u/Bi0mad

Simple DIY aggressive teccwear tapering options with Sungrip plastic snap buttons.

I recently brought 0608WEAR's TPP-10 pants (The classic BDU design with the Tyvek foil material as cargo pockets) to the tailor to match my height (5'3) and they looked a bit wide for my proportions after altering the length. Obviously I love the tapered look for my pants when going with technical urban wear (i.e. Nikelab ACG Deploy Cargos with the shock cord to wrap around the cuffs to achieve that sharp tapered profile) Luckily I had some spare Sungrip snap buttons laying around in my drawer, so I immediately got to work.

I prefer to position the buttons on the inside leg of the pants (between the seam lines), they seem to look more natural when the fabric is folded inward. The fabrics of these particular pair of pants are quite stiff, so I had to add another buttons on top to make sure the ankle areas are nicely tapered without having the weird warping effects around the legs. Very easy to do it yourself, just need one of those special pliers that are made for plastic snaps and an awl to punch a hole through the fabric.

Headwear: Undercontrol Road Hiker Running Mesh Bandana (URH-A-004-BREEZE-BK) - My current favorite nighttime running bandana. Quick-dry, highly breathable even when double-layered.

Top: Swib Thin Taslan Sweatshirt (Light Grey) [LSRMCTM305M] - Lightweight packable sweatshirt. Mesh panels for increased airflow and the cinch cord around the waist to adjust the fit. Front kangaroo pocket for extra storage.

Bottoms: 0608WEAR SBP-22 (Japanese Sunwell fabric) - Aquaguard YKK zips on the side of the legs. When fully unzipped, the extra fabric that's been tucked away expand for a wider silhouette.

Footwear: Y-3 Kaiwa / Diadora Compression Knee Socks

Bag: Descente Running Sling Bag - Can be worn like a holster bag (with the stabilizer strap) or as a crossbody bag. Can store small, flatter items like your phone, powerbank, and wallets.

Nostalgia.... And notably, the pair of P25-DS. (1st and 11th, 12th pics)

I definitely do feel like adding more on the front, but yeah. Charming wolf butler beloved 😌😌😌

Headwear: Atlantis Erie Running Ballcap

Shirt: Undermine (Taobao brand. Asymmetric YKK zips with pass-through chest pocket.)

Pants: 0608Wear BK-SBP04 (From 2017 Spring/Summer collection. Quick release Spanish buckle cargo pockets.)

Footwear: Nike Air Presto Mid x Acronym (Cool Grey)

Bag: Aokuware O2I4O4 [A.A.S.B.] Etaproof Bandolier + O6I6I6 V2.1 [VX21] Fold-up pouch

I've had my Foxbat Dynamics LEG-16 for quite some time, but I needed something more taller while keeping the similar form factor as a small EDC bag/pouch. Luckily there is a bag maker in my country who specializes in making utilitarian modular bags that most people here are very familiar with, in terms of style and aesthetic-wise, that is. Bentnail is a one-man company, hence the products are made-to-order, which I had to wait about 2 to 3 weeks before receiving the final product, but it was worth the wait.

The main fabric, as the included spec sheet stated, is 420D PU crossrip double side coated. He does make the X-Pac and Dyneema versions from time to time, but of course, the prices are gonna be much higher for those fabric options. He did say he might also consider making bags out of 1000D Mil-Spec Cordura in the future, so that is something to keep in mind. That being said, the coated outer ripstop fabric does have fair amount of thickness to it, as well as having 210D ripstop nylon as the lining, so I assume it's going to hold up just fine for daily wear and tear. It does have that nice softness to it on the outside, while keeping fair amount of rigidness for the overall structure.

One of the things that I like about M-PXp is the utilization of the Fidlock buckles. The main lid is fastened by two hook 20 rope adjusters, and has a U-shaped cordage handle that's connecting together. This allows you to have quick access to the main compartment by lifting the said handle, simultaneously unlocking the hinge of the magnetic buckles. I think that's a well-executed design, I found myself playing with it a lot by opening it with one hand and closing it securely by dropping the lid, letting the magnets do their work, though the results may vary depending on the load.

The main compartment is expandable, bucket-style opening that can be also folded down when there's not much stuff inside. The organization is quite simplistic, two small divider pockets on the inside of the main compartment, I could fit an Anker 533 30W 10,000mah power bank in one of them with some room to spare. It also have two zippered pockets on the back of the bag, which is secured by YKK Aquaguard zips. You could probably store credit cards, cash, other smaller flat items in either one of those pockets.

