While Bryan and Kelly are out having a blast at the Overland Expo, the rest of us back at ITS headquarters want to have some fun too. To kick off the weekend, we decided to run a contest giving away one of every single patch we make!

It’s easy to enter and all added up, one lucky person is going to receive over $180 worth of our patches! You better act fast though because this contest only runs through the weekend!

What’s Included in the Prize Pack?

• 36 morale patches from the ITS Store; as shown above.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Contest Fine Print:

• One winner will be selected at random and will receive one prize pack with the contents listed/shown above.
• Plank Owner and Crew Leader rocker patches not included.
• Morale Patch Display Frame not included.
• The winner will be notified by email. Once contacted, they have 24 hours to claim their prize. If we do not receive a response from them within 24 hours, we will select a new winner.
• Contest ends at 11:59 PM CST on 5/19/13.

Parodied from Robert Downey Jr.’s classic line in the movie Tropic Thunder our newest morale patch is perfect for any occasion you might find yourself in as words to live by.

Featuring 100% embroidery, these patches measure 3″ wide x 3″ tall and feature a velcro backing to stick them wherever you’d like! The velcro can also be removed with a seam ripper if you’d like to sew them on.

Pick up a You Never Go Full Retard Morale Patch in the ITS Store today!

Kydex Rescue Hook Sheath

Made in the USA by our friends at W2H Kydex, these Rescue Hook Sheaths were purpose built to carry the Benchmade Rescue Hook 7 and are perfect to attach to the side MOLLE channels of our ETA Trauma Kit Pouches.

Using an integrated short MALICE Clip for attachment, not only do these fit our Tallboy or Fatboy Trauma Kit Pouches, but can be mounted on any MOLLE compatible item for quick access to your rescue hook.

We’re also carrying a limited number of Benchmade Rescue Hook 7′s available to purchase separately if you’re not already carrying one. They’re perfect for quickly and reliably cutting in an emergency situation and made in the USA.

The larger handle of the 7 hook works well with gloved hands and the coated handle allows for a better grip. Made of 440C premium stainless steel, these 4.3″ long rescue hooks also feature a .5″ blade length. These 7 hooks do not include the Benchmade soft sheath and are available to accompany the Kydex Rescue Hook Sheath available here.

Click here to purchase a Rescue Hook 7 or here for a Rescue Hook Sheath

MPIL MultiCam

Battle Systems has recently released MultiCam version of their MPIL and we’ve got them available starting today in the ITS Store. Sharing the same characteristics as the original Orange/Violet MPIL, the MultiCam MPIL replaces the Violet panel with MultiCam ripstop fabric.

These were spec’d by an American Military unit to offer the ability to flash the HiViz Orange to communicate with aircraft or ground elements and then return to a subdued side without stashing the MPIL away. Made from 1.55 oz. and 1.1 oz. ripstop material, these MPILs weigh in at just 1 oz.

The MultiCam MPIL is a limited edition that you can pick up here in the ITS Store

Sons of Liberty PVC Morale Patch Restock

Our Sons of Liberty Morale Patches are back in stock and now feature more vibrant colorways, including the classic Red/White, as well as Tan/Coyote and MultiCam.

The Sons of Liberty were influential in orchestrating effective resistance movements against British rule in colonial America on the eve of the Revolution, primarily against what they perceived as unfair taxation and financial limitations imposed upon them. The Sons of Liberty effectively undermined British rule, paving the way to America’s independence.

In 1767 the Sons of Liberty adopted a flag that has often been referred to as the rebellious stripes flag, which features nine vertical stripes (five red and four white.) These nine stripes have been said to represent the Loyal Nine, a clandestine political group that inflamed public opinion of British law and predated the Sons of Liberty.

A seminal act and lasting legacy of the Sons of Liberty to the history of the American Revolution, was the December 16, 1773 orchestrating of the Boston Tea Party. Some might point out that the echo from the Sons of Liberty can be heard today, as our rights are being encroached upon and our Constitution attacked. Not a flag of distress or of war, but one of defiance, one that was used in the face of such tyranny. We will Prevail!

The ITS Tactical Sons of Liberty Flag PVC Morale Patch is made in the USA and measures 2″ x 1″ with hook velcro on the back.

