Two of my favorite terms in marketing are “tactical” and “military grade.” Marketers want you to think that the product you’re buying is so tough that it could survive a war. Expect to see giant pockets, jagged edges, and general military chic. However, some people in the military are quick to point out that “military grade” often means “by the lowest bidder,” not something unusually tough.
Today, Lewin wrote about a tactical multi-fuel Ford Ranger with a stealth mode. Angrycat Meowmeow is sold:
Too bad they don’t sell these to private citizens. I really need a truck to compliment my tactical fanny pack when I’m taking the kiddo’s to Legoland.
Oh, and I’m not kidding with that headline, you can really buy tactical jeans and wallets. I wonder what’s the weirdest tactical product out there? Could I buy, like, tactical contact lenses?
Earlier today, Jason asked if a car is a public or private space. For the most part, your car is technically a public space, but that doesn’t matter for this Comment of the Day. What I love is how many people came to the same conclusion.
From Myk El:
Legally speaking, there are better choices to answer. But me, here in my car, I feel safest of all. I can lock all my doors. It’s the only way to live.
To Saul Goodman:
Well here in my car, I feel safest of all. Not to mention I can lock all my doors. So I would say private.
Thanks for the laughs this week. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Oh thank you. I’ve been watching and mocking this trend for years. Tactical walking sticks, phones, shoes and of course knives. Glasses, underwear (yes, underwear).and COVID masks . And don’t forget our best friend. Tactical leashes, harnesses and water bowls, all for my bad ass Chihuahua.
Oh thank you. I’ve been watching and mocking this trend for years. Tactical walking sticks, phones, shoes and of course knives. Glasses, underwear (yes, underwear).and COVID masks . And don’t forget our best friend. Tactical leashes, harnesses and water bowls, all for my bad ass Chihuahua.
I don’t see anywhere to make a complaint about the web site tech, so here is where I will post:
When I come here, eventually I will get a notification that my comments have replies. Today, there were six, which, great: people love or hate my posts enough to write back!
However, I cannot look at all of those comments, because after I look at the first one, all of the notifications go away!
Is there a fix, or is this privilege only for paying members?
Same thing happens to members, so this is not a paywall issue.
I don’t see anywhere to make a complaint about the web site tech, so here is where I will post:
When I come here, eventually I will get a notification that my comments have replies. Today, there were six, which, great: people love or hate my posts enough to write back!
However, I cannot look at all of those comments, because after I look at the first one, all of the notifications go away!
Is there a fix, or is this privilege only for paying members?
Same thing happens to members, so this is not a paywall issue.
Oh, my first COTD. I feel kinda bad because Saul Goodman actually beat me to the reference, I just didn’t look.
Oh, my first COTD. I feel kinda bad because Saul Goodman actually beat me to the reference, I just didn’t look.
Lowest bidder was drilled into us when I served from 89 to 94. We bought lots of better stuff ourselves.
Lowest bidder was drilled into us when I served from 89 to 94. We bought lots of better stuff ourselves.
The Gary Numan video probably had a minimal budget, probably 10k. It’s still awesome I show my 11 year old just to make him understand…it was different then.
The Gary Numan video probably had a minimal budget, probably 10k. It’s still awesome I show my 11 year old just to make him understand…it was different then.
As someone who camps and off-roads, The word “tactical” just bothers me so much. There is too much insecure cosplay.
Yep. I hate how brands that were great 20 years ago (like The North Face) have become “lifestyle” brands. I went shopping 5 or 6 years back for a day pack that (A) had webbing loops so I could pack a tent and (B) had an ice axe loop. Practically non-existent, with the exception of a Kelty MAP, which itself was on the verge of discontinuance.
I grind up clothes in technical canyons, and something that would not have been difficult to find twenty years back – tough material that isn’t jeans and has some pockets – is now the bailiwick of entities like 5.11 and gets stuck with the “Tactical” label.
Want some decent safety-rated eye pro (which is a requirement for some technical rope work)? Tactical Oakleys for you.
Part of it I blame on the cosplayers, but there’s also some really weird marketing dynamics at work. There was a time when you could buy something from Kelty or Coleman at inexpensive entry prices – it might be heavy, and not as elegant, but it would work. These days everybody seems to be chasing the “Lightweight, says ‘I’m Outdoorsy even though I never go outside'” vibe (Cotopaxi, North Face) or “Tactical! Military” Ultra Heavy Duty in anodized black!” (5.11, Kelty, among others).