Rows of genuine German Tecsys webbing on the front, smaller pouches can be attached for modular layering. Of course you can attach the bag itself, serving it as an admin pouch, the webbings on the back are two layers of thicker nylons that are sandwiched together and reinforced with bartack, box X stitches. Came with two YKK Annex clips and four slotted loops for quick attachment to the PALS/MOLLE system. The ends of the shoulder strap themselves are connected to this line of webbing with two D-loops, which can also be detached from the main bag itself, should you use it as a pouch for bigger bags.

The buckles for the vertical straps, where you secure your lid to, are adjustable and can be detached by using the top Fidlock buckles (Pic 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) I can see myself taking advantage of those straps, with a jacket, towel, etc, and secure it on the outside when I don't feel like holding them with my hands. The length of the shoulder strap can be swiftly adjusted with a clamp-like springy buckle, which you can lift it up, slide it to your desired length and secure it by letting it go.

Overall, I'd say it's a bag with nifty little tricks. I'm definitely a fan of that rapid access lid, for sure, lol. Spent about 160,00 KRW (107 USD) and I'm happy how it's made.

I've had my Foxbat Dynamics LEG-16 for quite some time, but I needed something more taller while keeping the similar form factor as a small EDC bag/pouch. Luckily there is a bag maker in my country who specializes in making utilitarian modular bags that most people here are very familiar with, in terms of style and aesthetic-wise, that is. Bentnail is a one-man company, hence the products are made-to-order, which I had to wait about 2 to 3 weeks before receiving the final product, but it was worth the wait.

The main fabric, as the included spec sheet stated, is 420D PU crossrip double side coated. He does make the X-Pac and Dyneema versions from time to time, but of course, the prices are gonna be much higher for those fabric options. He did say he might also consider making bags out of 1000D Mil-Spec Cordura in the future, so that is something to keep in mind. That being said, the coated outer ripstop fabric does have fair amount of thickness to it, as well as having 210D ripstop nylon as the lining, so I assume it's going to hold up just fine for daily wear and tear. It does have that nice softness to it on the outside, while keeping fair amount of rigidness for the overall structure.

One of the things that I like about M-PXp is the utilization of the fidlock buckles. The main lid is fastened by two hook 20 rope adjusters, and has a U-shaped cordage handle that's connecting together. This allows you to have quick access to the main compartment by lifting the said handle, simultaneously unlocking the hinge of the magnetic buckles. I think that's a well-executed design, I found myself playing with it a lot by opening it with one hand and closing it securely by dropping the lid, letting the magnets do their work, though the results may vary depending on the load.

The main compartment is expandable, bucket-style opening that can be also folded down when there's not much stuff inside. The organization is quite simplistic, two small divider pockets on the inside of the main compartment, I could fit an Anker 533 30W 10,000mah power bank in one of them with some room to spare. It also have two zippered pockets on the back of the bag, which is secured by YKK Aquaguard zips. You could probably store credit cards, cash, other smaller flat items in either one of those pockets.

Rows of genuine German Tecsys webbing on the front, smaller pouches can be attached for modular layering. Of course you can attach the bag itself, serving it as an admin pouch, the webbings on the back are two layers of thicker nylons that are sandwiched together and reinforced with bartack, box X stitches. Came with two YKK Annex clips and four slotted loops for quick attachment to the PALS/MOLLE system. The ends of the shoulder strap themselves are connected to this line of webbing with two D-loops, which can also be detached from the main bag itself, should you use it as a pouch for bigger bags.

The buckles for the vertical straps, where you secure your lid to, are adjustable and can be detached by using the top fidlock buckles (Pic 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) I can see myself taking advantage of those straps, with a jacket, towel, etc, and secure it on the outside when I don't feel like holding them with my hands. The length of the shoulder strap can be swiftly adjusted with a clamp-like springy buckle, which you can lift it up, slide it to your desired length and secure it by letting it go.

Overall, I'd say it's a bag with nifty little tricks, some people might compare it to the Acronym 3A-2 due to their similar shapes and sizes, but functionality wise, it clearly stands out as its own. I'm definitely a fan of that rapid access lid, for sure, lol. Spent about 160,00 KRW (107 USD) and I'm happy how it's made.

Summer is all about combating heat and maximizing breathability. The front zips of the pair of ILCORSO shorts can be undone, exposing mesh panel to increase airflow. I've also been carrying multiple rechargeable fans to cool me down while I'm out and about. These minimalist neck fans have been nothing but efficient, without weighing heavily down on the back of my neck.