Grab your Sons of Liberty PVC Morale Patch here!

We asked to see what you carry in your bag on a daily basis and you certainly delivered. There were some really great submissions but we could only pick two winners for the $25 Gift Certificate to the ITS Tactical Store.

It was great to see different items carried and how they could be useful in a variety of scenarios. Whether you can pack light and travel fast or you have to carry enough gear for your family, being prepared is key.

Crew Member: pmariolo

Crew Member: FiveByFive

Congratulations to our winners!

Please send us an email to claim your prize and we’ll get your gift certificate issued!

Honorable Mentions

While they didn’t make the final round of voting, these are some submissions worth sharing. Backpack, messenger bag and even a briefcase, it doesn’t matter what you use as long as you have it properly stocked.

Crew Member: bigfoot

Crew Leader: nwagstaff

Crew Member: zsulli

 Crew Member: Corbie

If you are in need of some EDC inspiration, be sure to check out the forum to see the rest of the rest of the entries! If you didn’t win this time, don’t worry, we have more contests coming up.

Stay tuned!

We’re proud to support our good friend and ITS Plank Owner, Karl, from OscarDelta by carrying their Go-Tubes in the ITS Store! Go-Tubes are perfect for deep carry concealment to store small items you need to protect from damage, loss or unauthorized access.

They’re also ideal for emergency cash, lock picks (both our 4-piece Titanium Flats or the 2-piece Bogotas fit), mini flash drives, maps, documents, storing duct tape (wrapped around exterior), geocaches, glow sticks, matches, mini sewing kits, spare batteries (2 x AA or 4 x CR123).

Each Go-Tube comes standard with a keychain cap or can be replaced with the included spare cap for lower profile carry. The interior tube can also be easily cut down in size with a hacksaw to create an even smaller concealment device.

Pick up your Go-Tube here today!

Tubular Picks

You might remember the recent article and video that Bryan put together going over the basics of Tubular Lock Picking. Due to the multiple requests and great feedback we received, we’re now offering Tubular Lock Picks in the ITS Store.

Also known as Adjustable Tubular Manipulation Picks, these tubular picks allow adjustment of picking needle pressure, which gives them the versatility to pick tubular locks with higher spring pressures.

Tubular Lock Picks come in a 7-pin or 8-pin configuration and feature a comfortable, slip-resistant rubber handle. Each Tubular Lock Pick comes with a decoder key, adjustment wrench, rubber protective cover and instruction sheet.

Grab your Tubular Lock Pick here!

Visible Cutaway Practice Handcuff

We’ve long advocated the need to practice getting out of handcuffs in case they’re ever used on you during illegal restraint situations, especially with how easy they are for anyone to obtain. The clear cut-away design of the practice handcuffs we’re now carrying allows you to easily see the manipulation of the locking mechanism inside the handcuff.

The trainers also allow for single-lock or double-lock picking and come with a handcuff key.

Purchase the Practice Handcuff here!

Tubular Practice Lock

Tubular Locks can be hard to source for practice, so we’ve sourced them for you. These are actual 7 and 8 pin practice locks that feature a removable locking bar.

They’re perfect for mounting to a lock pick board for practice too. The 7-pin Tubular Practice Lock comes with two keys and the 8-pin Tubular Practice Lock comes with one. Each also comes with all the hardware needed to mount.

Tubular Practice Locks are available here!

We’re stoked to be releasing the details today on our 2nd Annual ITS Tactical Muster and skill-set development excursion!

The Muster integrates many of the common skill-sets we advocate here on ITS into a week packed full of instruction on Self-Defense; Ascending, Rope Rescue and Traversing; Lashings and Knot Tying, Physical Security & Escape from Illegal Restraint; Trauma Management, Drags and Carries; Cover & Concealment and Tracking & Patrolling. All this while spending the evenings enjoying great camaraderie and sleeping under the stars.

If you attended last year, you’ll notice we’ve changed up the skills and have an all new curriculum for you this year! In addition to the skills above, we’ll also have some friendly squad competitions and of course a few Field Training Exercises (FTX) to ensure everyone was paying attention! It’s going to take a lot to top the overwhelming success of last year, but we know this year is going to be even more awesome!

