When you’re strapped for cash, it’s important to maximize value & utility, getting the most bang for your buck.

I took a slightly different approach in this video. Check it out, and let me know what you think.

*Disclaimer* Sorry about the coughing & hiccups. This was the best run I had.

If you’re curious, here are some of the items I talked about in the video.

#1 Medical: A TCCC approved tourniquet, purchased directly from the manufacturer or an authorized reseller. Ideally, if your wardrobe can accomodate it, some wound pack as well. Big Tex Outdoors, Dark Angel Medical, North Ammerican Rescue, Tactical Medical Solutions.

#2 Flashlight: I’m currently using the Fenix PD35. It seem to strike a good balance of cost and performance. Full Disclosure: I have not taken a formal low-light class yet, so my flashlight has not been formally pressure tested.

#3 Less Lethal: The Shivworks curriculum really highlights the value of OC. My 2 preferred are the POM and ASP offerings. Each has its own pros and cons, and I’ll go into those in a separate article.

#4: Intermediate Force: I’m partial to saps, even though I’m a relatively new adopter. It offers the ability to modulate the severity of the force applied depending on if you strike with the flat or the edge, and the area you choose to target. If you want to see if it’s right for you, Boston Leather is a decent place to start. They’re well built and not super expensive.

#5: Deadly force: While I generally don’t carry a blade for defense anymore (that’s it’s own story), if you are truly spread thin, I’d rather see you buy a decent quality knife than a dubious quality pistol. That being said, I’m not supremely qualified to really comment on budget pistols, so I’ll defer that over to Claude Werner The Tactical Professor, who’s done quite a bit of research on that subject. Greg Ellifritz over at Active Response Training also has some insightful commentary that I think everyone should see.

*DISCLAIMER* The links above are part of the Amazon Affiliate program. If you order through those links, I receive a small portion of the purchase price.