#alpha outpost

In this episode of Backwoods Gear Review:

-Alpha Outpost Unboxing

-Story Time with Treebeard

We got another great box from Alpha Outpost! You can start your subscription or a subscription for a loved one (Christmas is coming up!) by going to http://www.alphaoutpost.com

Hey everyone, this is will be my first gear review on Stagpath. I subscribed and have been crazy excited about some of the cool subscription services that offer survival/tactical gear. I just love this stuff so I wanted to share my thoughts, as their websites are often vague about the contents and how they work. If you’re contemplating a subscription but aren’t sure about how it will go, read on and I’ll tell ya all about it. Let's get started with the Alpha Outpost EDC!

The EDC is the First box they send to every first-time subscriber. For those of you who don't know, EDC in this case stands for “Every Day Carry”. Not to be confused with the BOB or “Bug Out Bag” concept. The difference being, a bug out bag is meant to be loaded with things that can help you survive an emergency situation for 72 hours, should you need to pack up and leave your home. EDC is simply meant to be a collection of items and tools to help get you through daily emergency or mundane situations. A more immediate thing you have with you all the times, or at least in your car. You wouldn't really want to carry a BOB around with you all the time, it would be too heavy and loaded with crap. So to clarify this is not intended as a bug out bag, but after 6 or more months of Alpha boxes, you’re getting close. I’ll save that for another review. Let's dig into the contents.

The Pack - A simplistic Tactical bag covered in MOLLE Webbing allowing you to attach all kinds of gear and additional pouches on both on the front and sides. I'm not sure who makes it but it looks like the same company that makes bags for Grunt Style. I've seen a few other reviewers tear this thing apart. Complaints about the quality and broken zippers. This has not happened to me, as you can see in the picture I've loaded this thing up with gear and put it through hell. Including a three-month road trip across the U.S. California to North Carolina and back. It's not only Held up well, but I like this thing! It's got plenty of room inside and is fairly comfortable. Yes, I know its Blasphemous I put two items from competing services together in one pic but I was testing it.

THE GOOD - Plenty of webbing and straps to attach gear, including two straps across the bottom wich can be used to secure a tent, rope, tools, or even a Sleeping bag wich Alpha had in the ZuluZulu box. There's also a zipper at the bottom for easy access. Two zippered pouches on the front, and two open pouches on the sides. 

THE BAD - there's what looks like a laptop pouch in the main compartment but it's not big enough to fit a standard 15″ laptop like the one I use. If this is intended for a hydration pouch, there's no attachments or holes for the straw. The bottom pouch unzips and folds up to reveal a hidden compartment for tools, pens and other items...This would be cool but the pouch folds UP, leaving the crease at the top preventing you from easily taking tools in and out of it. making it pretty useless. A design oversight I guess. If it folded DOWN instead it would have been better. 

THE UGLY - I would have preferred a Tan, Grey or Black color, but that's just me.

THE KNIFE - Obviously not a high-end knife but it gets basic jobs done. Cool to see the AO logo on it. Knives are some of the most important tools in your gear. not just for self-defense but basic everyday tasks you might not expect like opening packages. 

THE GOOD - I actually really like the blade and its shape. It's got some notches over the top for grip and feels quite comfortable. Features a loop on the back for making a lanyard and a belt clip. It’s a big Decent sized folder.

THE BAD - The blade comes out easy...too easy. after some time I can deploy the blade by simply swinging it outward, not even touching the pin. if the knife were to come open while it's in your pocket that could be a bad day.

THE UGLY - I'm sorry but that handles got to go. just screams cheap $5 liquor store pocket knife. It would honestly be better if you just replaced the metal panels with plastic ones, that only had a checkered texture on them for grip.

THE FLASHLIGHT - Tactical LED flashlight with a telescoping lens. It's a single Diode light and runs on AAA batteries. Flashlights may seem like no big deal until you need one. if you're out somewhere and the sun goes down, it could be a life saver.

THE GOOD - The telescoping lens works fairly well. At a wide angle, you can illuminate the ground at your feet well. On the tight beam, you can spot objects several yards away. While in Texas I used it to spot some deer at night. the front face is beveled for use in self-defense or breaking glass. However, I have not yet tested that to see how sturdy it is.

THE BAD - Be careful opening this thing for the first time, be sure to remember how it’s assembled. I opened it up to put in batteries and it fell apart. I put it back together but the spring seemed too weak, the button started to collapsed into the housing and didn't work. I had to cannibalize a different Flashlight to fix and get it working again.

THE UGLY - ...no complaints here.

PARACORD - About 25ft of it I think. Cordage is a good thing to have in an emergency situation, used for lashings, shelter building or even a tourniquet. One of those things you don't think you need until you do. but if you're into survival gear you end up with a box full of the stuff from various sources.

CHAPSTICK - I know “why is this in an EDC kit?!” some people have suggested this was just an overstocked item from their DOPP kit. But realistically, the manual included in the pack suggests that chapstick has various uses like protecting the blade of a knife from rust by greasing the exposed steel edges...This is true. I had a small hatchet that has rusted up in a few places, had I used some of this I could have prevented that. Or I could put it this way. if you end up lost in a hot arid region or even a cold one, with a little water, without this, your lips could become chapped, cracked, and possibly bleed. Opening you to the chance of infection, Fever and potentially death...LOL I know its a reach but something to consider I guess. 

AO GREEN PATCH - Sturdy embroidered patch with a velcro backing. Morale patches are a popular thing with the prepper community, and it's just a fun extra thing to get with each box. If you're wondering “where am I going to put this?” there is a patch of velcro on the front of the pack. As well as on several other bits of gear they send you in other boxes later. like the Grunt Style beanie in the Frost Box. These like the Paracord will start to pile up too.

ALPHA OUTPOST CAP - An extra item included for all new subscribers.

Final thoughts, in the literature, included, there are some suggestions for other items to complete your EDC arsenal. Multi-tool, tactical pen, notepad, Key bar “or chain in this case wich came with the Hermes box”, compass, cell phone battery bank. and Wallet. I've rounded up all of this except for the battery bank. I'd have one if I had received the Gentleman Box, But I wasn't a subscriber at the time...Feel free to send me one AO, my username is shedwller1 lol. 

The one thing missing from this box is a fire making implement. A striking rod or at least matches which could replace the chapstick. Other than that this was pretty cool. If you're one of those preppers with tons of gear already this might not be something to get excited about. but if you're new to all this it's a great place to start. I've been with AO for over 6 months now and I've been very happy.