Headwear: Atlantis Erie Running Ballcap

Top: Musinsa Standard City Leisure Airy Dot Utility Short Sleeve Shirt (Blue Gray)

Bottoms: ILCORSO X Mizuno Utility Tech Cargo Shorts (Blue) IEPA3E702B2

Footwear: Reebok InstaPump Fury 95 (White) GX9432

The Pullover Shell Jacket (914477-010) from the FW17 collection. In a fairly good condition, minus the degraded TPU soft buckle for the waist area, snapped after cinching it down a couple of times, which I replaced with the hard plastic buckle, as well as reinforcing the fabric with fresh seam tapes after the adhesive for the surrounding area peeled off.

Size small, fits oversized, but not unwearable. It's definitely a stiffer waterproof jacket meant to be worn during late Fall/Winter months due to its lining being identical to its face fabric. Not sure if it's Nike's own membrane technology (Storm-FIT?) since there aren't any identification of being made with Gore-Tex.

All in all it's an iconic pullover jacket that came out during Errolson's Nikelab era. (:

(AKA I hate Summer, but at least the fit is comfy)

Headwear: Musinsa Standard City Leisure Trail Ball Cap (Grey)

Top: Musinsa Standard City Leisure Structured Block T-Shirt (Mud Grey)

Bottoms: Nilmance SS20-STP-03 Ventile All-Weather Shorts

Footwear: Nike Air Presto Mid x Acronym (Cool Grey)

Bag: Foxbat Dynamics LEG-16 w/ TECWARE (Taobao brand) Fidlock Winch buckle X-PAC pouch

After spending many months of careful organization, I've finally managed to reduce unnecessary bulk for my pocket carry system. Limited to four pant pockets (Two on the front and two on the back) since I'm not always going to wear a pair of cargos.

Keychain:

- A buncha keys for my padlocks and a Nanostylus hooked onto a micro retractable reel (Sometimes I don't want to use my fingers on the kiosk that's been smeared with full of bacteria from other people, especially at the hospital or an ATM machine with touch screens)

- Titanium X-ACTO blade holder

- Leatherman Style PS. Bought it second-hand, the spring for the scissors work surprisingly well in good condition despite what people have said about its durability in the past before its discontinuation. Though I might take the scissors out every time when not being carried on me since that'll decompress the spring itself and lessen the stress on its mechanism long term.

- A small gridstop pouch containing an eyeglass driver, titanium toothpick, flat USB-C short cable, chapstick, earplugs, micro 5-pin/USB-A adaptor (Also, a cute charm of a salary cat hanging onto an overhead train bar handle, just in case if anyone gets the wrong idea, LMAO.)

- Small double sided flat/phillips bit driver

Front left pocket:

- Phone (Sometimes with a slim magsafe 5000mah powerbank depends on where I'm going)

- Hornet Defense Spine EDC-9.5

Expandable batons tend to get a bad rap on this sub due to their legality, being in the grey area between lethal/less-lethal force category, but let it be known that I'm not in the States. I live in the country where carrying batons and pepper sprays are legal, but firearms are not. Yes, I can legally use it against an armed attacker under strict use-of-force, but still, I understand the risk of having to go toe-to-toe with an attacker holding a knife, a lot can go wrong even if you're physically fit/properly trained. There's a possibility of you either hurting yourself, or misusing lethal force by unintentionally striking someone in the head, etc. It's a tool you have to have a lot of practice for. I consider myself a fairly fit individual, I can jog for many miles, sprint, also trained in kickboxing where I've learned that timing + distance management is absolutely crucial. That being said, this is a self-rescue tool for me primarily, especially being trapped in a wreck where I have to break a windshield to get out during emergency situations. I think what Hornet Defense excels at is how forward-heavy their batons are, the striking section of the shafts is made of solid (4140 chrome-moly) steel. I know many companies have used the combination of 4140 steel / 7075 aluminum to balance between the lighter carry weight/striking effectiveness, including Hornet Defense, but what's unique about their friction-lock batons is that, the inside of the entire striking shaft is completely filled instead of being hollow like most expandable batons on the market. Thus providing effective kinetic energy, delivering more impact force when striking, etc. It also has a window breaker on its back, though sold separately, so I can use that first, and then clear out the remaining debris with the baton itself before getting out of the vehicle. I tend to do gear rotation between the 9.5 inch and the 12 inch model, depending on the circumstances, but I'm also tempted to get their 15.5 inch version in the future. Also who doesn't love the frag pattern?

