New Gear Alert: ShellShock Ear Pro, 221B Tactical Assault Pack & Iron Infidel Battle Bottle

You might have noticed from our recent videos that we switched hearing protection, and you'd be right: we've moved over to ShellShock. In full transparency they sent this out to me. It's the combo kit — a very nice rigid hard case with the electronic muffs on one side and eye protection with both smoked and clear lenses on the other. The muffs run on two AAA batteries, and here's the feature I don't understand why everyone doesn't copy: an LED indicator light. We all put our muffs away, forget to turn them off, and show up at the next range day with a pair of passive muffs. I keep spare AAAs in my range bag because I know I'm an idiot about it; the ShellShocks solve it because you can't miss that light.

The other thing I love is the gel inserts. These are hands-down the most comfortable muffs I've worn — I shot all day yesterday and had no rings, no pressure, nothing. There's a 3.5mm jack in the back, and I actually appreciate that placement over the usual side jack, because the cable goes out and down into your kit if you're running comms. The cups also detach so you can mount them to a helmet kit; I'll probably grab a second pair just for that. They come in right around $100, and the fact that ShellShock ships them in a real case instead of letting your ear pro rattle around a range bag is a nice touch.

Second up is the assault pack from 221B Tactical. You guys know I love bags. This one's a two-strap backpack, but the straps detach and re-route so you can run it as a left- or right-side single-strap crossbody, which is my favorite way to carry. It has a waist clip if you want the extra security, and they include a quick-access pouch that clips to the front — wallet, phone, keys — so you're not taking the whole pack off to grab something.

Inside, the main compartment is ginormous and unzips the whole way down; we've literally been hauling optics in their boxes across the ranch in it. There's a mesh compartment, a secondary compartment that also opens almost fully, and two smaller ones on the front — 15 compartments total. The last feature is the coolest: a magnetic closure pocket that holds a level 3A soft plate, so you've got your chest covered wearing it in front or your back covered wearing it normally. Magnets instead of velcro, which after a lifetime of ripping velcro is a relief. The base bag is about $100 and runs up to about $200 depending on accessories and the plate.

Quick partner note: if you carry every day, check out Right To Bear self-defense coverage. Comprehensive, super affordable, top-notch customer service, and it covers any act of self-defense, not just the gun on your hip. Code 2APR gets you a special discount.

Last is our new preferred hydration method: the Iron Infidel Battle Bottle with the bottle cover. This is the 32-ounce version — they make a bigger one — and it comes with two caps, a big fold-up clip cap and a squirt-style cap. It's multicam, my favorite color, and the clip lets me strap it straight to my belt or rig. Funny timing: in the Duty Loadout video I forgot my hydration bladder and was drinking out of a shitty bottle of water. Not anymore. And it's rugged — yesterday I knocked it off, kicked it as it hit the ground, sent it flying, and it didn't even get a scratch.