Former Air Force PJ Nate Morrison of Morrison Industries will be back with us this year to help out with our day on the rocks learning about ascending, rope rescue and traversing. Matt Fiddler of SerePick will be heading up physical security again this year, while Bryan will be demonstrating escape from illegal restraint along with knot tying and lashings. Caleb from Lone Star Medics will be leading the medical and we’re honored to have former Green Beret John Hurth of TYR Group out to lead Cover & Concealment and Tracking & Patrolling.

Bringing our community together, the Muster will be your chance to spend a few days with the crew from ITS Tactical, get hands-on and learn together. We only have a limited number of seats available for the Muster and you’ll need to be an ITS Member to attend. Crew Leader is the only membership level that has open enrollment right now. For details on becoming a Crew Leader, click here.

While the Muster won’t be a physically demanding event, you’ll be hiking and climbing so your level of fitness should allow for this. You’re going to get dirty, you’re going to be tired, but you’ll leave with more knowledge than you came with, great memories and friendships forged.

Muster II Details

The Muster will be taking place from Thursday, October 24th to Monday, October 28th. We’re requiring everyone to arrive no earlier than 3 p.m. on October 24th and no later than 7 p.m. that evening. For departure on Monday, please plan on being at the Muster until 1 p.m. If you’ll be flying, please keep this in mind when booking flights.

Base Camp will be located near Weatherford, Texas, which is about an hour drive west from either the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport or Love Field Airport. The exact coordinates will be emailed to everyone attending closer to the Muster. Last year we had some people organize ride-sharing and even a van rental in the Facebook Event for the Muster. If you’re interested in that option for transportation, head over to the Facebook Event to start the coordination.

The majority of our activity will take place outdoors and we’ll have a pre-arranged area for you to set up your tent. While any additional gear needed will be emailed out to those attending (well in advance), here’s a packing list that should get you started. What you want to sleep in to stay out of the elements is up to you, but please limit it to a 2 person tent at the largest.

We’ll be providing food, drinks and plenty of KillCliff for everyone during the Muster! This won’t be pre-made store bought food or even fast food, they’ll be home cooked meals prepared by Matt Gambrell in the ITS Galley each day.

We know you’re going to work up an appetite and with menu selections like smoked brisket and more, you’ll be sure to get plenty to eat! We did include geedunk in the packing list, just in case.

You’ll of course also get a Muster II T-Shirt and Morale Patch along with individual merit badge patches for each block of instruction you complete. There’s a ton more planned for you to take home, but you’ll just have to be there to find out what that consists of.

Registration

You don’t want to miss out on the Muster this year, remember we only have a limited number of spots available. Here’s the registration form you’ll need to fill out and mail in with your payment.

The pricing schedule below benefits those that get their payments in early. Don’t forget that if you’re a Life Member you’ll get 25% off your registration (does not apply to spouses, friends, etc. unless they’re also a Life Member.)

• $800 – Payment postmarked by June 1, 2013
• $900 - Payment postmarked by August 1, 2013
• $1000 – Payment postmarked by October 1, 2013

Send completed registration form AND personal/business check, bank money order or cashier’s check payable to ITS Tactical:

ITS Tactical
6100 W. Pioneer Pkwy, Suite 100
Arlington, TX 76013

Price based on date of payment receipt; your payment must be postmarked by the date you are submitting payment for. Payments postmarked after October 12, 2013 will be returned. Registration is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Carry The Load 2013 is just a few weeks away and today I’d like to give you some information on where the ITS Tactical Joint Task Force Team we’ve organized will be meeting up before the event, how to join if you haven’t yet and a few tips and tricks I learned from participating last year.

If this is your first time hearing about Carry The Load, it’s a life-changing journey for people as they walk or run as long or as little as they can in the 20-hour period from Sunday afternoon, May 26th through noon on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th. Like the service members they honor, they carry more than they have to, longer than they think they can.

We’d love to have you out there walking with us, even if it’s just for an hour. Head to this link to join our team! If you can’t make it out and still want help us reach our goal of raising $5,000.00 for the charities that Carry The Load is sponsoring, we’d sincerely appreciate you donating here.

