Famous Last Words...

There comes a time in everyone's life when they have to just step past reasonable and immerse themselves in the world of risk. I try to explain the risk/ reward ratio to people, but I'm often greeted with glossy stares and that strange laugh where people try to change the subject passive-aggressively. Until those people feel what it's like to bask in the rays of awesomeness, and inevitably baptize themselves in a world of pain and realization of failure... they just won't get it.

But in the meantime, I'm here to set the stage for those epic moments and memories. The kinds of memories that come to you from the third person, where your only personal evidence of achievement is some sort of bodily injury or property damage. I personally could write a book on these moments. Well.... not me, personally, but it would be an excellent collaboration for my friends and family to put together. I've got the aches and medical records of exactly what happens when you step into the unknown.

With that, Vita Brevis Clothing says cheers to the wild ones... the ones that can't go swimming without jumping off a roof or nearby tree, the ones that make bets on whether or not they can jump over tables or cars, the couch- backflippers, the rope-swingers, the wheelie addicts...

We salute the famous last words of every wild ass that's ever done anything amazing or come up  a little short, and we both commemorate these moments and encourage new ones with the release of our new Koozies. And with a resounding chant we say...

HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS!!!!

Now Available at VBCLOTHING.COMVBCLOTHING.COM

Buggin Out...

I was paranoid long before "Doomsday Preppers" ever hit the airwaves. I grew up spending my days away from the house, romping around the woods of north Texas hunting bears with a backpack full of bubble gum, Baby Ruths, and ammo for my cap gun. Naturally, I grew to love having everything I needed for my long days, and formed a strange bond with backpacks. You can ask anyone that knows me, and they'll tell you it gets real weird real fast. I have 14 packs right now, and each has their specific purpose. I can tell you the exact pocket configuration, and what is in each pocket of every bag. Everything has its place, and that is very valuable to me.

So why not build an emergency prep setup? Seems like something everyone should have, and it was a great opportunity to flex my fetish for good packs. Let's think this one through and put something great together...

First off, I splurge on good equipment. I skipped meals in college to put better parts on my bikes. And I don't EVER want to see how much money has actually been spent on this stuff. I just stay focused on the fact that if shit hits the fan, I'll be working with the good stuff. Much thought went in to this setup, and that's my exact goal with this write-up... to get your own wheels turning. Do you have a plan for various events? Do you have the necessities to execute your plan?

Ab "Bug-out-bag" is defined as a 72 hour setup more than a survival kit. For me and my people, evacuation isn't quite as important as it is for others. But I jumped at the opportunity to build an all-inclusive setup that would give me confidence in a short-term survival situation. I wanted one bag that would cover the basics: food, water, shelter, and protection for my bride and I. Her pack could be loaded with more event-specific gear or dog supplies in the event of an evacuation. But as I stated earlier, that isn't much of a priority. What is a priority is getting home to her if I'm somewhere else when something happens, or otherwise stranded. Your particular setup needs to reflect your goals as well as your local topography, climate, etc.

Here's what I put together after a recent re-pack for the coming cold weather:

Number one is what you don't see, and that's the person carrying it. In an event, dress smart. Good socks, layers, hat, and the best outdoor shoes you have. Why pack a coat or pants when you can throw it on real quick? Also, do some sort of training and cardio. It doesn't matter how many gadgets you have if you can't cover any ground.

Water: 

Immediately fill up any water bottles you have and grab a fistful of snacks and scarf them down. You need the calories, and you won't have the time to stop and filter any water for a while. First priority is mobility. I keep at least one Nalgene bottle, and have the setup to carry a few on this pack. I also have a Camelbak bladder that I can add in only a minute or two. Don't go overboard here- at over 8 lbs per gallon, you can easily overload yourself with water. I keep a quick use filter straw, as well as the Katadyn filter system I can use when there's time to refill the bottles. A compass and headlamps/ flashlights are a good thing to have as well. I also have a small green light that is harder to detect if I'm moving at night. Pay attention to the batteries needed. It's a good thing to keep the majority of things to one kind of battery so you can pack spares, but it's also nice to have a little variety in case you have to forage for batteries later.