Front right pocket:

- Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

- Olight Baton 4 connected to an O-link magnet ring w/ micro retractable reel

Rear left pocket:

- Flowfold Vanguard bifold wallet w/ Raidops x Hornet Defense custom Credit 'I' titanium tool (Credit card sized, the edge is not sharpened for the sake of longevity of your wallet every time you deploy it. It's a handy little light duty pry tool + package opener.) I also have two strips of ace bandages, one antiseptic wipe.

- Quikclot combat gauze (Stores flat, love its compact packaging size. It's nice to have one if you sustain an injury where normal bandages cannot stop the bleeding.)

Rear right pocket:
- Poshproject X308 Compact card holder

A handful of just in-case items including duct tape, sewing needles and a thread, Atwood rope's micro cord, two safety pins on a blank plastic card, a stainless steel mirror that I ripped it off of its faux leather case. All neatly tucked inside of a sleeve that I've made out of an old microfiber cloth, so that I can also clean my glasses and lens wherever I go.

Nemesis Ti-card knife as a back-up emergency blade, DIY micro Bic pen.

The rest:

- Sabre Red MK3 gel. Officially imported, but the company altered its nozzle to fit within the regulation in my country. Meaning, it's semi-auto, only squirting once when you press the nozzle. There are pepper sprays in my country that you can hold down the trigger and continuously empty its content, but most of those require a permit to own one, and shaped like a firearm. Regardless, it's one of the only companies I can rely on, since most pepper spray companies here tend to lack any kind of certification or quality guarantees in the first place. MK3 can be bulky to carry IWB, but my skinny frame allows me to do so and making it fairly comfortable (Eleven o'clock position to mask the imprint) Forgot the maker of the kydex sheath, but it's low-profile enough to carry it IWB. Kinda wished Sabre would import the ones that are in smaller canisters, MK3 models are the only EDC-able ones available here in my country at the time. And no, we don't have POM sprays, nor anything similar that's reliable.

- Galaxy Watch 7 with the DIY shock cord strap. I don't like regular fabric/silicone straps since they make my wrist sweaty especially in the Summer.

About 6 years ago, I began to notice my skin was becoming more and more sensitive and making me highly susceptible to irritation from heat and sweat due to what I believe showering for many years from the same old water pipe that's been possibly corroded and full of mold, breaking my skin barrier long-term. (I now use a shower filter and replace them every month) Even to this day, whenever I sweat even during light physical activity I can still feel my pores physically irritated in real time, as if thousands of needles are stabbing my body, as well as showing redness, hives that lasts more than a week.

Since I can't sweat like a normal person anymore, I really had to come up with a solution to cope with my chronic skin condition, especially during hotter months. And if you're like me living in East/South East Asia, the summer time here can be absolutely brutal. I've tried numerous cooling devices including body fans, but conventional body fans with the clip can be too bulky and often time they weren't enough to cool me down due to the distance between my waist going all the way up to my upper body parts (armpits), even when being set on the highest speed, so I wanted to position them even higher up instead of having them sitting on my waistline.

Then I realized I had this laser-cut PALS webbing harness that I've bought from Taobao a long time ago. (Reminds me of the small chest rig from Nike X MMW collaboration) The body fans I've recently bought (The name of the brand is Claymore, Clip Fan S+), not only do they have detachable clips, but they also have the tiny slit where I could slip through the webbing from the harness without blocking the airflow and pretty much position them exactly where I wanted them to be.

So far I've been using them, a lot, and pleased with how they work. I had to de-stitch the PALS webbing panel on the front for more breathability and re-sew the webbings again to make it work. They're not really noticeable from a simple glance even with the semi-form fitting T-shirt, and the airflow seems to be consistent enough to keep me cooled. Obviously if you're out in the sun for a long time, the hot air's eventually gonna overwhelm you regardless of if you turn the fan on or not. I tend to turn them up to their max speed when I'm outside, and then maybe lower them to 2nd/3rd speed level when I get into the airconditioned room like public transit or service areas. Of course, I use them with a sunbrella, and a main handheld fan that's 5.7 inches in diameter. So far, I've managed to be sweat free in 68 degrees (20 degrees Celsius) even being outside on a very sunny day. As the day gets hotter during peak summer months, I'd say I can survive it without leaving myself with full of blisters, lol.

What is your plan to keep you cool this summer?