wire cutters, shovel, multi tool and other items.

Swarovski was on hand with some truly exceptional optics.

Here's Brian looking at Stuff and Things via Swarovski.

I really enjoyed SHOT 2012

We'll also have a more detailed front page article on the SHOT Show this coming week once trade show madness ends. I'll be getting into more detail on products with that.

 

[shogun]

More items of interest;

loads of LED lighting, mostly chinese, but cheap.

perimeter intruder detection, great campsite applications. Visible or IR.

Permanent cyalume sticks, tubes filled with glow stuff, charge up and use for 7 hrs, recharge as needed. Hang on the pets or kids.

Surefire/Traser, combo traser watch with surefire light in a wristband application. Never without good light.

Killer wheels on the AFV, dont remember type.

 

[hochung]

Matt,

nice job on the pics. you must be exhausted. LOL

I get extremely excited with their line of compact binoculars. I really like the compact Ultravid 8x20, wrapped in leather:

This is the one I like. And add the leather case to it.... orgasmic.

 

[Corey]

Matt, great coverage.
I have that CRKT spork, got it via Amazon a month back.

We have those gloves at work too with the built in lights.
We have a "Glove Shack" for employees at the building where the wings are joined to the center section of the 737s.
I wear the padded Mechanix gloves daily at work.

 

[Eric Mayer]

Damn! I wish I had seen this thread earlier, I would have tracked you guys down!

I was there gathering information for my Online Varmint Hunting Magazine and another shooting site I own. Also, it's the only time I get to meet all my friends from online!

The Rokon was awesome. One of my buddies' who lives in Montana picked one up last year for his hunting excursions. He did a small custom set-up so he can go almost anywhere:

I agree with you about the "tactical" aspect of this year's show. I think it's great that part of the business is taking off, but I miss the advances on the traditional hunting side!

Eric

 

[MattScott]

Here's a more detailed article on some of the coolest products from SHOT 2012

http://www.expeditionportal.com/component/content/article/727-the-coolest-overland-products-from-the-2012-shot-show.html