Security:

If there's ever an event that's bad enough to put me on the run, it's going to knock the rest of the world back on its heels, and desperate people terrify me. Here in Texas, everyone has weapons, and they're all itching for the chance to justify using them. I've also heard conversations where people's sole survival plan is to forcefully steal what they need (ironically the same people that get all wound up over the redistribution of wealth when it comes up in politics). That being said, I'm an alarmist to the bone, and if the situation has me on edge, do not make me nervous. I counted 5 blades in my pack, not including the two that are always on my body. Knives don't run out of ammo or make noise, and I'm pretty handy with them. You can also see the ultralight judge and a stack of ammo. That one fires .410 rounds, so it would be better for hunting than the 9mm with three spare clips that will be on my hip in an emergency situation. Gun preparedness and weapons training is something we take very serious, but it's also something I'll never advertise.

Water, clothing, and security are the main things I consider if I need to GTFO right away. The pack is only good if I get to where I can safely set up a spot. This, too, involves more thought than equipment. In any survival situation, a little knowledge goes further than money can buy. Fail to plan, plan to fail. I've had the benefit of growing up in the area I live, so I've got several locations in mind if i need to hide out. Once I get there, the pack can come off my back. It's time to set up a shelter and refuel.

Shelter:

I love my hammock, and I use it all the time. It's a two person Eno design that includes straps and a rain fly that I can set up in about three minutes. It gets us off the ground and under cover in a bind. My pack also has straps on the bottom that I can easily secure a backpacking tent to if need be. Once again, the clothes you have on are crucial. There's no blankets or pillows in this kit. Just a rain shell and extra pair of socks, both of which the wife has first dibs on.
When shelter is up, it's time to build a fire. Don the gloves and grab the biggest knife or the one with a saw, and get some brush. Also, either practice making fires often, or sandbag it. I do both. I'm a big fan of redundancy in preparation, so there are six different ways to make a fire in my pack. Go ramble around the local sorting goods store and you'll see several nifty helpers. Waterproof matches and fire starter matches are cheap.

Food:

I live next to a wildlife preserve and a dog adoption center surrounded by farmers and cattle in the middle of horse country. Guns, knives, and some fishing hooks along with some will to live should take care of that. But just in case, I pack some beef jerky with me.

Other goodies:

I like to have a basic First Aid kit, as well as optics. I keep some binoculars and a monocular with tripod to keep an eye on my surroundings and scout for trouble. There are also many compact "survival kits" that easy to store. The memo pad is nice to make notes, maps, or communicate if there's a language barrier. Bug spray and para-cord are easy to carry and come in handy, as well as cheap ponchos and a few extra batteries. The newest addition is the SAS handbook, which is a phenomenal resource. Like I said before, knowledge is the biggest bang for the buck you'll find.

Things I'd like to add:
Emergency radio, and a good map.

Hopefully this has your wheels turning. There are several bags available that are already packed and ready, but I've really enjoyed building my kit. Keep it updated and be familiar with your equipment. Repack it when the seasons change, and pay attention to details. Shelter items can be packed deep, while you want easy access to your self defense, navigation, and water items. No one is going to stand and wait for you to dig around like a sorority girl in her purse! Give it some thought and have some fun! If the world crumbles, you'll be ready! And if not, you'll have a sweet bag full of toys next time you go camping!

Kershaw Scallion Review...

     Let me start by saying I've been a knife geek since before I could remember. My Mama and Pops tell stories  from my childhood of me being able to throw and stick knives as early as age 4. I spent much of my early youth stabbing, cutting, throwing, and whittling with blades of all kinds. I can still dig around and produce all kinds of pocket knives, survival blades, and some of the coolest throwing knives you'll ever see. One of my favorites started life as a bastard file that was ground to a point and given a duct tape handle that my dad carried for a long time. I love throwing knives, and I'm fascinated by blades of all kinds. There's a half dozen machetes around here that will attest to my fascination, and who knows how many different throwers and folders are lurking around my place any more. All that matters to me is there's always a knife when I look for one. I even caught myself about to buy a Kukri blade the other day. Now what in the world will I ever need a Kukri for? That doesn't matter one bit, because I'd rather have it and never need it than to need it and not have it. 

But for today, I want to offer my review on what I've found to be an absolute pleasure to own. It's my recently acquired Kershaw Scallion. I'm quickly falling in love with this knife. It is a USA made spring assisted folder, and has already put several smiles on my face.

    It all started with me reading several hundred pages of Joe Ledger kicking all forms of ass in the Jonathan Maberry books. He was working his destructive magic with a Wilson Combat rapid response folder. It only took a quick Google search to realize I was in full blown lust with a new blade. That knife is fantastic- beautiful lines, top notch materials, and a design that just boggles me. But in all my obsession and irresponsible spending, I just couldn't see myself opening shirt boxes and cutting tags with a $400 knife. Enter much needed compromise and reason. I went to Academy and snagged up a CRKT pocket knife to keep me from going without.