Even the last carabiner I bought was “tactical.” I just needed a steel biner with an offset gate. Found one, rated at 70kn (yay!), and of course the marketing material is “Also useful in tactical applications!” as though I’m going to be dangling my truck off of a helicopter at some point with this $24 biner.
Rant over. I hate the tactical marketing and I hate the disappearance of properly effective outdoor gear from the market.
Oh man it’s not just me then. It really does seem like outdoor wear option are super limited.
The tactical “off-road”accessories are pretty bad too. Everything looks like it’s supposed to fit onto some kinda stealth truck. I’m seeing super expensive, anodized black roof racks on crossovers that will never leave the pavement.
As someone who camps and off-roads, The word “tactical” just bothers me so much. There is too much insecure cosplay.
Yep. I hate how brands that were great 20 years ago (like The North Face) have become “lifestyle” brands. I went shopping 5 or 6 years back for a day pack that (A) had webbing loops so I could pack a tent and (B) had an ice axe loop. Practically non-existent, with the exception of a Kelty MAP, which itself was on the verge of discontinuance.
I grind up clothes in technical canyons, and something that would not have been difficult to find twenty years back – tough material that isn’t jeans and has some pockets – is now the bailiwick of entities like 5.11 and gets stuck with the “Tactical” label.
Want some decent safety-rated eye pro (which is a requirement for some technical rope work)? Tactical Oakleys for you.
Part of it I blame on the cosplayers, but there’s also some really weird marketing dynamics at work. There was a time when you could buy something from Kelty or Coleman at inexpensive entry prices – it might be heavy, and not as elegant, but it would work. These days everybody seems to be chasing the “Lightweight, says ‘I’m Outdoorsy even though I never go outside'” vibe (Cotopaxi, North Face) or “Tactical! Military” Ultra Heavy Duty in anodized black!” (5.11, Kelty, among others).
Even the last carabiner I bought was “tactical.” I just needed a steel biner with an offset gate. Found one, rated at 70kn (yay!), and of course the marketing material is “Also useful in tactical applications!” as though I’m going to be dangling my truck off of a helicopter at some point with this $24 biner.
Rant over. I hate the tactical marketing and I hate the disappearance of properly effective outdoor gear from the market.
Oh man it’s not just me then. It really does seem like outdoor wear option are super limited.
The tactical “off-road”accessories are pretty bad too. Everything looks like it’s supposed to fit onto some kinda stealth truck. I’m seeing super expensive, anodized black roof racks on crossovers that will never leave the pavement.
Gotta wonder how insecure these people are…
I don’t wonder. It’s clear.
(See comment above about “tactical” lifestyle-brand versus actually good and effective.)
Gotta wonder how insecure these people are…
I don’t wonder. It’s clear.
(See comment above about “tactical” lifestyle-brand versus actually good and effective.)
I have a tactical spork. Not even kidding.
It’s this one, FWIW, and is actually…useful? Not a bad camping utensil, NGL. The hide-away knife part is a big step above the flimsy/dull knives on a lot of camping sporks. https://www.kabar.com/p/9909
I laughed when I heard the phrase “tactical spork,” so one of my friends bought me the tactical spork, and then I ended up using it — first as a running joke of whipping out the tactical spork from my purse, then as a “wait, this thing actually works pretty well.”
(Thing With Use is kind of a far cry from MOLLE-covered baby onesies, though.)
That spork hides MURDER
I also have a tactical spork. I came here to post it.
I haven’t needed it (yet), but if the poop hits the fan I’m not going to be eating cold canned beans with my fingers like a savage!
I have a tactical spork. Not even kidding.
It’s this one, FWIW, and is actually…useful? Not a bad camping utensil, NGL. The hide-away knife part is a big step above the flimsy/dull knives on a lot of camping sporks. https://www.kabar.com/p/9909
I laughed when I heard the phrase “tactical spork,” so one of my friends bought me the tactical spork, and then I ended up using it — first as a running joke of whipping out the tactical spork from my purse, then as a “wait, this thing actually works pretty well.”
(Thing With Use is kind of a far cry from MOLLE-covered baby onesies, though.)
That spork hides MURDER
I also have a tactical spork. I came here to post it.
I haven’t needed it (yet), but if the poop hits the fan I’m not going to be eating cold canned beans with my fingers like a savage!
Gary Newman still kicks ass.