Lessons Learned

While these tips won’t necessarily get into preparing you for walking, I’m going to touch first on some lessons learned from my experience last year at Carry The Load and what I’ll do differently this year. During 2012, I walked a total of 33.81 miles in the 20 hour and 12 minute event, wearing a pair of Under Armor workout shorts, Under Armor loose fitting T-shirt, TAD Fast Pack EDC (weighted with a 20 lb. pill) and Salomon Shoes. My socks were also thin, short cotton socks. Big mistake.

I tried to tough-guy it last year and didn’t take care of my feet properly, which led to massive blisters and wearing flip flops for a few days afterwards to avoid putting my feet back into shoes. I also never stopped to change socks at all, nor did I even bring an extra pair. I honestly knew better, but don’t really recall what justification I used to neglect some important aspects of foot care. The blisters really didn’t hit me bad until the wee hours of the morning and I stopped by a medical station to wrap them up to prevent infection.

I also had some chafing that could have been treated by bringing along some body glide and pre-applying it before starting to the areas I already know I’m prone to chafing at. For me this is usually where my arm rubs my body from swinging just below my armpits and the insides of my legs.

A few of the better lessons learned were bringing a Source Hydration Bladder and properly hydrating before, during and after the event. There are three water stations as well as one at the start point (base camp) to fill up. With a 3 liter bladder I was just fine on water throughout the event and usually needed to just fill up at base camp.

I really liked the RunKeeper app that I used during the event to track my distance, it was nice knowing the ground I’d covered. I also brought plenty of snacks in my backpack, such as Lara Bars, Honey Stinger Waffles (the best), Energy Gels and trail mix. This year, as well as last, if you raised $200 you could stop for three free meals during the event as well. I can’t recall what times the food was available, other than the single time I stopped at around midnight or so. I truly don’t even remember what I ate either.

Plans for This Year

One thing I’m going to do is switch to boots this year, as well as bring an extra pairs of wool socks to change into when I start feeling hot spots. The pair I take off will get hung on my pack to dry out as I walk in case I need to switch back into them again. Depending on the temperature, I’m more than likely going to stick to shorts again, but haven’t made up my mind on that one. I’ll be pre-applying body glide too.

The boots I’m using are Lowa Renegades that are leather lined. I’ve really taken to leather lined boots in the past few years and have ditched gore-tex. I find that the leather lining conforms to my feet better and prevents odor. That and being super comfortable are the reasons I really love Lowa Renegades.

Other than those changes, which include focusing on taking care of my feet and body better, I’ve been trying to get out with a weighted pack. I’m a bit behind the curve on that one and I’m using these last few weeks to add that in. I don’t plan on carrying any more than about 25 lbs. of weight total (including backpack weight) which is about what I carried last year.

If you’re going to carry a weighted pack, I suggest to start integrating it into some aspect of training. There’s obviously no requirement during the event to carry weight, but it’s just something I’m doing to honor those that I’m carrying the load for on Memorial Day. Putting some mileage in walking is also important if you plan to walk the whole event.

Where to Meet?

Carry The Load is taking place on the Katy Trail in Dallas, where participants walk a 6 mile loop multiple times during the event (if you stay for the whole thing.) The starting point is at Reverchon Park (click the link for directions), which also serves as the base camp for Carry The Load. Here’s a map of the route.

It’s important to mention that registration for the event is free, but those that raise $200 will earn a free t-shirt, 3 meal tickets and a parking pass. If we’re one of the first 50 teams to raise $5k, we’ll qualify for a spot in the tailgate area for our group to use during the event and can plan out some other things to do there. It would truly be great for storage of team gear, extra food, etc.

Opening ceremonies for Carry The Load begin at 3:30 pm on Sunday, May 26th and the walk begins at 4 pm. We’d like for everyone to meet just outside the entrance into the event at Reverchon Park at 3 pm. We’ll only be there to meet everyone until about 3:20 pm and will then enter to attend the opening ceremonies. We’ll certainly have some ITS swag for everyone too!

Everything will wrap up at 12:13 pm on Monday, May 27th and be followed by closing ceremonies and awards at 12:20 pm. Don’t forget to pick up your registration packets at Luke’s Locker in Dallas or Plano on May 24th or 25th from 10 am until 6 pm.

We look forward to seeing you at Carry The Load 2013! Even if you’re just coming out for a bit, please register here for free, so we know to look for you before the event.