   After a few months of paying much more attention to situations, equipment, and looking at life with a more tactical mindset, I felt the lust rising again (seriously, there's several books where Joe Ledger just dominates all that is evil with that rapid response folder). I started noticing how clumsy my traditional folder was, and after a small scare at a gas station I realized it wouldn't be useful for anything more than a fist pack in an attack. That's just not good enough. I've got a hot wife and a limp, and we go all over the place where concealing a firearm isn't an option, but these fists may just not be enough. I NEEDED a new blade, something quick, light, and easy to carry.
 
    I kept thinking back to an old Kershaw my good friend gave me for High School graduation, and how much I liked that thumb stud. So I started looking around and found some very fast opening folders. I handled several different brands and models that just didn't feel right. Capable, yes, but just didn't feel natural in my hands or pocket. Then I got my hands on the Scallion. Nice, grippy outside (one of my favorite features of the CRKT) and that all to familiar thumb stud. There's no telling how many thousands of times I flicked that old knife open through the years. And when you're looking for something to use a defensive tool, that familiarity and practice is far more important than the equipment itself. Clipped it to my pocket and produced an open blade several times with great efficiency and a dialed flick that only takes a fraction of a second. Perfect. Keep practicing with it, and it'll be a natural reaction to any threat. Couple that with the light weight and compact size and I've got a tool I'm very confident in. I know without a doubt that if I can slap an assailant, I can make them bleed. Minimal drag and delay to be in the fight.

     The thumb stud is hard to see in my pics, but show up better on Kershaw's site. You just hit the tab on the back with your index finger and the spring assisted blade whips all the way open and locks in place. A much better alternative to those that only open halfway, and a hundred times faster than a regular folder. It also features a pocket clip, but be aware of your local laws. Some places consider a pocket clip on a knife to be openly brandishing a weapon. I carry mine like that every day, but I'm in Texas where you'll see scarier things in Church. Just be smart and carry it like an old pocket knife when you go into a venue of any sort. Out of sight, out of mind. That great blade will do you no good walking back to the car later if security confiscates it. There's also a tip lock that will lock it in the folded position. I'm planning on removing that little guy. I love my new knife, and even though she makes fun of my practice whips and trash-talking the bushes by our house I'm sure my wife appreciates the new efficiency I'll have if it comes down to a defending her honor type situation.

     I'm very pleased with my purchase, especially since it didn't sucker punch my wallet! This same knife can be found in a variety of colors everywhere from $40-$60, and it's worth every penny. I'm very pleased with the usability, style, and operation of this knife. Made in USA and super sharp from the box, this wasn't my first Kershaw, and definitely won't be my last!

Specs:

Steel:  420HC stainless-steel

Handle:  Glass-filled nylon

Blade Length:  2 1/4 in. (5.8 cm)

Closed Length:  3 1/2 in. (8.4 cm)

Overall Length:  5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm)

Weight:  2.3 oz.

NEW All or Nothing tee!!!

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Available and shipping now!

I love this design. Coming from a moto background, it's a motif that can either inspire huge success, or send you to the hospital. There's a mentality out there of willingness to push past that point of no return in the search of greatness. Racers do it all the time, and athletes become all too familiar with this effort to expand one's own comfort zone. It's a mindset necessary to competition, and this shirt was made to perform. It's a well shaped shirt made from a thin, very breathable poly/ cotton blend. It's comfortable here in this Texas heat, and meant to be worn out in the world of gyms, trails, or wherever you push yourself. Go for it every day- ALL OR NOTHING!

Order yours today!

Hazy Glimpse of Recovery...

I hate, absolutely hate, when a writer starts off by apologizing for what he's about to say. I am a hot-red-blooded, over-indulging, loud, bearded, hairy American with guns that loves the Second Amendment. But in an age of Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and text messages, I feel like an artifact at only 27. I still believe in putting effort towards grammar, and actually reading things before I post them. I also have the attention span that allows for more than 160 characters, but the lack of tolerance for things that bother me in the opening lines. That said, I despise when a writer begins with apologies.

This glorious chunk of blog flooding our beloved Internet is a bit long winded, and it may be ramble thanks to my head and body still being at the whims of a two-week medication regime. This also means my pictures may be the kind of filler we'd expect to find on some Instagram newbie's irresponsibly composed collection of over-edited meals, shoes, and sunsets. It's fine by me, because I also have the simple love and passion for creating memorable moments, so reminders in any form have their value. Someone may have fallen in love over that meal, that stupid pair of shoes may be their lucky ones, and that sunset may have been the cap to the greatest day of their lives. And I absolutely love apps like Instagram for making it easy to edit photos, helping enhance the mood or focus of what they want to portray. In a digital world, it's free to post and write, so there is a limitless amount of material for which I am thankful for. I'm also thankful that this is my stash, these are my moments, my memories, and we all have the freedom to either read on and enjoy, or wander elsewhere on this world wild web.

 I recently underwent my second knee surgery this year, putting my estimated recovery time into next spring thanks to a split second moment put me on the ground this past January. Effectively chewing up and spitting out any plans I had for 2012, including my long anticipated, life-changing trip to Moab that I'd been looking forward to so much. Instead, I've spent an incredible amount of time alone with my own thoughts, a pack of animals, and whatever was within arms reach. Thankfully, my lovely bride is well practiced at me being in some sort of recovery. Her schedule and excellent logistic skills kept me fed and both of us from going over the edge. It also helped that I put a ton of effort into keeping a good attitude and stacked up plenty of ways to entertain myself. I've got the greatest group of friends a dude could have, and this has already been an amazing year despite this whole knee saga. So many memories made and great times had, more than I could ever ask for. Thank you all!

I decided early on to stay creative through the process and keep my mind healthy. Luckily, I have a camera and condensed version of Photoshop on my phone. So while my head wasn't clear enough for anything spectacular, I've been able to capture some moments that really meant a lot to me during this latest recovery. There are several to share, so hang in there or bookmark this page for later!

Surgery Morning... Hopes that this will one day be a distant memory, and the realization that self destruction has been the general theme of my twenties. Strictly captured to document a day of waiting and having fun with anesthesia, surrounded by familiar faces and people that care about me more than I care about myself. Looking forward to remembering my "No Pain, No Fame" series of shirts, and the sweet ass bling crutches my buddy Brantley had made.

Every morning for the next two weeks... The only ground traveled is that between the bed and couch, and that in itself presents a struggle. Not the easiest thing for a family that prefers to run and gun all day.

That connection and line leading off frame was of utmost importance. It's an ice-pack pump that has made a huge difference in my life. That connection was my lifeline, the only comfort to be had shy of whiskey.

This one may very well be my favorite of all. I could spend time each and every day for the rest of my life explaining to her how much she meant to me every time I've been hurt, and it still wouldn't get my message across. I remember her laughing off this picture like it was nothing, but it became my favorite.

Love my pack. This much time at home is almost like a reset button. Everyone establishes their favorite seats, sets up a good petting schedule, and gets more table scraps. I also find it strange they sense my pain, and the depth of physiological benefits in petting a dog or cat.

Two separate doctors visits, same scene. My crutches are gangster, I need to prop up my leg, and we've been waiting for 45 minutes. Can we get Starbucks or Chik-fil-a after this?

First night out, making up for lost time. I LOVE Saturday nights. Saturday nights are my time to shine as a connoisseur of self destruction and rowdiness. Strange how much less it hurt as I reached double digits in my girl beer. Like a genie of gluttony, my buddies rubbed the lamp and cut me loose in the vortex of a backyard party. All three wishes were for a sweet ass new Vita Brevis Koozy, so I granted them.

And now for my favorite part of recovery... It's hitting 100+ degree temps here, and I'm not very mobile yet. BUT I can get around the house and look out the windows without even the slightest desire to be outside. That means books will be read, shirts designed, stickers made by the hundreds, RC cars will be driven, guns cleaned, movies watched, xbox games played, and blogs written.

Thanks for reading, and I'll see you all soon!

Sincerely,
 -the bald guy with the limp

Nitro Circus Teaser and Gymkhana 5!

Some heavy hitters found their way on to the world wide interweb this week, and I thought I'd post them up! Nitro Circus 3D is on the way, and Gymkhana 5 proved to be yet another amazing mix of man and machine! Enjoy!

Run For the Hills 2012. New Video with Team Solus!

We had a blast this past weekend at Loose Wheels, Texas for their first mud run! "Run For the Hills" lived up to its name and was a great way to get dirty and have a good time with Team Solus! Vita Brevis Clothing teamed up with CrossFit Solus to make some tank tops for the event, and Dustin Suitors of Solus donned the Go Pro for some messy footage. I had a good time editing it all together, it was almost like running with them the whole time! Enjoy, and pass it along- they'll be hosting another event like this one in September!